I like how FF8 worked that into the story.

You're going to a military academy to learn those principles, as GFs and equipped spells are what turn teens into super soldiers. Downside to GFs is they take up space in long-term memory, so your entire cast can have useful amnesia to critical story points.

The best in game representation of the above systems working would be to play the game so you never level up (Totally possible through use of the GF system and some counterintuitive first couple of hours). Player and monster levels scale 1 to 1, so if you use the GF and spell system well you just feel like a super soldier for all disks.