Shillong, Dec 21: Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) SK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) and Colonel of the 8 Gorkha Rifles Regiment concluded his farewell visit to 58 GTC here on 21 December. The Vice Chief was given the ceremonial Guard of honour, he Paid homage at the War Memorial, and at Sam Manekshaw Memorial. Lt Gen Dalbir Singh, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, GOC-in-C Eastern Command and Colonel of the 5 Gorkha Rifles Regiment was also present for the farewell ceremony of the outgoing VCOAS. As alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College Dehradun, National Defence Academy, and Indian Military Academy, Lt Gen SK Singh, was commissioned in the 8th Gorkha Rifles in Dec 1972.
He participated in several operations. He commanded a Brigade in Siachen Glacier, an Infantry Division on Line of Control, a Corps in High Altitude in J&K and the South Western Army. A graduate of Defence Services Staff College at Wellington and National Defence College at New Delhi, he has been, Assistant Military Secretary of Army Training Command, Indian Defence Attache in Embassy of Indian at Ankara, Principal Director Administration in Strategic Forces Command, Deputy Military Secretary in Army Headquarters and Major General General Staff in Headquarters Southern Command. He has been an instructor in Infantry School Mhow, Indian Military Training Team Bhutan and Defence Services Staff College Wellington. He is also the President Gorkha Brigade and Colonel of 8 Gorkha Rifles (Field Marshal Manekshaw’s Regiment).
A special sainik sammelan was organised on the occasion . Lt Gen SK Singh, and Lt Gen Dalbir Singh addressed. As a token of souvenir, the regimental ‘KHUKRI’ was presented by Lt Gen Dalbir Singh, on behalf of 58 GTC to the outgoing VCOAS and Colonel of 8 Gorkha Rifles Regiment.
Lt Gen SK Singh in his address, stressed on the need of leading a simple life imbibed with the core values of Indian Army. Lt Gen Dalbir Singh exhorted all the ranks to emulate the outgoing General Officer as the Role Model. He also elaborated on the various achievements of the outgoing VCOAS.
During the visit Lt Gen RS Panwar, GOC 101 Area.and various senior Army Officers paid their regards to the outgoing VCOAS. The farewell visit concluded with a ‘Barakhana’ organised for all ranks of 58 GTC and a cultural display by soldiers of the Training Centre. It was a historic moment in the history of the 58 GTC when two of its illustrious Generals were present as the Vice Chief and Vice Chief designate.(SP News)
