Kathmandu, Sept 9: President Ranchandra Paudel has conferred the rank insignia on newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), Ashok Raj Sigdel.
At a special programme organized at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas today, newly appointed CoAS took oath of office and secrecy before the President who is the Supreme Commander of the Nepali Army.
As the 45th CoAS of the Nepali Army, Sigdel would officially take command of the NA from today itself.
Vice-President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the government had given responsibility of Acting CoAS to Sigdel and he had been taking this responsibility since August 9.
Sigdel had been assuming the responsibility of Acting CoAS as there is a provision that sitting CoAS stays on one-month home leave before retirement.
The CoAS Prabhu Ram Sharma got mandatory retirement from today itself as his three-year term has terminated today.
Who is CoAS Sigdel?
CoAS Sigdel has completed a range of professional military courses both domestically and internationally. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Army Command and Staff College in Shivapuri and from China’s National Defense University. Additionally, he has completed the Higher and Management Course at the Army War College and the Defense Management Course in India. He also holds a Master’s degree in strategic studies from China’s National Defense University and an MA from Tribhuvan University.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CoAS Sigdel served as the Secretary of the Covid Crisis Management Centre (CCMC). He is recognized within his professional circle as a studious and responsive leader with keen insights into national and international strategic matters.
His career includes significant roles in military operations and organizational structures, including the logistics department, as the Policy Director General, and in the Kathmandu Valley Command. He has also served in challenging zones such as Eastern Yugoslavia, Tajikistan, and Liberia under United Nations peacekeeping operations.
CoAS Sigdel has been honored with several prestigious awards both domestically and internationally, including the Suprabal Janasewa Shree III. He has received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Medal twice within the Nepali Army in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the organization.
The Nepali Army has made a significant contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. It is among the leading contributors in terms of sending personnel to UN missions, with a total of 152,823 peacekeepers from Nepal having served in these missions. Currently, 5,946 Nepali Army personnel, including 657 women, are deployed across 11 peacekeeping missions in various conflict zones.
