Bangladesh Air Force Academy (BAFA) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী একাডেমি) is a training and education academy which provides initial training to all men and women who are preparing to be
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
in the
Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, Bangladesh Biman Bahini) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The Air Force is primarily responsible for air defence of B ...
. The Bangladesh Air Force Academy is located in the district town of
Jashore
Jessore ( bn, যশোর, jôshor, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District situated in Khulna Division. It is situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh. It is the administrative centre (headquarter) of the eponymous district ...
at
Matiur Rahman Air Force Base. An
air officer
An air officer is an air force officer of the rank of air commodore or higher. Such officers may be termed "officers of air rank". While the term originated in the Royal Air Force, air officers are also to be found in many Commonwealth nations ...
(e.g. an Air Commodore) serves as its Commandant.
History
The academy traces its origin to the Cadet Training Unit of Bangladesh which was formed in November 1973. In April 1977 it was moved to
Jashore
Jessore ( bn, যশোর, jôshor, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District situated in Khulna Division. It is situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh. It is the administrative centre (headquarter) of the eponymous district ...
and renamed Cadet Training Wing. In April 1982 it was made a full academy and renamed Bangladesh Air Force Academy.
Selection of officers
Suitable candidates are selected after passing through different selection phases. For regular courses of different branch cadets, the selection procedure is as follows:
# Preliminary written Test on IQ, English, Physics & Mathematics.
# Preliminary VIVA & Medical Test.
# ISSB board for four days.
# Final Medical Test
# Final Selection Exam for GD(P) & Engineering branch.
# Final Interview at Air HQ.
Selection criteria for BAF candidates are highest among armed forces branches and only the best candidates are selected as air force cadets.
Training system
Newly recruited cadets undergo three years of training before they receive a commission. Initially, BAF cadets join the
Bangladesh Military Academy
Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) is the officers training institute for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Army. It is located in Bhatiary, near Chittagong Hill Tracts, in the Chittagong District of south-east Bangladesh, about 13 kilometres ...
for a tenure of three months, where they undergo initial training with army and navy cadets. Following initial training, they return to their academy and join the Bangladesh Air Force Academy. At the academy, cadets receive general service training, armed combat training and education on different service-related subjects. The period at the academy is divided into four terms. For the first two terms, cadets only receive general service training and read service-related subjects. During the third term, the General Duties Branch cadets go for 120 hours basic flying training and other branches' cadets begin studying subjects such as engineering. After successful completion of three years training in the Bangladesh Air Force Academy, cadets are commissioned into different branches of the Bangladesh Air Force. Those branches are Administration, General Duty (Pilot) [], Maintenance (Technical Engineering), Maintenance (Technical Communication and Electronics), Maintenance (Technical Armament), Air Defence Weapon Control (ADWC), Logistics, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Education, Legal, Accounts, Meteorology etc. A flight cadet also earns a BSc degree in Aeronautics from the
Bangladesh University of Professionals
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) is the 31st public university of Bangladesh (according to University Grants Commission of Bangladesh), located in Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka. It is the first public
university of Bangladesh to be run by ...
.
Gallery
File:Bangladesh air force graduation ceremony.jpg, Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, Bangladesh Biman Bahini) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The Air Force is primarily responsible for air defence of B ...
graduation ceremony
File:1 Squadron.jpg, 1 Squadron Bangladesh Air Force Academy
File:2 Squadron.jpg, 2 Squadron Bangladesh Air Force Academy
File:Cadets' Mess.jpg, Cadets' Mess
See also
*
Bangladesh Military Academy
Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) is the officers training institute for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Army. It is located in Bhatiary, near Chittagong Hill Tracts, in the Chittagong District of south-east Bangladesh, about 13 kilometres ...
*
Bangladesh Naval Academy
The Bangladesh Naval Academy is situated at the mouth of the Karnaphuli River at Patenga, Chittagong District, Bangladesh. Bathed by the river Karnaphuli on the east and sheltered on the south by the Bay of Bengal, BNA stands in a panoramic nat ...
References
External links
Bangladesh Air Force website
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Air force academies
Bangladesh Air Force
Bangladesh University of Professionals
Educational institutions established in 1973
Bangladesh Armed Forces education and training establishments