Caesar ' s Legion military hierarchy Overview . Caesar ' s Legion is a massive army inspired by the stories of imperial Rome ' s might . Though the bulk of Caesar ' s soldiers have only improvised weapons to fight an enemy armed with modern rifles , their discipline , ferocity , and sheer numbers dampens the impact of the NCR ' s technological advantage . Combined with their skill in infiltration and sabotage , the warriors of Caesar ' s Legion have managed to score important victories against the NCR in the Mojave Wasteland and maintain a powerful presence as the most feared faction in the Mojave Wasteland . Organization . Caesar is the ultimate leader of the legion and his orders are law . Immediately below Caesar is a legate . The legate is essentially a field marshal for the legion , ensuring that Caesar ' s orders are followed faithfully . The centurions are responsible for directing the legionaries and coordinating their attacks . Legionaries are assigned to " contubernia " , tent groups , of eight legionaries , led by one or two " decanus " , who serve as squad leaders . Ten " contubernia " form a " centuria " of eighty men , led by a centurion . Six " centuriae " form a " cohort " of four hundred eighty men . The praetorian guards are an elite group of soldiers who operate as Caesar ' s personal bodyguards . Though they are not part of the main fighting force , they will accompany the legate in crucial battles and occasionally serve as Caesar ' s executioners . The praetorian guards are highly respected and their leader answers to none but the legate and Caesar . The frumentarii are legionaries trained in the arts of espionage and sabotage . Due to the clandestine nature of their work , they operate as an independent unit . Thus , only trusted individuals become frumentarii . The Legionaries . Legionaries are drawn into Caesar ' s service through three methods . The first method involves being born in the Legion . The second method is if a tribe is assimilated ( albeit forcibly ) into the ranks of the legion . The third method involves choosing physically fit slaves for training . However , only males are allowed to serve as infantrymen . Women are forbidden from entering combat . Once the men or boys are deemed fit to serve as warriors , their training begins . The road to becoming a full - fledged legionary is fraught with hardship and under - performing recruits are threatened with death . If the trainees survive the instructors ' trials , they are given the right to join the legion ' s ranks . As a result , the legion ' s fighters are skilled , tenacious , and fearless . In comparison to the NCR ' s recruits , who are sometimes given as little as two weeks of combat training , legionaries are consummate warriors and can easily overpower NCR soldiers in hand - to - hand combat . However , the recruits must now face the most dangerous time of their lives . The most inexperienced warriors in the legion are given only crude machetes , improvised throwing spears , and antiquated firearms to battle their foes with . To make matters worse for the recruits , they are marched to the front and their armor provides little protection against any weapon stronger than a straight razor . Finally , when faced with an enemy wielding firearms ( such as NCR troopers and rangers ) , beyond throwing spears and whatever guns are available , recruits simply have to wade through enemy fire and hope that they survive long enough to engage their foes up close . In essence , survival is very difficult for a recruit . However because of the low tech nature of the recruits they are mostly deployed on patrols with a higher ranking legionary . Or they take part in small to medium size raids and skirmishes . Should the recruits survive and even excel through multiple battles , they are granted the right to be promoted to prime legionaries . The prime legionaries are given better equipment and situated further away from the front lines . They are given equipment such as hunting rifles and hunting shotguns . Although all still carry a melee weapon and will use it should they get close enough to the enemy . The ability to adapt to any situation in combat by being able to switch between Firearms and melee makes them excellent fighters . If they continue to demonstrate aptitude in battle , they gain the status of veterans . The veterans boast the thickest armor of the common legionaries and are kept even further away from the front lines . only being deployed if the ranks before them should fail their mission . This method of organization is not out of kindness to the legion ' s seasoned warriors ; it allows the legion to hold its best soldiers in reserve so they may be unleashed if the lesser legionaries fail to defeat their foes . If legionaries demonstrate aptitude in essential crafts , they will be assigned to such duties . These jobs can range from training the legion ' s hounds to repairing and expanding the legion ' s arsenal . Discipline and Advancement . Caesar ' s army is highly stratified in terms of rank . A low - ranking soldier must defer to the wishes of his superiors , even if that means facing death . The legion ' s success comes from the legionaries ' fearlessness , cooperation , and fanatic loyalty to Caesar . Thus , cowardice and disobedience will earn the wrath of Caesar and his officers . Advancement is primarily achieved through valorous or ingenious acts on the battlefield . A legionary who demonstrates leadership potential will be rewarded with greater responsibilities and privileges . If a legionary can earn decisive victory for the legion , even if it involves disobeying orders , he will be recognized for his efforts . Vulpes Inculta is a notable example , as he managed to defeat a tribe by breaking ranks and exploiting a weakness in their formation . The centurion wished to execute Vulpes for his disobedience , but Caesar elevated Vulpes to the position of the Frumentarii commander . However , while competence is rewarded with leadership positions , incompetence brings the threat of serious injury or death . The first legate , Joshua Graham , failed to seize Hoover Dam and his forces were routed by the NCR . Though he was the second most powerful man in the legion and Caesar ' s friend , Caesar nonetheless ordered his praetorians to immolate Graham and toss him into the Grand Canyon . Other punishments that may be applied for failure range from crucifixion to decimation . Consequently , legionaries will frequently commit suicide when defeated to avoid suffering at the hands of Caesar ' s executioners . Equipment . Because Caesar is determined to maintain a Roman theme for his army , his underlings are equipped as such . The most common armament in the legion are crude machetes and improvised throwing spear s , but the legionaries are relatively free to use whatever weapon is available , so long as they can wield them well . As rank improves , the quality of a legionary ' s armament also increases . In fact , the centurions can be seen wielding weapons that are technologically advanced , ranging from thermic lance s to anti - materiel rifle s . Standard legionary armor is composed of pre - War athletic gear reinforced with metal and leather and worn over a studded leather cuirass . Again , rank dictates the quality of armor . A recruit will be given armor that is ineffective against even crude bludgeons while centurions are equipped with armor that can resist knives and SMG bullets . Due to a ban on modern medicine , alcohol , and synthetic chems , the legionaries are provided with medicines derived from the local flora and fauna . and bitter drink s are the most common remedies used to heal wounds . In order to restore crippled limbs , the Legion uses a chem called hydra , a potent brew derived from the Mojave Wasteland ' s wildlife and . Legionaries also carry antivenom as a precaution against poisoning from encounters with the venomous creatures of the desert . In addition , many legionaries carry and food gathered from the wasteland for rations . Legion divisions . The legionaries can be divided according to experience as such : Recruit legionary . Recruits are freshly trained legionaries who are given only basic equipment . They are the most common type of legionaries and are forced to take the brunt of any blow from the enemy . They are mostly used for patrolling legion territory or to conduct small to medium scale raids . Prime legionary . Prime legionaries are better equipped than recruits . They also have the benefit of greater experience and training than the standard legionaries . In short , the prime legionaries are a full step above Caesar ' s recruits . Veteran legionary . Veteran legionaries are not only the best equipped amongst the standard legionaries , they are also the most experienced as well . They are typically held in reserve until the recruit and the prime legionaries are defeated . Legionary decanus . Legionaries are given the position of decanus when they display leadership potential consistently in battle . A legionary decanus has the authority to run small camps as well as act as a deputy for the local centurion . Seniority determines the quality of the decanus ' armor ; a standard decanus will only have the recruit ' s armor whereas a seasoned decanus will be given a veteran legionary ' s armor . They are easily distinguished by their helmets , which are adorned with multiple feathers . Centurion . Centurion s serve as field commanders during major operations . They are often appointed to their position through years of dedicated service and their martial prowess reflects the rigors they have endured . They are clad in heavy armor cobbled together from their fallen foes and use various weapons to great effect . However , they are generally kept away from danger due to the strategic value of each centurion . Outside of battle , centurions act as administrators of Legion camps with the assistance of the decanus . Legate . The legate is the commander of the legionaries and is subservient to none but Caesar . The position of legate is only given to individuals who demonstrate unshakable loyalty , leadership skills , and unrestrained ferocity . Consequently , the legate is feared by Caesar ' s foes , as he is essentially the face of the Legion . Joshua Graham was the first legate but was executed for his defeat at Hoover Dam . Lanius was appointed as Joshua ' s successor . Some legionaries are given different assignments such as reconnaissance , assassination , and scouting duties : Legionary scout . The legionary scout is trained in the arts of reconnaissance . These legionaries are equipped with s and lighter versions of the standard recruit armor . They are often accompanied by Legion mongrel s as support . Explorer legionary . The explorer legionary is a veteran scout legionary . They are not intended for combat and will thus carry only basic weaponry . They serve as scouts , messengers , and sentries in various Legion camps . Legionary assassin . The Legionary assassin is a specially trained legionary , sent after Caesar ' s most hated enemies . They are extremely dangerous due to the fact that they travel in packs and utilize powerful firearms and melee weapons . Legionary assassins are typically led into battle by a vexillarius . Though when encountering Legionary assassins , they may have Praetorian guards in the group and they may unusually use fire arms as well as their ballistic fists .