lt-Gen Sanjiv Chachra took charge of the strategically most crucial Northern Command headquarters in a simple and solemn ceremony at Udhampur on Monday.
He is counted one among very few general officers who have got the rare distinction of commanding two biggest commands of the Indian Army. Before assuming charge of the Northern Command lt Gen Chachra was GOC-IN-C Western Command headquarters.lt-Gen Sanjiv Chachra is a second generation Rajput Officer, commissioned in 17 RAJPUT in June 1974.
The General Officer has seen active combat service on the Siachen Glacier, High Altitude border areas of the North & North East, and commanded 16 RAJPUT in a counter insurgency environment. He also commanded a brigade on the Western Sector and a frontline Mountain Division deployed along the Northern Borders.
The General Officer has had varied operational staff experience at each level both in active formations and at the Military Operations Directorate in Army HQ.
As Director, Foreign Training and International Cooperation, he successfully initiated and executed military synergy with a number offriendly foreign armies. The General has been a Technical Member (Army) in the Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence, wherein he spearheaded modernisation for the Army in the Government. Before being promoted as Army Commander, he was Military Secretary as a PrincipalStaff Officer (PSO) at IHQ of MoD (Army).