Pakistan Military Academy
Kakul

پاکستان عسکری درسگاہ
Motto in English	Men at their Best
Type	Pakistan Army's initial officer training academy
Established	October 14, 1947 (October 14, 1947)[1]
Commandant	Maj Gen Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhary
Academic staff	3,000–4,000 (both civilian and military)
Location	Abbottabad , Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa , Pakistan
Colours	Green and red
Website	https://pakistanarmedforces.com/pakistan-military-academy/

Pakistan Military Academy, also referred to by its acronym PMA, is an officers training centre located near Kakol village in the city and district of Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Established in October 1947,^[2][3][4] it is the sole service academy in Pakistan tasked with training cadets to serve as army officers. For educational training, the institution is accredited by NUST.^[5][6][7]

To become an officer, cadets undergo a demanding two-year military training program. The Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) plays a crucial role in providing training to Gentlemen Cadets (Officer Cadets) from the Pakistan Army as well as from Allied countries. The academy consists of four training battalions and 16 companies.

PMA holds great significance internationally, as it hosts approximately 2,000 invited guests from more than 34 countries each year. Several close allies of Pakistan choose to send their own cadets and officers to PMA to receive top-notch training in modern military doctrine. This reflects the academy's reputation as a premier institution for military education and training.

Former COAS General Raheel Shareef, inaugurated 4th Pakistan Battalion in PMA on October 10, 2016.^[8][9]

History

Before the dissolution of British India in 1947, the location had initially been used as the premises of a Physical Training and Mountaineering School of the British Indian Army, on the site of a vacant POW camp set up in 1902 for just a few months for prisoners from the Boer War,^[10] and later it became a dwelling-operating space 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. He selected the vacant location at Kakul for a military academy. He determined that the PMA would be organized based upon the model established by Sandhurst and requested a regimental sergeant major from the Brigade of Guards to help with training. He was fortunate 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, Major S.G. Mehdi M.C., the first PMA adjutant and founder of Qasim company, who later went on to command the SSG (Special Service Group) of the Pakistan Army. In spite of facilities which were comparably sparse to those of 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, Ingall 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.^[11] 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.^[12]

A total of sixty-seven cadets (66 Muslims and 1 Christian cadet) arrived from IMA on 15 October 1947^[13] 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 eight 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 zealously guarded and kept high in letter and spirit."^[7]

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.

Educational philosophy

The academy offers a two-year undergraduate program leading to the Bachelors in Military Art and Science (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 completing 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 graduation.

The academy believes in proper discipline of a cadet and proper induced discipline. It is based on the principles of Discipline, Honor, Patriotism and the qualities are strictly monitored.^[14] Cadets are made to look at current world affairs and ammunition, with subjects being taught in relation to or from the perspective of military operations and history. Cadets are also strongly encouraged to uphold/exalt officer traditional code of conduct in order to mold cadets into being exemplary Army Officers by the end of their term. Communication skills are given great importance and courteousness and consistency are kept a record of and stressed upon. Cadets are provided with modern educational facilities and are equipped with modern labs to bolster learning. A cadet is also trained to react during stress situations and his overall mental capability is worked on.

War tactics are presented to cadets and are part of the curriculum.^[15] These include discussion of previous war models and ones to anticipate. Cadets are also given navigation training in equipped map rooms and then overall judged in the tactical exercises without troops and professionalism are judged in weapon training areas.^[16]

Physical requirements

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 cadets of first term is to be able to complete one mile run (1.6 kilometers) in six minutes and thirty seconds. In second term, cadets are required to complete one mile run in six minutes and fifteen seconds. For third term cadets one mile time is six minutes and most fourth term cadets are required to run one mile within six minutes. Other tests includes push ups, sit ups, chin up, rope test, five mile running, assault course, and the acid test. These tests generally test the stamina and strength of a cadet.^[17]

In the "acid test," cadets begin by traversing a mountain while carrying logs on their shoulders. This is followed by a 14.5 km run in full gear to an obstacle course. Those completing the course are given five rounds with which to hit a target at a distance of 22m.^[18]

Lady Cadets 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.

There are a number of training exercises for cadets, which include:

• First term: Kick Off, Saluting Tests, Cross Country, Sang e Bunyad, Yarmuk, Path Finder and the GCs are required to spend three minutes in the Boxing Ring with another opponent following a lengthy training period.
• Second term: T.M Raiders, Panipat and Assault Course is also added as a part of PT Tests. Qiyadat and the Acid Test.

Battalions

For the sake of training, the Gentlemen Cadets are organized in battalions and then further into companies. There are 16 companies in Pakistan Military Academy, all of them are named after famous Muslim warriors and commanders.

Courses

There are five types courses (or curricular plans) running parallel to each other. The types of courses are:

List of Commandants

Notable alumni

Gallery

• 
  The main gate of the Pakistan Military Academy from close distance
• 
  Pakistan Military Academy Entrance Gate from a slight long distance
• 
  Classroom
• 
  Language Lab
• 
  Football Ground
• 
  Swimming Pool
• 
  Polo Ground
• 
  Archery

Media

• "PMA Passing Out Parade 29 April 2023". YouTube. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.

See also

• National Defence University
• Military academies in Pakistan

References