Post by Kenith Simmons on Nov 4, 2009 16:56:41 GMT 9.5
Stargate Academy: An Introduction
The Stargate Academy was established in April 2000 (SG-1 Season 4) as a joint venture between the United States Air Force Academy and Stargate Command. The SGC program had been successfully running for 3 years prior to the opening of the Academy, and already a large demand was seen for highly trained and specialized Air Force officers to lead SG teams off-world. Thus, in 2000, 64 student placements at the USAFA were re-designated, becoming the first every student body.
With the commencement of the school year in mid 2006, changes were afoot at the Academy. No longer confined just to Air Force cadets, students from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps were accepted into the student body from their relevant service universities. This diversity has been welcomed by all, with other I.O.A. countries such as Russian following suite and creating their own specialized academies to train Stargate officers.
Cadets are drawn from current U.S. military academies, usually at the end of their first year, and most complete an intense bridging course in order to be accepted into the SGA. These students commence their students as third class (sophomore) cadets. Some student who express outstanding potential during the selection process for the Air Force, Army or Navy/Marine academies are transferred directly to the SGA, and begin their journey as fourth class (freshman) students.
The academy is administered by a Superintendent, an active-service Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral who oversees all aspects of the Academy. Below the Superintendent is the Commandant of Cadets and the Dean of the Faculty, both ranked Brigadier General or Rear Admiral, who take care of the cadet body and the education staff respectively. The Director of Athletics, a Colonel or Navy Captain, is charged with the Academy physical training program and the school's sporting teams, while each academic department is lead by a Colonel, Navy Captain or civilian professor. Teachers and instructors are either active duty military personnel or civilian staff.
The student body or Cadet Wing is overseen by the Commandant of Cadets along with a four year cadet selected a Cadet Wing Commander. The Wing is in turn divided into four Cadet Groups, each headed by a Lieutenant Colonel or Navy Commander working alongside an appointed Cadet Group Commander. Each Cadet Group is split into four Cadet Teams, each led by a fourth year Cadet Team Leader and an active duty Major or Lieutenant Commander.
Cadets graduate their studies with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in their selected discipline. Students either transfer directly to Stargate Command, an off-world base, an Earth cruiser or the Department of Homeworld Security, often after completing further job education and training with their relevant military service.
