View source for Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy

{{InfoBoxAcademicInstitute
| name             = Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy
| image            = Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy.jpg
| imagewidth       = 150 px
| caption          = Logo of the Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy
| type             = Academy
| Previous Names   = 
| Location         = [[New Samarkand]]
| Founded          = 
| MilCourse01      = [[BattleMech]]<ref name=HKDCp137>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 137 (PDF p. 139): "Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy"</ref>
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| MilCourse02      = [[Aerospace fighter|Aerospace]]<ref name=HKDCp137/>
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| MilCourse03      = [[Battle armor]]<ref name=ODCp29>''Objectives: Draconis Combine'', p. 29</ref>
| MilCourse03Dates = After Clan Invasion
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The [[Sun Zhang Academy Cadre]]s consist of graduates from the first phase of training from the '''Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy'''. Their training continues as active duty in the Cadres. The students are evaluated after tours of duty that last nine months, after which those that pass graduate.<ref>''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 89</ref><ref>''Combat Manual: Kurita'', p. 50</ref>

==History==
The Academy is named after an ancient Japanese military strategist and general, Sun Zhang and it is located on New Samarkand. It teaches only [[BattleMech]] and [[aerospace fighter]] studies. Graduating soldiers immediately enter military service in the Sun Zhang Academy Cadre, commanded by General [[Isoroku Kurita]] himself, in [[3025]] and a graduate of the Academy.

Completing an education at Sun Zhang guarantees a student a [['Mech]] or an aerospace fighter. Most senior officers attend this school, which is noted for its harsh discipline and rigorous training in ''[[bushido]]''.

Sun Zhang is one of the few schools in the Draconis Combine that honors its graduates with a ''daishō'' – a ''katana'' paired with a ''wakizashi''. These may be worn with the soldier's dress uniform. If for any reason the soldier dishonors himself in any way, however, he must commit ''seppuku'' or face the loss of his 'Mech or fighter, landholdings, titles, rank, and both his own and his family's honor.<ref name=HKDCp137/>

Located on the [[Draconis Combine]]'s original capital world of [[New Samarkand]], the Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy is particularly notable in that it graduates the most [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] per year of any training facility in the [[Inner Sphere]] at over four hundred.  The abandoned cities on New Samarkand provide an excellent training ground for MechWarrior and aerospace fighter pilots to practice the intricacies of city fighting.<ref name=HKDCp182>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 182 (PDF p. 184): "New Samarkand"</ref>

The Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy boasts [[Coordinator]] [[Theodore Kurita|Theodore]] and his son [[Hohiro Kurita II|Hohiro Kurita]] among its alumni. [[Jinjiro Kurita]] was also a graduate of the Academy.<ref>''First Succession War'', p. 129</ref>

Though traditionally the academy trained only MechWarriors and aerospace fighter pilots, the arrival of the [[Clans]] prompted the [[DCMS]] to add a course of study for [[battle armor]] infantry, as well.<ref name=ODCp29/>

After the [[Jihad]], the [[ISF]] and [[O5P]] added severe psychological and loyalty testing to their evaluations to prevent another [[Black Dragon Society]] coup.<ref>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 5</ref> During the Jihad the Thirteenth and Sixteenth Cadres were used along the Combine's border with Clan Ghost Bear. The Fifth was stationed on Kessel, and suffered heavy losses against the Word of Blake. The Fourteenth Cadre was effectively destroyed on [[Luthien]], with the few survivors being drafted into the [[1st Genyosha]].<ref>''Field Report: DCMS'', p. 14</ref>

As of [[3145]] the rigors of recent years has strained the Academy, the best cadets being whisked away to line units before they can serve in one of the Cadres. Though this meets the demands for units bulking out their forces, it starves these cadets of finishing their training. With the same orders to expand their rosters, the Academy has increased its enrollment tenfold. This has led to the creation of the [[17th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre|17th]], [[18th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre|18th]] and [[19th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre|19th]] Cadres.

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Combat Manual: Kurita]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Field Report: DCMS]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[Objectives: Draconis Combine]]''


[[Category: Military Academies]]