That same year, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. He became Chief of General Staff of the Armed Services in 2003. As a key figure in the SPDC, he seems to have overseen a number of offensives against ethnic insurgents.
In the same year, he was elevated to the rank of lieutenant general. He assumed the position of Chief of General Staff for the Armed Forces in 2003.  As a key member of the SPDC, it seems he directed numerous military operations against ethnic rebel groups.