New Delhi, July 1. Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain on July 1 assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), bringing with him nearly four decades of experience across conventional warfare, counter-insurgency operations, high-altitude deployments and United Nations missions.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Jain was commissioned into the Mahar Regiment in June 1988 and has since held a series of key command and staff appointments across diverse operational environments.
During his distinguished military career, he commanded an infantry battalion in semi-desert terrain as well as under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. He has also led an infantry brigade in a Strike Corps, a counter-insurgency force and a Pivot Corps in the Northern Command.
His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, service as a military observer with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and multiple tenures in high-altitude areas and counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and in the Northeast. He also commanded a sector under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, he took command of a Corps in the Northern Command before moving to Headquarters Southern Command as Chief of Staff. In that role, he played an important role in capability enhancement, force restructuring and improving operational preparedness.
Prior to his appointment as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Jain served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command, one of the Indian Army’s principal operational commands.
Throughout his career, Lt Gen Jain has held several important staff and operational appointments that provided him extensive experience in conventional military operations, counter-insurgency campaigns, high-altitude warfare, United Nations peacekeeping missions and force readiness across varied terrains.
A graduate of the Higher Command Course at the Army War College and the National Defence Course in Kenya, Lt Gen Jain has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Sena Medal in recognition of his distinguished service to the nation.
