Basic Training?

[Keysersoze]

Does anyone know what the basic training is for the average PAK army soldier?

 

[Awesome]

http://www.pma.edu.pk/

Pak Military Academy website.

A lot of info used to be on this link but it seems like it's down.

 

[Awesome]

The Navy's site is up and you can go through the training programs:

http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/Pna.htm

 

[Keysersoze]

The army link seems to be down........

The reason I am asking is that I am curious as to the training programs for the bog -standard infantryman. How long and how intensive the training is. Also I am curious as to the type of (non weapon) equipment is the standard. Every picture I have seen shows low kit load outs for individual soldiers.

Anyway hope to hear from you guys soon....

 

[sword9]

If I may assist.
The basic training of the soldier would be about 6 months in the regimental centre were, he learns about his regimental history and is taught small arms skills. Drill and obedience of commands forms a major part of the training cycle. Basics in section level tactics.

Basic education refreshers are incorporated too.

 

[Keysersoze]

Can you detail some of the Infantry skills that are covered?

 

[JK!]

My Uncle who was an officer in the Piffers regiment mentioned he spent around 2 years for his training though I am not sure what it is like for the ordinary Pak army soldier.
I know that Royal Marines Officers spend 15 months training so I guess whatever our guys do must be pretty hardcore.

 

[blain2]

My Uncle who was an officer in the Piffers regiment mentioned he spent around 2 years for his training though I am not sure what it is like for the ordinary Pak army soldier.
I know that Royal Marines Officers spend 15 months training so I guess whatever our guys do must be pretty hardcore.

Officers do not go through the same training regimen as ORs do for Infantry training. As mentioned by Sword, the men are trained by their respective infantry regimental training centers (PA has 5 of these), where they go under training for periods ranging from 6 month out to a year.

The training regimen itself is pretty much the same across the board. Physical fitness (obstacle courses, PT etc.), drill, IW training etc.

All PA officers and many JCOs go through PA's School of Infantry & Tactics (SI&T) in Quetta for a young officers course upon commisioning. This is where they are trained on basic infantry tactics as well as on infantry weapons (for non-infantry offrs like those belonging to Armd Corps and Arty etc. this is a short course), whereas for infantry officers, they can make repeated visits along the duration of the earlier part of their service for various courses like unit/coy commander course, Anti-armour course etc. etc. So as JK mentioned, his uncle being from FF spent a considerable amount of time going through the various infantry specific courses offered by (but not limited to) SI&T.

The SI&T is also the primary school for Sniper training in the PA and is also responsible for imparting UNPK training to PA and other allied countries.

Royal Marines btw is not a standard infantry outfit. They consider themselves to be Special Forces and as such their training tempo is more rigourous than one for garden infantry.

 

[Keysersoze]

I would have to query the 15 month thing too.
Army Infantry training is 12 and 18 weeks respectively (12 weeks basic 18 weeks specialised) with ongoing training with the unit.

Officer training would probably include stuff at a military college of some sort (I will confirm this with some people I know)

Also bear in mind the selection course for the Royal marines adds a fair bit of time to it as well.

 

[blain2]

I would have to query the 15 month thing too.
Army Infantry training is 12 and 15 weeks respectively (12 weeks basic 15 weeks specialised) with ongoing training with the unit.

Officer training would probably include stuff at a military college of some sort (I will confirm this with some people I know)

Also bear in mind the selection course for the Royal marines adds a fair bit of time to it as well.

To get a good idea as to how much training a typical South Asian Army (Like PA) invests, try to get some information on how the Gurkhas are trained in the British Army. The backgrounds of Gurkhas and most of the Pakistani intake match interms of educational levels etc....when they go on to HK for training, the Gurkhas (from what I can recall), go through about the same amount of training as a Pakistani infantryman.

 

[blain2]

Also I am curious as to the type of (non weapon) equipment is the standard. Every picture I have seen shows low kit load outs for individual soldiers.

Anyway hope to hear from you guys soon....

Here is a typical load-out for infantrymen in the PA (keep in mind that things have changed a bit. Uniform, webbing, helmet are all different now).

The kit is referred to as FSMO and has a few more items that are not shown in the pic.

Boys are really skinny but have very good stamina.

You can also see the differences in the original production G-3 and the updated one with more hardened plastic on the rifle.

 

[Keysersoze]

Nice one dude!

Thats exactly what I was curious about. What exactly is the standard weapon? G-3 or AK variants?

Plus what pattern is the new webbing?



(Oh on a related issue for any of you who wear rucksacks.......... those guys are wearing theirs waaay to low lol)

 

[Keysersoze]

Is this close to the PA army training

Gurkha program----

Selection and Basic Training

First Stage: Hill Selection

Hill selections are held at various locations in Nepal. There are usually 30 applicants for every place available at this stage. Potential recruits must satisfy the following requirements before proceeding to the second stage:

* Age between 17 and 22
* Height at least 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m)
* Weight at least 7 stone 12 pounds (110 pounds, or 50 kilograms)
* Good health
* Educational requirement

Second Stage: Pokhara Selection Centre

This stage of the selection process would last for 3 weeks. All candidates must pass the following tests in order to proceed further:

* English grammar
* Mathematics
* Fitness test, which included exercises and a kodo race (carrying 75 pounds of stones and run up a 4.2 kilometre long steep course)
* Initiative test
* Final interview

Third Stage: Basic Training at GTW Infantry Training Centre Catterick

This is a nine-month long training course that includes:

* Language training (3 months)
* Military skills
* Western culture and customs

Final Stage: Passing Out

The graduation of successful recruits will be marked by a passing out parade at the end of the basic training course. Based on their progress and results they will then be allotted to various positions within the Brigade of Gurkhas. In general those who obtained better results in the mathematics test during the second stage of selection would be offered postings to the Queen's Gurkha Signals or the Queen's Gurkha Engineers.

 

[blain2]

Yes pretty much. Take out the language course (English is the medium of instruction for the Gurkha cadres in the Royal Army, whereas in PA, english is taught at a very rudimentary level to the ORs) duration from the Gurkha course and you pretty much have the time invested in a typical infantry recruit in Pakistan. The only difference here is that in Pakistan, the entire training is conducted by the Inf regt. from start to begining.

Currently G-3A3 is the standard infantry weapon of the Pakistan Army.

I do not know what the new webbing looks like to be honest (its actually a more updated Y strap)...I know that along with the change in uniform, some adjustments in colour and design have been made as well.

Here is a picture of some PA officers in the new uniform and the new Y strap. The clean shaven offr in the middle is wearing the pattern in use by units under the FCNA/northern areas. Their camouflage pattern is slightly different than the new one being introduced (which is what the rest of the individuals are wearing).

 

[sword9]

I can second what blain2 sir stated, the Gurkhas in the UK Gurkha Bde are trained much in the same manner as their forefathers were. The only difference in the UK army would be that their recruits would get more free time than our sub-continental, Pak or Indian soldier. We always find something for them to do, if not there is always the "fatigue party" or "working party" detailment.