View source for Academy of Carida

{{Top|canon=Carida Academy}}
{{Otheruses|title=Academy}}
{{Youmayredirect|Imperial Military Academy at Cliffside|Cliffside cantina of Ando Prime|Cliffside}}
{{Structure
|image=[[File:Acadamy_of_Carida_IH.png]]
|name=Academy of Carida
|constructed=
|destroyed=[[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]]
|location=[[Spinara Plateau]], [[Carida/Legends|Carida]]
|poi=
|rebuilt=
|builder=
|height=
|width=
|affiliation=*[[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]
*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]}}
{{Quote|Life at the Carida Academy was full of changes. Some changes were startling, and some were expected. Some studies I did not take to, while others suited me just fine. Obedience, discipline, and loyalty were always drilled into us.|[[Soontir Fel/Legends|Soontir Fel]]|<ref name="X-Wing Rogue Squadron 25">[[X-Wing Rogue Squadron 25|''X-Wing Rogue Squadron'' 25]]</ref>}}
The '''Academy of Carida''' was a private, and later state-supported, comprehensive military institution. The institution was known by a variety of names such as '''Caridan Military Academy''', '''Carida Academy''', '''Academy at Carida''', and '''Spacers Academy''' while its unofficial name among the Cadets was '''Cliffside''' because of its precarious geographic location, on the [[Spinara Plateau]]: a five-hundred-foot dropoff along the east side.

The Academy itself was less than one-tenth of the larger, sprawling [[Imperial Military Training Base]], which typically housed more than one hundred and fifty thousand personnel, mostly [[human/Legends|human]] [[sexes/Legends|males]] (mirroring the trends of the Imperial culture), including the recruits, cadets, and instructors.

The Academy formed a triumvirate of [[Imperial Academy/Legends|elite military institutions]] along with the academies of [[Anaxes/Legends|Anaxes]] and [[Corulag/Legends|Corulag]] and as such it produced a high number of Imperial officer corps.
==History==
{{Quote|Cowards die a thousand deaths.|Motto carved into the mantel in the ceremonial dining room fireplace|<ref name="Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire">''[[Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire]]''</ref>}}
[[File:Carida_Academy_parade_grounds.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Imperial parade-grounds on Carida.]]
The Academy of [[Carida/Legends|Carida]] existed around [[5000 BBY/Legends|5000 BBY]], at which time its logo was inscribed in the [[Mascot Moon]]. [[Galactic Senate/Legends|Senatorial]] mandate around [[220 BBY]] established it as a centralized training ground for [[Planetary Security Forces]] that maintained order across the Republic, as well as [[Judicial ground forces]]. The Academy was also responsible for training the [[Republic Army]] during the penultimate military conflicts of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]].

Known then as the Republic Defense Academy, its influence waned in tandem with the Republic's faltering military capability and shift towards increased reliance on the [[Jedi Order/Legends|Jedi Order]]. When the [[Separatist Crisis/Legends|Separatist Crisis]] threatened to divide the Republic, the Academy's administrators and its [[Caridan (species)|Caridan]] governors supported the [[Militarists/Legends|Militarist]] [[Senator/Legends|senators]] attempting to pass the [[Military Creation Act/Legends|Military Creation Act]], hoping to regain the prestige it once held. The role of the Academy during the [[Clone Wars/Legends|Clone Wars]] was training non-clone warriors to supplement the [[Kaminoan/Legends|Kaminoan]]-trained [[Clone trooper/Legends|clone troopers]] and elite [[clone trooper commander]]s.

As [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine's]] [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]] assumed the functions of the fallen Republic, a large scale military build-up brought the Academy under state control. Renamed the Imperial Military Academy, the Academy became best known as the central training facility for the Emperor's fearsome [[Stormtrooper/Legends|stormtroopers]] of the [[Stormtrooper Corps/Legends|Stormtrooper Corps]], a continuation of its earlier mission during the Clone Wars. As the Imperial war machine accelerated, the compound was expanded to include several other training programs for various branches of the Imperial Service, including the development of a training center for clones that, similar to the Republic's ARC troopers, were bred for greater independence and leadership. Such training included live training supplementing lessons learned through [[Flash training|flash instruction]]. The Academy eventually opened the stormtrooper ranks to non-clones, with a two-year stormtrooper training program well known for its brutality, and thus drawing only the best and bravest army cadets.

[[File:Imperial_forces_on_Cholganna-BtR.png|thumb|right|250px|The [[501st Legion/Legends|501st Legion]] had a special training facility at the Academy.]]
The reputation of Carida became so strong that it became synonymous with military education and was known by many as simply "the Imperial Academy", despite the existence of several major and hundreds of minor state-operated Imperial academies. By the peak of the Empire, it was uncommon for any officer or specialized soldier to have not spent at least one semester at the Academy. Although Carida was first and foremost the training center for those aspiring to become members of the Stormtrooper Corps, various officers in both the Army and Navy branches of the Imperial Military nonetheless accepted recruits from Carida that didn't make it into the Stormtrooper Corps.<ref name="Imperial Handbook">''[[Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide]]''</ref>

During the Imperial years, the Carida Academy's staff and students numbered over 150,000 total. A full four-year course at the Academy would give the Empire an average of 500,000 [[Galactic Credit Standard|credits]] per student.

Before the [[Battle of Endor/Legends|Battle of Endor]], the Academy was target of an [[Attack on the Imperial Academy of Carida|attack]] coordinated by Rebel pilots. Only four of them survived the assault, including [[Telsij/Legends|Telsij]].<ref>*{{CCG|set=Death Star II Limited|link=DeathStarII-Light/large/lieutenanttelsij.gif|cardname=Lieutenant Telsij}}</ref>

The Academy was destroyed in [[11 ABY/Legends|11 ABY]] when [[Kyp Durron]] launched the [[Sun Crusher]]'s [[resonance torpedo]]es into the heart of the [[Carida system/Legends|Carida system's]] primary star. The resulting shockwave incinerated all planetary life, with the follow up cracking the planetary shell. Within the two-hour warning period Durron provided, it is believed that many of the Imperials escaped with much of their equipment.

==Organization==
[[File:CaridanAcademy.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Academy.]]
The central focus of the Academy was its training of stormtroopers. While other branches and sister facilities were tied into the stormtrooper training program, every trainee that passed through the gates of the Academy participated in the basic training and field exercises of the [[Stormtrooper Corps/Legends|Stormtrooper Corps]] before moving on to their more specialized training.

Due to the very high standards of the Stormtrooper Corps, the turnout rate for recruit training in Carida is fairly low, due to most applicants failing to meet the posted physical requirements, while others wash out during training. In large part because of the exceedingly merciless standards, those who do pass is considered a point of honor among the ranks of the Corps. Nonetheless, even those who either fail to meet the physical requirements or wash out are considered viable recruits to both the Imperial Army and Navy.<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />

Live fire field exercises provided practical experience as well as the means to test new weapons in combat situations. In fact, every major military equipment firm built facilities on Carida to allow for easier testing and development.
[[File:Carida_Academy_JASB.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Carida academy prior to the planet's destruction.]]
Facilities included:
*Administration building, an imposing structure with [[bronze/Legends|bronze]] [[mantigrue]]s flanking its doors.<ref name="SE3" />
*Imperial Military Training Base
*[[Imperial Navy Command Officer's School]], a senior facilities for training prospective ship captains in advanced naval combat and military command
*Imperial Engineering Academy
*Cliffside, a stormtrooper officer's academy
*Hospital, reserved for injured cadets and soldiers; casualties of [[Omega Missions]] made the place busy. A long flight of stairs, with a metal rail separating those going up or down, led to the main entrance, flanked by stone neks, each larger than an [[Assault_boat/Legends|assault boat]].<ref name="SE3" />
*Office of Cadet Affairs<ref name="SE3" />
*The Quad, a large open area of fused stone, measuring acres. Cadets marched across countless times, for which they called that place "the grinder". Nearby is a heroic statue of the Emperor.<ref name="SE3" />
*[[Storm Commando School]]
*Sunstorm

In addition, aside from experimental weapons testing,<ref name="Imperial Handbook" /> prospective stormtrooper officer candidates undergo lessons in:
*Unarmed combat;<ref name="SE4">''[[Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire]]'', Chapter Four</ref>
*Wilderness survival;<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />
*Desert warfare simulations;<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />
*Underwater battle tactics;<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />
*Flash-memory instruction in military history;<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />
*Self-discipline through emotional suppression;<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />
*Education in the principles of the Emperor's New Order<ref name="Imperial Handbook" />

==Campus==
[[File:Figure-academy.jpg|thumb|left|180px|A cadet looking at one of the giant statues of the Academy of Carida.]]

Centered at [[Spinara Plateau]] and surrounded by dagger-like mountains, the Academy was composed of several impressive buildings that acted as living and dining space, training areas, as well as administrative and [[Caridan (species)|Caridan]] government offices. At the center of the campus was a large citadel<ref name="UVG">''[[Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide]]''</ref> with architecture designed to echo the ancient buildings of Coruscant and Raithal, despite its relative youth. Enormous turrets and minarets dotted the upper walls of the citadel<ref name="UVG" />; the southernmost turret housed the Academy's private HoloNet transceiver.

The campus itself contained facilities for both basic and advanced training. Numerous outbuildings, drill fields, rifle ranges, and storage and training facilities surrounded the main quadrangles. Decommissioned Imperial [[Walker/Legends|walkers]] were placed along major promenades as imposing reminders of the Emperor's might.
Decorations included an immense "heroic" statue of [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]].<ref name="SE3" />

The [[Academy Dean]] resided in the [[Dean's Residence]].

[[Rom Mohc]] had installed a surveillance system to keep an eye on mischievous cadets. Cameras and robotic eyes high above the ground, fed images to the [[Commandant]]'s undeground office; one wall was filled by a video mosaic of hundreds of screens.<ref name="SE3">''[[Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire]]'', Chapter Three</ref>

Cadets underwent four years of physical training, study and intentional sleep deprivation, stemming to mindbending fatigue. Before their graduation and commission, cadets underwent a final [[Omega Mission]].<ref name="SE3" />
The cost for feeding, housing and educating the cadets, costed more than half-million [[Galactic_Credit_Standard|credits]] in the course of these four years.
===Graduation===
[[File:Cliffsideritual.jpg|thumb|200px|Cliffside graduation ceremony]]
Preparing for the graduation parade, the cadets were drilling many times; having to make a turn before the precarious edge of the cliffside dropoff, a bright yellow line was used; avoiding that required correct orders, right teamwork and concentration: anyone who stumbled or tripped over it, would be scolded before performing fifty pushups.

Preparing for the day, maintenance workers, freshmen, and droids worked all night to install temporary structures such as grandstands and pylons flying pennants, battle flags and heraldry. Senior officers, and some parents who could make it, also came to attend. Ranks of infantry and a company of imperial walkers ([[All Terrain Armored Transport/Legends|AT-AT]]s and [[All Terrain Scout Transport/Legends|AT-ST]]s) are also assembled while waves of [[TIE/LN starfighter|TIE fighters]] flew above the rooftops, and the [[Regimental Band]] played marches, all under hovering [[camera droid]]s.

The cadets dress and shine their uniforms, are inspected and undergo a lecture on deportment, then assemble in front of their dorm according to their height and [[aurebesh/Legends|alphabetic]] order, although not without arguing over their placement, regarding the danger of passing by the literal Cliffside. The [[Cadet Company Commander]]s led their companies towards the Quad. Marching around its west end, they passed by the hospital, the platform of the officials and the administration building, the engineering complex, and straight to the cliffside; once a column arrived at the southeast corner of the grounds, they would skirt the edge, and at the order of the Cadet Company Commander, who was marching next to the inside flank, they wheeled left. After a second issue, the company followed the quad's north side, and took position in front of the VIP platform. This critical part of the ceremony required concentration, unison and good timing; in [[4 BBY/Legends|4 BBY]], Cadet Company Commander [[Stor]]'s voice froze when his company was marching towards the cliff, and the whole first rank fell to their deaths; by [[1 BBY/Legend|1 BBY]] the toll rose to thirty-six cadets, almost half of them being on the right flank, but that year had no casualties.

The Commandant introduced the guest speakers, and then a list of names and accomplishments of those in the top ten percent of the class. General Mohc would walk among the ranks and handed the honor baton.

The ceremony ended with three cheers for the Emperor and tossing caps into the air. The graduees were dismissed in a pandemonium, either to meet their friends are family, or join dinners and parties in the dorms.

==Faculty and staff==
*[[Alexsandr Badure]]
*[[Lucinta Cal-Meg]] ― Physics professor and student advisor
*[[Dauren]] ― [[Stormtrooper/Legends|Stormtrooper]] trainer
*[[Jerec (Inquisitor)|Jerec]] ― Graduation ceremony attendee
*[[Rom Mohc]] ― Administrator
*[[Kendal Ozzel/Legends|Kendal Ozzel]]
*[[Massimo Tagge]] ― Chief Instructor
*[[Stavin Thaal]] ― Small-unit tactics instructor
*[[Unidentified Imperial officer (Carida Academy)|Unidentified Major]]
*[[Unidentified Imperial sergeant training instructor|Unidentified Sergeant]] ― [[All Terrain Armored Transport/Legends|AT-AT]] instructor
*[[Gandl Vorkosigge]] ― [[Chief Technical Proctor]]
*[[Horace Wyrmyr]] ― [[Academy Dean]]
*[[ZZ-4Z]] ― [[JV-Z1/D butler droid|JV-Z1/D]] [[Housekeeping droid]]
*[[Colonel/Legends|Colonel]] [[Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Legends|Mitth'raw'nuruodo]]
==Notable students==
*[[Ben (Imperial cadet)|Ben]]
*[[Lumiya|Shira Brie]]<ref name="carida">{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20030904carida|text=Carida: Heavy Duty|int=Carida: Heavy Duty|archivedate=20090603070230}}</ref>
*[[Tessala Corvae]]
*[[Dana Cory]]
*[[Natasi Daala]]
*[[Myrette Davani]]
*[[Davin (Human)|Davin]]
*[[Nathan Donar III]]
*[[Isila Drutch]]
*[[Zeth Durron]]
*[[Endicott/Legends|Endicott]]<ref name="CCG: Endicott">{{CCG|set=Death Star II Limited|link=DeathStarII-Dark/large/lieutenantendicott.gif|cardname=Lieutenant Endicott}}</ref>
*[[Soontir Fel/Legends|Soontir Fel]]<ref name="UVG" />
*[[Davin Felth/Legends|Davin Felth]]
*[[Bens Figg]]
*[[Geoff f'Tuhns]]
*[[Loka Hask]]
*[[Wrenga Jixton]]
*[[Kyle Katarn]]
*[[Kratas]]<ref>[[Dark Apprentice (novel)|''Dark Apprentice'']]</ref>
*[[Chad Longko]]
*[[Rand Nalleck]]
*[[Meck Odom]]
*[[Nahdonnis Praji]]
*[[Reluctant stormtrooper sergeant]]
*[[Dash Rendar/Legends|Dash Rendar]]
*[[Terrinald Screed/Legends|Terrinald Screed]]
*[[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]]
*[[Mako Spince]]
*[[Stor]]
*[[Janek Sunber]]
*[[Brenn Tantor]]
*[[Dellis Tantor]]
*[[Matt Turhaya]]
*[[Vune Willic]]
*[[Tyber Zann]]

==Behind the scenes==
Prior to the development of the Academy of Carida in the [[Star Wars: The Jedi Academy Trilogy|''Jedi Academy Trilogy'']], the [[Raithal Academy/Legends|Raithal Academy]] was established as the most prestigious branch of the Imperial Academy.

==Appearances==
{{Scroll_box|content=
*''[[Episode I Adventures Game Book 4: Jedi Emergency]]''
*{{Hnn|52|news/13418_2.html|Carida Backs Military Creation Act|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728123209/http://www.holonetnews.com/52/news/13418_2.html}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Dark Empire Sourcebook|story=The Hearing}}
*''[[Shadow Games]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|5|Turning Point (Charlene Newcomb)|Turning Point}} {{Mo}}
*''[[A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War]]''
*''[[Dark Forces Manual: Coded Transmissions]]'' {{Mo}} (as "the Academy")
*''[[Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire]]'' / [[Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire audio drama|audio]]
*{{Shortstory|story=When the Desert Wind Turns: The Stormtrooper's Tale|book=Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina}}
*[[Star Wars: Rebellion (video game)|''Star Wars: Rebellion'']] {{Mo}}
*[[Empire 16|''Empire'' 16]]
*[[Empire 18|''Empire'' 18]]
*[[Allegiance (novel)|''Allegiance'']] {{Mo}}
*[[Allegiance (audiobook)|''Allegiance'' audiobook]] {{Mo}}
*[[Star Wars (1977) 63|''Star Wars'' (1977) 63]] {{1st}} {{Hologram}} {{Ret}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[X-Wing Rogue Squadron 25|''X-Wing Rogue Squadron'' 25]]
*''[[Dark Forces: Rebel Agent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[X-Wing: The Bacta War]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Wraith Squadron]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[The Courtship of Princess Leia]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Tatooine Ghost]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Dark Force Rising]]'' {{Imo}}
*[[Dark Force Rising (unabridged audiobook)|''Dark Force Rising'' audiobook]] {{Imo}}
*''[[Jedi Search]]'' {{1stm}}
*[[Dark Apprentice (novel)|''Dark Apprentice'']] {{Mo}}
*''[[Champions of the Force]]''
*[[Darksaber (novel)|''Darksaber'']] {{Mo}}
*{{Hyperspace|url=fans/hyperspace/fiction/shadesofgray/index.html|text=''Shades of Gray''|int=Shades of Gray|newurl=http://star-wars.suvudu.com/2012/10/star-wars-shorts-shades-of-gray-from-the-adventures-of-alex-winger.html|newhost=[[Unbound Worlds|Suvudu]]}} {{Mo}}
*''[[Vision of the Future]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[Vision of the Future (unabridged audiobook)|''Vision of the Future'' unabridged audiobook]] {{Mo}}
*''[[Young Jedi Knights: Return to Ord Mantell]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Legacy of the Force: Exile]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Legacy of the Force: Fury]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[Legacy of the Force: Invincible]]'' {{Imo}}
*''[[X-Wing: Mercy Kill]]'' {{Mo}}
*[[X-Wing: Mercy Kill (audiobook)|''X-Wing: Mercy Kill'' audiobook]] {{Mo}}
}}

==Sources==
{{Scroll_box|content=
*''[[Dark Empire Sourcebook]]''
*''[[The Jedi Academy Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]''
*{{KennerCite|set=Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (toy line)|text=''Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire''|pack=Dash Rendar|link=soteKdash.asp|archiveurl=https://archive.is/jxCYB}} {{Imo}}
*''[[Cracken's Threat Dossier]]''
*''[[Lords of the Expanse]]''
*''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
<!--2003-->
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20030403coruscant|text=Coruscant: Center of the Empire|int=Coruscant: Center of the Empire|archivedate=20100129173348}} <!--April 2003--> {{C|Vignette}}
*{{WizardsCite|url=default.asp?x=starwars/article/sw20030904carida|text=Carida: Heavy Duty|int=Carida: Heavy Duty|archivedate=20090603070230}} <!--Sept 2003-->
*''[[The Dark Forces Saga]]''
*{{CCG|set=Premiere Limited|link=Premiere-Dark/large/commanderpraji.gif|cardname=Commander Praji}}
*{{CCG|set=Death Star II Limited|link=DeathStarII-Dark/large/lieutenantendicott.gif|cardname=Lieutenant Endicott}}
*{{CCG|set=Death Star II Limited|link=DeathStarII-Light/large/lieutenanttelsij.gif|cardname=Lieutenant Telsij}}
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*{{InsiderCite|89|Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy}}
*''[[Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 1]]''
*''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*''[[Rebellion Era Campaign Guide]]''
*''[[Galaxy at War]]''
*{{DB|character|kylekatarn|Katarn, Kyle|archivedate=20110524174919}}
*{{DB|character|dashrendar|Rendar, Dash|archivedate=20110819144848}}
*{{DB|character|admiralscreed|Screed, Admiral|archivedate=20100210020053}}
*''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''
*{{SW|url=news/viva-space-vegas-the-history-of-the-marvelous-wheel-part-1|text=Viva Space Vegas! The History of the Marvelous Wheel, Part 1|int=Viva Space Vegas! The History of the Marvelous Wheel}}
*<!-- 2014/10/20 -->''[[Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide]]''
*[[Stay on Target (sourcebook)|''Stay on Target'']]
}}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{Interlang
|de=Carida-Akademie
|es=Academia de Carida/Leyendas
|fi=Caridan akatemia
|ru=Каридская академия
}}

[[Category:Carida locations]]
[[Category:Imperial Academies|Carida]]