Bernardo O'Higgins Military School

History

Period of French influence

On 16 March 1817, General Bernardo O'Higgins created the Military Academy of Chile with the aim of training future officers and sergeants. Soldiers trained in this first academy took part in the Siege of Talcahuano and the Battle of Cancha Rayada, eventually securing the independence of Chile.

Its first premises operated in the convent of the Church of San Agustín (at the corner of Estado and Agustinas streets), from which the religious occupants were removed. Due to economic problems the academy was closed in 1819. In 1823, the Supreme Director Ramón Freire attempted to reopen the academy, but his plans were frustrated by the country's political instability.

In 1831, the academy was reopened by law thanks to the efforts of President Joaquín Prieto and his minister Diego Portales, but due to various problems it was closed again on 1 February 1838. Many soldiers trained during that period later fought in the War of the Confederation against the Peru–Bolivian Confederation.

On 6 October 1842, the academy reopened and on 28 September 1843 it definitively adopted the name Military Academy. Officers trained there later served in both the Chilean Army and the Chilean Navy during the wars against Spain and the War of the Pacific, emerging victorious in both conflicts.

Because of the prestige gained by the victories of the Napoleonic Wars and the efficiency demonstrated by the French Army during the Crimean War (1853–1856), the Chilean Army—like most Western armies during the mid-19th century—followed the organization, traditions, customs and uniforms of France during the era of Napoleon III.

Following the dissolution of the academy on 2 November 1876, it reopened in 1878 due to the delicate international situation and began operating the following year. During the last years of the 19th century, the Arturo Prat Naval School was reorganized with students from the Military Academy and construction works began on a new campus.

Period of Prussian influence

The first German officers arrived in September 1885 led by Captain Emil Körner. From 1896 onwards, German instructors arrived in large numbers to train the Chilean Army. Major Gunther von Bellow was appointed director of the Military Academy and Major Hermann Rogalla von Biberstein as deputy director. That same year the Prussian helmet began to be used.

In 1902 a new regulation was issued following the model of Prussian military schools, and in 1905 a new uniform based on the German model was adopted. During this period, specifically between 1900 and 1910, Emil Körner served as commander-in-chief of the army with the rank of general, establishing the foundations and model of the modern Chilean Army.

In 1927 the Alpatacal tragedy occurred. Students of the academy were scheduled to participate in a parade in Buenos Aires, but on the way a railway accident killed 30 people and injured 31. Despite the accident, the Chilean cadets still marched in the ceremonies. The tragedy is commemorated every 7 July.

In 1940, through the initiative of then director General Arnaldo Carrasco Carrasco, part of the San Luis estate in the commune of Las Condes was acquired. The new campus of the Military Academy was built there and gradually occupied between 1955 and 1958. Previously the academy had operated in an elegant neoclassical building constructed during the government of José Manuel Balmaceda near Parque O'Higgins, which had become insufficient for the institution's needs.

Military dictatorship

The 1973 Chilean coup d'état led by General Augusto Pinochet, which overthrew the democratically elected government and installed a dictatorship that would last for 17 years, was planned and coordinated from the school. The members of the military junta took their oath there. Following the coup, suspected opponents of the dictatorship were detained and tortured at the academy.

In 1976, construction of the monument to O'Higgins next to the Flame of Liberty was completed. With the crisis between Argentina and Chile in 1978 over the Beagle Channel conflict, the number of places at the school was increased from 200 to 400 and the focus shifted to combat training. In 1979, the Pichicuy site was incorporated.

Recent years

In 1990, the Pampa Germania battalion was created. In 1995 the first female cadets were admitted, marking the beginning of female military training.

In 2001 the curriculum underwent major changes and adopted a university-style structure, allowing graduates to obtain the academic degree of Bachelor of Military Sciences.

With the General Education Law of 2009, the Military Academy—together with other service academies of the armed forces—was classified as a higher education institution, and its graduates receive the professional title of "Army Officer". Universities such as the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the University of Chile, the Universidad del Desarrollo and the Universidad Mayor participate in academic instruction in subjects such as law, calculus, algebra, physics, and political and social sciences.

Following his death on 10 December 2006, former dictator and retired general Augusto Pinochet lay in state at the Military Academy.

Academic training

At the end of their final year, students must choose one of the following military branches, which determines the rest of their career:

Arms

Infantry

Artillery

Armoured cavalry

Military engineering

Telecommunications

Services

Intendance

War materiel

Personnel service

Location

The academy is located at Los Militares 4500 in the commune of Las Condes.

The site consists of a complex of buildings centered around a main structure facing Américo Vespucio Avenue, designed by architect Juan Martínez Gutiérrez, also the designer of the Votive Temple of Maipú and the University of Chile's Faculty of Law and Faculty of Medicine buildings.

It has direct access from the Santiago Metro via the Escuela Militar metro station on Line 1.