With the recent influx of Pakistani dramas on the life of cadets and the Pakistan army, including Ehd e Wafa, Aik Hai Nigar, and currently Sinf e Aahan, many are inspired and might aim to pursue a career in the army.
To no one’s surprise, thousands of aspiring male and female candidates apply for the army every year in the hope of serving their country and its people in the future.
However, being selected as a cadet is no walk in the park; it requires you to take two main tests (the initials and the ISSB) which then have many sub-tests within them ranging from physicals to written tests.
Did you know?
The entire process of being evaluated and then selected takes around six months followed by two years of training in PMA, Kakul for male cadets, and six months of training for female cadets.
Petrified?
No worries we have got you! We bring you a list of 7 things you must know before you take your test to join the Pakistan army and later become a cadet in Pakistan Military Academy (PMA).
1. Memorize Your National Anthem
If you are a regular viewer of Sinf e Aahan, you would have guessed this one right away! Undoubtedly, a nation’s anthem represents the tradition, history, and beliefs of a nation and its people and it invokes patriotism and love for a country in its citizens. It highlights a country’s heritage, culture, history, and beauty.
“Your qualification, education does not matter if you do not know you country’s anthem. If you don’t know the national anthem then consider yourself without an identity.”
Major Usama from Sinf e Aahan
These words are enough to stress the importance of the national anthem in the life of a cadet. If by any chance you have forgotten a line or two don’t panic we have your back. Here is the Coke studio version of your favorite artists humming our national anthem:
2. Brush Up On Your General Knowledge
It is necessary to have a good grip on current affairs and have an overall sound knowledge about the history and culture of your nation. Make sure that you have sufficient knowledge about the current affairs, economic and political situation, and the social changes that are taking place around you. You never know what you will be tested on the exam day so stay ahead and prepare the best you can.
Try to skim through Pakistan studies books and get a strong grip on the history and geography of Pakistan. In addition, read newspapers, watch news and documentaries, read novels, cross-question yourself so that you are ready to answer any question that comes your way.
3. Dress To Impress
Undoubtedly, your physical attire and the way you are dressed make an impression before your words. To impress your senior officers at the recruitment center it is essential that you are dressed formally and appropriately.
Pro Tips
Make sure your belt and shoes match and only close one button of your suit.
4. Work On Your Physical Fitness
Needless to say, you should be in shape and have the stamina to gear yourself for the tough cadet training. Poor performance in physical tests can even result in disqualification of candidates! Try to do as much exercise as possible before your physical test day. You can go swimming, practice running or hit the gym, try weight training, etc. You can also play sports to stay fit e.g football, badminton, tennis, and basketball.
To test your physical endurance you are likely going to be tested to do the following:
- Running test: 1.6 km in 7 minutes and 30 seconds. The speed here is 12 km/h.
- In 2 minutes, 15 pushups, which is 8 seconds per pushup.
- Two minutes of pull-ups (chin-ups), which is 40 seconds each.
- 15 sit-ups (abdominal) in 2 minutes, which takes 8 seconds per sit-up.
5. Complete Your Medical Records
Make sure that you are medically fit have all the necessary paperwork done and have all the records completed before you submit them. In addition, prepare yourself for two thorough medical examinations before and after clearance of ISSB (Inter-Services Selection Board). Some of the requirements that are on the checklist are:
- Minimum Height – 5 feet 4 inches for males and 5 feet for females.
- Weight – According to the BMI (Body Mass Index) chart.
- Eyesight – 6/6 without glasses.
- Candidates should not have color blindness
- No obvious physical defects.
6. Keep Your Expectations Sorted
Be prepared that your life is about to change. Make sure that you do adequate research about the profession that you are getting into. Try to talk to veterans and ask them relevant questions to become fully aware of the pros and cons of the profession. The military is one the hardest and most onerous professions one can get into and thus should be well-researched and informed about the profession they plan to take on.
Army officers have a poor work-life balance and often have to spend the initial years of their careers away from their families while being posted in desolated and underdeveloped areas. They also have salaries less than average civilians and often get the benefits of their job later in life. Thus, prepare yourself for the obstacles ahead and make sure that you are ready to offer the discipline required for the army. For instance, you should know that during the training at PMA cell phones are not allowed!
7. Research Well Before The Interview
The interview is a significant component of the recruitment process in the army. Ensure that you are well dressed and well prepared for the big day. Do not stick to cliched answers and think out of the box when answering questions, e.g if they ask you why you want to join the army, do not hold to the typical answers they hear every day which might be that you want to serve your country or that you are very patriotic. Add a personal touch to the answers while retaining a formal tone.
Do you have anything else to add to the list? Do let us know!
