Before the dissolution of British India in 1947, the location was initially used as the premises of a Physical Training and Mountaineering School of the British Indian Army, on the site of a vacant POW camp set up in 1902 for a few months for prisoners from the Boer War,[6] and later it became a dwelling-operating space of the Royal Indian Army Service Corps.

After the division of the old Indian Army between India and Pakistan in 1947, Brigadier Francis Ingall, an officer of the British Indian Army, was selected by the C-in-C India, Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, as first commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy.

He determined that the PMA would be organized based upon the model established by Sandhurst and requested a regimental sergeant major from the Brigade of Guards to help with training.

When, late in 1947, the dispute over the accession of Jammu and Kashmir led to armed conflict between India and Pakistan, Ingall structured the Academy's training to enable newly-commissioned officers to be immediately effective when they joined units on active service.

What likely gave the most satisfaction was naming Kakul's central lecture theatre Ingall Hall – although it was built many years after his departure.

[7] He kept in touch with the academy for the rest of his life, making his last visit in November 1997 where he said:I have given many addresses from this position here and from 1948 to 1951 I was very keen on the question of Pakistan and believed in it.

This battalion has four companies which were "named after the luminaries of Muslim military history" (e.g., Khalid, Tariq, Qasim, and Salahuddin).

Those completing the course are given five rounds with which to hit a target at a distance of 22 m.[12] Lady Cadets are also required to pass physical efficiency tests like GCs, but the standards are slightly lower, considering their physique.

Candidates who are successful in all tests conducted for selection are then sent to a NUST institution for a Bachelor of Engineering degree, depending on the field they choose: After completing their Bachelor of Engineering degree, the E-Cadets are sent to[13] Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, for one year of military training, after which they are commissioned as captain in their respective units To be eligible for this course, a candidate must have attained 16–18 years of academic education with coursework in Physics,Terrorism, Chemistry and Biology.

Apart from GCs of AM College, IC accepts cadets who will to join EME, Signals, RVFC and Army Education Corps with minimum masters in different fields.

'The Lady Cadet's Course' was introduced in November 2006 [14] and is designed for qualified women who are professionals in their respective fields.

The lady cadets undergo a training period of six months and pass out as Captains in supporting arms of the Pakistan Army.