AFVOA Newsletter May 2020

Section 2 - News / Updates from the Association Newsletter No. 1 / 2020 P a g e 21 | 101 Our GOC, Dakshin Bharat Area Lt Gen P Nagesh Rao YSM SM Lieutenant General Pandala Nagesh Rao took over command as the GOC (DB) Area on 08 Dec 2019. The General joined the NDA 61/G and was commissioned in December 1982 into the 5th Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He was the Sword of Honour of his course. The General Officer brings along vast combat and command experience of different terrains and operations. He commanded 5 Parachute Regiment in Operation RAKSHAK in Jammu & Kashmir, a Mountain Brigade in Binaguri, a Mountain Division inManipur and a Mountain Strike Corps at Ranchi later at Panagarh. Before taking over as GOC DB Area, he was Chief of Staff at HQ South Western Command, Jaipur. The General Officer took part in Op Blue Star, Op Trident, Op Pawan, Op Orchid, Op Meghdoot, Op Vijay, Op Rakshak and Op Rhino. He has been wounded twice and awarded the Yudh Seva Medal and Sena Medal for Gallantry. His staff and instructional assignments include, Instructor at the NDA, GSO at the Military Op Dte, DS Infantry School Mhow, DS and later SI at DSSC, Wellington. He has also represented India as Chief Advisor of the Indian Military Advisory Team at Lusaka, Zambia for two years. The General did his schooling in Madras at the Doveton Corrie School. He is a graduate of the DSSC, Wellington and the National Defence College, New Delhi. An accomplished sportsman, he has been awarded a Blue in Football & Hockey at both NDA and IMA. He is also a passionate Golfer and Basketball player.