10 Best Military Academies From Around The World
Functional militaries are a well-oiled machine with numerous moving cogs that have to run correctly. One of the most important aspects of any military is its leadership. A military's officers call the shots and direct the troops in the way they best see fit.
That leadership tends to come from elite military academies around the world. These schools are meant to provide the knowledge and experience that turn cadets into officers capable of a positive impact on the battlefield. Among the most storied are West Point in the United States, RAF College Cranwell in the United Kingdom, and the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr in France.
The 10 Best Military Academies Around The World
| Rank | Academy | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Point | United States |
| 2 | RAF College Cranwell | United Kingdom |
| 3 | The Special Military School Of Saint-Cyr | France |
| 4 | PLA National Defense University | China |
| 5 | General Staff Academy | Russia |
| 6 | National Defense Academy Of Japan | Japan |
| 7 | Hellenic Military Academy | Greece |
| 8 | National Defense Academy | India |
| 9 | Pakistan Military Academy | Pakistan |
| 10 | South African Military Academy | South Africa |
1. West Point - United States
One of the most prestigious and respected military academies in the world is West Point in the United States. Founded in 1802, it has produced many of America's best-known military leaders and generals.
West Point has also produced two American presidents. Both Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower attended the academy and went on to success in both their military and political careers.
2. RAF College Cranwell - United Kingdom
The Royal Air Force College Cranwell was formed in 1919, just after the First World War, and opened in early 1920 as the world's first military air academy. The conflict had made it clear that aircraft would play a pivotal role in any modern military, and the British wanted a head start.
The college trains RAF personnel who want to become commissioned officers, and it handles recruiting for the service. Entering the RAF is not easy, and it takes a sharp wit and intellect even to qualify for selection.
3. The Special Military School Of Saint-Cyr - France
The Special Military School of Saint-Cyr was founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, then First Consul of France. Its graduates were in service almost immediately as Napoleon's armies campaigned across much of Europe.
Napoleon later moved the school to Saint-Cyr, near Versailles, but much of it was destroyed during the Second World War. After the war, the academy relocated to Coetquidan in Brittany, where it continues to serve as France's premier military school.
4. PLA National Defense University - China
Located in Beijing, the PLA National Defense University has played a major role in China's effort to modernize its armed forces. Founded in 1985, the university was formed from a former collection of military and political schools.
The university trains China's senior commanders and military researchers. Many who study here go on to the country's Academy of Military Sciences as well.
5. General Staff Academy - Russia
The history of the General Staff Academy reaches back to the Russian Empire. The Imperial Military Academy opened in St. Petersburg in 1832 to modernize the often slow-moving Russian military, and it was renamed several times before taking the General Staff Academy title associated with the Soviet era.
The school built a reputation for turning out capable generals, though many of its graduates became entangled in party politics, especially during Soviet times. Notable alumni include Abdolhossein Teymourtash, Fyodor Radetsky, and Nikolai Stoletov.
6. National Defense Academy Of Japan - Japan
The National Defense Academy of Japan brings all branches of the military into a single institution and trains its officers together. Students complete a famously demanding four-year program that shapes them into leaders for the Japanese forces.
Opened in 1952 as the National Safety Academy and renamed the National Defense Academy in 1954, it also offers purely academic tracks for gifted students. Its graduates include government officials, politicians, and astronaut Kimiya Yui, who has flown to the International Space Station.
7. Hellenic Military Academy - Greece
Also known as the Evelpidon Military Academy, this school was founded in 1828 in Nafplio by Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of modern Greece. The officers it has produced have served Greece in conflicts from the Balkan Wars to World War 2.
In 1982, the academy settled in Vari, a suburb of Athens, where it remains. Many of its graduates have found success beyond the military as well, including a number of authors and mathematicians.
8. National Defense Academy - India
The Indian military under the British Raj was one of the largest armies in the world, numbering in the millions at the height of the Second World War. After partition, independent India built its own officer school, and the National Defense Academy at Khadakwasla, commissioned in 1954, became the world's first tri-service academy, training army, navy, and air force cadets together.
India's military remains one of the largest and most powerful in the world, and the academy has produced many of the leaders who run it. Among its best-known graduates is Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel into space.
9. Pakistan Military Academy - Pakistan
The Pakistan Military Academy was established at Kakul in 1947 and, like India's, carries much of its heritage from the British Raj. Its first commandant, Brigadier Francis Ingall, modeled the academy on Britain's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Cadets take part in a rigorous program that shapes them into leaders for Pakistan's large army. The coursework leans heavily on subjects such as English, military geography, international affairs, Islamic studies, and general and social science.
10. South African Military Academy - South Africa
Founded in 1950 and located north of Cape Town at Saldanha Bay, the South African Military Academy is one of the more underrated officer schools in the world. It now serves as the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University, awarding cadets a Bachelor of Military Science degree, with its degree-granting model drawing in part on the example of West Point.
As at other academies, military training is central, but many graduates move into the private sector after commissioning. The education on offer is regarded as among the best available in South Africa.
What Makes a Great Military Academy
Military academies are a crucial part of preparing future leaders for the armed forces. Institutions like West Point, RAF College Cranwell, and Saint-Cyr have long histories of producing capable and influential officers. However well-trained and equipped the average soldier is, they accomplish little without sound leadership and guidance from their generals and officers.
