Pakistan Military Academy

The Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul (PMA), also known as PMA Kakul, is a two-year accredited federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul in Abbottabad. The Pakistan Military Academy is similar in function to Sandhurst, Saint-Cyr, and West Point, and provides training to the officers of Pakistan Army and Allied countries. The academy has three training battalions, and 12 companies. Another 2,000 guests each year, from over 34 countries, receive some training at PMA.

History
Before Partition in 1947, the location had initially been used as the premises of a PT and Mountaineering School of the British Indian Army, on the site of an old POW Camp for prisoners from the Boer War, and later it became the premises of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. After the division of the old Indian Army between India and Pakistan in 1947, Brigadier Francis Ingall, an officer of the British Indian Army, was selected by the C-in-C India, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, as first commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy, established at Kakul. He determined to model the Pakistan Academy on Sandhurst and requested a regimental sergeant major from the Brigade of Guards to help with training. He was lucky, too, to have the support of a number of old Indian Army officers who were transferred to the Pakistan Army, among them Lieutenant-Colonel Attiqur Rahman. In spite of facilities which were nowhere near the level of those enjoyed by the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun, Ingall won the confidence of his cadets and instructors. When, late in 1947, the dispute over the accession of Jammu and Kashmir led to armed conflict between India and Pakistan, he was able to structure the Academy’s training to enable newly commissioned officers to be immediately effective when they joined units on active service. Ingall was appointed OBE after completing his term as commandant in 1950. What probably gave him more satisfaction was the decision to name Kakul’s central lecture theatre Ingall Hall - though this was not built until many years after he had left. He kept in touch with the academy for the rest of his life, making his last visit in November, 1997 where he said:

I have given many addresses from this position here and from 1948 to 1951 I was very keen on the question of Pakistan and believed in it. I believed what the Quaid-e-Azam preached. I believe in Islam.

Cadets from IMA (66) arrived in October 1947 and new cadets for Ist PMA Long Course (78) and Ist Graduates Course (63) were selected in Pakistan and training started officially in January 1948. Two hundred and seven cadets started their training in January 1948. On January 25, 1948, "The First Pakistan Battalion” was instituted. This battalion has four companies which were "named after the luminaries of Muslim military history" (e.g., Khalid, Tariq, Qasim, and Salahuddin). In March 1948, the First Battalion "was bestowed with Quaid-e-Azam’s patronage as Colonel-in-Chief, and the most coveted claim “The Quaid-e-Azam’s Own".

Khawaja Nazimuddin gave the Quaid-e-Azam banner to the Pakistan Military Academy on behalf of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The Quaid-e-Azam banner is held aloft by the champion company at every passing out parade. "Regimental colours presented in 1950 by Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and the National Standard in 1961 by General Muhammad Musa, the then-Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army, have been some of the honours showered on the Academy, which it has always jealously guarded and kept high in letter and spirit."

The 1965 war led to expansion of the academy, and the second battalion of the academy was created in December 1965. This battalion consisted of four companies, called Ghaznavi, Babur, Aurangzeb, and Tipu. In early 1989, the third battalion of the academy was founded. The third battalion's four companies are Haider, Ubaida, Saad, and Hamza.

Location
The academy is located in Abbottabad, at an elevation of 1,220 meters (4,000 feet). Abbottabad, named after the British administrator James Abbott in the year 1853, is a city located in the Hazara region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Pakistan. The city is situated in the Orash Valley, 50 kilometres (31 miles) northeast of the capital Islamabad and 150 kilometres (93 miles) east of Peshawar at an altitude of 1,260 metres (4,134 ft) and is the capital of the Abbottabad District. It borders Azad Kashmir to the east. The city is well known throughout Pakistan for its pleasant weather, high-standard educational institutions and military establishments as it has a robust presence of soldiers engaged in various activities. The cantonment area of Abbottabad is a beautiful place that is full of greenery, magnificent bungalows and trees. Pine trees are especially common in the area, whereas the climate is moderate both in winters and summers. The city is equipped with markets and all sorts of transport facilities. The city is only at a short distance from the academy. The academy provides an excellent environment for the grooming of young cadets.

Educational philosophy
The educational philosophy of the academy is to impart more than just combat training. The academy provides such an environment that every cadet develops attributes of Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Dignity, Honour and Patriotism. The academy provides all sorts of knowledge and wisdom that will be necessary for the cadets of today to implement when they become officers and are entrusted with an authority. In army all young officers have great respect for their seniors and this character is imparted during their stay at the academy.

Every cadet must be clear of his/her aim of joining the army. With a clear mindset every cadet is required to work hard and with zeal. He should be willing to take risks and lead his team from the front. Team work is an essential part of the extra-curricular activities and field exercises.

Mission
To foster and inculcate those attributes in a Gentleman Cadet (GC) which will ensure his continuous and progressive development as a regular officer in the Pakistan Army. To develop future officers for the Pakistan Army by training the Gentleman Cadets in a way that they can make decisions as and when required by the military profession. 786

Academic courses
The academy offers a 4 years undergraduate program which is Bachelors of Military Arts And Sciences[BMAS] including some common subjects as English, Military Geography, National and International Affairs, Islamic Studies, Military and General Science or Social Science.The long course cadets study two years for the degree before commissioning and complete their degree in their units.Every Gentleman Cadet passing out of the academy has a minimum graduation(from MCE,CEME,MCS,AM College or civil institutes) except for Long Course cadets who complete their degree after their passing out.

The academy also has a Central Library that has a large collection of books on nearly every subject. The library also has journals and research materials. Along with the library the academy also has three massive computer laboratories and four latest computer-controlled Language laboratories. It is important that the cadets be aware of the current national and international news, for which PMA has set up its own broadcast channel.

Apart from the above courses and facilities, Pakistan Military Academy also has a range of clubs and societies which are:


 * Science Club
 * Fine Arts Club
 * Crafts Club
 * Drama Club
 * Debating Club
 * Music Club
 * Camera Club
 * Literary Club
 * Graphics Club

Physical fitness
GCs (Gentlemen Cadets) are required to pass various physical tests. The academy has very high physical standards, which all cadets have to achieve in order to pass. The physical requirements increase with promotion to the next term. The basic requirement for all cadets either of first,second,third or fourth term is to be able to run one mile (1.6 km) within six minutes. Other tests includes push ups, sit ups, chin up, rope test, nine mile (14 km) running, assault course, acid test and agility tests like the horse test. These tests generally test the stamina and strength of a cadet.

LCs are also required to pass physical efficiency tests like GCs, but the standards are bit less keeping in view to their physique. The basic requirement for all lady cadets is to run one mile (1.6 km) within ten minutes. Other tests includes push ups, sit ups, bar hanging, assault course and also undergoes an exercise Qiyadat with GCs. They are entitled to do Horse Riding, Shooting, Swimming, and Fencing; depending on their will. LCs also compete for firing medal and PT medal.

There are also a variety of outdoor clubs that helps in increasing the physical fitness of cadets:


 * Para Club
 * Gliding Club
 * Angling Club
 * Hiking Club
 * Riding Club
 * Judo and Karate Club
 * Health and Hygiene Club
 * Frogman Club
 * Rifle Club
 * Shikar Club

Training
At PMA potential officers undergo a series of grueling training programs designed to inculcate the attributes and qualities essential for a career in the Pakistani armed forces. Some features of the training program include:
 * Professional skills of handling weapons
 * Tips of field craft
 * Use of signal equipment
 * Model discussions
 * Tutorial discussions
 * Tactical exercises without troops
 * Field exercises

There are a number of training exercises for cadets, which include:
 * First term: Kick Off, Saluting Tests
 * Second term: Yarmuk, Path Finder and the GCs are required to spend three minutes in the Boxing Ring with another opponent following a lengthy training period.
 * Third term: T.M Raiders, Panipat and Assault Course is also added as a part of PT Tests.
 * Fourth term: Qiyadat and the most difficult test of all the Acid Test.
 * Swimming is compulsory for all cadets.

Battalions
For the sake of training the Gentlemen Cadets are organized in battalions and then further into companies. There are 12 companies in Pakistan Military Academy, all of them are named after famous Muslim warriors and commanders.

1st Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-e-Azam's own)
1st Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:


 * Khalid
 * Tariq
 * Qasim
 * Salahuddin

2nd Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-e-Azam's own)
2nd Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:


 * Ghaznavi
 * Babur
 * Aurangzeb
 * Tipu

3rd Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-e-Azam's own)
3rd Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:


 * Haider
 * Ubaida
 * Saad
 * Hamza

Courses
There are five courses running parallel to each other. The courses are:

The PMA Long Course is for regular commission officers of combat and combat support arms & services. The Long Course has a duration of two years, which is further divided into four terms of six months each. After the 2 year training period Cadets pass out as 2nd Lieutenants. The PMA Graduate Course is taken by those cadets, who have already graduated. These cadets, like those of the Technical Graduate Course, undergo one year of military training. They pass out as 2nd Lieutenants. Graduate Course has been closed down because of the new policy.
 * PMA Long Course
 * PMA Graduate Course

Candidates who wish to join the army as an engineer apply for this course. It is necessary that the candidate has attained 12 years of academic education with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Candidates who are successful in all tests conducted by the army for selection are then sent to one of these institutions for a Bachelor of Engineering degree, depending on the field they choose:
 * Technical Graduate Course (TGC)

All of the above institutions are campuses of a public sector university, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad which is one of the top engineering universities of Pakistan. After completing their Bachelor of Engineering degree from one of these institutions, the E-Cadets, as they are called, are sent to Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul for military training of one year after which they directly attain the rank of Captain in their respective units.

To be eligible for this course, a candidate must have attained 12 years of academic education with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Candidates who pass initial and GHQ Selection Board tests conducted by the army are sent to Army Medical College for MBBS or for Bachelor of Dental Surgery after which they go through a Basic Military Training at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul for 22 weeks. The pass out from PMA directly as Captains.Their military training includes all the essential components required for commissioning as an officer.They join PMA in Integrated Course.
 * Army Medical Course (AMC)/ Integrated Course

The PMA Integrated Course is for cadets of Army Medical College, ICTO's and Army Education Corps and for those who have done their masters in different fields. The IC has a duration of six months. Cadets pass out as Captains.
 * Integrated Course (IC)

The PMA Lady Cadet's Course was first started in November 2006. The course is taken by masters and bachelors qualified ladies who are sound professionals in their fields. The lady cadets undergo a training period of six months and pass out as Captains in supporting arms of the Pakistan Army.
 * PMA Lady Cadet's Course (LCC)

Notable alumni
As would perhaps be expected of an institution which has a near monopoly on the training of officers in a large country, many alumni have gone on to distinguished careers.

Politicians, statesman, and senior officers

 * General Rahimuddin Khan, Gentleman Cadet No. 1, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
 * General Pervez Musharraf, former Chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan
 * General Jehangir Karamat, former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to US
 * General C.S. Weerasuriya, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Ambassador to Pakistan
 * General Asif Nawaz Janjua, former Chief of Army Staff
 * General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff
 * General Muhammad Aziz Khan, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of General Staff
 * General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, former Vice Chief of Army Staff
 * General Ehsan ul Haq, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
 * General Tariq Majid, former Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
 * Captain Karnal Sher Khan, NH


 * Lieutenant General Ziaur Rahman, President and Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh
 * Colonel Shafaat Jamil, Bangladesh Army
 * Major General Khaled Musharraf, Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army
 * Lieutenant General Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, Chief of Arrmy Staff, Bangladesh Army