5. General Staff Academy
With a history dating back to its founding in 1832 in St. Petersburg, Russia’s General Staff Academy differs from other institutions listed here as all entrants are required to have previous military service or have attended an academy for specialized training in one of Russia’s military branches. As proof of their seasoning, those that are accepted into the academy tend to be in their late 30s and generally already hold high rank within the armed services. Though the academy has undergone a series of name and structural changes over the course of its nearly 200-year long history, it has been the home to some of Russia’s foremost military tacticians and scholars, including former Albanian Minister of Defense Beqir Balluku, and commander of the Albanian Navy, Teme Sejko. Producing such well-recognized alumni is indicative of rigorous educational and leadership programs, which help make the General Staff Academy one of the toughest military training academies in the world.
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