The Defence Services Academy is Myanmar's premier military training institution, occupying a vast campus on the edge of Pyin Oo Lwin. The campus buildings mix colonial-era structures with later additions, and the grounds are extensive. While access inside is restricted, the view of the academy from the road gives a sense of the institution's scale.
The DSA was founded in 1955 after Burma's independence and continues to train officers for all branches of the Myanmar armed forces. It is analogous in function and prestige to West Point or Sandhurst, and its alumni include the country's senior military leadership. The large parade grounds are occasionally visible from the road perimeter.