Editing Gunslinger Program

{{InfoBoxAcademicInstitute
| name = Gunslinger Program
| image = 
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| caption = 
| type = Academy
| Previous Names = Advanced Combat and Maneuvering Skills Project
| Location = [[Venus]]<ref name=TSL59>''The Star League'', p. 59: "Urizen's Scheme"</ref>
| Founded = Between [[2682]] - [[2687]]<ref name=TSL59/>
| MilCourse01 = [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]
| MilCourse01Dates = 2687 - [[2781]],<br>Restarted on [[3062]]<ref name=FMCS-79>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 79: "The Star League Defense Force - Focht War College"</ref>
| MilCourse02 = 
| MilCourse02Dates = 
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}}
The '''Gunslinger Program''', originally known as the '''Advanced Combat and Maneuvering Skills Project''', was a special training program started by the [[Star League Defense Force]] in response to the [[First Hidden War]].

==History==
The First Hidden War began after the [[Council Edict of 2650]] forced many units of the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] to be disbanded. This included a number of [[BattleMech]] regiments; however the Combine [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] were allowed to take their 'Mechs with them. These ''ronin'', lacking steady employment, challenged other MechWarriors to tests of personal combat, including those of the SLDF. The first of these latter duels took place in [[2681]] on the planet [[Benjamin]], where the Combine MechWarrior easily defeated her SLDF counterpart.<ref name=TSL58>''The Star League'', p. 58: "First Hidden War"</ref> As more soldiers fought and lost these duels, to both ''ronin'' and DCMS champions, the SLDF tried to determine how this was happening. After capturing a Combine 'Mech intact and determining that it was no more technologically advanced than the [[Star League]] 'Mechs, they realized that it was superior training which contributed to these victories.<ref name=TSL59/>

Determined to prevent any more loss of both men, matériel and honor, the Advanced Combat and Maneuvering Skills Project was started to produce superior duelists to take on the Combine warriors.  The new program included a wide range of material, from ancient Asian martial philosophies to advanced neural-thought technology. The first graduating class of [[2687]] consisted of fifty-two warriors, all of whom were stationed within the Draconis Combine.<ref name=TSL59/> In the first-ever fight between these new Gunslingers and the ''ronin'', [[Colonel]] [[Donovan Fresnel]] was able to fight his opponent to a draw after an hour of combat. Just ten days later, [[Lieutenant]] [[Karen Graham]] was able to defeat a ''ronin'' on [[Awano]].<ref name=TSL59/>

These early victories however did not stop the issue of Combine warriors challenging the SLDF to duels; if anything it inspired them more so now that they faced worthy opponents. The SLDF was however successful in recruiting a few Combine dueling masters to join the ACMS, which was eventually renamed to the Gunslinger Program, and expanded the program further, moving it to the [[Military Academy of Aphros]] on Venus.  By the time the dueling finished, the final tally between the two sides resulted in [[House Kurita]] winning 49% of the time, with the SLDF winning 47% of the time and the rest ending in draws.<ref name=TSL59/>

While the program would cease upon the collapse of the original Star League in [[2781]], it would be later revived by the reborn Second Star League in January [[3062]]. Run from the [[Tukayyid]]-based [[Focht War College]] and open to troops from any member state, this Gunslinger program was a one-year course more specifically designed to teach the one-on-one combat style favored by the [[Clans]].<ref name=FMCS-79/>

By [[3250]], the program had been revived again in some form, as evidenced by the work of [[Gunslinger Program|Gunslinger]] [[Eli Sender]].<ref name=2SWp11>''Second Succession War'', p. 11</ref> Open to both Clan and Spheroid SLDF  personnel alike who proved worthy and acting as a living symbol to aspire others, it borrowed a modified model off of the Republic of the Sphere’s [[Knights of the Republic of the Sphere|Knights]].<ref name=TRDAp4>''Technical Readout: Dark Age'', p. 4</ref>

==Notable Members==
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*[[Colonel]] [[Daniel Allison]]<ref name=SL59b>''The Star League'', p. 59: "Famous Star League Gunslingers"</ref><ref name=ER2750-84>''Era Report: 2750'', p. 84: "Major Personas - Daniel Allison"</ref>
*Colonel [[Neil Campbell]]<ref name=FMCS-99>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 99: "Royal Black Watch - Notable Personalities"</ref>
*[[Captain]] [[Aaron Dane]]<ref name=An_Ill-Made_House>"An Ill-Made House"</ref>
*Colonel [[Donovan Fresnel]]<ref name=TSL59/>
*[[Captain]] [[Wilbur Frews]]<ref name=SL59b/><ref name=TRO3050U-212>''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 212: "BL-6-KNT Black Knight"</ref>
*[[Lieutenant]] [[Karen Graham]]<ref name=TSL59/>
*Lieutenant [[Oha Heller]]<ref name=SL59b/>
*[[Major General]] [[Kaiyo Matsumoto]]<ref name=FMSLDFp73>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 73: "202nd BattleMech Division"</ref>
*[[General]] [[Ethan Moreau]]<ref name="OTP:WAp12">''Operational Turning Points: Widowmaker Absorption'', p. 12: "Ethan Moreau"</ref>
*[[Colonel]] [[Hanni Schmitt]]<ref name=FMCS98-FFG-G-1>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 98: "Fall From Glory", every member of the Black Watch being a graduate of the Gunslinger program</ref><ref name=TSL83-COTH-GP-1>''The Star League'', p. 83: "Conquest of the Hegemony", the Royal Black Watch is made up entirely of graduates of the Gunslinger Program</ref><ref name=NHSP17-S3-HS-GS-1>''Northwind Highlanders'', p. 17: "Scenario 3: Fall From Glory", "Situation", every member of the Black Watch is a graduate of the Gunslinger program</ref>
*[[Edwin Sender]]<ref name=FMSLDFp177>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 177</ref>
{{div col end}}

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
*''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]'' 
*''[[The Star League]]''
''[[An Ill-Made House]]''

[[Category:Military Academies]]