SOLDIER SOLDIER is the elite fighting force of Shinra Electric Power Company in " Final Fantasy VII " . Its members are advanced super - soldiers with superhuman strength , speed , and agility . Much stronger than the Shinra Peacekeeping Troops and the Turks , Shinra uses SOLDIER for special missions that require the greatest use of strength . Overview . SOLDIER members are divided in three classes : 1st Class , 2nd Class , and 3rd Class . 1st Class SOLDIERs are responsible for the most important ( and usually most dangerous ) missions , while 2nd and 3rd Classes mostly assist Shinra Troops or 1st Class SOLDIERs , or are in charge of less important missions . New units are recruited as 3rd Class and the best are later promoted to 2nd Class , and only distinguished 2nd Class SOLDIERs reach 1st Class . 1st Class SOLDIERs are given special privileges , such as the use of personal items , clothing , and equipment , as well as the right to deny orders assuming any responsibilities from their decisions . According to the " Crisis Core Complete Guide " SOLDIERs in and of themselves are Shinra industrial secrets , and to prevent information from leaking outside company walls , it is difficult for SOLDIER members to retire , and even if they are allowed to quit Shinra , the company will monitor their subsequent actions . Even if people believe they have evaded surveillance , Shinra will follow them for the remainder of their lives , and , in a worst case scenario , the company will have them killed . Children around the Planet dream of joining SOLDIER and becoming 1st Class like the hero Sephiroth . SOLDIER operatives are recognizable by the " glow " their eyes take . To further increase the organization ' s popularity , and for use as a propaganda tool , Shinra has created fan clubs for many of the 1st Class SOLDIERs . Story . Creation . Approximately 30 years before the beginning of " Final Fantasy VII " , the Jenova Project was initiated to produce a human - Cetra hybrid using the cells from Jenova ( mistaken to be a Cetra ) and Mako Energy from the Planet . The result was Sephiroth , who , although not having the powers of a Cetra as originally intended , was a child with exceptional abilities . Shinra recognized his potential and a method was planned to mass produce more fighters of his type . Using similar processes , Shinra exposed promising warriors to raw Mako giving their eyes the unique " glow " . Although eclipsed by Sephiroth , the new warriors , called SOLDIER , gained powers surpassing those of a normal combatant . They were sent on the more dangerous or important missions , had access to more equipment and information , and were higher ranked than other members of the army and would be used to great effectiveness during the Wutai War . AVALANCHE . During the battles with the first AVALANCHE in " Before Crisis - Final Fantasy VII - " , the data on SOLDIER operatives are stolen . Fuhito , expanding on the SOLDIER idea , creates his own brand of super soldiers , the Ravens , who are without will and mere mindless killing machines . Using the SOLDIER data , AVALANCHE predicts SOLDIER movements and captures several members to transform into Ravens . SOLDIER never successfully defeats AVALANCHE , with most of the battles being fought by the Turks . Mass Desertion . Headed by the SOLDIER Union Executive , Lazard Deusericus , at the time of " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " , SOLDIER acts from the Shinra Headquarters in Midgar , from floor 49 , that contains a training room , briefing room , and lounge area for off - duty members . Materia Fusion is also available for its members , as the room where Materia is made from crystallized MAKO Stones , is also on the SOLDIER Floor . Many 2nd and 3rd Class SOLDIERs disappear along with 1st class SOLDIER Genesis Rhapsodos . Shortly after the desertion Angeal Hewley , also product of the Jenova Project like Sephiroth and Genesis , leaves the organization . Angeal was the SOLDIER ' s emotional heart , acting as a mentor to the younger members inspiring them to hold on to their " SOLDIER honor " . Once the two are gone , Zack Fair , Angeal ' s protégé , is promoted to 1st Class and takes up Angeal ' s role as the heart of SOLDIER . Later Lazard defects to join Genesis in causing chaos across the Planet . Zack and Sephiroth are sent to Nibelheim to fix the local Mako Reactor and during the mission a series of events results in Sephiroth denouncing his humanity and destroying the town . After Sephiroth defeats Zack , a young Shinra guard , Cloud Strife , hurls him into the Mako pit below the reactor . Professor Hojo takes Zack and Cloud and the rest of Nibelheim ' s survivors as test subjects in the next round of experiments in the Jenova Project . Though Zack later escapes , taking a Mako - poisoned Cloud with him , the Shinra army guns him down before he reaches his destination . The Fall of SOLDIER . In " Final Fantasy VII " , while SOLDIER itself plays an important role , actual members are few and far between . This could be attributed to the loss of personnel after the mass desertion , the disappearance of the director of SOLDIER , and the loss of SOLDIER ' s four most prominent members . The appearances of SOLDIER members are limited to the guarding the Shinra Science Department area on floors 68 and 69 of the Shinra Building , stationed in Junon after Meteor is summoned , and guarding the Sister Ray in Midgar . Cloud claims to have been a member , but this is a false memory created by the psychological damage Hojo ' s experiments caused him , as well as the trauma he experienced from his hometown ' s destruction and the death of his friend , Zack . Even though Cloud was never a member of SOLDIER , he becomes strong enough to be mistaken for a 1st Class member . Due to the effects of the experiments Cloud ' s eyes have the " glow " that makes people believe he is a former member . After Shinra collapses SOLDIER seems to have fallen with it . However , during the events of " Dirge of Cerberus - Final Fantasy VII - " , Vincent Valentine encounters remnants of SOLDIER hiding out in the Shinra Mansion and the Midgar ruins . Equipment . SOLDIER members are equipped with a set of combat fatigues colored to distinguish rank , though the highest ranking members forgo this formality . The SOLDIER outfits are composed of sleeveless turtle - neck sweaters and baggy pants with leather accents that hold their armor and weapon in place when not in use . In " Final Fantasy VII " they are colored blue for 3rd Class , red for 2nd Class , and purple for 1st Class . Members wear body armor on the chest , head , and shoulders , and wield wide two - handed swords , along with several types of Materia and extra weapons , depending on class . They also wear a belt with the logo as the buckle . In " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " , SOLDIER members are given slightly different uniforms . 1st Class traditionally wears black ( although Sephiroth and Genesis modify their uniforms by wearing long coats , Genesis ' s being red ) , and do not wear the helmets other SOLDIER members wear . Unlike 2nd and 3rd Class , 1st Class SOLDIER members are given the privilege to choose whether to wear their own clothes instead of standard 1st Class uniforms . 2nd Class wears a purple uniform , and 3rd Class wears light blue uniforms . Their chest armor has disappeared , and the only torso - covering they have over their sleeveless turtle - necks is a leather belt - like wrapping with a new version of the SOLDIER logo embedded on the front that covers the lower stomach . Zack Fair wears neither red nor purple but rather a dark blue , nor does he wear a helmet ( most likely to distinguish him from other SOLDIER members ) . Another distinctive mark is the " SOLDIER Sword " , a longsword with a curved guard with a small SOLDIER logo engraved in the middle . It is the default weapon for 3rd and 2nd Class members , but most known 1st Classes use their own swords . Techniques . are armed with a flying sickle and are equipped with Sleepel Materia , and level 2 Bolt and Ice Materia . It is likely that SOLDIER equipment also depends on the situation . According to " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " SOLDIER members acquire Materia on missions , and get new equipment from the company through a hatch on the SOLDIER Floor . 1st Class privileges informally include the use of personal equipment , the use of rationed supplies outside of missions , and the right to veto orders . This is most obviously shown with Sephiroth ' s choice of clothing and his use of the Masamune sword . 1st Class SOLDIER members also have the option to fuse Materia to use more powerful magic and abilities . Regardless of ranks , because of their treatment , genetic reinforcement , and Mako infusion , all SOLDIERs inherit the ability to access the use of gathered external Mako that accumulates in their bodies , which is shown in " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " to be responsible as a catalyst for Materia Fusion and unleashing Limit Breaks to higher levels . This power is measured in a statistic named a SOLDIER Point . " Final Fantasy VII " and " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " present wildly different versions of how SOLDIER is organized and how they are equipped . It is possible that with the loss of personnel , including their four most powerful members , Shinra has reorganized SOLDIER . The uniforms and standard equipment could have been changed , explaining the differences and with the weaker and more abundant members SOLDIER becomes less of an elite operative based organization , but more of a force that serves as elite guards and shock troops . The lack of any notable SOLDIER members in " Final Fantasy VII " who still serve Shinra could be evidence of this . Deepground . Deepground is a top - secret military and experimentation group started as a medical division to attend to wounded SOLDIERs , and later became an experimentation ground for more extreme experiments involving the subjects of the Jenova Project . Located beneath Midgar in Sector 0 , its existence is known only to President Shinra , as well as executives Scarlet , Heidegger , and Professor Hojo . In contrast to the SOLDIER program , different Deepground soldiers are subjected to different experiments for their creation , rather than the set procedure that produces normal SOLDIER members . Their attire is different , bearing the original SOLDIER logo from " Final Fantasy VII " , even though in all subsequent pieces of the " Compilation " the " Crisis Core " SOLDIER logo is used . Development . " Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega " reveals details of the early ideas the development team had for SOLDIER . SOLDIER were originally intended as warriors bathed in Mako energy who could use magic . In the early drafts SOLDIER was used to suppress oppression against the construction of Mako Reactors . The Planet ' s original history told of a war between two nations that dragged on due to the countries being equally strong , which was when SOLDIER was formed . " Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega " sheds some light in the SOLDIER ' s tough screening program : selected from the army or civilian population , the candidates had to undergo many examinations . Finally , at the training facility , in addition to training the candidates were exposed to Mako energy and only a handful graduated . Many became physically and mentally ill and dropped out , but this was concealed by disguising the loss in an extraordinary number of accidental deaths and suicides . Some people , though , managed to escape . The SOLDIER operatives who were sent to the war were an elite few , and the guerilla warfare shifted the advantage to the nation on Shinra ' s side . SOLDIER ' s activities were broadcast in detail and the people began to view SOLDIER as heroes . After the war SOLDIER turned towards " maintaining the peace " , which included the suppression of rebel elements . At this time people viewed the government as good as worthless ; they trusted only Shinra to protect them . This was how the government fell under Shinra ' s power . Exposure to Mako energy had more visible symptoms in the early story drafts : Those bathed in Mako would gain superhuman strength , and their dormant " Jenova " element would become easier to awaken . However , as the energy would run out the subject would suffer mental damage , such as rapid weakness , anxiety , fear , and loneliness . Shinra was aware of Mako ' s addictiveness and that overexposure would turn people into monsters , yet the company would continue infusing SOLDIER members with Mako . Many of these original ideas were not used in the game . Other appearances . Lightning can equip the uniform as part of " Final Fantasy legacy " equippable garbs . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . SOLDIER 3rd class appears as an enemy . " Final Fantasy Artniks " . A member of SOLDIER appears as a character card . " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . Lightning ' s SOLDIER garb from " Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII " and a SOLDIER 3rd Class from " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " appear with Fire - elemental cards . Non - " Final Fantasy " gppearances . " Kingdom Hearts " series . SOLDIER is alluded to through Cloud and Zack . Cloud ' s journal entry mentions him as a SOLDIER , and Zack features the SOLDIER logo on his sword and belt . The sword he wields is based on the sword he uses in " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " before he receives the Buster Sword , which is the standard issue weapon in SOLDIER . Merchandise . A SOLDIER logo keyring was released as " Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - " merchandise .