Today, a year later I was about to open this thread with the same title, but I recalled the thread on the subject last year and checked the title.
It’s a moment of great pride for Pakistan, Pakistan Army, PMA and the sister forces to achieve this distinction at the world’s best military academy.
This year again, a cadet from the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul who was sent to RMA Sandhurst, has passed out with the Overseas Sword of Honour, which is awarded to the Best Overseas Cadet in the entire course.
JUO Uqbah Hameed at the 153rd Sovereign’s Parade for the 62nd Commissioning Course RMA Sandhusrt shaking hands with General Sir John Reith KCB CBE, representing Her Majesty The Queen, the Reviewing Officer on Friday 13th April 2007.*
THE OVERSEAS SWORD, awarded to the Overseas Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the intake, was presented to Junior Under Officer Uqbah Hadeed Malik of Pakistan. Born in Karachi 21 years ago, Uqbah attended the Jhelum Military College, where he was the best overall cadet. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy for 18 months before coming to the UK, where he took and passed P Company before joining the RMAS. He has also been awarded the UAE Communication and Management Studies prize for best performance by an Overseas Cadet.
His father is a retired Brigadier and his mother is an English professor, currently studying for an MA in Linguistics in London.
While at Sandhurst, Uqbah played polo, cricket and hockey for the Academy and he will join the 1st Sind Regiment (mechanised infantry) on his return to Pakistan.
LONDON (UK): A Pakistani Army cadet has won the coveted Sword of Honour at the prestigious Royal British Military Academy of Sandhurst.
The 22-year-old officer cadet Ukbah Hadded Malik beat 26 other overseas cadets to win the honour, which will be presented to him at the passing out parade on April 13. He will be among overall 207 cadets marching out of the celebrated military training establishment.
The RMA Sandhurst was formed in 1947, from a merger of the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich (which trained officers for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers from 1741 to 1939) and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst.
Following the ending of National Service in the UK, the RMAS became the sole establishment for initial officer training in the British Army.
The young officer who did his initial 18 months course at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, has also won a medal in best communication and management skills.
Talking to Pakistan's first ISSN-certified independent daily E-newspaper, 'Pakistan Times', he expressed his delight at winning the coveted honour which he has dedicated to his country, family and his institution.
Son of retired Brigadier Haddid Anwar Malik of the Army Aviation Corps, Ukbah intends to join his father's original regiment-the Sindh Regiment upon his return to Pakistan.
He said the training he received at PMA proved to be in a good stead for him at the Sandhurst which went long way in winning him the rare honours.
Apart from his outstanding achievement in academics, Ukbah also excelled in sports during his one-year stay at Sandhurst and became a member of the Academy's cricket team.
For the moment, he will not be returning to Pakistan immediately, as he will proceed to South Africa with the Academy cricket team to play a series of matches.
I'm quite surprised I learned of this just today. There has been close to no coverage or hype in the Pakistani media. Which points questions at their professionalism and priorities really.
