No two postings under same boss: Army Chief

‘‘I will personally see to it that our men are well groomed. At the MS Branch, the computer should throw up lists of performing officers, who we will make sure, are put to use doing what they do best. We will be a command oriented force,’’ Gen. Singh said in an exclusive interview to this newspaper.

He said the tendency for serving personnel to get used to one boss and then work towards getting postings under the same boss would now be curtailed.

‘‘Sometimes our men build good relationships with their senior officers and wish to continue under them. I will now see to it that they do not serve under the same person twice. It is important that my men have the experience of serving under a wide spectrum of people, to enrich their experience in the force.’’

The system of postings, Gen. Singh said, was well-tuned and in the larger interests of the force. ‘‘I believe there should be no minimum command service. Officers who are made for command postings should stay there, getting as much experience as they possibly can.’’

Indicating the desire among ranks to gravitate towards postings at Headquarters, Gen. Singh said there should be no pressure on postings. ‘‘I will give my men my own example. My whole family is in Delhi, including my parents and in-laws. Since 1964 when I was commissioned into the Army, I have never had the desire to be in Delhi even once.’’

‘‘No appointment will be a holy cow from now on. If an officer is good, he can go on any appointment. An all-round profile makes for a more seasoned leader,’’ he said. The appointment of Gen. Singh as the country’s 23rd Army Chief at the beginning of this month, came barely a month after the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee’s recommendations were implemented, allowing younger officers to command in the field.

In his first visit to the Valley as Army Chief, he regretted the loss of life in 15 years of unrelenting violence, he asked militants to lay down their arms, pointing out there was a global campaign on against terror. Singh said the Army wouldn’t tolerate any indiscipline in its ranks, and said people who had a complaint against any official could freely voice their grievances.