Selection of personnel for the armed forces, especially the officer’s cadre, is an intricate undertaking which requires expertise and dedication. The composition and structure of the Selection System at the ISSB is scientific in its character and is almost universal in nature. It owes its origin to various intelligence and personality tests introduced by modern armies during the world wars and since then has undergone evolutionary changes to cope up with the present day requirements.

At the time of independence, Pakistan Army inherited 52 & 53 Service Selection Boards, which were located at Rawalpindi. These boards later moved to Lahore in September 1949. In May 1951, these boards were combined as Inter Services Selection Board and moved to Kohat in April  1952. Its two detachments were later established at Gujranwala and Malir in 1980 and 1987, respectively. A detachment has also been established at Quetta since 1999, which functions in the month of March/April and August primarily for the selection of PMA  Courses only.