Fact Check: 4 Air Force officers have been awarded the Best War Services Medal (SYSM). It is being claimed that this is the first time this award was given, while the truth is that Air Marshal Vinod Patni has been awarded the award in April 2000.
New Delhi. It is being claimed on social media that for the first time in the history of the country, Indian Air Force personnel have been awarded the Best War Services Medal (SYSM). On the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, the announcement of 4 top Air Force officials being awarded the War -term Special Service Medal is really notable. But Asianet News investigated it deeply and found that the claim to be “first” is completely wrong. The reality is that SYSM Awards have been given to an Indian Air Force officer during the Kargil War before two decades.
What is SYSM?
The best war service medal is one of India’s highest War Tribal Distinguished Service Awards. It is provided for extremely extraordinary service and its reputation is equivalent to the ultimate distinctive service medal (PVSM), which is provided in peacetime. It differs from valor awards such as Paramveer Chakra or Veera Chakra and focuses on specific leadership and service in war.
Also read: Fact Check: PM Modi’s appeal for investment to citizens! Viral video turned out to be fake in fact check
Who is the first Air Force SYSM Award winner?
Air Marshal Vinod Patni (retired), who chewed the enemy in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, was awarded the Best War Services Medal on 6 April 2000 for his role in the 1999 Kargil war. In his brilliant career, he played a role in many important positions. Among them were Commander of Jaguar Base, Air Advisor in London, Air Officer Commanding of Jammu and Kashmir, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western and Central Air Commands and Deputy Chief of Indian Air Force. In 2001, he was appointed to the National Security Advisory Board after retiring.
Aermarshal AK Bharti
Currently working as Director General of Air Operations (DGAO), Air Marshal AK Bharti looked at the air campaign during Operation Sindoor and planned campaigns in which the India Air Force destroyed the major locations of the Pakistani Air Force. After receiving the commission at the Flying Branch in 1987, he first commanded the Sukhoi-30 MKI Squadron and is an alumnus of the Defense Service Staff College. In 2008, he was awarded the Air Force Medal.
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor
South Western Air Command (SWAC) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Nagesh Kapoor once served as India’s defense attachment in Pakistan. Graduate Nagesh Kapoor from the National Defense Academy (1985 batch) is an experienced fighter pilot, qualified flying instructor and fighter combat leader. Kapoor has also flew aircraft like MiG-21 and MiG-29. He took over as SWAC from Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari, who is now the Deputy Chief of Air Force.
Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari
Currently, Air Force Deputy Chief Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari received a commission in 1986 as a fighter pilot. He has more than 3600 flying hours experience. Along with being a qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, he is also a graduate from Air Command and Staff College, USA.
Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
The role of aircraft Jeetendra Mishra, currently leading the Western Air Command, was important in Operation Sindoor, as most aerial war took place in his field. He has received training from National Defense Academy (Pune), Air Force Testing Pilot School (Bengaluru), Air Command and Staff College (USA) and Royal College of Defense Studies (UK). He has more than 3,000 flying hours.
Honor to these officers too
Apart from this, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Prateek Sharma and Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai have been nominated for their operational leadership against terrorist groups in Pakistan. The Navy also played a strategic role in Operation Sindoor. Former Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh has been honored for the naval forces for high level preparation.
conclusion
In such a situation, the claim that for the first time Indian Air Force personnel have been awarded the best war service medal, false. This honor was first awarded to Air Marshal Vinod Patni for his role in the Kargil War in 2000. However, the 2025 awards are historic in itself, as this will be the first time in decades when many Indian Air Force officials will get this medal for the same operation.
See also: From defense armor to infiltration, 10 things you must know about PM Modi’s speech