"War does not come with a guarantee. No soldier gets the promise of safety, survival or victory. But men, I guarantee you this: every member of this clone youth brigade will have his moment."
During their time as cadets, clone troopers spent most of their accelerated childhoods undergoing military training, studying tactics and taking part in countless drills. Most of the clone cadets' education occurred on Kamino, though some undertook offworld missions with the Clone Youth Brigade. Their training covered armed and unarmed combat, military tactics and heavy weaponry.
History
Education on Kamino
"We take great pride in our combat education and training programs. This group was created about five years ago."
―Lama SuA juvenile clone cadet named Jax.Using the genetic code of Jango Fett, the Kaminoansengineered an army of humanclones for the Galactic Republic. Beyond increasing docility, the clone template was altered to accelerate growth, an essential feature of the clone army's design because it allowed the units to reach adulthood in only a decade'stime. Jedi KnightObi-Wan Kenobi was shown around Tipoca City, where he observed clone cadets at various developmental stages. One particular group had been created approximately five years before Kenobi's arrival.Young clone cadets received an intensive, accelerated educationwithin the cloning facilities on the extragalacticplanet Kamino.This training required focus-enhancingeven-class training helmets.They were also separated into distinct teams to foster teamwork and competition among them.At this point in their training, Kaminoan scientists supervised the cadetsand fully grown clone troopers holding the military rank of Clone Sergeant.Clone cadets experienced a rapid military education during their early accelerated years.By the time of the Clone Wars, hired mercenaries and Advanced Recon Commandos supervised the older cadets, seeking clones with the exceptional ability and potential to join the ARC troopers' ranks. Jedi MasterShaak Ti, who belonged to the Jedi High Council, directed the clone trooper training program as the Jedi Order's liaison to the Kaminoan government led by Prime MinisterLama Su.Before the Jedi's involvement, engineers threatened to dispose of cadets who failed their training. Clones showing signs of divergent behavior were isolated in retraining pods. These practices were ended by the Jedi Generals, who controlled the Grand Army of the Republic,and clones who failed were reassigned to non-combat duties, including maintenance.At some point in the clone army's history, CT-380 and the rest of their squad took part in a training match in which the squad members had to support one another under fire.
Clone Wars
"Look around! We're one and the same; same heart, same blood. Your training is in your blood. And my blood's boiling for a fight!"
―Fives, speaking to a group of young cadetsThe training simulations became more rigorous as the cadets grew older and closer to becoming soldiers.During the Clone Wars, Shaak Ti witnessed the difficulties Domino Squad faced while attempting to complete the final training test. One trainer, the bounty hunterBric, advised failing the squad and reassigning its members to maintenance work. The Togruta Jedi Master considered his recommendation but ultimately granted the Domino cadets another chance. After passing their trial, CT-00-2010, CT-1409, CT-4040, CT-5555, and CT-782graduated and became full-fledged clone troopers.As the conflict continued, the Clone Youth Brigade—a brigade of young clone cadets—was permitted to leave Kamino under the supervision of SergeantCrasher. They were sent aboard the Endurance, a Venator-class Star Destroyer in the Republic Navy, to observe battle-ready clone troopers performing their duties as part of their training. Unknown to the cadets, Boba Fett infiltrated their ranks; he was an unmodified clone seeking to assassinate Jedi GeneralMace Windu.
Age of the Empire
"When the Empire transferred us off Kamino, we thought we were getting more training. Instead, they made us prisoners. Took samples of our blood. [...]"
"At least we escaped before they destroyed the facility."
"And you survived out here ever since?"
"We're soldiers. Or, we were supposed to be."
―Deke and Stak speaking to HunterIn the months after the rise of the Galactic Empire, Kamino's cloning facilities were decommissioned, and the clone troopers and clone cadets were redeployed off-world to other locations. According to Nala Se, the cadets' training would continue elsewhere and they would still become soldiers.However, several young clones were imprisoned in a laboratory on the jungle planet Setron, where Doctor Royce Hemlock, head of the Advanced Science Division, experimented on them. After using them as test subjects for Project Necromancer, the Empire abandoned the laboratory and cadets, attempting to destroy the facility through orbital bombardment. Three clones—Mox, Deke, and Stak—survived and remained on the planet until members of Clone Force 99, namely Hunter and Wrecker, found them. After helping the two commandos reach a terminal inside the ruins of the slither vine-infested laboratory, the boys were rescued by Hunter and Wrecker and flown off-world to the island refuge of Pabu.
Equipment
Clone Cadets in training armorDuring combat simulations, clone cadets used a form of training armor and helmets distinct from the standard-issue battle armor worn by fully-trained clone troopers.The cadets' armor featured color-coded pauldrons and gauntlets, with red indicating Bravo Squad and green indicating Domino Squad.
