# Alok Singh Kler

Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler, PVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired General Officer in the Indian Army who last served as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Command. He assumed office on 1 September 2019, taking over from Lt Gen Cherish Mathson.

## Early life and education

Alok was born into the Kler military family which originated from Sarhal Qazian nawashar then moved to Kakrala Kalan near Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The family has over 300 years of service in the Indian Armed Forces. His father, Gen Gurdev Singh Kler was Mentioned in dispatches (MiD) in Sialkot in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 fighting with 18th Cavalry. Commanding 56 Brigade, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for capturing the largest group of armed insurgents in Nagaland in the 1970s. Commanding an armoured brigade and division, he was Director General of Military Training (DGMT) and commanded the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra before retiring as a Lieutenant General.
His elder brother, Jasjit Singh Kler was in the Indian Air Force. He served as the Commandant of the National Defence Academy before retiring as an Air Marshal. His Uncle, Gen Hardev Singh Kler was awarded the Mahavir Chakra in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for commanding 95 Brigade. His formation was among the first to enter Dhaka. Alok's father-in-law, Brigadier Narinder Singh Sandhu saw action in both the wars of 1965 and 1971 and was awarded the Mahavir Chakra. Alok attended Mayo College, Ajmer before graduating from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

## Career

Kler was commissioned into 68 Armoured Regiment in June 1982. He has attended Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, the Battalion Commander Combat Course at Germany, the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, and the National Defence College at Bangladesh.
Kler commanded an Armoured regiment, an Armoured Brigade in the western sector and the same Armoured Division which was commanded by his father. He later commanded the Strike Corps (II Corps) in the Western theatre. He has also held important staff positions like the Chief of Staff of Army Training Command (ARTRAC). He later served as the Director General Military Training (DGMT). He has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and a COAS Commendation card in 2009.
Kler has a keen interest in cycling, fitness and sports. He made news when he cycled 270 km from Delhi to Jaipur to take command of the South Western Command. As an Army Commander, he was entitled to fly down to his headquarters or drive down in a cavalcade of military vehicles.
“Cycling is a terrific workout and I am passionate about it. I believe fitness should be a personal mission and not imposed by the organisation. It sends a message of fitness to the men under my command and others too,” said Gen Kler.
He also carried out a para jump, after taking over the South Western Command. He jumped out an ALH Dhruv helicopter on 25 October. He had earlier, as the DGMT, carried out a para jump Nasik by service aircraft from 10,000-12,000 feet.
Kler retired from the Army on 31 March 2021.

## Awards and decorations

| Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Vishisht Seva Medal | Vishisht Seva Medal |
| Samanya Seva Medal | Special Service Medal | Special Service Medal | Operation Vijay Medal |
| Operation Parakram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal | High Altitude Service Medal | Videsh Seva Medal |
| 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal | 30 Years Long Service Medal | 20 Years Long Service Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal |

## Dates of rank

| Rank | Component | Date of rank |
| Second Lieutenant | Indian Army | 12 June 1982 |
| Lieutenant | Indian Army | 12 June 1984 |
| Captain | Indian Army | 12 June 1987 |
| Major | Indian Army | 12 June 1993 |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Indian Army | 16 December 2004 |
| Colonel | Indian Army | 1 March 2006 |
| Brigadier | Indian Army | 1 January 2010 (substantive, with seniority from 7 January 2009) |
| Major General | Indian Army | 12 December 2014 (substantive, with seniority from 3 June 2012) |
| Lieutenant-General | Indian Army | 20 May 2017 (with seniority from 1 May 2017) |