Pakistan Military Academy

Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) is the Military Academy of Pakistan Army. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in NWFP, Pakistan. The Pakistan Military Academy is similar in function to Sandhurst, Saint-Cyr or West Point and provides training to the officers of Pakistan Army. The academy has three training battalions and twelve companies. It is due to the high training standards that PMA has achieved, that cadets of more than 34 countries are imparted military training in this institution. The location, standard of training, and grooming of institute of leadership provides for an interesting viewing experience. Over 1500 cadets of different courses get trained in PMA every year.

Mission

To foster and inculcate those attributes in a Mujahid Cadet (MC) which will ensure his continuous and progressive development as a regular officer in the Mujahid Force.To make future officers for the Mujahid Force by training the Mujahid Cadets in a way that they can make decisions as and when required by the military profession.

Training Mode

Training mode is conventional, which inculcate many qualities in potential officers of Pakistan Army.To break the personality of an individual and then make its personality best suited for the requirements of Pakistan army

Battalions

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 but the most difficult and best course is always a long course. The courses are:

*PMA Long Course PMA Long Course is for the cadets, who join all arms and services after their commission. Long Course is of two years duration, which is further divided into four terms of six months each. Cadets undergo a training period of two years and then pass out as 2nd Lieutenants.

*PMA Technical Graduate Course (TGC)PMA Technical Graduate Course is for the cadets, who have already done their degrees in the Military College of Signals, College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering and Military College of Engineering. They undergo a training period of one year and then pass out as Captains.

*PMA Graduate CoursePMA Graduate Course is joined by those cadets, who have completed their graduation. These cadets, like that of Technical Graduate Course, undergo one year of military training. They pass out as 2nd Lieutenants.

*PMA Integrated Course (IC)PMA Integrated Course is for the cadets of medical services and for those who have done their masters in different fields. IC is of six months duration. The cadets pass out as Captains.

*PMA Ladies Integrated Course PMA Ladies Integrated Course was first started in November 2006. The cadets undergo a training period of six months and pass out as Captains in supporting arms of Pakistan Army.

Physical Fitness

MCs 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. It is the basic requirement for every cadet to run one mile in six minute. First termers run this distance in six minutes and thirty seconds whereas in other three terms the time is six minutes. The other tests include push ups, sit ups, chin ups, rope test, nine mile running, assault course, acid test and agility tests like the horse test. These tests generally test the stamina and strength of a cadet.

*There are a number of training exercises for cadets, which include Kick Off in first term, Yarmuk and Path Finder in second term, Field Camp in third term and Qiyadat in final term.
*In second term, MCs are required to spend three minutes in the Boxing Ring with another opponent for which a lot of practice is carried out.
*In third term, Assault Course is also added as a part of PT Tests.
*In fourth term, the most difficult test is the Acid Test. Swimming has been made compulsory for all cadets.Pakistan Mujahid Academy also apply that type of training in Mujahid Academy Jhelum

Notable Alumni

* General Pervez Musharraf
* General Asif Nawaz
* Major General Shaukat Sultan
* Major General Ziaur Rahman
* Brigadier General Khaled Mosharraf
* Brigadier Muhammad Rafiq
* General Ashraf Rashid
* Lieutenant Harcharan Singh
* Lieutenant General Ziaur Rahman
* Lieutenant Colonel Syed Ataul Haque
* Colonel Shafaat Jamil
* Lieutenant General Ershad
* Lieutenant General Ghulam Ahmed Alizai
* Brigadier Mushtaque Ahmed Alizai

External links

* [http://www.defencejournal.com/dec98/pma.htm The Last of the Bengal Lancers]

Maj. Affan Ihtisham