Chief of the Army Staff (Vishwamitra)
Chief of the Army Staff | |
---|---|
सेनाध्यक्ष (Hindi) | |
Royal Vishwamitran Army | |
Status | Professional head of the army |
Abbreviation | CAS |
Reports to | Rashtradhyaksh Prime Minister Minister of National Security |
Nominator | Minister of National Security |
Appointer | Commander-in-Chief of the Army at the advice of the Cabinet |
Term length | At His Illustrious and Royal Majesty's pleasure |
Formation |
|
First holder | Lieutenant General Vincent Wilhelm von Ironside (as Commander of the Army) |
Deputy | Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCAS) |
The Chief of the Army Staff (CAS) (Hindi: सेनाध्यक्ष), also known as Army Chief is the title of the professional head of the Royal Vishwamitran Army since 2023, and is the senior-most military officer ranking only below the Commander-in-Chief, a position held by the Rashtradhyaksh. The chief of the army staff is responsible for overseeing the administration, operations, and strategic planning of the army, and the position involves advising the commander-in-chief and the government on military matters, defense policies, and ensuring the security and sovereignty of Vishwamitra. The chief of the army staff is assisted by the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff.
The position has customarily held by a four-star general officer, and occasionally by a field marshal. The current chief of the army staff is General Rory Leonard who has been serving in office since 1 October 2024. Prior to becoming chief of the army staff, he has also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
History
The unofficial history behind the position of the chief of the army staff dates back to 2018 when then Supreme Leader Varuna Sriraya appointed Tanishkaa Patranabish as the General of the Army effectively her the ceremonial head of the army, the land warfare branch of the armed forces. The position of the head of the Royal Vishwamitran Army was formally created on 17 February 2021 and Lieutenant-General Vincent Wilhelm von Ironside was appointed as the Commander of the Army. At that time, the commanders of the three services held a three-star equivalent rank while the Chief of the General Staff, later renamed as Chief of the Defence Staff, was the sole-holder of a four-star rank.
On 24 August 2021, at the recommendation of Defence Minister Michal Nowacki and his deputy Rory Leonard, the cabinet decided to promote all the tri-services commanders to a four-star rank in their respective services and designated them as Chiefs of Staff. Thereupon, Lieutenant-General Vincent Wilhelm von Ironside was promoted to the rank of a general and re-designated as Chief of the Army Staff and continued to head the army, which was the land-warfare branch of the armed forces.
On 12 July 2022, the Royal Vishwamitran Navy and the Royal Vishwamitran Air Force were dissolved and the army was renamed as the Royal Vishwamitran Defence Forces. The chief of the army staff was re-designated as the Chief of the General Staff and outgoing naval chief Admiral John Caravaggio III was appointed to the position with the rank of a general. On 13 August 2023, the chief of the general staff was re-designated as Chief of the Army Staff. On the occasion of the Rashtradhyaksh's birthday on 10 January 2024, the chief of the army staff General John Caravaggio III was promoted to the rank of a field marshal, making him the first military officer to be promoted as field marshal while in active service. Since 1 October 2024, General Rory Leonard has been serving as the chief of the army staff.
Appointment
The Chief of the Army Staff is appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Vishwamitran Army on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Security and upon the approval from the cabinet. The chief of the army staff remains in office at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh.
Insignia
Ranks insignia worn by the Chief of the Army Staff | ||||
General (OF-9) | Field Marshal (OF-10) | General (OF-9) | ||
2021 | 2021–2022 | 2024–present |
Appointees
- italic indicates acting tenure
Commander of the Army (2021)
No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Took office | Left office | Term length | Previous service background |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lieutenant-General Vincent Wilhelm von Ironside Baron Ironside of Long Island (born 2005) |
17 February 2021 |
24 August 2021 |
188 days | None |
Chief of the Army Staff (2021–2022)
No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Took office | Left office | Term length | Previous service background |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | General Vincent Wilhelm von Ironside Baron Ironside of Long Island (born 2005) |
24 August 2021 |
12 July 2022 |
322 days |
|
Chief of the General Staff (2022–2023)
No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Took office | Left office | Term length | Previous service background |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | General John Caravaggio III Count Caravaggio[a] (born 2003) |
13 July 2022 |
13 August 2023 |
1 year, 31 days |
|
- ↑ Baron Caravaggio until 31 December 2022.
Chief of the Army Staff (2023–present)
No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Took office | Left office | Term length | Previous service background |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Field Marshal John Caravaggio III Sri Rajanya Chitranshu[a] (born 2003) |
13 August 2023 |
30 June 2024 |
1 year, 48 days |
| |
1 July 2024 |
30 September 2024 | |||||
2 | General Rory Leonard (born 2007) |
1 October 2024 |
Incumbent | 5 days |
|
- ↑ General until 10 January 2024.
See also
- Chief of the Defence Staff (Vishwamitra), former professional head of the tri-services
- Chief of the Air Staff (Vishwamitra), former professional head of the air force
- Chief of the Naval Staff (Vishwamitra), former professional head of the navy