CPI was a three-year course that preceded a one-year enrollment in the Imperial Academy system. At least the top cadets in each year went on to the specialized TIE pilot training course on Carida, and the Institute was prestigious enough to attract recruits from as far away as the Outer Rim. It commonly trained the children of famous military families.
In the early stages of the Galactic Civil War, the commandant of the CPI was Mogurk. Shira Brie and Myrette Davani studied there from 3.5 BBY until 0.5 ABY, finishing first and second in their class respectively.