Pakistan Military Academy

Pakistan Military Academy.....


Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) is the Military Academy of Pakistan Army [1]. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in North-West Frontier Province, 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. Another two thousand guest each year, from over 34 countries, receive some training at PMA.

History....

Pakistan Military Academy was set up in October 1947 after the independence of Pakistan from the British Empire.

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 i.e, 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 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."[2]

The 1965 war led to expansion of the academy and the second battalion of academy was raised 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.


Mission
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..


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

Pakistan Military Academy's Main Gate
Pakistan Military Academy Passing out Parade1st 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
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 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, graduates of Amry Medical College 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 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 within six minutes. Other tests includes push ups, sit ups, chin up, 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 the first term, Yarmuk and Path Finder in the second term, Field Camp 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 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.


Politicians/statesman

General Rahimuddin Khan (pictured here as Lieutenant-General in 1983) was PMA's premier commissioned officer following Partition in 1947General Rahimuddin Khan, Cadet No. 1, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Governor of Balochistan, PMA's first fully-commissioned officer[1].
General Pervez Musharraf, former Chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan
Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao former Interior Minister and Chief Minister of NWFP
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
General Mohammad Yusaf Khan
General Ahsan Saleem Hayat
General Ehsan ul Haq
General Tariq Majid
Captain Karnal Sher Khan, NH

Foreign alumni
PMA - Sri Lankan Intake 08 ( 1994/1995 ) (50 - GC's): 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 - GC's): 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 GC's): 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.