A highly decorated soldier and recipient of Yudh Sewa Medal (YSM) and Vishistha Sewa Medal (VSM), lieutenant General SK Saini has taken over as the 46th commandant of the Indian Military Academy (IMA). He was Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, before assuming the present appointment.
An alumnus of National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA), the general officer was Commissioned into the “7th Battalion the JAT Regiment’’ in June 1981. lt Gen Saini has an illustrious career spanning over a period of more than 36 years during which he has held various staff, instructional and command appointments.
He has commanded his Battalion, a Mountain Brigade and a Counter Insurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. He has served as a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade, GSO1 (Operations) of an Infantry Division, BGS of a Corps and Director, Military Operations. He has held key appointments at the Army Headquarters (HQ). The new IMA Commandant had been a Weapon Instructor in the National Security Guards (NSG) Training Centre.
lt Gen Saini is a Graduate of the Army Command and Staff Course at the Staff College, Camberley in United Kingdom, (UK) and has studied at the Royal College of Military Science, Shrivenham, UK. He has a distinction of holding three Masters Degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies.
The Commandant is a vivid writer and has contributed extensively in various journals, magazines and newspapers. He has also presented papers on “Changing Face of Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir” and “Regional Security Cooperation and Confidence Building” during the National Seminar on Non State Armed Groups and India’s Security in the 21st Century and at the ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities/Colleges Meet. Apart from YSM and VSM, lt Gen Saini is a recipient of “Chief of Army Staff Commendation”, and the “Army Commander Commendation”.