United States Academy of Extranormal Studies

First seen in the Legion of Lawndale Heroes episode The Wild and The Young, The United States Academy of Extranormal Studies is the nation's fifth federal academy dedicated to training young men and women for a career in Federal Service or in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. Founded in 1978, the Academy is located just outside Evansville, Indiana and educates a student body of thirteen hundred students (addressed as 'cadets') in two separate institutions: the First Academy (for cadets aged 12-18 years) and the Elite Academy (for cadets 18-24 years of age).

To the average person, the Academy is simply another elite government military academy, and as having the Academy gives the city of Evansville a financial boost and other amenities, there have always been friendly relations between the Academy and the city leaders of Evansville (who are aware of what the Academy does, and know it's in their best interest to maintain the secrecy). Several institutions within the City of Evansville have special agreements with the Academy; the local hospitals have a partnership with the Academy medical group under which critical cases can be brought to the Academy's hospital wing, and Academy students trained in emergency medicine or psionic/biophysical field trauma (the technical term for 'healers') can be called into service in times of great emergency.

In addition, the Academy (because of its student body and general status as a military installation) has a permanent United States Marine Corps security force garrisoned on the campus grounds, which includes a small helicopter fleet (among the helicopters kept on station are two VH-3A VIP transport helicopters and three NX-60 'Fire Hawk' utility/assault helicopters, which were specially reverse-engineered and rebuilt by engineering, aviation and special design studies cadets in the late 1990's).

The 'First Academy' is a six-year program that provides basic and advanced educational needs, as well as a comprehensive program designed to instruct cadets on how to effectively deal with the physical, psychological, social and legal problems and issues that arise with the possession and use of metahuman abilities in the modern world.

Cadets who successfully complete their studies in the 'First Academy' are given the option to attempt the five-year collegiate-level program offered by the 'Elite Academy', which offers advanced training in metahuman abilities with a concentration towards the use of such abilities in military service, law enforcement, specialized search and rescue, diplomatic affairs and many other concentrations - as well as standard collegiate studies - leading to the awarding of a Bachelor's Degree). Cadets are also offered the option of attending one of the four other military academies (those who accept this option are bound to complete the required one-year internship period by attending summer classes at the Academy).

Families of attending cadets family recieve a monthly stipend of $1500 during the school year; if the student attends summer classes, the family recieves a $5000 stipend for the nine-week session.

Eligible cadets can apply for 'financial aid' programs at the Academy (those whose powers make them eligible can apply for part-time jobs on the Academy campus where they can use their abilities for research and practical applications, and be paid the same rate as civilian contractors). The Academy keeps one-third of the money made by the cadet, and the cadet can use up to one-third in any way he or she sees fit (the remaining money is held in a trust until the cadet graduates from the First Academy). In the cadet's final semester from the First Academy, he or she must take a seminar on financial matters to help with the decision on how to use the money wisely. Elite Academy cadets are allowed to keep two-thirds of their earnings, and if they use their internship year for work in the private sector or as a civillian contractor for the Federal Government or the Armed Forces, they keep all of their earnings.