[2] Alok was born into the Kler military family which originated from Sarhal Qazian nawashar then moved to Kakrala Kalan near Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

His father, Gen Gurdev Singh Kler was Mentioned in dispatches (MiD) in Sialkot in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 fighting with 18th Cavalry.

Commanding 56 Brigade, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for capturing the largest group of armed insurgents in Nagaland in the 1970s.

[citation needed] His elder brother, Jasjit Singh Kler was in the Indian Air Force.

[3] His Uncle, Gen Hardev Singh Kler was awarded the Mahavir Chakra in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for commanding 95 Brigade.

[4] Alok's father-in-law, Brigadier Narinder Singh Sandhu saw action in both the wars of 1965 and 1971 and was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.