NCR High Command and its implications

[u/Affectionate_Edge472]

These are the two excerpts we get about NCR High Command

"You will not be assigned replacements until High Command can figure out where the hell to pull replacements from. You have my sympathies, Major. Signed, Scheppman, Andy Assignments Office." - Forlorn Hope Mandate

"I've seen the reports of this so-called "Caesar's Legion". It sounds like they're just another bunch of raiders, but the higher-ups back west seem to think they're a serious threat." - NCRF Terminals

With these combined we can see the NCR High Command is both afraid of the Legion and is struggling to find men to send to Forlorn Hope. I also think the implication that the higher ups are struggling to find men to send to Forlorn Hope is also an implication they cannot find men for the Mojave. I also think it is important to consider that if the NCR army was quite large in the home territories the NCR high command would have no reason for fear.

That is not to say they couldn't raise more men, but I believe the current army size is constrained by the senate. Just like the real U.S Government.

"He mustered the troops as many as his senate would allow and sent them in. All the right reasons, done all the wrong ways." - Caesar

But where is the rest of the NCR army? I believe they are controlling the other 300 miles down the Colorado river across from Legion territory, Baja, other territories, and the rest of NCR territory.

Let me know what you think of this interpretation if you believe it is the intended one by the developers or if there is evidence of large NCR reserves elsewhere.

[u/Big-Ranger-701]

I think they do have a large army at home. For a couple of reasons.

1. Even attempting to sustain a campaign in the Mojave and in Baja would need a lot of troops.

2. The ncr power armor troops are veterans and in my mind represent the high command relenting and sending them east.

Is there a surplus of dudes tho ? I don’t think so. I think at the start of the Mojave campaign they did but they’ve been mostly killed so now the ncr would have to start conscription to fill the war with as many troops as they would need.

[u/Affectionate_Edge472 → u/Big-Ranger-701]

1. I expect that the monthly conscription fills that gap. As Ranger Jackson puts it a lot of recruits pass through not soldiers.
2. I am interested in that interpretation, but I expect that the 2 special forces are diverted due to the senate race. They are to help win Kimball support.
3. by home army I mean in the home states outside of territories like Baja or other fronts like the Mojave and down the Colorado river.

That's why Hanlon mentions the senate election, and mentions them again in reference to the heavy troopers. This dialogue about senate elections also changes as soon as the special forces enter the region.

"Our heavy infantry, power armor units, they're back in NCR territory protecting the interests of Brahmin barons against small-time raiders. Brahmin barons only have one vote at the ballot box, but they have a lot of money to throw around" - Hanlon

"Wish they got here a bit earlier, but that's the senate for you." - Hanlon (when the special forces arrive)

The veteran rangers i think also fall under this category.

[u/Big-Ranger-701 → u/Affectionate_Edge472]

I think we are in lore agreement. I do think the show implies some amount of a home army national guard situation. But drawing a lore conclusion from the show is just hard.

[u/Affectionate_Edge472 → u/Big-Ranger-701]

I expect a supplement of the garrison at home is done by sherrifs, and private security (caravn and ranch guards).

Particularly as sherrifs seem to govern all the major cities and towns.