The Instruction Centre of Counter-Aircraft Defence (French acronym: CI-DCA) of Laghouat was created at the beginning of November 1993.
Laghouat which holds its name of the word ghaout whose plural is aghouat would ntremean houses surrounded by gardens, and was founded in the 17th century by Beni Hillel. It is located at 400 km in the South of Algiers and constitutes one of the three doors of the Algerian Sahara. It takes profit from its location on the meridian axis, most significant of the country. In addition to its moderate and semi Saharan climate, it is characterised by some touristic sites and, it is spread out over a surface of 26,941 km2.

The Centre is equipped by the following teaching and simulation means:

• Models and bodies of various arms and ammunition;
• Simulators of portable air defence missiles;
• Circuit of control of combat machines;
• Simulator of control of combat machines;
• Field of shooting by light weapons;
• Field of shooting by weapons D.C.A. (Guns and Portable MSA);
• Field of the combatant;
• Playground for the sport practising of the various collective and individual disciplines;
• Rooms of course;
• General-purpose room (cinema, conference, cultural activities);
• Library.

RANKED CADETS: this training cycle is spread out over 24 weeks duration, in two (02) sessions;
DJOUNOUDS: this training cycle is spread out over 20 weeks duration, in two (02) sessions.

RANKED CADETS: this training cycle is spread out over 14 weeks duration, in three (03) sessions;
DJOUNOUDS: this training cycle is spread out over 10 weeks duration, in three (03) sessions.

CMP-1 (Professional Military Certificate 1^st degree)

They are provided for the contractual ranked cadets and of contingent as well as the elements resulting from the ranks and it is divided as follows:

• Portable MSA;
• Guns and rifles;
• Agents of Observations;
• Piloting and means of energy.

The cycle of training is spread out over 17 weeks duration, in one (01) session.

The Centre is equipped with:

• Rooms of specialised teaching;
• Rooms of simulators MSA;
• Room of simulators of control (combat machines);
• General-purpose room (cinema, conferences... etc).

The Centre is equipped with an infrastructure for lodging and food for the trainees. It is also equipped with TV rooms and leisure rooms.