I first joined UFOP .... let's see... 12 years ago. I've written articles for the reporter, I've been an EC member, I helped ratify and prepare the constitution, I ran the fantasy branch ... So, I have trouble considering myself a "true cadet" -- likewise, I had trouble considering former Commander Jade Xavier a "true cadet". -- not that the training wasn't valuable, particularly with the features unique to UFOP that need re-training and/or changes since I've last been here. (Which has been about, ... five years?) I'm not one of the "fake" cadets, though, since I *was* actually being re-trained, and have been assigned to a ship with my new character. Big Bear, here I come! I was disappointed, though; I thought at first that UFOP had actually had six new cadets, and it was quite disappointing to discover that four or five of them were just helping.