3. Special Military School of Saint-Cyr, France
Established in 18003 by Napoleon Bonaparte, one the world’s greatest military minds, France’s foremost military academy prides itself on its motto, “Ils s’instruisent pour vaincre“: “They study to vanquish.” Students are recruited to this university both domestically and internationally through an annual competitive exam that tests their general knowledge, aptitude, and intelligence. Additionally, applicants must interview and undergo a test of their physical ability prior to being admitted. Upon admission around the age of 21, cadets undergo three years of leadership, academic, physical, and military training, and ultimately graduate with a master’s degree and the rank of Lieutenant. From there, graduates will attend a school in the branch of their choosing, where they later become platoon leaders. The academy’s formidable alumni list include Louis II, Prince of Monaco, Peter I of Serbia, Liao Yaoxiang, Chinese General in the second Sino-Japanese War, and Haj Ali Razmara, former Prime Minister of Iran. And now, let’s see the top two entries in our list of toughest military training academies in the world.
