The Brazilian Army Combatant NCO Academy (ESA) is a Higher Education Establishment of the Brazilian Army, responsible for training its combatant non-commissioned officers (NCO), in Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps.

[1][2][3] To this end, it annually selects young people from all parts of Brazil, through public tendering, offering them military education aimed at improving their character and developing their physical capacity, and also providing solid military background to the future NCO's - a crucial link between the Command of Military Organizations and the troops.

ESA was created on August 21, 1945, at the end of World War II, through Decree No.

It initially occupied part of the facilities of the extinct Military School of Realengo, in Rio de Janeiro.

Four years later, it was transferred to Três Corações-MG. At that time, Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Lage Sayão was at the head of the academy, being its second Commandant.