New California Republic Rangers The New California Republic Rangers are an elite outfit of the New California Republic Army . The Rangers are a volunteer special force renowned as much for their shrewd reconnaissance capabilities as their bravery and combat prowess . History . The Rangers were founded by Seth after Tandi and Aradesh created the New California Republic and eventually , by 2241 , became one of the most powerful military forces in the wasteland . Forces on NCR territory were particularly concerned with the problem of slavery and actively fought it by any means necessary . In early years , the burgeoning republic was faced by a large volume of threats - from slavers and raider tribes , to roaming gangs and to the Wasteland itself . The Rangers were instrumental in protecting the frontiers , using their expertise to tip the balance in favor of the Republic when numbers and resources may not have been on their side . Rangers were also the first to scout out Nevada and the Hoover Dam . In 2271 , the Desert Rangers signed the Ranger Unification Treaty with the NCR Rangers at the Mojave Outpost , in which they agreed to become part of the NCR military in exchange for protection of Hoover Dam and Nevada from Caesar ' s Legion . In 2277 , Rangers under the command of Chief Hanlon were pivotal in turning the tide of the First Battle of Hoover Dam . In a cunning trap laid by them and NCR ' s 1st Recon , they lured the best fighters of Caesar ' s Legion into Boulder City . When enemy troops entered the city , it was blown up . In the aftermath , the remaining Legion survivors were gunned down by snipers . Although the NCR forced the Legion to retreat , the losses they sustained in defence of the dam prevented them from following up on their success . By 2281 , the NCR military had become well - established within the Mojave Wasteland . Operating from a large number of stations across the area , the Rangers remain ever vigilant for Legion raiding parties , as well as common brigands . However , despite the enormous threat posed by the Legion , many of the organization ' s best members had been reassigned to other posts off the front lines . A few were given the " prestigious " task of becoming bodyguards for the current President of the Republic , Aaron Kimball ; others were sent off to Baja on an unknown mission . Despite their ongoing dedication to their duty , even the Rangers are finding it difficult to retain their hold on a territory as expansive as the Mojave . Under the command of General Lee Oliver , the New California Republic Army has adopted a confrontational posture , entrenching itself on the banks of the Colorado River while facing Legion positions on the opposite side . Given ongoing manpower shortages and overstretched supply lines , this only made the Republic ' s strategic situation even more precarious than before . General Lee Oliver , however , greatly favors the rank - and - file soldiers of the NCR military , to the point where Rangers are routinely put in harm ' s way in favor of Oliver ' s power - armored shock - troops . Organization . The Rangers are recruited from the best of the NCR military and even then , 80 % do not finish training and drop out . This training is not restricted to the male gender as women can be Rangers too , and it ' s not uncommon for them to do so with success . Their training and conditioning is said to be as nearly as intense as that of the legionaries , albeit only more forgiving . The fruits of this intensity may vary as was the case with one who was able to best an elite centurion with her bare hands . Those that finish and are awarded the badge have proven that they are " quieter than a shadow and more ferocious than a deathclaw . " Their superior training , superior weaponry and assortment of pre - War and post - War technology allows them to tip battles in NCR ' s favor even when a situation may see them outnumbered and outgunned . The NCR Rangers operate almost entirely outside of the normal NCR army . The organization relies on the leadership of its veteran , more experienced Rangers , like Chief Hanlon . They do not follow normal military ranks and their known ranks are : However , a ranger by the name of Balmoral referred himself as a staff sergeant while he was in the Divide . It is unknown how the Rangers are organized strategically . Chief Hanlon explains that the Ranger stations across the Mojave are tasked with patrolling the NCR ' s territory . They then report to the Ranger station , who then transmit the message to the Rangers base ( Camp Golf in the Mojave ) who will then analyse the threat and directly call reinforcements from the regular army . According to Balmoral ' s report in the Divide , it seems the Rangers are divided in battalions , then in companies , and finally in platoons , much like the regular army . Members . 2241 . Various unnamed NCR Rangers make up patrols that circulate both around NCR itself and along major slave trafficking routes . They wear combat armor and carry several high end weapons like miniguns , assault rifles ( ex . H & K CAWS ) , and sniper rifles . Around the NCR Capital , they can be found fighting random hostiles like super mutant s and raiders , whereas on the slave routes they can be found killing slavers . 2281 . There are also unnamed and NCR Veteran Ranger s present . Relations with the outside . The Rangers , especially the Veteran Rangers , have a fearsome reputation with outside factions , as well as within the regular NCR military . In the Mojave , posters can be seen of them and some NCR troopers believe they " chew nails and spit napalm . " Technology . Rangers employ high end equipment ( namely combat armor , various small arms , heavy weapons and occasionally , scavenged vehicles ) . Their regular patrol armor is hand - made in the NCR , while the elite black armor used by Veteran Rangers are based on pieces of pre - War LAPD riot armor . Ranger combat helmets are old pre - War gear that have built - in optics for low light conditions . While the level of technology employed by the Rangers is quite impressive by the standards of the wastelands , it is still far behind the state - of - art equipment utilized by the Brotherhood of Steel and Enclave . Nevertheless , it is a testament to resources of the New California Republic that the Rangers are able to be so uniformly well - equipped , and even a Ranger on non - combat duties will easily defeat a group of Legionaries . Interactions with the player character . " Fallout 2 " . NCR Rangers can be seen in random encounters and will usually leave the Chosen One alone , only attacking if they are a slaver . They also appear in New California Republic . If not hostile , the Chosen One even has the option of joining the Rangers as a member . " Fallout : New Vegas " . The Courier can encounter Rangers throughout the Mojave , in various outposts and camps . They can choose to help them in various quests , such as updating their radio security codes or rescuing a member from Vault 3 . If the Courier chooses to aid the NCR , a squad of Veteran Rangers will aid in the Second Battle of Hoover Dam . Alternatively , if they have a negative reputation with the NCR , they may send a squad of Rangers to kill the Courier . Choices made in " Fallout : New Vegas " will change the fate of the Rangers . The can range from them dying to the last man and their organization being broken , to them being victorious and hailed as heroes . Appearances . NCR Rangers first appeared in " Fallout 2 " . They play a major role in " " and were scheduled to appear in the canceled " Van Buren " . Behind the scenes . The Rangers are similar to , and possibly based on , the . Sources . The article text comes from J . E . Sawyer ' s Fallout RPG and from Chris Avellone ' s Fallout Bible 6 .