Wing Commander Jaswant Singh Kumar was commissioned in the IAF in May 61. He has held several important appointments including Senior Logistics Officer of two Air Bases and Assistant Air Attaché at London. During the preceding 2 ½ years he has been commanding an important Equipment Depot dealing in storage, issue and maintenance of common user vehicles.

Wing Commander Kumar has devised a procedure that has ensured a smooth flow of vehicles, both in and out, without the need of escorts. Despite 100 monthly in and out allotments, the officer achieved a state of Nil escort pending Vehicles collection.

Wg Cdr Kumar has undertaken the special task of organising and controlling the Republic Day March Past Vehicular Column in 1981 and 1982. The excellent performance of the Vehicular column was appreciated by the Chief of the Air Staff and Air Officer Incharge Maintenance. This was achieved by Wg Cdr Kumar without any additional manpower or help.

Wg Cdr Kumar was given the special task of speedy unloading and clearance of more than 100 Specialist vehicles at Bombay. He achieved this task in full measure, without having to pay any demurrage charges.

For his remarkable resourcefulness, leadership qualities and achievements of major results with limited resources, the President is pleased to award VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL to Wg Cdr Jaswant Singh Kumar.

Group Captain Jaswant Singh Kumar has been posted as the Director of Mechanical Transport since the 10th December, 1986. He has brought about a conceptual change in MT Management of the Indian Air Force. He initiated phasing out of over­powered vehicles with high fuel consumption which, apart from being more expensive, were found unreliable by the field formations. Induction of fuel efficient vehicles like Maruti Gypsy, Allwyn Nissan and Swaraj Mazda, not only boosted the ground mobility of operational units but also resulted in appreciable fuel economy and improved serviceability­cum­reliability. The petrol consumption at most of the major Stations dropped by 10-15% after phased induction of these vehicles. Savings to the tune of Rs. 3 to 5 crore per year would accrue with the completion of induction programme of fuel efficient vehicles to replace over-powered vehicle fleet. The revised Maintenance System conceived by him envisaged utilisation of authorised civil servicing and maintenance facilities to the optimum so that vehicles were properly serviced/repaired and also spares inventory kept to optimum level. This has directly contributed to the operational preparedness of units like MOFs, Flying Stations and Mobile Radar Units. The officer reorganised the MT vehicles induction and spares distribution system to provide a high degree of assurance in spares to all the units.

He closely monitored and analysed the MT accident rate and issued various instructions to the units on vital importance of defensive driving. During the last three years, constant downward trend has been achieved in respect of MT accident rate.

Group Captain Jaswant Singh Kumar, VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.