historyof
sanatanhindusikh
shastarvidiya

Originally a 400-strong contingent, the 'Akal Sena' acted mainly as a local policing force.

The first 4 commanders were all respected fighters who had become Sikhs in the time of Guru Arjan Dev:

1. Bhai Bidhi Chand (a renowned leader of thieves)
2. Bhai Paira
3. Bhai Pirana
4. Bhai Jetha
('Gurbilas Patshahi 6' (written 1720), eds. Joginder Singh & Dr Amarjit Singh, Published Punjab: Bhasha Vibhag (1998), Pa. 214–15)

The Akali daily trained in front of the Akal Takht. In the evenings they went to hunt - facing tigers on foot or chasing ferocious wild boar on horseback could often be as dangerous:

“With four hundred warriors, a variety of hawks, and many hunting dogs, [Guru Hargobind] went to the jungle. This is the way the Guru hunted.”
('Gurbilas Patshahi 6' (written 1720), eds. Joginder Singh & Dr Amarjit Singh, Published Punjab: Bhasha Vibhag (1998), Pa. 215)

As the army grew, the 'Ranjit Akhara' (martial training school) moved to an area known known as Akali Phoola Singh Burj in Amritsar.