Pakistan Military Academy

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The Pakistan Military Academy (also known as PMA or Kakul (Urdu: پاکستان فوجی درسگاہ; Pakestan Fauji Dersgah) is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy.[1] It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

The Pakistan Military Academy is similar in function to Sandhurst, Saint-Cyr, and West Point, and provides training to the officers of Pakistan Army. The academy has three training battalions, and 12 companies. Another 2,000 guests each year, from over 34 countries, receive some training at PMA.

In 2011 Osama bin Laden was killed in a compound in which he was hiding 750 yards (685 m) from the Academy.

 

Pakistan Military Academy
پاکستان فوجی درسگاہ
Established 1947 (1947)
Type Military
Officer in charge MG Maj Gen Mazhar Jamil, Commandant
Rector GEN Ishfaq Pervez Kiani, Chief of Army Staff
Academic staff 600–700 (both civilian and military)
Undergraduates 4,415
Location Kakul, Abbottabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan
Coordinates: 34°11′0″N 73°15′0″E / 34.183333°N 73.25°E / 34.183333; 73.25
Campus Rural
Colours Green and white

Affiliations National Defence University (Advanced courses)\

 

History

Pakistan Military Academy’s Main Gate

Pakistan Military Academy was established in October 1947, after the independence of Pakistan from the British Empire. 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 jealously guarded and kept high in letter and spirit.”

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.

The man described at the time in the press as the world’s most wanted man, Osama bin Laden, was killed in 2011 in a compound in which he was hiding less than a mile from the Academy. This raised questions as to whether Pakistani military knew of bin Laden’s location and if he was shielded.

Location

The academy is located in Abbottabad, at an elevation of 1,220 meters (4,000 feet). Abbotabad is a military town, with a robust presence of soldiers engaged in various activities

Mission

Pakistan Military Academy Passing out Parade

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

Training

At PMA potential officers undergo a series of grueling training programs designed to inculcate the attributes and qualities essential for a career in the Pakistani armed forces.

From 1976 to 1989, a Junior Cadet Battalion (JCB) was established which took even younger men, groomed them for two years to the Military Culture and also imparted Higher Secondary Education.

Battalions

1st Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-e-Azam’s own)

1st Pakistan Battalion consists of four companies:

  • saba 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

Curriculum

The Pakistan Military Academy is a medium-sized, highly residential baccalaureate college, with a full-time, four-year undergraduate program that emphasizes instruction in the arts, sciences, and professions with no graduate program. The objective of Academic wing is to teach the cadets to complete their bachelors of Science and bachelors of Arts Degrees.

Courses

There are five courses running parallel to each other. The courses are:

  • PMA Long Course

The PMA Long Course is for cadets who join all arms and services after their commission. The Long Course is 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. •

  • PMA Graduate Course

The PMA Graduate Course is taken by those cadets, who have already graduated. These cadets, like those of the Technical Graduate Course, undergo one year of military training. They pass out as 2nd Lieutenants. Graduate Course has been closed down because of the new policy.

  • PMA Technical Graduate Course (TGC)

The PMA Technical Graduate Course is for cadets, who have already done their degrees in the College of Aeronautical Engineering, 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 Integrated Course (IC)

The PMA Integrated Course is for cadets of medical services, ICTO’s, graduates of Army Medical College and Army Education Corps and for those who have done their masters in different fields. The IC has a duration of six months. Cadets pass out as Captains.

  • PMA Lady Cadet’s Course (LCC)

The PMA Lady Cadet’s Course was first started in November 2006. The course is taken by masters and bachelors 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.

Physical fitness

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 all cadets either of first,second,third or fourth term is to be able to run one mile (1.6 km) within six minutes. Other tests includes push ups, sit ups, chin up, rope test, nine mile (14 km) 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 the first term, Yarmuk and Path Finder in the second term, T.M Raiders and Panipat in the third term and Qiyadat in the final term.
  • In the second term, GCs are required to spend three minutes in the Boxing Ring with another opponent following a lengthy training period.
  • In the third term, Assault Course is also added as a part of PT Tests.
  • In the fourth term, the most difficult test is the Acid Test.

Swimming has been made compulsory for all cadets.

LCs 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 undegoes an exercise Qiyadat with GCs. They are entitled to do Horse Riding, Shooting, Swimming, and Fencing; depending on their will. LCs also compete for firing medal and PT medal.

Notable alumni

As would perhaps be expected of an institution which has a near monopoly on the training of officers in a large country, many alumni have gone on to distinguished careers.

Politicians/statesman

  • General Rahimuddin Khan, Gentleman Cadet No. 1, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.[6]
  • General Pervez Musharraf, former Chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan
  • General Jehangir Karamat, former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to US
  • General C.S. Weerasuriya, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Ambassador to Pakistan
  • General Asif Nawaz Janjua, former Chief of Army Staff
  • General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff
  • General Muhammad Aziz Khan, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of General Staff
  • General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, former Vice Chief of Army Staff
  • General Ehsan ul Haq, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • General Tariq Majid, former Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Captain Karnal Sher Khan, NH

Foreign alumni

PMA – Sri Lankan Intake 08 ( 1994/1995 ) (50 – GCs): H.S.Weerasuriya, M.G.T Chaminda, M.A.I. Perera, K.Dissanayaka, S.P.De Soysa, P.I.Punchihewa, H.A.H.C.Alwis, E.P.W.DeSilva, R.R.C.Karunarathna, R.V.K.Amarasinghe, R.W.M.K.W.Sadath, A.M.N.Rathnayaka, B.S.Kulathilaka, R.L.M.R. Liyanage, K.P.G.M.P.Chandrasiri, D.D.S.G.V.Abeyrathna, T.A.T.D.Samarasekara, E.G.N.S.B. Piyasena, N.W.A.P.Gunasekara, W.A.S.R.Wejesekara, A.T.K.Wejesekara, M.U.M.Fernando, A.H.L.R.Silva, M.P.L.A.Karunarathna, R.L.Panditharathna, S.S.B.Amunugama, N.N.S.Ranasinghe, N.P.A.Mendis, D.C.D.Kumarage, E.I.S.Pagoda, R.K.D.N.Chandradasa, T.M.S.K.B.Tennakoon, K.K.Samaranayaka, E.W.M.W.Aberathna, K.M.N.Dikkumbura, P.A.Nandathilaka, R.M.H.P.K.Rathnayaka, M.A.S.S.Mendis, B.K.R.U.Rodrigo, W.M.M.Wickramasinghe, T.G.N.De Silva, H.P.D.S.Gunawardhana, W.G.D.Srinath, U.H.A.Pasan, G.W.K.D.Gothatuwa, K.R.I.J.Perera, M.S.S Perera, M.W.L.Sujeewa, U.A.K.J.Gnanarathna.

PMA – Sri Lanka Intake 07 (1993) (48 – GCs): M. Silva, A. Ameer, K.C. Perera, K.M Karunaratne (KIA), A.L.R. Silva (WIA), B.D. Fernando, S.A. Anthonisz, T. Jayawardene, R. Sirisena, R. Nathavitharana, S. Karunaratne (KIA), G. Lokuliyana, A. Thisarachchi, J. Jayawardene, N. Weerakoon, S. Jayasinghe, V. Gamage, A. Gamage, N. Thilakaratne, N. Weerakoon.

PMA- Turkmenistan: 1999–2001: (28 GCs): Maksat,Azim,Qasim,Mengli,Tahir,Ishan,Rowshen,Begench,Dowran,Merdan,Meret,Atamurat,Farhad,Nagmat,Dowlet,Nuryagdi,Polat,Muhammetnur,Maksat,Mergen,Oraz,Serdar,Dowran,Anna,Batir,Yolbars,Rahman,Toyli.

Sri Lankan GCs in 90yh PMA Long Course Battalion Junior Under Officer GJNW Fernando, Company Sports Sergeant WBMKGK Weerasekara,GC AMACS Alagiyawanna, GC HMG Enoj, Gc SP Wickramasekara, GC HMDVSK Piyasinghe, GC UHCK Wijesekara, GC SMM Senanayake, GC JKAOI Wickramasekara, GC SAMS Kumar

Sri Lankan Course 5 (SL 5 in 1992–93) – GC VAUN Perera, GC C Weerasinghe, GC Krishnadasa, GC Wijerathna (WIA), GC Kandanarachchi, GC TNK Perera, GC LKT Fernando, GC JC Withana (KIA), GC PAN De Silva (WIA), GC DMMC Dissanayake, GC HMT Herath, GC KA Rohana, GC KAIN Kandanaarachchi, GC Peries, GC AKH Wijegunawardhana (WIA), GC GKBT Weerasinghe(KIA), GC C Mahakumara, GC MDP Malpana, GC Gunasekara, GC ALSKN Sibera (KIA), GC Mudiyanse (KIA), GC KASK Siriwardhana, GC RALA Ranjana, GC BI Sorifodeen, GC Ranasinghe, GC AB rambukwella, GC LD Perera, GC Wijemanna (KIA), GC NSS Dias, GC MWS Marapana, GC WLNS Fernando, GC Wijethunga (WIA), GC GSK Perera, GC Jayaweera, GC Pinnaduwa, GC GCB Wickramasinghe, GC PN Wickramasinghe.

 

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2 Comments on “Pakistan Military Academy”

  • Salman wrote on 16 September, 2011, 10:38

    pma is best and proud to be pakistani…

  • Salman wrote on 16 September, 2011, 10:40

    Don’t die…. Make others bastards die for their country…….

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