Draft:Lieutenent General Tarun Kumar Aich

Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, PVSM, AVSM (born 19 Oct 1964) is a serving three star officer in the Indian Army, who is the 4th and the current Deputy Chief of the Army Staff. He previously served as the Director General of Military Intelligence, General Officer Commanding 33 Corps and also as General Officer Commanding 12 RAPID. He is the first officer from the MADRAS Regiment to become the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy). He took over the duties of DCOAS on 14 Mar 2023.

Early Life and Education

General Aich has completed his schooling from Frank Anthony Public School, Delhi and High school from Delhi Public School, Delhi. He joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) where he graduated with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts. After graduating from NDA, he joined the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned on 14 Jun 1986.

Career

General Aich was commissioned into 16 MADRAS, one of the battalion of the MADRAS Regiments in Jul 1986. He attended the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington and the Command and General Staff Course at Hamburg, (CGSC) Germany. After completing the course, he returned to India and was appointed as General Staff Officer at Military Intelligence Directorate.

General Aich has commanded 16 MADRAS at varied locations which includes Mamun, Chumathang, Siachen Glacier, Sasoma and Gurez Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. He was in command of the Battalion from May 2005 to Aug 2007. He then attended Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow. After the course, he was appointed as Colonel General Staff (Planning) at Headquarter Eastern Command and thereafter served as Deputy Commander of a Infantry Brigade, which was being newly raised at Tenga Valley. He was then promoted to the rank of Brigadier and given command of 35 Infantry Brigade as part of the Western Theatre. The General officer was also appointed as Deputy Director General Canteen Services. General Aich was then selected to attend the prestigious National Defence College. After completing the course, he was appointed as Brigadier General Staff at the Indian Military Academy.

General Officer

After promotion to the rank of Major General, General Aich took command of 12 RAPID on 01 Oct 2018 which was involved in operations in the Western Borders. He then commanded High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg and was thereafter appointed as Director General, National Cadets Corps. On 22 October 2021 General Aich took command of the prestigious 33 Corps at Sukna. The Corps is deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the North-East. After about a year of leading 33 Corps, he transitioned to Army HQ and assumed the role of Director General Military Intelligence.

On 14 Mar 2023, General Aich was appointed the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy). He assumed the appointment on 14 Mar 2023 from Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, YSM**, VSM as the 4th Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy).

Personal Life

General Aich married Saswati on 06 Aug 1989. The couple have a daughter who is married and working as an Artificial Intelligence Software Engineer in San Francisco, USA and a son who is a working professional at San Francisco, USA.

Honours and Decorations	

He is a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. Apart from these, he has been awarded the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Commendation Card, thrice in his service career.