Parents of Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh in a cheerful mood in Jalandhar on Friday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 7

Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, who hails from Jalandhar, has been honoured with Ati Vishisht Sewa Medal (AVSM) by the President of India. Earlier too he had been awarded for the recovery of a Sea Harrier fighter aircraft in a grave emergency.The Flag Officer has the distinction of having flown 11 types of aircraft during his distinguished career. He is a qualified flying instructor and has more than 2,480 hours of flying experience.While speaking to The Tribune over the phone, the officer said that Navy had given him so much in all these years. “It’s time to pay back to my motherland by securing its borders,” Singh said.Expressing pride over his son’s achievement, his father, Avtaar Manmohan Jit Singh, a practicing lawyer at Punjab and Haryana High Court and Sessions Courts in Jalandhar, said winning was in his son’s blood. “I have no words to express my happiness at his enthralling success. All I want to pray is that he should keep on defending the country with utmost grit and determination,” said an emotional father. He said being a lawyer, although he had wanted his three sons to be in the same profession, the elder two including Admiral Ravneet joined the defence forces. While his one son is serving in Army, the other is a lawyer and settled abroad. The officer’s mother, Sarabjeet Kaur, also expressed her happiness.The Flag Officer has commanded various ships, establishments and air squadron during his illustrious career with INS Ranvijay, INS Ranvir, INS Himgiri, Sea Harrier Training and Frontline Operational Squadron INAS 300 and a premier naval air station INS Hansa.Prior to assuming his present appointment as the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Western Naval Command, he had had the privilege of commanding the sword arm of the Indian Navy i.e. the Western Fleet, as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF). Singh has also been the Flag Officer Goa Area and Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FOGA and FONA). He has also served as Assistant Controller Warship Production and Acquisition (ACWP&A) and Assistant Controller Carrier Projects (ACCP) at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi. Further, he has also served as the defence adviser in Kenya, Tanzania and Seychelles.An alumnus of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh graduated from DAV College, Jalandhar, prior to joining the Indian Navy. Married to Deep Singh, he is blessed with two daughters.