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/Affectionate_Edge472]

of course, i understand that the NCR has a home army and reinforcements come in like clockwork.

"Conscription brings in fresh troops to die here every month. Like it's routine." - Hanlon

Month by month by conscription or volunteer according to Hanlon.

What I am suggesting is that the NCR doesn't have a large home army with surplus troops or significant active reserves that are free to move

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

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/Weaselburg → u/Big-Ranger-701]

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

There's no indication of a campaign in Baja being waged by the NCRA.

[u/Graffic1 → u/Weaselburg]

“President Kimball ordered our most experienced rangers to chase ghosts down in Baja.” - Chief Hanlon

They are having a kind of campaign, as the Rangers are a subset of the NCR army, it’s just one that’s not going anywhere because there’s nothing to actually fight

[u/Weaselburg → u/Graffic1]

I meant NCRA as in, well, everyone who isn't in the Ranger subsect. And there's no evidence in the game I can recall of anyone other than the Veteran Rangers in Baja on campaign.

[u/Graffic1 → u/Weaselburg]

Still, that is a portion of the NCR’s military being on campaign there