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Pakistan Military Academy

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Pakistan Military Academy
پاکستان عسکری درسگاہ
Motto
نَصْرٌ مِّن اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ (Quran, 61:13)
Motto in English
"A triumph from God and a victory that is close at hand"
TypeMilitary academy
Established25 November 1947; 78 years ago (1947-11-25)[1]
Affiliations Pakistan Army
CommandantMaj Gen Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhary
Academic staff
3,000–4,000 (both civilian and military)
Location
Kakul, Abbottabad
,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
,
Pakistan
Colours   Green and red
Websitepakistanarmedforces.com/pakistan-military-academy/

The Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) is a military training institution for cadets seeking commissions in the Pakistan Army.[2] It is located in Kakul, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and was established in November 1947.[3] The academy is accredited by the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).[4] The academy also trains international students; cadets and officers from 34 countries have trained there.[4]

History

[edit]

After the partition of British India in 1947, the British Indian Army was divided between the newly created states of India and Pakistan. Brigadier Francis Ingall, an officer of the now split British Indian Army, was selected by Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck to serve as the first commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy.[5]

A site at Kakul was chosen for the academy. The site had previously housed the British Indian Army's Physical Training and Mountaineering School, which also served as an operational facility for the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. The school had been established in a former POW camp used during the Boer War in 1902.[6]

Ingall structured the Pakistan Military Academy on the model of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and requested a regimental sergeant major from the Brigade of Guards to assist with training. He received support from several former British Indian Army officers who had transferred to the Pakistan Army, including Lieutenant Colonel Attiqur Rahman and Major S. G. Mehdi, MC, the first PMA adjutant and founder of Qasim Company, who later commanded the Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army.[citation needed]

When the dispute over the accession of Jammu and Kashmir led to armed conflict between India and Pakistan in late 1947, Ingall adapted the Academy's training to the conditions faced by the Pakistan Army to prepare new officers for a largely mountainous and open terrain and to create a new officer class for Pakistan. Ingall was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) after completing his term as commandant in 1950. He was later honored with a namesake lecture theater at Kakul, Ingall Hall, constructed after his departure.[7] Ingall kept in touch with the academy for the rest of his life with various visits. During his final visit in November 1997, 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".[8]

On 15 October 1947, 67 cadets arrived from the Indian Military Academy (IMA). New cadets for the 1st PMA Long Course (78) and the 1st Graduates Course (63) were selected in Pakistan, and training officially began in January 1948 with 208 cadets. On 25 January of the same year, the First Pakistan Battalion was established. Its four companies were named after prominent figures in Muslim military history: Khalid, Tariq, Qasim, and Salahuddin. In March 1948, the first battalion received the patronage of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who became its Colonel-in-Chief, and the battalion was subsequently designated "The Quaid-e-Azam's Own." 1st PMA Adjutant was Captain (later Brigadier) Bashir Ahmed Guides Cavalry.[citation needed]

Khawaja Nazimuddin presented the Quaid-e-Azam banner to the Pakistan Military Academy on behalf of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the banner is hoisted by the champion company during each passing-out parade. Regimental colors were presented to the Academy in 1950 by Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, and the National Standard was presented in 1961 by General Muhammad Musa, then Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.[9]

The Academy was expanded due to the India–Pakistan war of 1965 with the establishment of the second battalion in December 1965, which consisted of the companies Ghaznavi, Babur, Aurangzeb, and Tipu. The third battalion was founded in early 1989 and consisted of the companies Haider, Ubaida, Saad, and Hamza.[10]

Former COAS General Raheel Sharif inaugurated the fourth Pakistan Battalion at PMA on 10 October 2016.[11]

Entry process

[edit]

Cadet selection is conducted by the Inter-Services Selection Board (ISSB) through assessment centers across Pakistan. Applicants must pass medical, fitness, and aptitude evaluations to be eligible for admission.[citation needed]

Physical requirements

[edit]

Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) are required to pass various physical fitness tests, the standards for which increase each term. The basic requirement for cadets of the first term is to be able to complete a one-mile run (1.61 kilometers) in six minutes and thirty seconds. In the second term, cadets are required to complete a one-mile run in six minutes and fifteen seconds. For the third term, the one-mile run time is six minutes, and most fourth-term cadets are required to complete a one-mile run within six minutes. Other tests include push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, rope test, a five-mile (8 km) run,[12] an assault course, and an exercise known as the "acid test." These tests evaluate the stamina and strength of a cadet.[13]

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 to hit a target at a distance of 22 m.[14]

LCs (Lady Cadets) are also required to pass physical efficiency tests similar to those of GCs, but the standards are slightly lower. The basic requirement for all LCs is to run one mile (1.6 km) in 10 minutes or less. Other tests include push-ups, sit-ups, bar hanging, assault course, and an exercise of Qiyadat (leadership) with GCs.[citation needed]

There are several training exercises for cadets, which include:

  • First term: Kick off, saluting tests, cross country, Sang-e-Bunyad, Yarmuk, Pathfinder, 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 are also added as part of the PT tests: Qiyadat and the acid test.

Battalions and companies

[edit]

For training, the Gentleman Cadets are organized into battalions and then further into companies. The Pakistan Military Academy has 16 companies, named after Islamic warriors and commanders. The companies under the 4th Battalion are named after four out of the eleven recipients of the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan's highest military award.

List of companies
1st Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)2nd Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)3rd Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)4th Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam's own)
KhalidGhaznaviHaiderAziz
TariqBabarUbaidaShabbir
QasimAurangzebSaadAkram
SalahuddinTipuHamzaSher

Courses

[edit]

There are five types of courses (or curricular plans) that run parallel to each other. The types of courses are: the PMA Long Course, the Technical Cadet Course, the Integrated Course, and the PMA Lady Cadets' Course.[citation needed]

PMA Long Course

[edit]

The PMA Long Course is for regular commissioned officers of combat and combat support arms & services. The Long Course has a duration of two years, which is divided into four terms of six months each. After the 2-year training period, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants.

Technical Cadet Course (TCC)

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Candidates who wish to join the army as an engineers apply for this course. Candidates are required to have completed 12 years of academic education, including courses in physics, chemistry, and mathematics. 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:

Degree Institution
B.E Civil EngineeringMilitary College of Engineering
B.E Electrical EngineeringCollege of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Mechanical EngineeringCollege of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Mechatronics EngineeringCollege of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Computer EngineeringCollege of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
B.E Electrical Engineering (Telecom)Military College of Signals
B.E Security EngineeringMilitary College of Signals
B.E Aeronautical EngineeringCollege of Aeronautical Engineering
B.E Software EngineeringMilitary College of Signals

After completing their Bachelor of Engineering degree, the E-Cadets are sent to Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, for one year of military training, after which they are commissioned as captains in their respective units.[15]

Integrated Course (IC)

[edit]

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 the initial and GHQ Selection Board tests conducted by the army are sent to the Army Medical College for MBBS or for Bachelor of Dental Surgery, after which they undergo basic military training at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, for 22 weeks. Apart from GCs of AM College, IC accepts cadets who are willing to join EME, Signals, RVFC, and Army Education Corps with a minimum master's degree in several fields. The IC has a duration of six months. Cadets graduate as captains.[citation needed]

PMA Lady Cadet's Course (LCC)

[edit]

The Lady Cadets' Course was introduced in November 2006[16] and is designed for FA-qualified women who are professionals in their respective fields. The cadets undergo a training period of six months to become Captains in the supporting arms of the Pakistan Army.[citation needed]

List of commandants

[edit]
S.N Name Start of tenure End of tenure Ref.
1Brig F.H.B Ingall, DSO4 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 Hayat1 November 200430 April 2006 [17]
29Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Nadeem Taj1 May 20063 October 2007 [18]
30Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Zahid Hussain Khan4 October 200712 October 2008 [19]
31Maj Gen (Later General & Chief of Army Staff) Raheel Sharif13 October 200814 October 2010 [20]
32Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Mazhar Jamil15 October 201015 May 2012 [21]
33Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Sadiq Ali16 May 201229 July 2013 [22]
34Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Nazir Ahmed Butt30 July 201328 October 2014 [23]
35Maj Gen (later General & Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee) Nadeem Raza29 October 201410 December 2016 [24]
36Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Abdullah Dogar15 December 2016Oct 2017 [25]
37Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Akhtar NawazOct 201725 November 2019 [26]
38Maj Gen (Later Lieutenant General) Muhammad Ali25 November 201925 November 2020 [27]
39 Maj Gen (Now Lieutenant General) Omer Ahmed Bokhari 25 November 2020 Dec 2022
40 Maj Gen Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhary Jan 2023 present [28]

Notable alumni

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Pakistani

[edit]

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

[edit]

Chief of Army Staff

[edit]

Others

[edit]

Alumni who defected to Bangladesh

[edit]

Several officers trained at the PMA would join Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Liberation War or afterwards.

International alumni

[edit]
[edit]

Media

[edit]
  • "PMA Passing Out Parade 29 April 2023". 29 April 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023 – via YouTube.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Partition of the IMA (Indian Military Academy)". The Tribune – India newspaper. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "At Pakistan Military Academy, cadets transform into officers with discipline, purpose, love of country". Arab News. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  3. ↑ "PMA Kakul Early History". Scribd. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) | Kakul, Pakistan". militaryschooldirectory.com. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  5. ↑ Pimsleur, J. L. (25 September 1998). "Francis Ingall". SFGATE. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ "History of Brigadier Ingall". Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "Ingall's speech at 1:35 min". Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Pakistan Military Academy – Cadets Training". Pakistanarmy.gov.pk. 25 January 1948. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "History and Training of PMA Kakul". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "COAS inaugurates 4th Pakistan Battalion in PMA". Times of Islamabad. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "PMA Long Course - Apply Online & Eligibility Criteria". Pakistan Army. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  13. ↑ Ahmad, Maria. "Facilities for cadets during the training in Pakistan military Academy.docx". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ↑ Anthony Spaeth (22 July 2002). "Dangerous Ground (Pakistan Military Academy)". Time. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Join Pak Army PMA Long Course 157 - 2025 | Apply Online". PAKISTAN FORCES. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "PMA receives first batch of women cadets". DAWN.COM. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  17. ↑ "National security strategy being pursued: Shaukat". Business Recorder. 16 April 2006. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "Convocation of 115th PMA long course held". Dawn. Pakistan. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "KARACHI: Mausoleum centre of Quaid's birth anniversary celebrations". Dawn. Pakistan. 26 December 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "General Raheel Sharif officially assumes army command". The Express Tribune. 29 November 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Inside the Pakistan Army: Moves on the Chessboard". South Asian Voices. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  22. ↑ Agencies (25 December 2012). "Ceremony at the Quaid's mausoleum". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  23. ↑ Khan, Iftikhar A. (30 September 2018). "ISI chief among five generals retiring". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "Lt Gen Nadeem Raza appointed CJCSC". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  25. ↑ "Passing out parade held at PMA Kakul". geo.tv. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  26. ↑ "Pakistan Military Academy Kakul cadets take guard duty at Quaid's mausoleum". The News International. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  27. ↑ "145th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam celebrated". The News International. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "Passing-out parade of 145th PMA Long Course held at Kakul". The News International. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
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