Pakistan Military Academy

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Pakistan Military Academy
پاکستان عسکری درسگاہ
Pakistan Military Academy logo.jpg
Motto in English
Men at their Best
Type Pakistan Army's initial officer training academy
Established14 October 1947;77 years ago (1947-10-14) [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 a military academy located near Kakul village in the district of Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Established in October 1947, [2] [1] 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 the National University of Sciences & Technology. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Parade at the military academy in 2007. Kakul Passingoutprade Oweis.JPG
Parade at the military academy in 2007.

To become an officer, cadets undergo a rigorous 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 is organized into four training battalions and 16 companies.

The Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) holds significant international prominence, hosting approximately 2,000 invited guests from over 34 countries each year. Many of Pakistan's close allies send their cadets and officers to the PMA to receive advanced training in modern military doctrine. This practice highlights Pakistan Military Academy's reputation as one of the leading institutions for military education and training.

Former COAS General Raheel Shareef, inaugurated 4th Pakistan Battalion in PMA on 10 October 2016. [6] [7]

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, [8] 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. [9] 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. [10]

A total of sixty-seven cadets (66 Muslims and 1 Christian cadet) arrived from IMA on 15 October 1947 [1] 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 25 January 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." [5]

The 1965 war led to the 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.

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. In second term, cadets are required to complete one mile run in six . 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. [11]

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 22 m. [12]

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:

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.

1st Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)

1st Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:

2nd Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)

2nd Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:

3rd Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)

3rd Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:

4th Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)

4th Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:

Courses

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

PMA Long Course

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.

Technical Cadet Course (TCC)

Candidates who wish to join the army as an engineer apply for this course. It is necessary that candidates have attained 12 years of academic education with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics courses. Candidates who are successful in all tests conducted for selection are then sent to a NUST institution for a Bachelor of Engineering degree, depending on the field they choose:

DegreeInstitution
B.E Civil Engineering Military College of Engineering
B.E Electrical Engineering College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Mechanical Engineering College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Mechatronics Engineering College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Computer Engineering College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Electrical Engineering (Telecom) Military College of Signals
B.E Information Security Engineering Military College of Signals
B.E Software Engineering Military College of Signals
B.E Aeronautical Engineering College of Aeronautical Engineering

After completing their Bachelor of Engineering degree from one of these courses of study, the E-Cadets, as they are called, [13] 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.

Integrated Course (IC)

To be eligible for this course, a candidate must have attained 16-18 years of academic education with coursework in 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. Apart from GCs of AM College, IC accepts cadets who will to join EME, Signals, RVFC and Army Education Corps with minimum masters in different fields. The IC has a duration of six months. Cadets graduate as Captains. This course includes all the essential components required for commissioning as an officer apart from the boxing and acid test.

PMA Lady Cadet's Course (LCC)

The PMA Lady Cadet's Course was first started in November 2006. The course is taken by fa 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.

Mujahid Course (MC)

The Mujahid course was first started in 2011. The Mujahid Course cadets go under the training of one year at PMA, Kakul and pass out 2nd Lieutenants. They serve in Pakistan. [14] The headquarter of Mujahid Regiment is in Bhimber, Kashmir.

List of Commandants

S.NNameStart of tenureEnd of tenureRef.
1 Brig F.H.B Ingall, DSO 4 November 194731 December 1950
2Brig. G.H Tarvar, DSO7 June 195120 February 1953
3Brig. G. Pigot, MC21 February 195318 November 1955
4Brig J. H Souter, MC19 November 19557 April 1957
5Maj Gen Shoukat Ali Shah8 April 19572 May 1959
6Brig Fazal Muqeem Khan, SQA3 May 195917 October 1959
7Brig Mohammad Rafi18 October 195929 February 1964
8Brig Sultan Mohammad30 March 196414 November 1966
9Brig Abubakar Osman Mitha15 November 196623 November 1968
10Maj Gen Syed Abid Ali6 February 19691 December 1969
11Maj Gen Ijaz Ahmed, SK2 December 196929 April 1970
12Maj Gen Riaz Azim, TPk30 April 197010 February 1972
13Brig (Later Major General) Abdullah Saeed11 February 197220 November 1974
14Brig Zamir Ahmed Khan21 November 19744 June 1976
15Brig (Later Lieutenant General) Ahmad Kamal Khan5 June 197615 February 1978
16Brig (Later Lieutenant General) Imranuallah Khan16 February 197811 July 1982
17Maj Gen Rahat Latif17 July 19824 October 1985
18Maj Gen (Later General & Chief of Army Staff) Asif Nawaz5 October 198514 May 1988
19Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Ghulam Muhammad Malik15 May 19882 July 1990
20Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Lehrasab Khan, SJ3 July 199017 April 1992
21Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Muhammad Maqbool18 April 19921 July 1993
22Maj Gen Malik Saleem Khan19 July 199322 August 1995
23Maj Gen Rizwan Qureshi23 August 199522 April 1997
24Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Jamshed Gulzar23 April 199722 November 1998
25Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Imtiaz Shaheen3 December 19983 March 2000
26Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Shahid Hamid3 March 20004 November 2001
27Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Hamid Rabnawaz5 November 200114 October 2004
28Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Ahsan Azhar Hayat 1 November 200430 April 2006 [15]
29Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Nadeem Taj 1 May 20063 October 2007 [16]
30Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Zahid Hussain Khan4 October 200712 October 2008 [17]
31Maj Gen (Later General & Chief of Army Staff) Raheel Sharif 13 October 200814 October 2010 [18]
32Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Mazhar Jamil15 October 201015 May 2012 [19]
33Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Sadiq Ali16 May 201229 July 2013 [20]
34Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Nazir Ahmed Butt 30 July 201328 October 2014 [21]
35Maj Gen (later General & Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee) Nadeem Raza 29 October 201410 December 2016 [22]
35Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Abdullah Dogar15 December 2016Oct 2017 [23]
36Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Akhtar NawazOct 201725 November 2019 [24]
37Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Muhammad Ali25 November 201925 November 2020 [25]
38Maj Gen (Now Lieutenant General) Omer Ahmed Bokhari25 November 2020Dec 2022
39Maj Gen Iftikhar Hassan ChaudharyJan 2023Till date [26]

Notable alumni

Pakistani

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Chief of Army Staff

Others

Alumni who opted for Bangladesh Army in 1971

International alumni

Media

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Partition of the IMA (Indian Military Academy)". The Tribune – India newspaper. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  2. ↑ Pakistan Military Academy (a profile). Rowman & Littlefield. 19 March 2015. ISBN   978-1-4422-4148-0 . Retrieved 24 May 2021– via Google Books website.
  3. ↑ "The Affiliation of NUST with PMA". Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "HEC Recognized Universities and Degree Awarding Institutions". Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Pakistan Military Academy – Cadets Training". Pakistanarmy.gov.pk. 25 January 1948. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "COAS inaugurates 4th Pakistan Battalion in PMA". Times of Islamabad. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "General Sharif inaugurates fourth Pakistan Battalion at military academy". Dunya News . 14 February 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Parret, C. (2011) 'Boer Prisoners in Abbottabad', in Journal of Military Historical Society UK, No 1, Spring issue, pp.3–4; and also History of the 5th Gorkha Rifles, 1858–1928 UK, 1929, p.16
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  10. ↑ "Ingall's speech at 1:35 min". Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Anthony Spaeth (22 July 2008). "Pakistan Military Academy". Pakistan Armed Forces (Magazine). Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Anthony Spaeth (22 July 2002). "Dangerous Ground (Pakistan Military Academy)". Time. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  13. ↑ by whom?
  14. ↑ "Pakistan Mujahid Force Jobs 2021 Training Course as Sipahi". 19 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "National security strategy being pursued: Shaukat". Business Recorder. 16 April 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Convocation of 115th PMA long course held". Dawn. Pakistan. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "KARACHI: Mausoleum centre of Quaid's birth anniversary celebrations". Dawn. Pakistan. 26 December 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "General Raheel Sharif officially assumes army command". The Express Tribune. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Inside the Pakistan Army: Moves on the Chessboard". South Asian Voices. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  20. ↑ Agencies (25 December 2012). "Ceremony at the Quaid's mausoleum". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  21. ↑ Khan, Iftikhar A. (30 September 2018). "ISI chief among five generals retiring". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  22. ↑ "Lt Gen Nadeem Raza appointed CJCSC". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  23. ↑ "Passing out parade held at PMA Kakul". geo.tv. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Pakistan Military Academy Kakul cadets take guard duty at Quaid's mausoleum". The News International. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  25. ↑ "145th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam celebrated". The News International. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  26. ↑ "Passing-out parade of 145th PMA Long Course held at Kakul". The News International. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
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