Jedi Knight acceleration program The Jedi Knight acceleration program was a Jedi High Council initiative to accelerate the path to Knighthood of Jedi Padawans . History . In 23 BBY , the Jedi High Council ― due to the increasing presence of dark side energies throughout the galaxy , and because the Jedi Order ' s peacekeeper ranks had grown increasingly thin ― established a new initiative whereby select Jedi apprentices were put on a fast - track to Jedi Knighthood . Based on holistic " readiness " , the program ' s participants , according to Master Mace Windu , would be able to take the Jedi trials much earlier than the traditional timeline of Jedi advancement dictated . The first members of the Order to hear of the new initiative were the eight Jedi who had been chosen as a special task force to Korriban , where they were to track down and apprehend the galactic criminal s Granta Omega and Jenna Zan Arbor . The potential for an explosive alliance of the criminals with the emergent Sith was too great for inaction . The Knighthood acceleration program was a preemptive measure to contain the damage already inflicted by the agents of the dark side , such as the recent attack on the Senate Building , and to prevent further damage and infiltration by the same agents . Because the initiative constituted a major decision by the Council , its members had proceeded cautiously by their choosing of " one " " test case " . It was only after much discussion , and consultation with " all " Jedi Masters , that the High Council chose Ferus Olin , the apprentice of Master Siri Tachi , as the first Padawan to undergo the trials early . In making the announcement , the Jedi Council was careful to emphasize that its decision , while unanimous , did not reflect on any Padawan ' s fitness to be a Jedi Knight . They believed in " all " of their apprentices and simply needed " a way to begin " to fill the urgent galactic need for a strengthened Jedi force , and Olin was to fill that vanguard role . Each Padawan would be ready in his or her own time . Ultimately , however ― when the Council grew concerned over the conduct of certain Korriban coalition team members that led to the death of fellow Padawan Darra Thel - Tanis ― the Jedi Knight acceleration program was canceled . Jedi High Council member Adi Gallia announced the decision , which Master Oppo Rancisis said was made because the Council simply could not " " rush readiness " , " as they now could clearly see . " Our mistake , it was , " Grand Master Yoda said of the reconsidered initiative , and this " caliber " of mistake in the perilous times in which they lived " they could not afford " . The traditional timeline for achievement of Jedi Knighthood was , therefore , maintained . A tragic footnote to the short - lived initiative was that its first and only candidate , Ferus Olin , tendered his resignation from the Jedi Order because of his own involvement in , and self - perceived responsibility for , the death of Thel - Tanis . The Padawan actually responsible for " both " tragedies was the jealousy - ridden 18 - year - old apprentice of Master Obi - Wan Kenobi ― Anakin Skywalker ― who , as the " Chosen One " of ancient Jedi prophecy , had desired of late to be " first " not only in his personal and avocational relationships , but also in virtually " all " that he did . Skywalker , while he was indeed first in his " class " and first in " lightsaber training " , had gone so far as to claim , before his Master , that he was " First in the Force " .