Defence Services Academy

   (DSA)

   Established in 1955 as a university-level military academy. It is similar to West Point or Sandhurst, offering a four-year course and graduating officers who receive commissions in the three services of the Tatmadaw. The DSA is located in Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin), and since the establishment of the State Peace and Development Council in 1997, it has had an expanded enrollment of 1,500. Although the focus is on military science, academic and technical courses are also offered, and the DSA has been significantly upgraded in terms of curriculum and facilities since 1988. DSA graduates are considered better educated than their counterparts from the Officers' Training School. But rivalries between officers from the two institutions, who comprise the armed forces high command, have not undermined the basic unity and coherence of the Tatmadaw.