Imperial Naval Academy The Imperial Naval Academy , originally known as the Republic Naval Academy , was the primary naval academy used by the Republic Navy and the Imperial Navy . The Academy was also known by names such as the Prefsbelt IV Naval Academy , Prefsbelt Imperial Academy , Prefsbelt Fleet Camp , and the Imperial Naval College , and though the academy ' s location was officially classified , it was widely known to be located on the planet Prefsbelt IV . Founded after the Pius Dea Crusades during Admiral Pers Pradeux ' s restructuring of the Republic Navy , the academy served the Republic for thousands of years , and served its successor state , the Galactic Empire , as one of the three premier institutions of the Imperial Academy system . Description . The Naval Academy on the planet Prefsbelt IV was built on the hills surrounding around Castle Pradeux and the Twelve Mounts — a series of peaks named after famous naval battles . A lengthy passage , kilometers long , ran from Castle Pradeux to the heart of the Twelve Mounts , ending at the Naval Crypt where the " Father of the Navy , " Pers Pradeux , was entombed . During graduation , midshipmen would walk the length of the passage in silence to the Crypt , where each would dedicate themselves to the naval service . After graduation , midshipmen recessed down the Incline of the Mounts , which was lined with monuments and historical artifacts , and were then conveyed by hovertrain to Prefsbelt Green . The skyhook over Prefsbelt Green led to Prefsbelt Black , where midshipmen would receive their orders . Classrooms within the Academy often included large holoprojectors used to display simulations and records of past battles . There was also another portion of the academy located in a barren valley that contained a central tower , at least two hangars , four barred hangars , searchlights , and a landing pad that was guarded by four turrets , with several TIEs often landing on the ground at night . At least three communication arrays and five landing pads were also in close proximity to the building , and the building was also guarded by eight sensor arrays . History . Prefsbelt IV was first discovered by Admiral Pers Pradeux of the Republic Navy during the Pius Dea Crusades , and he turned the world into a retreat for naval officers of the Renunciates movement . After the Battle of Uquine brought an end to Pius Dea rule of the Galactic Republic in 10 , 966 BBY , Pradeux and his fellow officers rebuilt and reorganized the Republic Navy during a series of meetings on Prefsbelt , and the planet was chosen as the site of the Republic Naval Academy . Its location remained secret for more than a thousand years , but even after it became known , the Academy ' s location remained officially need - to - know ; many children from the Core Worlds knew of Prefsbelt from holodramas . Under the Republic , the Republic Naval Academy trained the cadets of the Judicial Forces and Planetary Security Forces for generations ; Wullf Yularen was one of many naval officers to come out of Prefsbelt . When the Galactic Empire came to power in 19 BBY , the Academy became a cornerstone of the new Imperial Academy system , with smaller Sector Naval Academies being modeled after the primary Naval Academy . Prefsbelt students began with academic study and tactical simulations , and later moved on to leadership courses and active service rotations as ensigns . Most students entered naval service after three years at the Academy , but some students instead shifted to flight schools , and some continued their studies at the Empire ' s three specialized military schools , as did some graduates of the Imperial Army Academy on Raithal . The Corulag Imperial Military Academy trained cadets from all services , putting an emphasis on active training , while Anaxes focused on active training and combat simulations , serving as a think tank and testing ground for new warships and equipment . Some students also spent semesters at the Academy of Carida , the training academy for the Empire ' s Stormtrooper Corps . The Academy also included an Officer Candidate School , which Han Solo was recommended for . Before the Battle of Yavin , Soontir Fel worked as an instructor at the Academy on Prefsbelt IV , where he trained cadets including Biggs Darklighter , Tycho Celchu , and Derek Klivian , all of whom defected to become heroes of the Rebel Alliance . Nevertheless , Prefsbelt IV produced many notable Imperial officers such as T . Alvak , Terrinald Screed , Zsinj , Evir Derricote , During the Galactic Civil War between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance , the mathematics instructor Greg Somax was an Alliance spy at the Academy , recruiting operatives from the ranks of the Imperial cadets . Delak Krennel was an unarmed combat champion there , while his classmate Wynt Kepporra was an engineering student and a member of the Thespian Union at the Academy . In 4 ABY , the Imperial Naval Academy was infiltrated by Rogue Squadron to retrieve the " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle " Tydirium " after it somehow ended up back in Imperial hands . Behind the scenes . The Imperial Naval Academy was first mentioned in the first edition of " " , the October 1987 rulebook for West End Games ' s " " , and its location was established in " The Star Wars Sourcebook " a month later . However , the 1989 " Imperial Sourcebook " stated that the Academy ' s location was unknown even to most of its students . and various subsequent sources did not always refer to the Academy ' s location . The contradiction was resolved with the 2003 reference book " Coruscant and the Core Worlds " , which established that the Academy ' s location on Prefsbelt was common knowledge despite it being officially classified . The Imperial Academy system and the Prefsbelt Academy were further fleshed out in the 2012 reference book " The Essential Guide to Warfare " by Jason Fry , resolving various contradictions about the Imperial training systems .