Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras The Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras ( English : Military Academy of the Black Needles - named after the Pico das Agulhas Negras ; AMAN ) is the biggest among several schools of formation of combatant officers of the Brazilian Army . It originated in 1792 with the creation of the Royal Academy of Artillery , Fortification and Drawing - first military school of the Americas - in the city of Rio de Janeiro . Today the Academy is located in the city of Resende , in the state of Rio de Janeiro . History . In 1792 , Queen Mary I of Portugal founded the " Real Academia de Artilharia , Fortificação e Desenho " ( Royal Academy of Artillery , Fortification and Drawing ) in Rio de Janeiro , modeled after the similar existing Academy in Lisbon , intended to the train the artillery and engineering officers of the Portuguese Army in Brazil . This Academy is considered the pioneer of the military and engineering education in the Americas . The transfer of the Portuguese Royal Court from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in 1808 caused King Dom João VI to inaugurate in 23 April 1811 the " Royal Military Academy " , incorporating the Royal Academy of Artillery , Fortification and Drawing . Its first location was at the Train ' s House of the Artillery , today the location of the National Historical Museum of Brazil . In 1812 , the Train ' s House was transferred to the Plaza of São Francisco , a place that offered better conditions for warfare maneuvers . With the Independence of Brazil in 1822 , it was renamed the " Imperial Military Academy " . With the ever - growing need to improve the training of the officers of the Brazilian Army , it was merged with the School of War in Porto Alegre , Rio Grande Do Sul . In 1913 , with the objective of uniting all the military institutes of War and Application , was created the Military Academy . With the urgent need to expand its facilities to absorb an Army that grew and got operational was created , on January 1 , 1944 in the city of Resende , the " Military School of Resende " . It was renamed the " Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras " in 1951 . AMAN today . The AMAN campus in Resende occupies 67 km² . It contains several complexes , including the Main Complex , the Physical Education Department , the Equestrian Department , the Firearms Department and the Instruction Park . The Main Complex was expanded in 1988 to two times its original size , the expansion consisting mainly of refectories and cadets ' lodgings . The Command and Services Battalion includes the Headquarters Company , a Service Company , a Military Police Company , a Guard Company , a Rifleman Company , and two Corps of Cadets Auxiliary Companies . It is the largest Battalion of the Brazilian Army . Structure . The Cadet corps are constituted by a Commander , a Deputy Commander , a staff and diverse Courses and peculiar Sections , composites for Officers and Cadets with the diverse missions and characteristics . Specialties include infantry , cavalry , artillery , combat engineering , communications , quartermaster , and ordnance . Cadets receive training in riding , weaponry , and physical fitness . The Education . A cadet ' s career at the academy is divided into three periods . The first period , basic formation , takes place during the first two years . The second period , qualification , takes up the third year . The third period , qualification and intensification of instruction , takes place in the fourth year . In the first period , the cadet ' s personality is adjusted to military life and combat . The cadet undergoes physical qualification and training in various abilities . During the second period , the cadet practices command and continues with physical training . The objective of the third period is the development of the cadet to meet the positions and functions of subordinate officer and captain . Other activities include maneuvers , the Academic Olympics , sporting competitions against the Naval School and the Academy of the Air Force ( NAVAMAER ) and the South American Festival of Cadets . Notable alumni . Alumni from the Military Academy in Rio de Janeiro , both in the old campus ( Rio de Janeiro ) and new campus ( Resende , Rio de Janeiro state ) :