Technicians Technicians were a collection of varied military specialists assigned to the Alliance to Restore the Republic ' s Special Forces . They included mechanical technicians , combat engineers , medics , drivers , pilots , sensor and communications specialists , interrogators , and procurement specialists . Fully combat capable , they were assigned to combat Spec units to augment and support their operations . Organization . Technicians were a military specialty within the Alliance to Restore the Republic ' s Special Forces . The 7th Regiment of a SpecForce division was comprised of Technicians . Technicians were a catch - all regiment for all the various miscellaneous specialities attached to SpecForce . Although " Technicians " referred to the regiment as a whole , the formation included mechanics , technicians , medics , drivers , pilots , communications experts , scanner operators , interrogators , and procurement specialist s . As a whole , Technicians supported the other SpecForce regiments , operating and repairing equipment , and manufacturing whatever was needed . Technicians never operated as a single unit , and were always cross - attached to other formations either individually or as a unit . Each Technician was fully combat capable , and were expected to fight alongside other Specs on the battlefield if needed . History . Squads of Technicians were assigned to support other taskforces , including Taskforce Shen and Team 19 . Personnel . Technicians were comprised of a variety of different Specs . Each Technician was already highly trained in their field of expertise , and it was far easier to train a technical expert to SpecForce combat standards than to train a SpecForce soldier to the same level of technical expertise . During training , Technicians were mixed with other units for the first half of their time at drop camp , then went on to specialist training . They were commonly referred to as " techs , " or SpecTechs . " Technicians / Engineers / Medics . Specs drawn from technical or medic backgrounds were usually students at a university on their homeworlds , and were victims of political purges initiated during Galactic Empire crackdowns despite having no interest in politics . They joined the Alliance , and found that their skill set was needed and were assigned to the military . After a few tours , they found themselves transferred to SpecForce , where they became a capable combat soldier as well . SpecForce training took technical minded individuals without confidence , and turned them into experience technicians with a toughened edge and experience . Despite their new outlook and mindset , they were still techies at heart , and their main goal was to help their squad and compete the mission alive . Specialist training for technicians varied by specialization . For mechanical technicians , this included weeks of learning how to make quick and dirty repairs , and perform patchwork modifications . Medics were taught field medicine , and demolitions experts learned many amusing and interesting ways to employ detonite . Drivers / Pilots . Transportation Specs were divided into two camps ; ground drivers , and space pilots . The vehicles they operated were heavily armed and armored , overpowered , and needed to be handled with care . Many transportation Specs were former circuit racers who believed they had extraordinary skills and the attitude to back it up . After being blacklisted because one of their associates had suspected Rebel ties , they joined the Alliance . Although probably skilled enough , piloting starfighters did not appeal to them , leading to their assignment to SpecForce . Drivers operated ground vehicles , transporting Specs to the front lines . They were capable of driving all forms of ground vehicle , from personnel carriers , to skiffs , to tanks . They were repeatedly called on to direct their vehicles into hot combat zones , a situation military drivers were usually trained to avoid . Pilots flew shuttles and transports to deliver Specs to a battlefield . While not as glamorous a job as piloting a starfighter , combat pilots had to deal with enemy starfighter action and static defenses while ensuring the safety of the units they were transporting . Many carried over traditions from their racing days , including racing gloves and lucky ornaments , and they harbored desires to return to the racing circuit once the war was over . Cocky and sure of themselves , years of combat missions had matured the transportation Specs , and they put the unit first . Following drop camp , drivers and pilots were taught emergency maintenance , and how to offensively use their vehicles , which was in direct contravention of standing Alliance doctrine regarding ground vehicle operation . Much of the training was in simulation pod s , but live training was also conducted . Scanner - Communications Operators . Scanner - Communications Operators were responsible for using and maintaining the equipment that was the eyes , ears , and mouthpiece of SpecForce . Considered to be valuable squad members , they were usually assigned to most taskforces with few exceptions ; Infiltrators almost never used them . All Operators were cross - trained in sensor and communications operations , and worked both if the taskforce was of a small size . Larger taskforces with more technical support usually had dedicated operators for each position . Scanner - Communications Operators were drawn from specialist within the Alliance whose combat scores qualified them for front - line combat duty . After a single tour , many opted to joined SpecForce since they were always looking for specialists , and they figured that if they were to be involved in combat operations , they might as well go all in . Scanner - Communications Operators tended to be on the nervous side , as they were often aware of the larger tactical picture than their squadmates , and they knew the position they occupied on the team was a critical one . Nevertheless , they were determined to complete the mission , and to serve the Alliance to the best of their ability . Amongst their fellow Specs , they were often referred to as " scanners , " " scan - com operators , " " sensor spec , " or " eyes . " Following basic drop camp , Sensor and communications operators learned additional operational techniques , field repair and maintenance , and cryptography . Their final test was designed to show them that they and their equipment were often the first line of defense by pitting them against a unit of Infiltrators . Interrogator . SpecForce interrogators differed greatly from their Imperial counterparts ; the Empire used torture as a means for extracting information . However , the method was inefficient , as many would say whatever the interrogators wanted them to say to end the pain . SpecForce interrogators only required military information , not political confessions , and used a combination of subtle methods including intimidation , manipulation of perceptions — sleep deprivation , and telepath ic probes . SpecForce interrogators were deployed to field , and were assigned when time was of the essence , or the subject could not be moved . While telepathic methods of information extraction were preferred due to time constraints , naturally occurring telepaths such as Hortek s were in constant demand and short supply . This resulted in Interrogators adopting other methods , such as dominating the subject , engaging in false camaraderie , and mental manipulation . One of the favored methods was known as " acceleration , " where the subject is manipulated into believing that more time has passed than has actually elapsed , and that time - critical information they held was now useless and out - of - date . Simulated torture was another method , where the prisoner was subjected to simulated sounds of torture in the next room with the implication that they would be next . Procurement Specialist . Procurement specialists were tasked with the acquisition and retrieval of combat material from unorthodox sources while deployed in the field . Vital to the overall success of most missions , procurement specialists were assigned to taskforces slated to be in the field for medium or long term missions . They obtained needed equipment and supplies through any means possible , be that legal purchases , borrowing , theft , requisitions , or liberation from the enemy . They often had to locate and retrieve the items themselves without support , and they were often lacking in the combat arts than their fellow Specs . Buying supplies was generally the preferred method of acquisition , with procurement specialists reveling in making deals , but running cons or straight up commandeering of the equipment was also popular , In some cases , remove of equipment was arranged to look like a simple robbery . They were often referred to as " scroungers " by their fellow Specs . Skills . All SpecForce Technicians shared basic skills , with specialist skills in their areas of expertise . Useful specialist skills included demolitions , equipment repair , communications and sensor operation , emergency medical techniques , and creative engineering . While they were less combat capable than Specs from other regiments , they were fully trained soldiers and were used to augment other Spec units . All specializations were trained to handle a blaster . Technicians , combat engineers , and medics were trained in survival techniques and repulsorcraft operation , as well as basic stealth . Individual specialities varied , and Specs were often skilled in a number of techniques and disciplines including armor repair , blaster repair , computer programming and repair , droid programming and repair , hover vehicle repair , ground vehicle repair , repulsorlift vehicle repair , walker repair , demolitions , and first aid . Drivers and pilots were also skilled with vehicle mounted weapons and trained in first aid , and had special skills according to what vehicle they were trained in and assigned to drive , including hover , ground , and repulsorlift vehicles , and space transports . Scanner - Communications Operators specialized in operating communications and sensor equipment , including their maintenance and repair . First aid knowledge was also taught to them . Interrogators were conversant in other languages and trained in first aid , and used intimidation , personal willpower , and a commanding presence to their advantage . Procurement specialists were knowledgeable about bureaucracies , businesses , alien cultures , and languages . They were sneaky and stealthy , and were able bargainers , con - men with a persuasive personality . They had contacts with criminal undergrounds , and could bypass security systems . Equipment . Standard equipment for Technicians varied depending upon specialization , but all Technicians were appropriately equipped while in the field . Repair technicians were armed with a heavy blaster pistol , and carried a technical tool kit . Combat engineers were also armed with a heavy blaster pistol , and carried a cube of detonite and a datapad containing technical manuals . Medics carried five medpacs , an advanced medical kit , and no weapons . Drivers and pilots were issued with a blaster pistol , as well as their appropriate vehicle depending on the mission parameters . Scanner - Communications Operators carried a blaster pistol , and appropriate equipment such as comset s or scanners , as well as comlinks . Interrogators wielded a blaster pistol , as well as a datapad and a recording rod . A portable uniform fresher and wash - up kit were carried and employed to make the interrogator appear freshly - groomed during acceleration interrogations , and an interpretation droid was used on occasion . Procurement specialists carried a blaster pistol , datapad , and lock breaking kit .