From Special Forces to corporate security, Major Siddharth Rathore’s journey proves that discipline, courage and leadership endure beyond uniform.
Major Siddharth Rathore (Retd), embodying discipline and leadership from India’s Special Forces to corporate security (Photo: X)
Major Siddharth Rathore (Retd) is part of a new breed of Indian military officers whose reach is not limited to the time they are in service. In a country where close to 65,000 military personnel retire annually, his is a special case where the military discipline he has developed has been effortlessly adapted into a corporate role. From Rajasthan’s quiet towns to elite combat units and now the nerve center of corporate security.
Major Siddharth Rathore is a retired Indian Army officer who has worked with the Parachute Regiment Special Forces and is currently heading corporate security and he is a calm and measured individual who is very mission-oriented. His work life mirrors the Special Forces mantra of being invisible, always prepared and striking when the need arises.
After serving for several years in the military, Rathore enrolled in the Indian Institute of Management, Indore for formal management education where data reveals that almost 20% of the top retired officers are now pursuing higher management degrees to cope with their new role as managers in the civilian world and Rathore’s educational transition was right in line with this emerging trend.
Rathore has over a decade of military experience, which has been in the most challenging combat zones in India and special Forces, where Rathore has served, demand continuous physical and mental fitness, as well as technical skills. The personnel undergo training for over 3,000 hours every year, which is almost twice as much as the rest of the military.
As the Deputy General Manager Security at the Adani Group in his present capacity, Major Rathore is responsible for the security plans of high-value assets such as the Chairman, Gautam Adani. The protection of corporate leadership has become a niche area with the private security industry in India estimated to be over Rs. 90,000 crore and Major Rathore brings his military training in threat analysis to the corporate sector.
One of the most memorable moments in his career was when he received direct officer commissioning into the 12th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment Special Forces. The Special Forces selection is notoriously tough with the sort of selection where only a handful of people make it and that’s often less than 10%. To pass such a test, you need more than just endurance you need to be able to think on your feet and be resourceful and his entry was not only a personal achievement but also a unique precedent.
The Special Forces operate in an environment of uncertainty with their missions remain low-key and do not often receive accolades. The Special Forces operators are trained to function in conditions of sleep deprivation, harsh environments and risky odds. Studies in military psychology have found that the Special Forces are better at managing stress than regular military troops and Rathore had lived in this world for a long time which has influenced his leadership style.
The transition from the military to the corporate world is not an easy one for most individuals and Rathore’s experience was no different, although more carefully planned. At the main office of Adani Group in Ahmedabad, Rathore manages teams of which most members are ex-military, making the transition smoother and maintaining a consistent operational environment. His work involves the application of planning, along with the regulations and responsibilities of corporate governance, ensuring that security objectives are aligned with business continuity. This unique combination of military and business acumen is what has led to over 30% of large Indian corporations recruiting ex-defense officers for senior security positions.
Major Siddharth Rathore’s net worth is not publicly known taking into consideration the industry standards for a senior corporate security leader, along with his military pension and consulting work, his net worth is estimated to be in the range of Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 crores. This is a measure of a career that has been based on service and skill rather than marketing and commercial success.
