A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given.

The term General is used in two ways: as the generic title for all grades of general officer; and as a specific rank. Since the late twentieth century, the rank of General is usually the highest active rank of a military not at war.

All general officer ranks

The various grades of general officer are at the top of the rank structure. Lower-ranking officers are known as field officers or field-grade officers, and below them are company-grade officers. All officers who commanded more than a single regiment came to be known as "general officers". The word "general" is used in its ordinary sense in English (and other languages) as relating to larger, general, military units, rather than smaller units in particular.

Common systems

There are two common systems of general ranks.

Variations of one form, the old European system, were once used throughout Europe. It is used in the United Kingdom (although it did not originate there), from which it eventually spread to the Commonwealth and the United States of America. The General Officer ranks are named by prefixing General, as an adjective, with field officer ranks, although in some countries the highest general officers are titled Field Marshal or Marshal.

The other is derived from the French Revolution, where generals' ranks are named according to the unit they (theoretically) command.

Old European system {| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" |align="center"| Field Marshal or General Field Marshal |- |align="center"| ''Colonel General'' |- |align="center"| General or Captain General |- |align="center"| Lieutenant General |- |align="center"| Sergeant Major General or Major General |- |align="center"| ''Brigadier (General)'' |}

The system used either a ''brigadier general'' rank, or a ''colonel general'' rank (i.e. exclude one of the italicised ranks.)

The rank of field marshal was used by some countries as the highest rank, while in other countries it was used as a divisional or brigade rank. Many countries (notably pre-revolutionary France and eventually much of Latin America) actually used two brigade command ranks, which is why some countries now use two stars as their brigade general insignia. (Mexico and Argentina still use two brigade command ranks.)

In some nations (particularly in the Commonwealth), the equivalent to Brigadier General is Brigadier, which is not always considered by these armies to be a general officer rank, although it is always treated as equivalent to the rank of Brigadier General for comparative purposes. Unlike other general officers, the brigadier general rank is not derived from a ''field'' rank of brigadier.

The rank of ''major general'' is a shorter form of ''sergeant major general'', and is lower than lieutenant general as a lieutenant outranks a sergeant major, although outranked by a major.

French (Revolutionary) system {| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;" |align="center"| Marshal |- |align="center"| Army General |- |align="center"| Corps General |- |align="center"| Divisional General |- |align="center"| Brigade General |} More information about this system can be found on the page: Général.

Other variations

Other nomenclatures for general officers include the titles and ranks:

Adjutant General

Commandant-General

Inspector General

Captain General

General-in-Chief

General of the Army (which is distinct from the title Army General)

General of the Air Force (USA only)

General of the Armies of the United States (of America), a title created for General John J. Pershing, and subsequently granted posthumously to George Washington.

General Admiral (German Navy)

Air General and Aviation General (Chilean Air Force; roughly equivalent to Air Chief Marshal and Air Vice-Marshal respectively)

Wing General and Group General (Mexican Air Force; roughly equivalent to Air Commodore and Acting Air Commodore respectively)

Lieutenant-Colonel General (A Serb rank immediately inferior to Colonel General, and roughly equivalent to Commonwealth/US Major General)

Director General (a common administrative term sometimes used as an appointment in military services)

Director General of National Defence (most senior rank in the Mexican Armed Forces)

Director of Intelligence Bureau (senior most 4 star Indian Police Service post in India)

Controller General (general officer rank in the French National Police)

Prefect General (the most senior rank of the Argentine Naval Prefecture)

Master-General of the Ordnance

In addition to militarily educated generals, there are also generals in medicine and engineering. The rank of most senior chaplain, Chaplain General, is also considered to be a general officer rank.

The specific General rank

In the Old European system, a General, without prefix or suffix (and sometimes referred to informally as a "full general"), is usually the most senior type of general, above Lieutenant General and directly below Field Marshal. Usually it is the most senior peace-time rank, with more senior ranks (for example, Field Marshal) being used only in wartime, or as honorary titles.

In some armies, however, the rank of Captain General, General of the Army, Army General or Colonel General occupied or occupies this position. Depending on circumstances and the army in question, these ranks may be considered to be equivalent to a full General or to a Field Marshal.

The rank of General came about as a "Captain-General", the captain of an army in general (i.e., the whole army). The rank of Captain-General began appearing around the time of the organization of professional armies in the 17th century. In most countries "Captain-General" contracted to just "General".

General ranks by country

The following articles deal with the rank of General, or its equivalent, as it is or was employed in the militaries of those countries.

General (Australia)

General (Canada)

Shang Jiang (China) - People's Republic of China (PRC) and Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan)

Kenraali (Finland)

Kindral (Estonia)

Général (France)

General (Germany)

Obergruppenführer (Nazi Germany, SS rank)

Strategos (Greece)

Aluf (Israel)

Generale (Italy)

Daejang (Korea - DPRK and ROK)

General (Mexico)

Generał (Poland)

Army General (Philippines)

Army General (Russia)

General (Sri Lanka)

General (Sweden)

General (Switzerland)

General (United Kingdom)

General (United States)

Army generals' insignia

Air force generals' insignia

Generals' insignia of disbanded armies

Air Force and Navy equivalents

Some countries (such as the United States) use the General Officer ranks for both the army and the air force; others only use the General Officer ranks for the army, while in the air force they use Air Officers as the equivalent of General Officers. They use the air force rank of Air Chief Marshal as the equivalent of the specific army rank of General. This latter group includes the British Royal Air Force and those based on it (e.g., India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Nigeria, etc.).

In most navies, Flag Officers are the equivalent of General Officers, and the naval rank of Admiral is equivalent to the specific army rank of General. A noteworthy historical exception was the Cromwellian naval rank ''General at sea''. In recent years in the American service there is a tendency to use ''Flag Officer'' and ''Flag Rank'' to refer to generals and admirals of the services collectively.

See also

Général

Generalissimo

List of comparative military ranks

List of Roman generals

Shogun

References

External links

Generals of World War II

Schema-root.org: US Generals News feeds for US Generals in the news

Marines.mil: General Officer Biographies Biographies of US Marine Corps General Officers

Bios & Information on Generals of Western History Information on 10 Generals who influenced Western History

Category:Generals Category:Military ranks

ar:فريق أول (رتبة عسكرية) bn:জেনারেল অফিসার bs:General bg:Генерал ca:General ceb:Heneral cs:Generál da:General de:General et:Kindral el:Στρατηγός es:General eo:Generalo fa:تیمسار fr:Général ko:장군 hr:General io:Generalo id:Jenderal os:Инæлар it:Generale he:גנרל kn:ಜನರಲ್ ka:გენერალი sw:Jenerali lv:Ģenerālis lt:Generolas mk:Генерал mr:जनरल ms:Jeneral nl:Generaal ja:将軍 ce:Инарла no:General nn:General nds:General pl:Generał pt:General ro:General qu:Wamink'a ru:Генерал sq:Gjenerali simple:General officer sk:Generál sl:General sr:Генерал sh:General fi:Kenraali sv:General tl:Heneral tr:General uk:Генерал ur:منصبِ جامع vec:Generałe (exercito) vi:Đại tướng yi:גענעראל zh:將軍 (中國古代)

Coordinates	61°15′″N73°26′″N
Name	Martin E. Dempsey
Birth date	March 14, 1952
Allegiance
Branch
Serviceyears	1974 – Present
Rank
Commands	Army Chief of StaffU.S. Army Training and Doctrine CommandMulti-National Security Transition Command - Iraq3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment1st Armored Division
Battles	Operation Desert StormIraq WarOperation Enduring Freedom - PhilippinesInsurgency in the Philippines
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (3)Defense Superior Service MedalLegion of Merit (3)Bronze Star (2) with Combat V
Laterwork	}}

General Martin E. Dempsey, USA (born March 14, 1952) is the 37^th and current Chief of Staff of the Army. On May 30, 2011, General Dempsey was selected by President Barack Obama to become the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is expected to succeed Admiral Michael Mullen when Mullen's term ends on September 30, 2011. He previously served as Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command from December 8, 2008 to April 11, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Acting Commander, U.S. Central Command from March 24, 2008 to October 30, 2008 and Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command from August 2007 to Mar 23, 2008 and as Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) from August 2005 to August 2007. He assumed his current assignment on April 11, 2011.

Biography

Dempsey attended John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York and received a commission as an Armor officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974. He went on to be the Executive Officer of the 3rd Brigade 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He then commanded the 4th Battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment "Bandits" from 1992-1995 in the 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany (Hessen).

In June 2003, then Brigadier General Dempsey assumed command of 1st Armored Division. He succeeded Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez who was promoted to command V Corps. Dempsey commanded 1st Armored Division until July 2005 including 13 months in Iraq from June 2003 to July 2004. While in Iraq, 1st Armored Division, in addition to its own brigades, had operational command over the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division; the command, called "Task Force Iron" in recognition of the Division's nickname, "Old Ironsides", was the largest division-level command in the history of the United States Army.

It was during this time that the U.S. intervention in Iraq changed dramatically as Fallujah fell to Sunni extremists and supporters of Muqtada Sadr built their strength and rose up against American forces. Then Major General Dempsey and his command assumed responsibility for the Area of Operations in Baghdad as the insurgency incubated, grew, and exploded. General Dempsey has been described by Thomas Ricks in his book "Fiasco": "In the capital itself, the 1st Armored Division, after Sanchez assumed control of V Corps, was led by Gen. Martin Dempsey, was generally seen as handling a difficult (and inherited) job well, under the global spotlight of Baghdad."

On March 27, 2007, Dempsey was promoted from commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, to be reappointed as a lieutenant general and assigned as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

On February 5, 2008, Dempsey was nominated to head the Seventh United States Army/U.S. Army, Europe and was nominated for promotion to four-star general upon Senate approval.

On March 11, 2008, Dempsey's commander, Admiral William J. Fallon, retired from active service. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates accepted this as effective on March 31. Dempsey took over command as acting commander CENTCOM.

On March 13, 2008, Dempsey was confirmed by the United States Senate as Commander, Seventh United States Army/U.S. Army, Europe. Due to the resignation of Admiral Fallon, he never assumed command over Seventh Army and became Acting Commander, U.S. Central Command. Instead, General Carter F. Ham assumed command of the Seventh Army on August 28, 2008.

On December 8, 2008, Dempsey took command of United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.

On January 6, 2011, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he would nominate General Dempsey to succeed General George Casey as the Army Chief of Staff.

On February 8, 2011, Gates announced that President Barack Obama nominated Dempsey to be the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

On March 3, 2011, Dempsey testified before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services for reappointment to the grade of general and to be the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

On March 15, 2011, the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services affirmatively reported Dempsey's nomination to serve as the 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army to the floor of the Senate. On March 16, 2011, the Senate confirmed Dempsey's nomination by unanimous consent.

On April 11, 2011, Dempsey was officially sworn in as 37th Chief of Staff of the United States Army at a ceremony at Fort Myer.

With Admiral Mike Mullen set to retire as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September 2011, President Obama needed to select his replacement. The Vice-Chairman, Marine General James Cartwright, who was initially believed to be the front runner for the job, had fallen out of favor among senior officials in the Defense Department. Obama administration officials revealed on May 26, 2011, that the President would nominate Dempsey to the post of Chairman.

Education

1974 Bachelor of Science degree, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY

1984 Master of Arts degree in English, Duke University, Durham, NC

1988 Master of Military Art and Science degree, United States Army Command and General Staff College

1995 Master of Science degree in national security and strategic studies, National War College

Promotions

10px 2LT - 5 Jun 74

10px 1LT - 5 Jun 76

28px CPT - 8 Aug 78

28px MAJ - 1 Sep 85

28px LTC - 1 Apr 91

28px COL - 1 Sep 95

28px BG - 1 Aug 01

56px MG - 1 Sep 04

84px LTG - 8 Sep 05

112px GEN - 8 Dec 08

Awards, decorations, and badges

{| |- | |Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster) |- | |Army Distinguished Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters) |- | |Defense Superior Service Medal |- | |Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) |- | |Bronze Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster and Combat Valor Device) |- | |Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters) |- | |Joint Service Commendation Medal |- | |Army Commendation Medal |- | |Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) |- | |Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster) |- | |Valorous Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster) |- | |Army Superior Unit Award (with Oak Leaf Cluster) |- | |National Defense Service Medal (with two bronze Service Stars) |- | |Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze Service Stars |- | |Iraq Campaign Medal |- | |Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |- | |Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |- | |Army Service Ribbon |- | |Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with award numeral "4") |- | |NATO Medal for Service with ISAF |- | |Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) |- | |Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) |} {| | align=center | |Combat Action Badge |- | align=center | |Basic Parachutist Badge |- | align=center | |Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |- | align=center | |Army Staff Identification Badge |- | align=center | |7 Overseas Service Bars |- | align=center | |3d Armored Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia |- | align=center | |1st Armored Division Combat Service Identification Badge |}

References

External links

Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey at U.S. Army

*Military Biography

Category:1952 births Category:United States Army generals Category:American people of Irish descent Category:Living people Category:United States Military Academy alumni Category:Duke University alumni Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal

de:Martin E. Dempsey he:מרטין דמפסי no:Martin Dempsey ru:Демпси, Мартин sv:Martin Dempsey

Coordinates	61°15′″N73°26′″N
name	General Sarath Fonseka
candidate	President of Sri Lanka
eletion date	26 January 2010
opponent	Mahinda Rajapaksa (UPFA) and numerous others.
incumbent	Mahinda Rajapaksa
birth date	December 18, 1950
birth place	Ambalangoda, Southern Province, Dominion of Ceylon
nationality	Sri Lankan
alma mater	Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya, Ampara Dharmasoka College, AmbalangodaAnanda College, Colombo
party	New Democratic Front
spouse	Anoma Indumathi Munasinghe
children	Aparna and Apsara
occupation	Soldier
religion	Buddhist
rank	General
branch	Sri Lanka Army
serviceyears	1970–2009
commands	Chief of Defence StaffCommander of the Army
battles	Sri Lankan Civil War,Insurrection 1987–89
awards	Rana Wickrama Padakkama,Rana Sura Padakkama,Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya,Uttama Seva Padakkama,Desha Putra Sammanaya(partial list)
footnotes	}}

Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka (, , born 18 December 1950) is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the terrorist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the process. He later had a public falling out with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and unsuccessfully challenged Rajapaksa in the 2010 presidential election.

Fonseka joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1970 and saw extensive action throughout the 26 year civil war, culminating in a term as Commander of the Army from 6 December 2005 – 15 July 2009. As commander, he oversaw the final phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War, which resulted in the total defeat of the militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organisation. He also survived an assassination attempt when an LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade in April 2006. Following the end of the war Fonseka was promoted to a four star rank in the Sri Lanka Army, becoming the first serving officer to hold a four star rank. He has been described as Sri Lanka's most successful army commander.

A few months after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, Fonseka was appointed [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)| Chief of Defence Staff]] by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. While his new post was of a higher rank, Fonseka saw the move as an attempt to sideline him. Amid rumours of his desire to enter politics, he subsequently retired from the post on 16 November 2009. On 29 November 2009, Fonseka formally announced his candidature in the 2010 Sri Lankan Presidential Election. His candidacy was endorsed by the main opposition parties, and Fonseka became the main opposition candidate challenging President Rajapaksa. He campaigned under the sign of a swan, and the slogan ''Vishvasaniya Venasak'' (A Credible Change). In the election, held on 26 January 2010, he was convincingly defeated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who obtained 57% of all votes cast.

Following his election defeat, Fonseka was arrested on 8 February 2010, and the government announced he will be court-martialed for committing "military offences." He was found guilty of corrupt military supply deals and sentenced to three years in prison.

Early life

Fonseka was born to Peter and Piyawathie Fonseka in Ambalangoda, a coastal town in the south of Sri Lanka. He in initially attended Madawalalanda Maha Vidyalaya (1955–1957) in Ampara, later receiving his secondary education from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda (1958–1965) and Ananda College, Colombo (1966–1969). In school, Fonseka participated in swimming and water polo events, later representing defence services in these sports.

Military career in the Sri Lankan Army

Fonseka joined the Army during peacetime, in 1970, and held a large number of staff appointments. He rose to the rank of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan army, a post he relinquished to take reins as Commander of the Army in 2005.

During his career, Fonseka, was involved in the operations Balawegaya and Jayasikuru, which led to the capture of the Elephant Pass and Mankulam. The 6th Battalion of his Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, which was under siege at Elephant Pass in 1991, repulsed the LTTE attack with reinforcements. He served as Deputy General Officer Commanding during Riviresa, the capture of Jaffna from the Tamil Tigers in December 1995. Later, troops commanded by Fonseka offered stiff resistance to Tamil Tigers in 2000 following the Fall of Elephant Pass, ultimately having to flee since they were unable to withstand the attack. Fonseka was wounded in 1993 in the Yaldevi operation.

Among other appointments, he commanded the 23 Brigade of the Sri Lankan Army at Polonnaruwa in 1993, he served in the General Staff at Army Headquarters, he was a Centre Commandant of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Brigade Commander in Operation Balawegay, Deputy Commandant of the 5 Brigade Group, Mannar and Coordinating Officer for Gampaha.

"Midnight Express"

In 1993, the Jaffna Fort was under siege by Tamil Tiger rebels. Then Colonel Fonseka led troops in the [[Midnight Express (military operation)| Midnight Express]] operation to relieve the besieged position. Several hundred soldiers were saved due to the operation.

Suicide bomb attack

On 25 April 2006, Lt. General Fonseka survived an LTTE suicide bomb attack by a pregnant LTTE operative named Anoja Kugenthirarasah who infiltrated Army Headquarters by attending the regular maternity clinic provided for civilians at the military hospital. Fonseka was seriously injured in the attack, and nine others were killed. The General was rushed first to the military hospital at Army Headquarters, transferred to the Colombo General Hospital and later flown to Singapore for medical treatment. After recovering from his injuries, he resumed his duties in July 2006.

Defeat of the LTTE

On 18 May 2009, the Sri Lankan military completely defeated the LTTE after 26 years of civil war. Foneseka played a key role in the final stages of the conflict as Commander of the Army, and is considered as a national hero by the majority of Sri Lankans due to this achievement.

Chief of Defence staff

Fonseka was appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Rajapaksa effective 15 July 2009. He was the first person appointed CDS under the newly approved Chief of Defence Staff Act, which was supposed to give the CDS more responsibilities in coordinating the armed forces.

Retirement

Fonseka officially handed over his letter of resignation to the President through the Defence secretary on 12 November 2009. He requested to serve as CDS until the end of the month, He resigned from that post to compete as a candidate for the presidential election which was held in January 2010. He left office on 16 November 2009, President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Air Force Chief Roshan Goonatilake to succeed Fonseka on 16 November 2009.

Politics

Post War Politics

There were newspaper reports published about General Fonseka entering politics after the war victory, beginning in August 2009. One of the articles explains it as follows, "General Fonseka launches political campaign – I will make a supreme sacrifice to defend my land against the politicos who ever they may be joining hands with India. Now we have a daunting task to protect our motherland from India". Gen. Fonseka entering politics was a debate even during the war against LTTE.

Gen. Fonseka was installed as the common candidate by a coalition of political parties mainly United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Gen. Fonseka however declared himself as a non party candidate.

With support of UNP and JVP Fonseka claimed that he himself defeated the LTTE. Immediately after declaration that Fonseka was ready for candidacy, President Rajapakse called for new presidential election two years before expiration of his term.

Gen. Fonseka, UNP and JVP led a fierce battle against President Rajapakse. They claimed that Gen Fonseka was the real hero who won the war against LTTE and Fonseka government was ready for good governance along with the support of all the minorities , eliminate prevailing corruption under Mahinda Rajapaka government and also promised a massive salary increase for public servants which had been denied thus far. They also promised to change the constitution to remove executive powers from the presidency and transfer such powers to the parliament. Further they promised to establish the 17 amendment to authorise independent commissions as a measure to counter the ongoing mishandling of public money.

Fonseka suffered a number of setbacks in his election campaign. In December 2009, A news item was published in local newspaper "Sunday Leader" quoting Sarath Fonseka saying that during the final few days of the war against LTTE, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse (who is a brother of the President) gave orders to the army senior officers to execute LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Army. Due to the massive publicity given in the state media, this statement was taken by the whole country as betrayal of army officers by the retired army commander himself. Although Gen. Fonseka later issued a statement saying that his original statement has been published by the Sunday Leader out of context, many analysts say that Fonseka lost the election from that moment.

Meanwhile, in the next attempt government put some evidence before public that Gen Fonseka was corrupt while he was the commander of the Sri Lanka Army. There was evidence that he removed the tender board chairman from the office and he himself became the chairman only to offer all the tenders to a company owned by his son-in-law. Adding fuel to the fire, one of his close friends living in Oklahoma USA "Upul Illangamge" spilled the beans by disclosing to the media in a press conference how the company was formed, registered in USA and Fonseka's son-in-law sold 3 million rupees worth equipment necessary for the war during the final three years of the war. Fonska claimed that the company referred in the accusation has no connection to his son-in-laws company although both companies share one name: Hicorp. But this allegation was on all public & state media supporting the government day and night and it had been used as a mean of discredit his reputation and attempts were also made to label him as a traitor by key spokespeople in the government.

Then Sri Lanka's Tamil political party faithful to LTTE- Tamil National Alliance (TNA) agreed to support Sarath Fonseka in the Presidential Election after having several discussions with both Mahinda Rajapakse and Gen. Sarath Fonseka. Then government disclosed a secret agreement between TNA and Gen Fonseka in which Fonseka had promised merger of North and East provinces and an autonomous status for Tamils in return for the support of the north and east Tamil population in the Presidential election.But opposition leaders prove that agreement was a fake one with fake signatures adapted by another resources.But some Sinhalese reacted with anger to this agreement since the army fought 30 year old bloody war against LTTE only to reject similar autonomous state "Ealam" claimed by the LTTE.Also opposition revealed a secret written agreement between Mahinda Rajapaksa and EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda who was a tamil politician faithful to Rajapakse.

Sarath Fonseka however sincerely expected that he was set for a massive win on 26 Jan 2010. There were reports that say that he intended to arrest President Mahinda Rajapakse and immediately execute Gotabaya Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse(two brothers of the president). He booked 70 rooms of a five star hotel some hundred metres away from the President's House for the night of 26 Jan 2010. State Media reports say that a large number (some 400) of deserted army soldiers spent the night with Gen Fonseka at the hotel to enjoy the election results. It was then learned that the whole allegation was false! because the government arrested 9 persons that official body guards of Gen.Sarath Fonseka that provided for his personal security by Army.

Election results were released by the election commissioner electorate by electorate in the morning of 27 Jan 2010.

After Presidential Election 2010

Sarath Fonseka refused to accept the election results published by the Election Commissioner. He also said he would consider legal action but did not indicate against whom. There are reports that say Sarath Fonseka is making every possible attempt to leave the country as early as possible quoting him saying "I cannot even leave the country, Rajapakse has blacklisted my passport along with my family, including my daughters' who are still studying in USA". Some newspapers reported that he is seeking asylum in Australia, UK or India. Meanwhile BBC announced that Gotabaya Rajapakse is intending to take legal action against Sarath Fonseka for leaking top secret government information. Later he stated in a press conference that he does not intend to leave the country, rather would stay with the people who voted him to see the justice is established.

On 28 Jan 2010 CID began its new investigations on claims made by several ministers of Rajapakse government that Fonseka was planning a coup to remove Rajapakse in case of close election results on 26 Jan. In connection with this investigation, a media institution "Lanka" run by JVP who helped Fonseka during presidential election was sealed on 30 Jan 2010 by the CID with a court order. Within few days the court accepted the appeal and ordered CID to re-open the office. Sri Lanka Army has arrested Sarath Fonseka for committing military offences on 8 February 2010.

Arrest

Fonseka was arrested at his office in Colombo on 8 February 2010 by Military Police, and taken into military custody. The military announced he will be court-martialed for "committing military offences" during his time as Chief of Defense Staff. Military says he will be charged according the SL ARMY ACT, Section 57(1). The military tribunal in which the case was heard has been challenged of multiple issues including the suitability and qualifications of the judges and the hearing of the case in official holiday period of lawyers (9 August to 13th, 2010), where his lawyers were not present. Further, the witnessed were summoned during that period, thus lawyers of the accused never had a chance to interrogate witness. Amidst all these conditions, the panel of judges found General guilty of the charges, in one of the most unacceptable hearing in Sri Lanka. Later,on 14 August 2010,President authorised verdict of 1st court martial to strip Sarath Fonseka of all Military ranks. It is reported that an appeal is to be made to the high court soon. sarath.jpg

General Election 2010

Sarath Fonseka, Leader of Democratic National Alliance, obtained over 98,000 votes only in Colombo District. It is the 2nd highest individual vote obtaining percentage ever in the Election, 89.0%. General Sarath Fonseka was a Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament, until he was sentenced to serve a two and half year prison sentence which made him unable to continue his membership in the chamber according to the Sri Lankan Constitution. However he requested the Court of Appeal to issue writs against the cashiering, prison sentence and removal from parliament. These petitions are still being hearing in the Court of Appeal.

After the Arrest

Awards

His awards and decorations include the Gallantry Medals; Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), distinguished service medals; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) and other notable medal campaign medals; Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Desha Putra Sammanaya and several others.

Sri Lankan awards

In Order of Precedence

Personal life

Sarath Fonseka is married to Anoma Indumathi Munasinghe, daughter of D.J.and Eugine Munasinghe of Dematagoda, and has two children Aparna & Apsara.

See also

Eelam War IV

Sri Lankan civil war

Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)

Chief of Defence Staff

References

External links

Official sites

General Fonseka's Official Website

New Democratic Front Official Website

News media

All for the love of a soldier

Picture Gallery

Fonseka appointed new Chief of Defence Staff

Audio

General Fonseka spells out his political ambitions

General Fonseka speaks about the “corrupt people

Category:1950 births Category:Sri Lankan generals Category:Living people Category:Sinhalese people Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists Category:Sri Lankan politicians Category:Sri Lankan 2010 presidential candidates Category:Alumni of Ananda College Category:Members of 14th Parliament of Sri Lanka Category:Prisoners and detainees of Sri Lanka Category:People from Southern Province, Sri Lanka Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies

de:Sarath Fonseka no:Sarath Fonseka pl:Sarath Fonseka pt:Sarath Fonseka ru:Фонсека, Саратх si:සරත් ෆොන්සේකා ta:சரத் பொன்சேகா

Coordinates	61°15′″N73°26′″N
Name	Rick J. Hillier
Rank	General
Branch
Commands	SFOR Multinational Division (Southwest),ISAF,Chief of the Land Staff, Chief of the Defence Staff
Battles	War in Afghanistan
Allegiance	Canada
Birth date	1955
Birth place	Campbellton, Newfoundland
Serviceyears	1973-2008
Awards	Commander of the Order of Military MeritMeritorious Service CrossCanadian Forces Decoration }}

General(Ret.) Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD (born 1955), is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005 to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) Walter Natynczyk. He is also the highest ranking Newfoundland and Labrador officer in history.

Early years

Born in 1955 and raised in Campbellton, Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, he graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Early military career

He was posted to his first regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) in Petawawa, Ontario, and subsequently to the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Lahr, Germany. He has also served as a staff officer at Force Mobile Command Headquarters at CFB St. Hubert in Montreal, and at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He commanded 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) from 1997 as Deputy Commanding General of III Armoured Corps of the United States Army, at Fort Hood, Texas. In January 1998, as Commander 2 CMBG, he led Operation Recuperation, the Canadian Forces' intervention in the paralysing ice storm in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. He went on to command the Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He was named Chief of the Land Staff, commanding the Canadian Army, on May 30, 2003. He is noted for his public calls for increased resources for the Canadian Forces. In 2003, when he was appointed Chief of the Land Staff, he said, "Any commander who would stand up here and say that we didn't need more soldiers should be tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail." After serving as Chief of the Land Staff and before being appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, he commanded the NATO ISAF in Afghanistan from February 9 to August 12, 2004.

Chief of the Defence Staff

On February 4, 2005, Hillier became Chief of the Defence Staff. At the change-of-command ceremony he repeated his call, more broadly, for increased military funding. "In this country, we could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things that we ask them to do," he said, with Prime Minister Paul Martin and Defence Minister Bill Graham looking on. "But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing. Remember them in your budgets."

Resignation

On April 15, 2008, Hillier announced he would step down as CDS on July 1, 2008.

Hillier was subsequently appointed as chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, effective July 3, 2008.

Post-military career and community involvement

Project Hero

In 2009, Hillier co-founded Project Hero, a scholarship program for the children of Canadian Forces personnel killed while on active military duty. The Children of Deceased Veterans - Education Assistance Act verification is used to verify Project Hero eligibility. The process is administered by the Veterans Affairs Canada. There is controversy about the nature of the Project Hero Scholarship and its benefits.

Memorial University

On July 3, 2008, Hillier began a term as Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, his alma mater.

On August 14, 2008, TELUS announced that Hillier was appointed as Chair of TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board. Hillier said, “TELUS is a company that gets stuff done both in business and in the community – I like that. They are entrusting their philanthropic efforts in Atlantic Canada to people who live and work here. I'm excited about the opportunity to help TELUS engage with the Atlantic Canada communities that are so very important to me.”

TD Bank

Hillier announced on September 3, 2008, he will be working at an Ottawa office for the TD Bank to support initiatives that enhance the client and customer experience and to assist the bank's ongoing leadership development and training activities.

Peacekeeping Envoy

Hillier is currently working with the United Nations as PeaceKeeping Envoy to Afghanistan.

Provincial Aerospace

On June 16, 2009, while attending the 48th International Paris Air Show, Provincial Aerospace announced that Hillier will join the company’s Advisory Board.

Family

Hillier and his wife Joyce have two sons, Chris and Steven; a daughter-in-law, Chris' wife, Caroline; and two grandsons, Jack and Matthew.

He has five sisters (Shirley, Donna, Beverly, Heather and Maxine).

References

External links

GeneralHillier.com, his personal website.

Interview with Rick Hillier on The Hour.

CBC News Indepth background Career timeline (CBC)

"Hillier gets combat-ready for business world", Globe & Mail, July 6, 2008

Gowlings press release, July 7, 2008

"Why we loved him so" Ottawa Citizen (Canwest News Service)July 2, 2008

|- |- |- {{s-ttl|title=Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland |years=2008-}}

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian generals Category:Canadian university and college chancellors Category:People from Newfoundland Category:Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration Category:Recipients of the Canadian Forces Decoration Category:Royal Military College of Canada people Category:Canadian military personnel

de:Rick Hillier es:Rick Hillier fr:Rick Hillier

Coordinates	61°15′″N73°26′″N
Name	Masood Aslam
Birth date	September 01, 1952
Birth place	Mujahidabad, Jhelum District, Pakistan
Allegiance
Branch
Serviceyears	1971 –
Rank
Commands	Western Military Command (NMC)XI Corps23rd Infantry Division, JhelumDG National Accountability Bureau (Punjab)IG Training and Evaluation (IGT&E)
Unit	17th Infantry (Punjab Regiment)
Battles	Indo-Pakistan War of 1971Siachen conflictIndo-Pakistani War of 1999War in North-West Pakistan
Awards	Sitara-e-JuratHilal-i-Imtiaz (Military)Hillal e Imtiaz (civilian)
Laterwork	}}

Lieutenant-General Muhammad Masood Aslam, HI(M), HI (C), SJ, afwc, psc, (born September 1, 1952 at Jhelum) is the principal commander of Pakistan Army fighting the pro-Taliban forces in the Waziristan theater, part of War Against Terror. His last 3-star assignment was to command the XI Corps, as Core-Commander. And now, General Aslam is in charge of all the military and para-military troops stationed in the north-western Pakistan. Hence, he is the current commander of Pakistan's Western Military Command.

Initial education

Lt Gen Masood Aslam was born in Mujahidabad, Jhelum in the northern Punjab. He got his primary education from Presentation Convent High School, Jhelum and Government High School, Jhelum. By the year 1965, he joined Cadet College Hasan Abdal and did his intermediate in pre engineering in 1970 with honours from the same college. However, instead of pursuing career in electrical engineering, he decided to serve as an Army officer and joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1970.

Army career

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

He was commissioned in the Infantry's Punjab Regiment on 14 November 1971 in the 47th PMA Long Course as his course was shortened due to Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Within a few weeks of commissioning, he was seriously wounded fighting in the front lines at Chumb-Jaurian sector. He was awarded Imtiazi Sanad (mentioned in despatches) for his efforts and gallantry.

Military training

He was among the pioneer officers who established the computer branch at the GHQ in mid 1970s. He is a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and holds a Masters Degree in Military Warfare from the National Defence College, Islamabad. He has also attended overseas courses including UN peace keeping course from Sweden and Strategic Studies course from Hawaii, United States.

1987 Siachen Conflict and 1999 Kargil War

He served at Siachen for more than a year in the early days of Siachen conflict with India. He established military posts at Siachen and served at glaciated heights of around 20,000 feet. As a Lt. Col, he commanded an Infantry battalion at Okara and then as a Brigadier-General, commanded two infantry brigades, one of which was at Kargil. He was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for his extraordinary service and bravery by the then President Rafiq Tarar, after the Kargil encounter.

2001-02 military standoff and staff assignments

He commanded an Infantry Division on the LOC during the period of escalation, when Indian and Pakistani troops were tied up face to face in a very tense warlike state for two full years in 2001-03. He also served as GOC Jhelum. He then served as the Director General NAB (Punjab), and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2005 and posted as Inspector General Training and Evaluation.

Commander XI Corps

In July 2007, Lt. Gen Masood Aslam took charge of the sensitive post of Corps Commander Peshawar, replacing Lt Gen Hamid Khan. This was period when Pakistan Army launched military operation against the vigilantes of Lal Masjid in Islamabad that followed with a rising trend of terrorist attacks throughout Pakistan, mostly emanating from the rugged lands of Waziristan and the surrounding tribal regions. A counter-terrorist operation was then launched under the general which included 2007 Taliban Waziristan offensive, Battle of Mir Ali, and Battle of Swat. He has to his credit pushing out and defeating the militants in Swat, Buner, Dir Lower and other districts of Malakand Division and inflicting heavy blows against the TTP cadres in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber tribal agencies and Frontier Region (FR) Bannu. [Ref:The News 7th Dec 2009] Lt. General Masood Aslam has been given an extension in his tenure as he was supposed to retire in October 2009.

Affectee of Rawalpindi Parade Lane mosque attack

On 4th Dec, 2009, Hashim Masood Aslam student of EME College Rawalpindi, the only son of Lt. Gen Masood Aslam was killed during the December 2009 Rawalpindi attack during Friday prayers.

References

Category:1952 births Category:Abdalians Category:Living people Category:Pakistani generals Category:Hilal-i-Imtiaz Category:People from Jhelum Category:Pakistani military engineers Category:Pakistani electrical engineers Category:University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore alumni