IMA Dehradun or the prestigious Indian Military Academy is one of the best military training institutions in the country. Here, young cadets transform into future officers of the Indian Army through rigorous training. A lot of candidates aspire to join IMA and experience the life less ordinary, but only a few get that chance. Hence, the first day at IMA is an unforgettable memory for them.
Indian Military Academy (IMA)
The IMA was established in 1932 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It spans over an area of about 1400-acres and offers the best of facilities, friendships, and training to its gentleman and lady cadets. Candidates can join IMA Dehradun in different ways:
- National Defence Academy (NDA) cadets opting for the Indian Army
- Clearing the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) and SSB interview for IMA direct entry
- Technical Graduate Course (TGC) entry for engineering graduates
- Serving soldiers can enroll via the ACC and other entries
- Territorial Army (TA)
Today, even women can enroll into IMA through the NDA and TA entries. Once selected, candidates train for about 1 to 1.5 years depending on their entry at this institution.
First Day at IMA Dehradun
After clearing the SSB, medicals, and final merit, the selected candidates are issued their joining letters via Join Indian Army, the official website of the Indian Army. A lot of times, these are also sent via post. This letter comprises information about the day of reporting, and candidates make the necessary arrangement for their big day.
The Arrival
Depending on their personal choice, candidates reach Dehradun by train, flight or road. The academy sets up special reception desks to welcome them at the Dehradun Railway Station and Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun. Here, an army personnel, generally of NCO rank, receives them and ascertains their identity through documents.
Once done, these candidates are ferried in olive green buses of the Indian Military Academy. They converse with each other, and observe the beauty of the city while letting the feeling sink in. Those candidates who travel by road or arrive late report to the academy directly.
Initial Documentation
These candidates are referred to as officer cadets after reaching the academy. Here, another round of documentation happens, and documents such as their joining letter, educational certificates, et cetera are verified by the concerned officers. Soon after this, their height and weight are measured and those being above the prescribed weight are given adequate time to meet the standards.
After documentation, all officer cadets get their academy numbers, which act as their identification in the academy. They also receive their battalions and companies. IMA Dehradun has the following divisions:
| BATTALION | COMPANY |
| Cariappa | Kohima, Naushera, Poonch and Hajipir |
| Thimayya | Alamein, Meiktila, Dograi and Chushul |
| Manekshaw | Imphal, Zojila, Jessore and Sangro |
| Bhagat | Sinhgarh, Keren, Cassino and Basantar |
Additionally, the Siachen battalion is for the Army Cadet College (ACC) wing. It comprises the Siachen, Nubra and Kargil companies.
Accommodation at IMA
All officer cadets are ferried to their line areas after they are allocated their respective companies. Here, a senior officer cadet, generally a Junior Under Officer (JUO) from second term greets them. He carries the list of room numbers allocated to each candidate but getting the keys to it is not easy.
Cadets have to pay a price for everything, and the JUO teaches them this lesson first. Being the senior, he may give them any ragda or task to prove themselves. For example:
If your room number is 63, he will direct you to do 63 pushups, squats, et cetera in front of him. Once you complete the task, you can report to your room.
On reaching their rooms, the cadets park their luggage and report to the barber’s shop for a military-grade haircut. The falling hair signify the end of civilian life for them. Soon after this, they are issued their rigs, and uniforms based on the academy dress code as well as a bicycle.
The Mess Etiquette
On the first day at IMA, all cadets report to the Vikram Batra Mess at seven in the evening in the dress code prescribed by the academy. Here, the second-termers conduct a fall-in (roll call for attendance of all) and explain the basic mess etiquette expected out of them. They are the first teachers of these cadets and they leave no stone unturned to make them good at everything.
By eight, all officer cadets enter the mess and admire its beauty. They gradually learn the mannerism of sitting, eating, and carrying themselves in the academy. In the coming days each officer cadet is informed about their overstudy, who acts as their elder brother/sister in the academy.
With this, the first day at IMA comes to an end but there are still more to go. All officer cadets follow a strict academy routine, and train hard to become the best of officers that the Indian Army has. This becomes possible with the joint effort of every drill ustaad, overstudy, and person who makes their stay at IMA Dehradun memorable.
