Star Army Rangers are specialized Infantry personnel that undergo training where they learn skills through an exhaustive and rigorous twelve-week training course at the Star Army School of Advanced Infantry Combat. Sometimes referred to as Scouts or Recon, these monikers are indicative of the type of activities a qualified Ranger is known for.
Rangers explore ahead of a main allied force into a known enemy presence in order to probe enemies prior to conventional warfare. Engaging the enemy to see what shoots back at them with no intention of “winning” is a tried and true tactic of the Ranger. They can then fall back in order to report this information or continue and expand the conflict depending on what enemy weaknesses have been exposed.
Noting terrain, operations of enemies and civilians alike, and other important aspects of the area of operations is what a ranger's field operation can entail. Rangers also focus on disrupting enemy supply lines, covertly destroying command posts and punching holes in enemy lines. They are expected to infiltrate an area relatively undetected and very quickly create an explosive application of force or remain undetected while scoping the area of operations.
Rangers operate around the main Fleet body to observe potential hazards, enemy presences and flanking opportunities. In the field, Rangers take on scouting, observation, harassment, and patrol duties in areas of interest ahead of the main force or as an additional support for infantry elements.
Taking a distinctive role within Star Army of Yamatai military operations, Ranger units operate as the vanguard to conduct risky and surprise combat and scouting missions. It is paramount that non-detection be the primary focus of any unit until mission start is declared, then exfiltrating into stealth as soon as practical. Before, during, and after a combat engagement, Ranger units typically serve as a screening, pursuit, and skirmishing force who operate with concealment of primary force maneuvers via screening in mind.
The Rangers' purpose is:
The minimum rank for this occupation is Santô Hei and the maximum rank is Taisa. The occupational colors for reconnaissance units in the Star Army of Yamatai are the cornflower blue of Infantry, or RIKUPAT.
For Daily Uniform Wear:1)
Formal Wear:2)
The Star Army of Yamatai began training specialized reconnaissance operatives in YE 40 under Star Army Reconnaissance, under Star Army Infantry. Before that, reconnaissance duties were handled spontaneously by other units either too specialized to fulfill the role full time or too general to operate within non-detection parameters.
The emergence of the Kuvexian threat in YE 37 highlighted the need for a specialized forward reconnaissance division, given the implications of a war with an established nation-state on the same level of technical aptitude as the Yamatai Star Empire. The ad-hoc allocation of troops of wildly differing specialties to the role was seen as unsustainable and highly unoptimized, prompting the formation of the occupation.
After the establishment of Star Army Special Operations in YE 43, Star Army Reconnaissance and its occupations were controlled by SASO. In YE 44, Iemochi Feyani reorganised Star Army Reconnaissance occupations. The Rangers were transferred to Rikugun Area Armies under Star Army Rikugun. As part of Rikugun Reforms and Base Realignment YE 45 they were redistributed within Star Army Infantry as a qualification in which the Star Army School of Advanced Infantry Combat was the administrator. Because of the intensive training required, SAIC's training period was extended by a month to accommodate the additional reconnaissance training that the former MOS required.
After completing basic training and Infantry training, prospective Star Army Rangers may immediately sign up for specialized reconnaissance training. Next, SAIC training takes three months during which trainees learn survival, demolition, non-detection, skirmishing, reactionary, self-sustenance, improvisation, and —most importantly— scouting skills. There is also an extreme emphasis on physical conditioning and fitness.
Aboard a starship (and when detached from a Ranger formation) all of this can look like a ranger oftentimes taking point of their away team and spearheading the group's assault. When the team is split up, they may undertake scouting ahead of their away teams in order to ascertain threat levels, quick weakening of enemy elements, or flanking maneuvers around the main away team either as distraction or additional fire-support away from the main team. They are able to expertly track targets as well as stealthily approach them.
Rangers are most often seen in Ke-M2-4 Series "Mindy" Armor. Sometimes they use TARSA or DAISY II power armor.
Rangers generally prioritize speed, weight, and endurance over full fighting power. Their equipment allocation reflects this. Star Army Rangers utilize whatever is needed for the task at hand.
This article was approved here and was updated by Ametheliana, approval here.
