Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu, Jan 31: After 40 years of military career, Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi relinquishes command on 31 January.
Lieutenant General Joshi, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VrC, SM, ADC was commissioned into 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (JAK RIF) (Bravest of The Brave) on 12 June 1982 and later commanded the same unit.
The General officer assumed the appointment of strategic GOC-in-C, Northern Command at Udhampur on 01 February 2020 and relinquishes command on 31 Jan 2022.
The General Officer caught the attention during 1999 Kargil War with his outstanding leadership and led his unit to unprecedented success.
General Joshi, who led the capture of Tiger Hill as the Commanding Officer of the 13th Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, was entrusted with the Defence of Ladakh which includes Kargil.
One of the highest peaks in the Drass-Kargil area of Jammu and Kashmir, capturing Tiger Hill was one of the main objectives of the Indian security forces during the Kargil war in 1999. The whole operation lasted 36 hours and by 6:50 am on 4 July, the armed forces had re-captured Tiger Hill.
The height of the peak had made it easy for the Pakistan forces to see the military headquarters of the 56 Brigade which was the main Indian force in charge of the area. Apart from this, it was easy for them to keep an eye on the National Highway 1D, a strategic route to Siachen Glacier connecting Srinagar to Leh.
This highway also served as the main supply route of the Kargil Sector thereby enabling Pakistan to relay information of troop and supply movements of the Indian security forces to General Headquarters (GHQ).
In operation VIJAY under his command the unit was awarded with a total of 37 gallantry awards including two Param Vir Chakra, eight Vir Chakra and fourteen Sena Medal.
The General Officer is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and a postgradutate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He also attended the prestigious National Defence College Course at New Delhi.
The General Officer has had command experience spanning the entire mosaic, covering all theatres.
The unit has also been awarded with the Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation and the “Bravest of Brave” award.
The General officer himself was awarded the VIR CHAKRA during his command of 13 JAK RIF in the operations.
The General Officer has commanded an Infantry Brigade in Tangtse, Infantry Division in Karu and Corps in Leh.
He has also served as Director General Infantry and was instrumental in catalyzing the modernization drive of the Infantry.
He was the Chief of Staff, Northern Command before taking over the reins of Northern Command as Army Commander.
The General Officer has had tenures as Instructor at Infantry School, Mhow and varied staff exposure, including staff appointment at Military Operations Directorate and as Defence Attache to Beijing (China). He has also served as Military Observer in United Nations, Angola.
A seasoned professional with four decades of military leadership in the field of National Security, Planning and Management of Military Operations at National level, Disaster Management, Macro-level training of Indian Army and management of conventional and sub-conventional conflict in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh in High Altitude as well as Super High Altitude terrain conditions.
Lt Gen YK Joshi will continue to inspire the future generations of army officers to emulate his sterling qualities, firm resolve to follow the righteous path under all circumstances, sense of justice and strategic thinking as a General and statesman.
The General Officer was given an emotional send-off by the Northern Command through a simple farewell ceremony.
As part of the ceremony he laid a wreath at the Dhruva war Memorial on 30 January 2022 in remembrance of all the soldiers of Northern Command who have laid down their lives in various operations.
Lieutenant General YK Joshi will keep on inspiring the Officers of the Indian Army in the times to come.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi assumed the charge of Northern Army Commander.
