Imperial cadets were individuals that the Galactic Empire enlisted for instruction as stormtroopers, along with other vocations related to service within the Imperial Military.
After the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the First Galactic Empire of Emperor Palpatine, a multitude of Republic Military academies and complexes were reassigned to be under the control of the newly established Imperial Academy system. Imperial cadets would then serve within the ranks of the academy, where young children were given courses focused on pro-Imperial history, such as Current Events. Certain academies began to train cadets as young as thirteen years in age.
Wearing white and gray uniforms, children in junior academies that lasted for one year, such as the one on the Outer Rim world of Lothal at the Academy for Young Imperials, would often be subjected to tasks like navigating a programmable obstacle course known as the Well, along with learning the loyalty required to become a stormtrooper. After their completion, students had the option to go back to their previous lives, or they could decide to continue their education at the Imperial Academy's many senior academies, before going to specialized service academies, to eventually become members of the Empire's many governmental organizations.
Imperial cadets wore white helmets together with gray and white clothing. The uniforms stood for symbols of unity, discipline, prestige, and solidarity.
During training exercises, cadets were equipped with E-11 medium blaster rifles that were locked to the low power setting.