As Copied/Quoted From: Lyran Alliance Battletech Field Manual, Copyright 2000, FASA Corporation, pp. 38-39 and 122.
History (c. 3061)
"Established on 3020, the War College of Buena has become on of the strongest academies in existence. The Federated Commonwealth alliance led to a massive investment in the academy, allowing it to expand its facilities and curriculum. Since then, although still best known as a center for training technicians, its Mechwarrior and aerospace programs have gained considerable respect. Though lacking the history and prestige of the Nagelring or Sanglamore, graduates of Buena have a reputation as practical and dedicated warriors. Buena's graduates rarely rise to high command, but Buena-trained troops and technicians form the backbone of the LAAF due to their high levels of competence.
Practical experience forms a major part of education at the War College of Buena, and each cadet spends six months in the Buena Training Battalion under the command of Kommandant Florence Landers, one of only three such units in the Alliance. This unit stages a number of live-fire exercises on Buena itself as well as anti-pirate missions along the Periphery border.
Buena's technicians are acknowledged as the best produced in the Alliance. Although the academy's only combat programs are for Mechwarriors and aerospace pilots, the technical staff learns to maintain everything from small arms and electrical equipment to massive combat vehicles like the Demolisher tank. Indeed, all technical staff cadets are required to be proficient in multiple technical fields before being allowed to graduate...
Atmosphere
Buena is a no-nonsense academy, placing considerable emphasis on practical work and personal development. The courses are mentally, physically and emotionally challenging, pushing the cadets to their limits and beyond to insure they attain their maximum potential. The instructors are harsh and authoritarian, and upperclassmen are encouraged to make life difficult for new recruits. As a result, even with the academy's stringent pre-screening of recruits, the dropout rate in the first few weeks can run as high as thirty percent. Of those that survive the introductory period, almost all graduate at their first attempt.
Buena's school rag is made up of a green and blue checked pattern.
Special Notes
In addition to the standard LAAF tests, the War College of Buena subjects all applicants to a further battery of tests, including hand-eye coordination and teamwork skills. The latter is done in a series of field exercises, giving a group of candidates a number of tasks that can only be completed through cooperation and teamwork.
Buena War College Training Battalion
The Buena War College prides itself on the practical training given to each cadet. In addition to the academy-based instruction, every attendee, irrespective of final assignment as a warrior or technician, spends six months with the War College Training Battalion. They undergo a series of live fire exercises on the Tomasova Martial Range, as well as field deployments in Bolan Province and the Timbuktu Theater. These are often peaceful exercises with local militia but also include anti-pirate operations in the Near Periphery.
As at the academy, both mental and physical personal development is encouraged in the battalion. Discipline is harsh and the instructors push the cadets to the limits of their endurance, forcing them to adapt what they have learned to a practical setting and work as a team or else flush out of the program. The result is self-confident and practical troops considered an asset to any Lyran unit...
...The Buena Battalion comprises three 'Mech companies (36 'Mechs) and an aerospace squadron, almost all of which use advanced technology thanks to the major LAAF investment in the academy. The cadre also has access to a wide range of small arms and several tanks, though these are stored at the academy and used for training technical staff."
