Royal Army Academy

"Duty first."

- Motto of the Royal Army Academy

The Royal Army Academy was the third and final commissioning academy of the Armada of the Golden Empire. Built on Vytuia in 112 ABY, it awarded post-secondary degrees to its graduates, who were commissioned as cornets in the Royal Army.

History
Officers of the Royal Army began lobbying Queen Rin Sakaros for a formal academy to train their officers, in addition to the usual Officer Training Institutes, since the establishment of the Royal Naval Academy in 98 ABY. Though Rin and her brother Tariun approved of the concept in theory, finding a suitable world proved more challenging. Finally, after the Empire acquired militaristic Vytuia in 110 ABY, the siblings settled on that world for their third and final academy. Construction began in mid-111 ABY, and the first academy class was admitted the following year.

Student life
Notoriously selective, the Academy accepted well under ten percent of all applicants. Those who earned and accepted places at the Academy were given the rank of "Cadet". Cadets participated in academics and physical fitness every working day, with drill several times a week. Underclassmen took military science classes emphasizing leadership and self-discipline; senior cadet classes were focused more on tactics.

During break periods, cadets were assigned to serve with field units. Those pursuing commissions with the Royal Marines could, with the approval of the Academy's Commandant, fill a limited number of shipboard slots on Royal Navy vessels. The majority served in ground bases on the various worlds of the Empire. Unlike their colleagues from the other academies, cadets on assignment occasionally received some limited authority over enlisted personnel

Cadets took a class on joint service operations in their final year at the Academy, and usually received presentations from senior officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Starfighter Corps. The graduating class also participated in a massive war game held on Vytuia itself, designed as a battle using cadets and s as combatants. The exercised tested the teamwork, discipline, and tactical knowledge of all involved.

Upon graduation, cadets received commissions as cornets and entered active service.