Wing Commander Shrikant Prabhakar Puranik has been commanding one of the operational helicopter units in the northern sector since 09 Jan 84.

Throughout his present tenure as Commanding Officer, he has displayed leadership, organizing ability, dedication and devotion to duty of a very high order. Under his able leadership and guidance the unit has won many laurels. The unit under his command has accomplished more than 8600 hours of operational flying, most of it in the treacherous region of the Siachen Glacier. During the very first year of his Command, the unit won the Best Performance Helicopter Unit Trophy. Then again in the subsequent year the unit won the Best Operational Helicopter Unit Trophy. These achievements together with the enormous task of maintenance of the Army at the Siachen Glacier by the Helicopter Unit were, to a great extent, due to the ingenuity, hard work and exemplary leadership of Wg Cdr SP Puranik.

Wg Cdr Puranik has to his credit 4600 hours of accident/incident-free flying, including 920 hours during the present tenure. Of these, 540 hours have been flown in the Siachen Glacier alone, where he has not only operated with skill and confidence but has also trained his junior pilots to undertake the exacting operations. This has helped in meeting all the demands placed on the unit for the Glacier operations.

For his outstanding leadership, devotion to duty and professional skill, the President is pleased to award Vayu Seva Medal to Wg Cdr SP Puranik.