Rebel trooper/Legends



"Takin' the safety off!"

- Anonymous Rebel trooper

Rebel troopers (also known as Rebel soldiers and Rebel infantry) were standard foot soldiers employed by the Alliance to Restore the Republic. After the Declaration of a New Republic in 5 ABY, most Rebel troopers were transformed into units or absorbed by units of the New Republic Army.

History
Rebel troopers came from all walks of life and joined up for many reasons. Some were even Imperial defectors. From the moisture farms of Tatooine to the marbled halls of Coruscant, Rebel troopers hoped to shore up the struggling Alliance in any way they could.

From the beginning of the Alliance and up until the formation of the New Republic, the Rebel troopers saw their organization transformed. What started out as countless local cells of loosely structured resistance groups, gradually turned into a galactic wide and well trained infantry force.

Organization
Rebel troopers comprised the main element of the Alliance to Restore the Republic Army. In the overall structure of the Alliance's military, the troopers fell under the jurisdiction of Sector Forces. Rebel troopers were organized into standard units of varying size, ranging from squads and up to the largest tactical units, the divisions. Divisions were roughly equivalent to Stormtrooper Legions in manpower, but not necessarily in combat power.

Rebel troopers sometimes stood in contrast to the better trained and better equipped Alliance Special Forces. Furthermore regular Rebel troopers were typically a few years younger and less experienced than their colleagues in the SpecForces. Nevertheless SpecForces was often depended on the support of these troopers from the Sector Forces to complete their own battle objectives. Also the Rebel troopers served as a primary source of SpecForce recruitment. If a Rebel trooper had above average physical and mental abilities and was dedicated enough to the Alliance, he could be considered a SpecForce candidate.

Uniforms and equipment
The task of supplying all Rebel troopers with standardized uniforms on a galactic scale was nearly impossible. Nevertheless the Alliance to Restore the Republic Army was able to implement a 'standard look' that would help identify the troopers as Rebels and therefore also improve morale and unit cohesion. The large helmets with neck guards and khaki uniforms became some of the trademarks of the Rebel / New Republic uniforms.

Rebel troopers of various units spread across the galaxy were often equipped with uniforms bearing a striking resemblance to the uniforms of the Alderaanian armed forces. Evidently Alliance sympathizers within the Alderaanian government helped fund, train and equip many militant groups outside the Alderaan system. The unadmitted military support of the Alliance was to such an extent that it helped shape the look of Rebel troopers for years to come. Even after the Destruction of Alderaan in 0 BBY, and perhaps because of it, many Rebel units began showing up in uniforms greatly inspired by the former Alderaanian armed forces.

The Alderaanian looking and most common uniform of the Rebel troopers consisted of blue shirts, black combat vests, gray trousers and black calf length boots. To protect officers and general infantry from head injuries, white blast helmets with blast visors and extended neck guards were issued as standard head-wear. This basic uniform was seen all over the galaxy, often with smaller differences in design and coloring.

Troopers who operated in more harsh environments such as hot deserts, icy planes or thick jungles, would often be equipped with more specialized uniforms and equipment. Usually these troopers wore camouflage suits. The most noticeable use of it was during the Battle of Endor. On ice or snow planets, such as Hoth, they wore thicker, white versions. These uniforms were often similar or comparable to those of the SpecForce Wilderness Fighters.

After the establishment of the New Republic, improved funding evidently made the addition of body armor (especially around the torso) more common. Also the troopers, now part of the Combined Defense Forces of the New Republic, were more frequently seen wearing government and unit symbols on their sleeves and body armor.

Most of the troopers were issued DH-17 blaster pistols or A280 blaster rifles. On the open battlefield they could also utilize a range of heavier weaponry including, E-Webs, mortars and hand-held missile launchers.

Behind the scenes
The uniform worn aboard Tantive IV also has a strong resemblance to the uniforms of Kota's Militia from around 3 BBY.

Helmets similar to those worn by Rebel troopers were worn by Old Republic soldiers in 3,956 BBY, such as Trask Ulgo and other Republic Navy personnel serving on the Endar Spire.

In Star Wars Battlefront, the standard troopers wear camouflage gear, while the rebel vanguard division troopers wear Alderaanian style clothes.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Murder on the Executor
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy

Non-canon appearances

 * Lego Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Tag & Bink Are Dead