I agree with you, the constant courses and studies that you have to do, they do show some intellect. But you have to keep in mind, not all intellect is equal. A doctor and an engineer might both be on the same level intellectually, but that does not mean they can do each other's jobs.
Moreover, the yard stick might not be equal. I have seen some officers from Kuldana who couldn't string together a few proper sentences in English! In the exam itself! There was one DS too who was quite infamous for his 'intellect'!
But then again, the purpose the course was designed for, and the purpose the students were sent there for, might have been accomplished. But that does not mean they are har fan maula!
A officer who did his engineering from Risalpur said once to me, ham log apni engineering bas pass karnay kay liay kartay thay. Subah front roll karo hostel kay samnay, staff say bisti karwao, bhag daur karo...to parho kab? Civil bachay akar class top kartay thay, ham to bas class mar mar kar pass kartay thay.
Wellll....I wouldn't put quite a blanket statement.
I could argue that the engineering department of EK is being half run by ex-PAF officers, including at managerial positions. But I guess you can make a distinction between the grunts and the engineers, so it stands to reason.
There's a few ex-army working in Microsoft and AT&T, that I personally know of in managerial positions.
But I get what you mean. Ex-US servicemen do get into corporate positions very well though (from what I have observed), but I think the system works differently in the US. The MIC needs veterans in companies!
There is one thing more.
Study something else, do something entirely different.
Study military for 30+ years, but eventually come out as a successful behind-the-scenes thread-pulling decision maker who is running the course of politics (internally and externally).
Maybe change the text books, in fact the entire course.
If you watched the series, The House of Cards, Kevin Spacey said to Gerald McRaney,
"You may have the money, but I have the men with guns".
So Bajwa did everything to secure his extension (stay in power), to become a puppet for USA (to secure $ form USA for personal reasons), to damage Pakistan intentionally (removing IK, bringing N-league, maybe money from N-League too and secure his COAS seat) - he has achieved what no other COAS has achieved before, that even without martial law.
The previous ones (Ayub, Zia, etc) showed their "men with guns" power, dissolve Government, bring mens with guns on streets, rule through the strength of the Army's troops guns, tanks etc.
Bajwa surpasses them all with his genius. For one, he is 100% successful for what he does. He always succeeds. Getting extension, keeping China aligned for CPEC and also keeping USA happy, raising new formations, hitting TTP inside Afghanistan, ousting IK cleanly, bring a new Govt in without a coup, keeping his reins on Army and country without martial law, no mutiny in Army (there was mutiny in times of Ayub, Zia, Musharraf), not one attack on Bajwa (some on Musharraf).
I mean, is this man a genius or what ? He always gets what he wants.
I want to study those text books and do all those courses too. Bilawal and Maryam have no future in front of his guile if he comes into politics.