It can take from a few weaks to a few months. It all depends on your posting skill. If you understand how to post, and are good at interacting, along with posting fairly regularly, you'll graduate quicker.
What's the difference between 1st and 3rd year cadets?
First year cadets are cadets in indivual training. They are taught how to post by a private instructor. When the cadet understands the posting format the game uses, the cadet becomes a 3rd year, and is assigned to the Academy traininglist, where he/she will learn to post with other cadets.
I don't know what to write about at the Academy. Can I make something up?
Yes, you can. As long as it doesn't affect other player's characters you can have your character do what you want at the Academy. You can post something about a particular class or a game with another cadet. However, with using reply tags you should try to involve your fellow players, during indivual training your instructor or during list training fellow cadets.
Do I have to copy the whole message of my instructor or do I only have to
send back my character's replies?
Neither. Copying the whole message is wrong because you have to write the story from the point of your character. In the post of your instructor could be some thoughts or background details which your character can't possibly know. Speech and some actions are the same in both the post and the reply. This brings us to the other extreme. It's also wrong to send in only the parts where your character replies. You should put the questions or orders in your posts as well and add your replies where the reply-requests were (or also on other places).
Is it a real shame if I make mistakes or get confused as a cadet?
No, it's no shame at all. We all had to learn to play the game and we all make mistakes. The Academy is for you to learn from your mistakes. If you don't try, you will never get it right.
