Category:Balamb Garden

Balamb Garden is one of the three Garden military facilities, located in the region of the same name, and was the first Garden founded. It was founded in February 2139, one year before the founding of Galbadia Garden and two years before Trabia Garden. The current Headmaster of Balamb Garden is Cid Kramer, and the current Garden SeeD Commander is Squall Leonhart.

Balamb Garden is part of the Garden Organization, as founded by Cid Kramer. It is also a part of the O.S.I.R.I.S Information Storage Network.

Balamb Garden's main complex.

Background

Balamb Garden was founded in February 2139 by Cid Kramer, husband of Edea Kramer. The two had the idea of founding the Garden as a means of preparation for combating Sorceresses. As the Garden was founded near the end of the Sorceress Wars, led by Adel Harbinger, this seemed a feasible option. With help from a Shumi named NORG, Cid founded the first of the three Gardens in the Garden Organization, specializing in the use of Guardian Forces and para-magic in combat through a method called junctioning.

In 2151, the Garden would find itself in combat with a Sorceress - ironically, the wife of Cid Kramer herself, Sorceress Edea, who had received powers from Ultimecia, a Sorceress from the future. A SeeD and future SeeD Commander, Squall Leonhart, led a team of six into combat with Edea, defeating her after a large conflict between Balamb and Galbadia Gardens. However, the conflict came with a price. Balamb and Galbadia suffered heavy loss of life during the conflict, both SeeD and staff, and Trabia Garden fell victim to a missile strike ordered by the Sorceress that devastated the Garden. Trabia Garden would be rebuilt the following year due to aid from Darius Elric DeValle, Sr. of House DeValle, and Galbadia would shortly thereafter find itself in an investigation that culminated in the removal of its Headmaster, Martine. Galbadia Garden would split with the Galbadian province soon after, renaming itself to Esthar Garden and finding shelter within Estharian borders by decree of Laguna Loire.

Balamb Garden has since introduced several reforms to the SeeD program that have by and large been accepted by the other two Gardens, one of the largest among them being the Accelerated SeeD Training Program.

Garden Population

Balamb Garden's population is the smallest of the three Gardens by far, both due to its design and limited funding. However, the Guardian Force specialization at Balamb makes their SeeDs extremely capable in combat, even in small numbers.

Population Breakdown:

• Total Students: 3,200 (100%)
  • Full-Time Students: 1,760 (55%)
  • Cadets: 960 (30%)
  • SeeD: 480 (15%)

Locations

SeeD

The backbone of the Garden system proper, SeeD are highly trained mercenaries, trained to be adaptable to a wide range of combat situations, although each Garden has its own specialty. Balamb Garden's specialty lies in the use of Guardian Forces, but by no means are its SeeD forces any less capable than those from the other two Gardens.

First Team

First Team is an elite group of SeeD members designed to be a response team to extreme threats, akin to the Night Riders of Esthar Garden. Squall Leonhart personally leads this team.

Ranking and Command Structure

Ranking Structure

Command Structure

Balamb Garden maintains a fairly large base of staff to command the Garden's various duties. The two most important figures are the Headmaster, responsible for carrying out political and economic decisions for the Garden system, and the Garden SeeD Commander, who holds decisions over SeeD forces, training, and missions. Both of these offices work in conjunction, often advising the other in order to effectively maintain the Garden's high state of efficiency.

Garden Headmaster

The Headmaster is responsible for maintaining political contacts, overseeing that Garden operations are carried out, and approving/declining contracts, among other things. The Headmaster serves a term of no more than 8 years, but can be re-elected indefinitely.

Cid Kramer

Garden SeeD Commander

The SeeD Commander of Garden, not to be confused with the SeeD rank Commander, directs and oversees the day-to-day trappings of SeeD training and operations. Often an instructor or a department head, the SeeD Commander is elected based upon diplomatic skill, administrative capability, and military judgment, and serves for 4 years, but can be re-elected indefinitely.

Squall Leonhart

A capable leader and fearless warrior, Commander Leonhart's prowess on the battlefield is almost unsurpassed in the Garden organization. Hailed within Garden as a near-legendary figure because of his combat experience and bravery, Squall remains a Commander that elicits loyalty from all of his forces without question.

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