New Haven military training begins at the New Haven Military Academy on the outskirts of Avery, where each Cadet will undergoes a grueling twelve week basic training course. These twelve weeks mark the first three months of their 5 year tour of duty. After an address given to the new Cadets by the Vice General in command, the Cadets are divided up into Cadet Platoons of 30-50 members, led by a Shisho (Instructor) and occasionally a veteran subordinate.

      Training begins at 0530 hours the morning following the Cadet's arrival, given thirty minutes to freshen up, shave and dress prior to morning calisthenics and a twenty minute run. At 0630 hours is an hour break for breakfast, followed by further physical training intermixed with basic military training in reading hand signals, operating radio equipment, proper handling and maintenance of weapons, how to don and take off armor, and so on. At 1230 hours is lunch, followed by more grueling physical training, involving long distance runs, obstacle courses, rock climbing, simulated bayonet fights, and martial arts training. At 1830 hours is dinner, followed by a thorough examination of each cadet individually by a paramedic in the Cadet Platoon Barracks. Meanwhile the Shisho stands at ease looking over the Cadets and discusses the day's training. He or she is careful to illustrate the points where Cadets performed poorly, and why it is important that they get it right, but also illustrates points where the Cadets did exactly as they needed to in the situation. Praise is especially granted for Cadets that go out of their way to aid their fellow Cadets.

      Once finished with treating the Cadets for sunburns, minor cuts, bruises and blisters the Shisho and Paramedic leave the barracks giving them an hour of free time before lights out. However, roughly 20% of the time, sometime during the night the Shisho will scramble the platoon for midnight maneuvers that could last for several hours before allowing them to return to their barracks to clean up prior to starting the new day.

      Through this training course the mind and body of the Cadet are pushed to their very limits and then forged into a disciplined and dedicated soldier for the Republic. As difficult as the basic training courseis, roughly 30% of all Cadets drop out of training within the first four weeks as a result of the physical strain, exhaustion, sleep deprivation, misbehavior and the intense pace kept by their Shisho.

      Unlike traditional Drill Instructors, New Haven's Shisho are very seldom verbally or physically abusive to Cadets. These Cadets are the future Bushi of the Republic, and they have volunteered themselves to take on the weight of that burden and so therefore are worthy of respect for that resolve at the very least.

      Honor, teamwork and keeping a cool head is the framework to the psychological training carried out during the Cadet's time at the New Haven Military Academy. Cadets are encouraged to help encourage their fellow trainees, set aside time for specified training to catch up a Cadet that may be lagging behind the curriculum, fostering a sense of unity that rules out finger pointing and blaming fellow Cadets. They are further taught to rely on specialists of other fields such as battle mages, power armor operatives, close air support, aerial transport, and armored support.

      Punishment for a failure to meet an objective is very seldom carried out against an individual but are leveled against the entire Cadet Platoon. A prime example would be if a single Cadet lags behind in a five mile run, additional distance may be called upon for the entire platoon. In other military units, such individuals may be hazed, assaulted, ignored, or insulted. The sense of unity instilled during these twelve life altering weeks however almost completely eliminates that sentiment. A statement made by a Cadet Squad Leader might be, "Cadet Hoff's failure to reach the required distance in the allotted time is a failure on the part of the entire platoon. We should be working together to encourage him to push himself harder, cooperate with him in further developing his running speed or endurance, and also be mindful of his health to make certain that is not effecting his performance and as a result the performance of the Cadet Platoon as a whole."

      Cadets may opt to resign from training at any time during their twelve weeks of training, but first they are subject to a thorough examination by a military doctor, an interview with the Vice General in charge of the New Haven Military Academy to question their reasons for leaving, and whatever the cause for their departure may be remedied - it will be promptly addressed. If the Cadet simply has decided not to continue with the training, their' Cadet's pay for that month is issued to the end of the month that day, and they are discharged with no further penalty. (IF the Cadet joined to obtain citizenship, however, they are escorted to immigration to work out an alternative plan to obtain citizenship if possible.)

      Not all Cadets have the proper demeanor to be New Haven Bushi, however, and so there are occasions when they are dishonorably discharged - a stigma that will remain with them via their Republic ID Card so long as they remain a citizen of New Haven.

      All Cadets begin with 20 Merit Points. Displaying exemplary leadership skills, using their free time to advance their fellow Cadets' skills and being on the winning side of war games against other Cadet Platoons can gain a Cadet 1-2 additional Merit Points as determined by their Shisho.