United States Academy of Extranormal Studies

First seen in Legion of Lawndale Heroes 12.1, "The Wild and The Young", The United States Academy of Extranormal Studies is a military academy for training young persons with metahuman abilities for career opportunities in the U.S. Armed Forces, various organizations in the United States Government, and (for trainees hailing from eligible nations) the ability to serve their respective homelands in similar venues. The Academy is divided into two sections; the First Academy (which provides primary- and secondary-level educational studies to cadets between the ages of ten to nineteen) and the Elite Academy (which is a fully-accredited collegiate-level institution)

Cadet's studies are divided into three 'tracks': Academic, Active Service (studies and on-hands training directly related to their stated occupations or further academic studies after graduation) and Metahuman Studies (training directly related to their metahuman abilities or preternatural skills). The Elite Academy provides a number of majors that will award cadets degrees in either Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts upon completion of their studies, as well as commissions into the United States Armed Forces (as active-duty officers, members of the National Guard of their destined state, or as members of the Reserve of their chosen branch of military service).

The majority of graduating cadets are commissioned as either Ensigns or Second Lieutenants; however, because of exemplary achievement and service during their time at the Elite Academy (as well as during the one year 'internship year' all cadets serve as Cadets Third Class), some cadets are commissioned as Lieutenants Junior Grade or First Lieutenants. In addition, cadets who have distinguished themselves with extraordinary achievements in special certifications within their metahuman service tracks (for example, being awarded the Healer/Medical Practitioner certification in the USAES Enhanced Lifeform and Medical Studies Program) can be commissioned with enhanced rank; it is a tradition to commission Healer/Medical Practitioner-certified USAES cadets as Captains or Lieutenants Senior Grade (as they are fully qualified to be stationed in medical facilities and work as corpsmen or combat medics, or can proceed immediately to medical school).

There are four programs that make up the USAES Active Service track: 'They are:

Armed Forces Service Track - this is for cadets who choose to enter the seven uniformed services of the United States (ex. United States Marine Corps).

Federal Service Track - this is for cadets who choose to enter the law-enforcement, foreign-service and intelligence organizations that serve the United States (ex. Federal Bureau of Investigation).

National Service Track - this program is for cadets who choose to enter the civilian-oriented and domestic-related organizations that serve the United States (ex. National Parks Service).

In LLH 13:7, 'Express Yourself', it was revealed that the USAES administration had authorized the creation of a fourth program for cadets in the USAES Active Service track:

Metahuman Special Operations Track - this program is for cadets who specifically intend to become part of a metahuman special operations unit (i.e. the Legion, a DELPHI P.O.G.O. group, etc.) as opposed to specifically military- or law-enforcement-related metahuman operations duties.

There are seven programs that make up the USAES Metahuman Studies track. They are (along with the official USAES Metahuman Studies service track patches of each program):


 * the Greek letter 'Psi' (with Shepard's crook, broadsword and lightning bolt, in that order) going through the three tines ) upon a globe, with twenty-three dagger blades extending from the globe (of the USAES Mental Enhancement Program)


 * a 'quartered circle' eclipsing a sun, with seven javelins with outward-pointing blades from the circle/sun that form a septagram (of the USAES Mystical Enhancement Program)


 * a leaping Pegasus with extended wings before a crossed Roman-style spear and sword over a globe with the Pacific Ocean prominent (of the USAES Special Transportation Systems Program)


 * the caduceus (with a single snake with a tiny pair of avian-style wings, and a 'digital rain' spiral around the staff) before a double helix with the Roman numeral 'XXIII' on the top of the staff, positioned between a pair of elm trees (of the USAES Enhanced Lifeform and Medical Studies Program - ELMS)


 * the Vitruvian Man with angelic wings and a 'third eye' placed before crossed Spartan-style spears and a rising sun (of the USAES Advanced Infantry Technologies and Operations Program)


 * a flaming anvil, hammer and gears over a globe, with circuit overlay/sine wave background (of the USAES Advanced Cybernetics, Mechanics and Electronics Program - ACME )


 * a hoplon (emblazoned with thirteen five-point stars) and crossed cavalry saber, tomahawk, slingshot and lever-action rifle over a globe, bordered by mistletoe and crowned by a laurel wreath (of the USAES Combat Arcane/Ultimate Skill/Extranormal Program - CAUSE)