As a flying instructor Wing Commander Bhakoo was instrumental in carrying out trials for carriage of rocket pods and bomb racks on a trainer aircraft. As Station Flight Safety Officer, his personal attention to snag rectification and defect investigations ensured that the concept of safe flying was effectively implemented. His hard work, dedication and initiative were evident as his base became the first station to install anti bird measures like the Zon Gun, ahead of the 10 priority airfields.

The Officer is presently posted to a Command HQ. The officer played a pivotal role in setting up Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN) in the Command HQ and its various stations using Tropo lines. He was personally involved in explaining the intricacies of the LAN & WAN to all the bases, convincing the non-believer into accepting computerisation. The proof was that the Command yearly exercise was run totally on the WAN and LANs with no use whatsoever of telephones between Command HQ and Stations. All air tasking orders, executive orders, reports, feed backs and returns were sent/received on this system. A very high degree of perseverance, hard work, ingenuity and dedication to duty was displayed by the officer in achieving a Computer Network System with near to nil resources.

The officer's experience in flying two types of fighter aircraft was called upon in the formulation of PART-III for the Command with emphasis on strike planning, tactical routing, formation of Tasking Orders, feedback reports and returns. The officer played a pivotal role in the installation of scanners at eight Air Force bases in the Command for the passage of information from the FR Sqns. This system proved to be most cost effective and efficient making the old Vicon system redundant.

In recognition of his hard work, dedication to duty, perseverance to achieve results and his contribution, to the Air Force, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Ashwani Bhakoo.