Imperial Naval Academy

The Imperial Naval Academy is located in the ancient city of Rome, it is the premier institution for training officers. The academy is located in the historically significant region of the Mediterranean, the academy blends tradition with the most cutting-edge technology that the Empire can provide.
The academy was established in the early days of FTL space exploration, centuries before the formation of the Empire, when the academy was first founded its goal was to train new officers for the growing fleet of the United Nations of Earth much needed to keep the ever-growing territory of human-controlled space well patrolled.
The academy is also working closely with the HEA, the Human Explorative Academy, the university tasked with educating the scouts of the scientific branch of the state, with one task being finding new planets for the Empire to settle.

Campus

The complex that makes up the Imperial Naval Academy is vast and includes everything from barracks to simulators. The main buildings are located within view of the Mediterranean coast and are a blend of modern architecture with classical design, the main entrance is flanked by two large bronze statues of Athena and Minerva both of them holding a spear that meets near the roof of the entrance forming an arc. The founder of the Academy, Admiral Hawke is a legend on the campus and Hawke's legacy lives on within the halls of the Academy, where his famous quote is engraved above the entrance to the main training hall: "From the oceans to the stars, we are the guardians of humanity’s future." A quotation that has stood the test of time as the purpose of the academy have changed over the centuries since its founding.
The main buildings are also home to the classrooms and the state-of-the-art lecture halls equipped with projectors that can give the viewers a perfect view of maps or models.
Behind the buildings are the large training grounds with several tracks for running, climbing and football fields.
The Imperial Naval Academy also maintain several off-planet campus sites, the nearest being the orbital simulators, a section of one of the large orbital stations around Earth functions as the training sites for the cadets when they undergo zero-gravity combat and tactical exercises. Other campus sites are located on the Moon, Mars and the Asteroid belt, these campuses are mainly used by the naval officers destined to become officers in the Marine Corps and are used to train in low-gravity situations.
The Academy contains a museum and library, featuring artefacts from Earth’s ancient maritime history with relics from famous warships and early spaceships. The museum is open to the public and the library can be visited after a special request or digital copies can be sent to the person.

Curriculum

The Imperial Naval Academy offers one of the most rigorous and comprehensive naval officer training programs in human-controlled space. Its curriculum is designed to develop cadets into highly skilled officers capable of leading in the most complex and dangerous interstellar environments.

Leadership and Command Training

The major part of the cadets' training is meant to prepare them to lead under pressure. Some courses cover both the theoretical part of the leadership and practical exercises, conducted either in simulators, bridge models or for the best cadets, onboard active warships. The Academy trains the cadets in thinking strategically and to make important decisions quickly and effectively.

Tactical and Strategic Warfare

Cadets study naval tactics, fleet formations, and large-scale battle strategies. This includes everything from capital ship engagements to carrier operations, small-ship skirmishes, and planetary defence scenarios.

Starship Operations

Cadets receive training in the operation of the starships in the Imperial Navy and the cadets become intimately familiar with the operation of these ships, they are expected to study the propulsion systems, weapon systems and the logistics behind operating starships.
Around the second to third year of enrolment at the academy, the cadets are assigned to a navy ship and will shadow the officers onboard the ship for six months.

Diplomacy and Military History

Officers must also be diplomats, especially in dealing with alien species or rogue human colonies. Cadets study interstellar law, the history of human expansion, and the various treaties and conflicts that define the political landscape of the Empire.

Traditions

The Imperial Naval Academy is proud of its many long-standing traditions

Ceremony of the crest

The Graduating officer receives a naval hat; it is a tradition that it contains the crest of the newly minted officer's first command or posting.

Eternal watch

A memorial hall within the Academy honours all graduates who have fallen in service to the Empire. Cadets participate in an annual ceremony called the Eternal Watch, where a number of the cadets stand guard alongside the busts of the fallen for an entire day.

Open house

Every 1st of July each year the academy opens its doors to the general public and Cadets have a chance to show their family around the campus and give them a view into their new life. At the same time, the local sports teams also compete against the teams from the Academy and the most popular event is the rowing competition.

Raiding

Another proud INA tradition is that of raiding the surrounding universities and academies, each year at a non determined time, a team of last year students are gathering with the task of infiltraiting the other institutions and with the proud military tradition of Strategic Transfer of Equipment to Alternative Location take their maschot and keep it hidden for a week before delivering it back, usally with the ransom being paid in beer.

Famous Alumni

Over the years since its founding, the Academy has produced some of the greatest officers, the officers who graduate from the Academy are considered among the elite of the Empire's military and the officers often rise to prominent positions within the fleet.

Admiral Marcus "Barf" Tal

Famous for leading the defence of the outer planets of Neptune and Uranus during the 2nd civil war when the rebels thought defeated in the first war returned in force and the Admiral led the outnumbered defenders until forced to retreat, inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgents.
The good Admiral received his nickname during the first party at the Academy when he threw up in a bush after one beer.

Captain Caden Nova

Caden Nova grew up in the colony of Nirumi, discovered by his teachers early on to process a talent for knowledge, he was primed for enrollment in the Academy where entry examen he scored in the top five of his class, During his enrollment at the Academy, Caden would go on to form a group alongside his roommates, Nica Sonez, Cassian and Kaelyn, named the Astral Vanguard by his fellow Cadets, After graduating he received command of the Hadrian, a destroyer which he would command for about half a year before getting recalled to Earth, where due to the massive expansion of the fleet and the retirement of several officers, Caden was given the command of the EES Freya an M-class battleship.

"Honor Through Service, Victory Through Strength"

Founding Date

23 July, 2287

Type

Educational, School/Academy

Alternative Names

INA

Demonym

Cadets

Founders

• Admiral Hawke

Parent Organization

Empire of Earth

Location

Rome

Related Species

• Humans