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.
Before the dissolution of British India in 1947, the location was initially 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 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, BrigadierFrancis 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 likely gave the most satisfaction was naming Kakul's central lecture theatre Ingall Hall – although it was built many years after his departure.[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 67 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 raised by the champion company at each 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 first term cadet is 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 slightly lower, considering their physique. The basic requirement for all lady cadets is to run one mile (1.6 km)10 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.
1st Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)
1st Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:
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:
After completing their Bachelor of Engineering degree, the E-Cadets are sent to[13] Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, for one year of military training, after which they are commissioned as 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 Lady Cadet's Course' was introduced in November 2006 and is designed for qualified women who are professionals in their respective fields. 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.
^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
