National Defense Academy of Japan


National Defense Academy of Japan, abbreviated NDA is the national, four-year university-level service academy aimed to educate and train students who will be serving as officers in the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa.

History

The National Defense Academy of Japan was opened in 1952 as National Safety Academy, and was renamed "National Defense Academy" in 1954, when the incipient Japanese military was renamed from National Safety Force to the Japan Self-Defense Forces. In contrast to the pre-war period, when the Imperial Navy and Army had separate academies was established as a unified institution in order to mitigate the effects of sectionalism and inter-service rivalry. The Academy matriculated its first female student in 1992.

Selection

Its main course students are selected from applicants and typically are recent graduates from Japanese civilian senior high schools who have completed twelve years of formal schooling. They are paid a salary as employees of the Ministry of Defense.
After graduation they are posted to the Officer Candidate Schools in one of three forces, conduct training alongside civilian university graduates and internal promotees before being posted as officers.

Postgraduate

The academy also conducts master's and doctoral level courses for students who are endorsed by their supervisors at their respective serving forces.

Affiliation

The National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education, an Independent Administrative Institution affiliated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has recognised the courses and awards the graduates degrees on request. As the Academy is not an MEXT-recognised university, it cannot offer its own degrees.

List of Presidents