Generational Change in Indian Air Force

GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN COMMAND OF IAF

When Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik passed on the baton and command of the Indian Air Force to Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne on 31st July 2011, it signified a generational change in the command structure. The previous Air Force Chiefs had participated in one war or the other and gained ground experience of a shooting war. Air Chief Marshal Browne will be the first Air Chief to have reached the highest rung of the command ladder without participating in a full fledged war. But that is not his fault. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 1972 whereas the last major war was fought in December 1971.

Air Chief Marshal Browne is a highly qualified fighter-pilot. He loves to fly different types of flying machines fitted  with varied armaments. He has logged 32,000 flying hours to his credit. When he was Military Attache in Israel, he established the first military to military contact with Israel and facilitated in knowing about the effective Israeli armaments and procuring them for the Indian Armed Forces.

The new Air Chief is an officer of modern thinking and carries no baggage from the past. Thus he lives in fool's paradise and loves to sanities his room, clothes and is so careful about his food intake and regular exercise. That is the secret of his physical fitness and mental alertness.

Air Chief Marshal Browne is a natural master of Planning operational exercises of the IAF wing under his command. The potential enemies across the borders know it and, therefore, will take time to understand the combat personality of Air Chief Marshal  Norman Anil Kumar Browne.

Comparatively young, the new Air Chief was born at Allahabad in December 1951.Of course, in the Indian Air Force he acquired varied experience of command and staff and understands the complex nature of problems of the Service. He takes interest in solving the Service and domestic problems of officers and men under his command. He is convinced that no one else can do the problem solving of junior personnel better than their own seniors and the commanding officer.

Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne has excelled in Service and is a recipient of PVSM, AVSM, VSM besides the Vayu medal for having rendered distinguished service beyond the call of duty.

The Indian Air Force and the Indian nation look forward to seeing the Service and its personnel develop their service skills and raise their morale sky high so that they exterminate the nation's enemy before the enemy gets time to plot India's destabilization. We hope and pray that he succeeds in his mission so that the Nation can hold its head high always and every time. The new Air Chief has made his mind clear on the issue of welfare of the men under command. It is the duty of senior officers to ensure that no injustice is done to the men under command. The rank and file should be happy and this happiness will be reflected in morale of men in battle and will be a major battle-winning factor.

The Armed Forces are raised, fed and clothed and then given a high quality training so that they are ever ready to take on and beat the enemy. May the Almighty bless our Air Force and may the elder members of the retired fraternity give their blessings and say VIJAYEE BHAV; MAY YOU BE VICTORIOUS IN WAR AND PEACE.

By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant, VSM