AT-AT Driver

Propelling the massive Imperial walkers over uneven terrain requires the skills of seasoned AT-AT drivers. These soldiers work in teams of two, operating the ground craft with deft skill. They also fire the vehicle's powerful laser cannons, carrying orders from a combat coordinator, also stationed on the AT-AT's bridge.

Piloting an AT-AT effectively is a difficult challenge entrusted to flesh-and-blood operators and not automation. A battery of simulation tests helps harden combat soldiers into the Empire's elite armor assault crews. For their high perches and protective cockpits of reinforced armor, the AT-AT pilots are often regarded with contempt by the foot soldier infantry. Such acrimony is not without some merit -- AT-AT pilot training stresses their importance, and successful soldiers are often convinced of their invincibility, making them insufferably arrogant to the frontline grunts. Though not required in the pressurized environment of an AT-AT cockpit, the pilots routinely wear their life-support gear, not only as part of combat history, but to provide emergency protection against hull breaches in hostile environments.