Batoo Tshering
{{Short description|Bhutanese major general (born 1951)}}
{{Infobox military person
| image= Batoo_Tshering.jpg
| caption= Batoo Tshering.
| imagesize =
| name= Goongleon B. Tshering
| death_date=
| birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1951|12|11}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.rba.bt/chief |title=Royal Bhutan Army |access-date=2016-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904031629/http://www.rba.bt/chief |archive-date=2016-09-04 |url-status=dead }}
| birth_place= Toebesa, Thimphu, Bhutan
| death_place=
| placeofburial=
| nickname=
| allegiance={{flag|Bhutan}}
| branch=Royal Bhutan Army
| serviceyears= 1971 – current
| rank= Lieutenant General
| commands=
| battles= Operation All Clear
| awards= Druk Yugyel Medal
Drakpoi Rinchen Tsugtor Medal
Drakpoi Wangyel Medal
Drakpoi Thugsey Medal
Drakpoi Khorlo Medal[https://web.archive.org/web/20130504055844/http://www.kuenselonline.com/hm-awards-medals-on-the-occasion-2/#.UXUtbeBAh_l Web Archive]
| laterwork=
| religion = Buddhism
}}
Goongloen Gongma (Lt General) Batoo Tshering, DYG, DRT, DW, DT, DK,{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} is the current Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army (COO).{{cite news|title=Officers promoted to rank of Lieutenant Colonel|url=http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=23478|accessdate=2013-04-22|date=2013-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213024110/http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=23478|archive-date=2014-12-13|url-status=dead}} He succeeded the outgoing chief, Goongloen Gongma (Lieutenant General) Lam Dorji on 1 November 2005.{{cite news|title=Dozin Batoo Tshering takes over as COO of RBA|newspaper=Kuensel|date=2005-11-02}}{{cite web|title=RANK INSIGNIA - ARMY LAND FORCES|url=http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2931|accessdate=2013-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213014208/http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=2931|archive-date=2014-12-13|url-status=dead}}
Family
Tshering is married to Aum Pema Choden, who is a graduate of Paro College of Education and they have two daughters, Dechen Yangden & Rinchen Pelden, both of whom are employed with the Royal Government of Bhutan.{{cite news|title=The Person in Me|newspaper=Kuensel|date=2006-01-14}}
Military career
Tshering underwent training at Indian Military Academy{{cite news|title=284 cadets from OTA set to join army|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/284-cadets-from-OTA-set-to-join-army/articleshow/12310981.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729230539/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-18/chennai/31207134_1_cadets-ota-indian-military-academy|url-status=live|archive-date=July 29, 2013|access-date=2013-04-22|newspaper=The Times of India|date=March 18, 2012}} and was commissioned into the Royal Bhutan Army in November 1971. Thereafter, he was attached with the 8th Battalion the BIHAR Regiment of the Indian Army and underwent Young Officers Course, Commando Course, Intelligence Staff Officers’ Course, Junior Command Course, Senior Command Course in various schools of instruction in India. He is also a graduate of the prestigious Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu.
Lt Gen Batoo Tshering has held various important staff and command assignments. His first staff posting was at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) as operations and training officer in 1976. He commanded Wing 4 and Wing 7 in succession. He was the Commandant of Military Training Centre in 1988, Deputy Chief Operations Officer (G) in 1991 and Commander of Command Centre at Dewathang in 1997 till the completion of Operation: All Clear in 2003.{{cite web|last=PRABHAKARA|first=M.S.|title=Crackdown in Bhutan|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl2101/stories/20040116006400400.htm|accessdate=2013-04-22}} He took over as the Deputy Chief Operations Officer with effect from 21 February 2005 and was appointed as the Chief Operations Officer by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck on 1 November 2005.{{cite news|last=Pandit|first=Rajat|title=Bhutanese Army chief, Major General Batoo Tshering, began his official visit to India on Wednesday, during which India and Bhutan will seek to enhance their bilateral military ties. Maj General Tshering will hold talks with defence minister A K Antony and the three Service chiefs during the day.|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/Bhutanese-Army-chief-Major-General-Batoo-Tshering-began-his-official-visit-to-India-on-Wednesday-during-which-India-and-Bhutan-will-seek-to-enhance-their-bilateral-military-ties-Maj-General-Tshering-will-hold-talks-with-defence-minister-A-K-Antony-and-the-three-Service-chiefs-during-the-day-/articleshow/12259919.cms|accessdate=2013-04-22|newspaper=The Times of India|date=2012-03-14}} In addition to his responsibilities as the Chief Operations Officer, he is also the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Army Welfare Project.{{cite web |title=Army Welfare Project |url=http://www.awp.com.bt/index.php |accessdate=2013-04-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028015238/http://www.awp.com.bt/index.php |archivedate=2012-10-28 }}
While on active duty Tshering survived an ambush from armed insurgents near Nganglam on Oct 31, 1998, during which his car was riddled with bullet shots and he was injured.
Awards and decorations
For his dedicated and distinguished service to the Tsa-Wa-Sum (King, Country and People), he was awarded Druk Yugyel (DYG), Drakpoi Wangyel (DW), Drakpoi Thugsey (DT) and Drakpoi Khorlo (DK) medals by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.{{cite news|title=His Majesty the King awards decoration medals |url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/his-majesty-the-king-awards-decoration-medals/#.UXUte-BAh_l |accessdate=2013-04-22 |newspaper=Kuensel |date=2001-12-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223115014/http://www.kuenselonline.com/his-majesty-the-king-awards-decoration-medals/ |archivedate=2014-02-23 }} He was also awarded the Drakpoi Rinchen Tsugtor (DRT) medal by His Majesty the King on 21 February 2013.{{cite news |title=HM awards medals on the occasion |url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/hm-awards-medals-on-the-occasion-2/#.UXUtbeBAh_l |accessdate=2013-04-22 |newspaper=Kuensel |date=2013-02-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504055844/http://www.kuenselonline.com/hm-awards-medals-on-the-occasion-2/#.UXUtbeBAh_l |archivedate=2013-05-04 }}