Doing Pakistan proud

Their training includes digging trenches without an sleep, 70 km hikes and immense intellectual capacity.

On August 9, 2013, Pakistan’s Corporal Asad Mushtaq not only graduated from the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, but also bagged the highest award presented there — the Sword of Honour.

This institution was founded back in the 18^th century as a part of the British Army; it works as an officer training academy. It takes around 10 per cent of its cadets from overseas and is one of the oldest military academies in the world — one that has seen iconic figures like Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshall Ayub Khan.

As an overseas cadet, attendance at the Sandhurst military academy is only possible through an arrangement with the army of the country of residence and it is, without a doubt, considered a huge honour to be selected for military training at this prestigious academy.

The Sword of Honour is given to the cadet who is deemed the best by the commandant, on the basis of performance during training. It is pertinent to understand that training at the Sandhurst academy is of the highest quality and is extremely competitive. It has elements of theoretical as well as practical military operations. Pakistan’s Ahmed Raza Khan won the sword back in 2006, followed by Muhammad Talha Zahid who won it in 2012 and now Mushtaq has won it this year — a true moment of pride for Pakistan.

As someone who grew up in a household that has traditionally been part of the armed forces, I know that for those who are a part of the armed forces to be considered even as a nominee for the Sword of Honour is a matter of great prestige. Winning this award can safely be termed one of the biggest achievements of a young officer’s career.

When I read that Mushtaq had won the Sword from Sandhurst, I understood what he must have felt at the time. To be presented with the sword by the Countess of Essex and to feel a sense of pride surging through his body as sheer adrenaline, all his training and hard work had finally paid off — and in the best way possible.

Training at this academy is not for the ordinary Joe. All aspects of your mental and physical limits are tested here. Exercises involve digging trenches (and you are not allowed to sleep before the task is finished), 70km hikes and so on. You’re allowed only 15 minutes for breakfast and mobile phones, facial hair and chocolate are all strictly forbidden. Cadets have to follow this rigorous routine for a full year every day, without any breaks.

Suffice it to say that not everyone can achieve what Mushtaq did, as the amount of intellectual and physical capacities required to achieve this award are beyond measure.

I, for one, am in awe of these Pakistani cadets who go to a foreign military academy, one that hosts cadets from armies all over the globe, and yet, they are able to win this award. This speaks volumes of the sort of capability Pakistan has. They, thus, deserve a high level of recognition and praise for their achievements — this is the very least we can do.

Mushtaq, who dedicated this award to his country, and is soon coming home to serve in the 57^th cavalry of the Pakistan Army, is a hero, and I wish him the best of luck for an incredible future.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2013.

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