the New Cadets join the ranks of the Corps in February every year. Each New Cadet receives strict military training as part of his/her first year in the academy, including physical training and arms training. They are recognized as full cadets in a ceremony in August where they receive ceremonial daggers, similar to those used by the Duke of Caixas, whilst wearing the blue dress uniform of the Corps. During the summer, the fourth class cadets spend their vacations in the specialty branch school of their choice, beginning the second year as full fledged third class cadets of their chosen service branches within the Army: Infantry Branch Armored Cavalry Field and Air Defense Artillery Corps of Engineers Signal Corps Logistics Materiel In addition to the tough physical training regime and weapons training, each of the cadets are trained to endure the tough environments of the country in the performance of defense and security operations, as well as in assisting law enforcement and in peacekeeping duties abroad. During the Brazilian spring, all cadets go towards one year-end training exercise to assess their skills and apply the lessons learned during their studies. Cadet Ranks 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): Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias – Official patron of the Army and Prime Minister of Brazil. José Paranhos, Viscount of Rio Branco – Prime Minister of Brazil. Alfredo d'Escragnolle Taunay, Viscount of Taunay – Brazilian aristocrat, military officer and writer. Deodoro da Fonseca – Marshal and President of Brazil. Floriano Peixoto – Marshal and President of Brazil. Hermes Rodrigues da Fonseca – Marshal and President of Brazil. Eurico Gaspar Dutra – Marshal, Minister of War during World War II and President of Brazil. Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco – Marshal and President of Brazil. Artur da Costa e Silva – Marshal and President of Brazil. Emílio Garrastazu Médici – General and President of Brazil. Ernesto Geisel – General and President of Brazil. João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo – President of Brazil, previous chief of the National Intelligence Service of Brazil. Golbery do Couto e Silva – General and founder of the National Intelligence Service of Brazil (SNI). Enzo Martins Peri – General of the Army, former Brazilian Army commander. Eduardo Dias da Costa Villas Bôas – General