Point Barrow Military Academy
Sarna News
| Point Barrow Military Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Academy Information | |
| Location | Point Barrow[1] |
| Founding Year | prior to 2765 |
| Course Information | |
| BattleMechs | Unknown - 3079+[1] |
| Infantry | Unknown - 3079+[1] |
| Conventional Armor | Unknown - 3079+[1] |
| Battle armor | Unknown - 3079+[1] |
| Technician | Unknown - 3079+[1] |
| Engineer | Unknown - 3079+[1] |
The Point Barrow Military Academy is a Federated Suns military academy located on the Chukchi continent of Point Barrow.[1] While not as prestigious as other academies, Point Barrow still produces a sizable amount of officers for the AFFS.
Contents
General[edit]
Though it is among the oldest institutions in the Federated Suns, Point Barrow has never been considered a premiere academy. During the Star League era, Point Barrow was mostly known for producing graduates that served in the conventional units of the AFFS, primarily infantry and armor officers. Despite the lack of MechWarrior training curriculum and being relatively low on High Command's priorities list, officers from Point Barrow and the comparable Kilbourne Academy were still considered to be excellent quality and served in their assigned units with pride.[2]
Over the course of the brutal Succession Wars, the quality of Point Barrow's graduates fell considerably, with most of its classes considered merely adequate— though notable exceptions were their engineering and technician officers, who were still highly-regarded. At some point after the Third Succession War, the academy became the site of anti-Davion terrorist activity, with multiple bombing attacks against government facilities traced back to cadets active at Point Barrow. The incidents were so out of character that they attracted the attention of ComStar's ROM and the academy was placed under the command of two Military Intelligence officers.[3][4]
In the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War, Point Barrow was completely overhauled, restructured, and purged of identified radical elements. It received significant assistance from Archon Melissa Steiner-Davion, who personally oversaw the transformation of Point Barrow into one of the most demanding military academies in the Federated Suns and one of the AFFC's primary sources of new officers. Under her direction, Point Barrow also added a host of new courses, including MechWarrior training, though it was still known for its high quality engineers and techs. Cadets and graduates felt they owed a personal debt to the Archon, and after her passing this loyalty transferred to her daughter Katherine.[4][5]
When the FedCom Civil War broke out, however, Point Barrow chose to remain neutral and did not involve itself in the internecine conflict. This proved to be a wise decision, and they were one of the few academies that emerged from the Civil War with more cadets and applicants.[6] The academy also survived the following the Word of Blake Jihad, though its training battalion was deactivated by Yvonne Steiner-Davion's Academy Appropriations War Powers Act.[7][1]
At some point after the foundation of the Republic of the Sphere, Point Barrow Military Academy had reopened its training cadre and developed a reputation of being the institution of choice for aspiring MechWarriors who lacked noble birth or the requisite social connections to obtain an appointment at one of the more prestigious academies. As word of this spread through the Federated Suns, applicant numbers swelled and competition between prospective students became quite fierce, particularly for MechWarrior slots. Point Barrow's armor training cadre, however, became notable for turning out highly-skilled, serious officers who excelled at tactics.[8]
Atmosphere[edit]
After Archon Melissa Steiner's reforms, Point Barrow became known as one of the most demanding institutions in the Federated Commonwealth, particularly due to the fact that it lacked the funding and advanced simulators of academies such as Albion and the NAIS College of Military Science. Most training was, as a result, conducted using real equipment and in realistic situations. Due to the very real possibility of death or serious injuries in training, Point Barrow suffered a high washout or dropout rate due to forced medical withdrawals and mental health problems caused by high stress.[4] Most cadets that made it through this grueling trial by fire developed a wry sense of humor, and the Academy's unofficial motto became "If the classes don't kill you, the weather will."[1]
As most of the citizens of the Point Barrow Combat Region—from whom Point Barrow drew the majority of its applicants—lacked the educational background of other Federated Suns citizens, the PBMA offered many remedial courses to fill in the gaps in their cadets' education.[5]
Special Notes[edit]
For a time, Point Barrow cadets and instructors felt obligated to support House Steiner due to Archon Melissa Steiner's intervention in their academy's fortunes.[4]
Training Units[edit]
Historical Insignias[edit]
Point Barrow Military Academy (3025)
Point Barrow Military Academy
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Objectives: Federated Suns, p. 21: "Point Barrow"
- ↑ Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 5: "Academies and Command Centers"
- ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 156
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 40: "Point Barrow Military Academy Profile"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 145
- ↑ Field Manual Updates, p. 136: "Academy Training Battalions"
- ↑ Field Report: AFFS, p. 19: "Academy and Training Units"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 87: "Point Barrow Academy Training Cadre"