First Recon

The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, commonly abbreviated as 1st Recon, is a sharpshooter-skirmisher battalionJoshua Sawyer on Formspring of the New California Republic Army. Veterans also summarize it simply as a sniper battalion.The Courier: "What outfit did you serve in the military with?"Craig Boone: "First NCR Recon. It's a sniper battalion. Sees a lot of action. They moved us around a lot. I was stationed at Camp Golf for a while. Last I heard they were at Camp McCarran."(Craig Boone's dialogue) In either case, their mode of operation is summed up as "One shot, one kill."The Courier: "What do you do around here?"10 of Spades: " When they show their faces, that's when we go to work. One shot, one k-k-kill. That's the First Recon way."(10 of Spades' dialogue)
==Background==
The battalion is one of the finest combat units in the New California Republic Army, drawing its members from soldiers of exceptional marksmanship demonstrated at Army's firing ranges. Transfer is voluntary, but members of 1st Recon receive slightly better pay as an incentive.The Courier: "How did you happen to join First Recon?"Craig Boone: "They pick you out if you do well at the firing range. Pays a little better, so I said okay."(Craig Boone's dialogue) 
The battalion has a distinguished combat history, with their most notable deployment being the Mojave Campaign. During the First Battle of Hoover Dam in 2277,Fallout: New Vegas loading screen: "In 2277, NCR forces defeated Caesar's Legion during the Battle of Hoover Dam. The NCR has held Hoover Dam since then but the Legion has not made it easy for them." the battalion played a vital part, as its sharpshooters together with the NCR Rangers were instrumental in destroying the cohesion of Legion forces on the rim of the Dam, allowing the Legion's elite forces to be drawn into Boulder City and routed.The Courier: "So what happened at Hoover Dam and Boulder City?"Hanlon: "In big battles, Caesar deploys his legionaries in waves. Recruits up front, prime soldiers behind the recruits, old guard bringing up the rear. Opponents wear themselves out dealing with the first two waves, if they survive that long. When the veterans step up, there's not much fight left. Caesar can adapt, though, and when required, he can run any mix of legionaries as skirmishers and still retain order in the ranks. Joshua Graham, Caesar's old legate, he's wasn't so flexible. When the Legion attacked Hoover Dam, General Oliver ordered his troopers back to the middle ground just after first contact. Graham pushed all of the legionaries onto the dam, filling the east side with recruits up front and veterans in the back, by the book. But once they were in, they were stuck there. Oliver's troopers were entrenched and wouldn't give a foot. That's when we ordered the rangers and 1st recon sharpshooters to start picking off veteran legion officers from a high ridge west of the dam. That only lasted about a minute before Graham ordered the back ranks to push through to the front and rush the ridge. Caused total chaos among the younger legionaries, and Oliver's troopers fell back to the side walkways and stayed out of the veterans' way. By the time the veterans got to the ridge, we were already in Boulder City. They followed us down there, but we were out before they realized what was happening. We had packed the old city with C4 and dynamite. Crude, but it did the job. Those who didn't die in the blast were in no position to mount a defense. The ones left on the dam didn't know what to do. The troopers routed them. Graham pulled the remaining legionaries back, but the battle was over. He went south, back to the Grand Canyon, back to Caesar. And that was the last we saw or heard from Joshua Graham."(Hanlon's dialogue) That battle was the end of the Malpais Legate, Joshua Graham. First Recon and the Rangers finally managed to eliminate Graham, after no less than five prior kill reports.The Courier: "So that was the end of Graham?"Hanlon: "It's not that clear cut. You have to understand, Graham was the toughest son of a gun anyone around these parts had ever seen. Before Hoover, we had five kill reports on Graham from rangers and 1st Recon sharpshooters who tried to take him out. Some folks think he's still alive, call him the Burned Man."(Hanlon's dialogue)
However, their combat history has been blemished by the Bitter Springs Massacre a year later in 2278. As part of a large armed force sent to wipe out what was believed to be a Great Khan staging base used for raids on NCR holdings, 1st Recon sharpshooters were stationed on Coyote Tail ridge at the perimeter of Bitter Springs.Craig Boone: "Hey. I thought some more about what you said. I think maybe you're right. Maybe I should go to Bitter Springs. I don't know what I'm hoping to find there."The Courier: "What are we waiting for?"Craig Boone: "Tell the truth... I think this is exactly what I've been waiting for."Craig Boone: "This is the place. We got sent from Camp Golf, looking for some Khans who'd been making trouble with one of our settlements. I guess one of the settlers was connected, because we sent everything we had. We figured this was a gang hideout, but... they'd led us to their home. There's a ridge called Coyote Tail on the south side. That's where we set up."(Boone's dialogue) The main force got spotted too soon and Great Khans started evacuating Bitter Springs down the canyon, right into First Recon guns. However, these weren't raiders, but women, children, and the elderly, together with wounded Khans. Upon reporting the situation through the radio, the sharpshooters were ordered to shoot until they were out of ammunition, by an officer who apparently didn't understand what was happening. First Recon promptly opened fire, killing dozens of unarmed civilians.Courier: "What happened?"Boone: "Main force got spotted too soon. We heard shooting. Then Khans started coming through Canyon 37 in bunches. It was all wrong, though. Women, kids, elderly. Wounded started coming through, too. We radioed to confirm our orders but command didn't get what we were seeing. They told us to shoot till we were out of ammo. So that's what we did."(Boone's dialogue) 
Though the event went unreported in the press and the military immediately attempted to repair the damage they caused, the event caused long lasting trauma among the members of the battalion and the Great Khans, in addition to souring the already strained relations between the Republic and the Khans.Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.458 Important Dates: 2278 "Following the abduction and killing of four soldiers, NCR troops assault the Great Khans' settlement at Red Rock Canyon and massacre several dozen men, women, and children. This event goes unreported in NCR press."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide/Behind the Bright Lights & Big City) Several members of First Recon left service in the wake of the incident, preferring to close that chapter of their life.The Courier: "Were you at Bitter Springs with First Recon?"Craig Boone: "I was in a lot of places with First Recon. I don't really remember."(Craig Boone's dialogue)The Courier: "You must've been at Bitter Springs. What happened there?"Craig Boone: ""The Courier: "That's it? You won?"Craig Boone: "Look, we've done some traveling together, but we're not exactly comrades-in-arms. I'm not ready to swap war stories."(Craig Boone's dialogue)The Courier: "You must've been at Bitter Springs. What happened there?"Craig Boone: "That part of my life is over now. So is this discussion."(Craig Boone's dialogue) Others sought to make amends by adopting Great Khan orphans. Bitter-Root was one such orphan, adopted by Major Dhatri, and wound up joining 1st Recon himself.The Courier: "I heard you're Bitter-Root's father."Dhatri: " But, if it's not me, it'll be somebody else. At least this way I get one more chance to see him."The Courier: "I heard you're Bitter-Root's father."Dhatri: " Excuse me, but I'd rather not speak of this."(Dhatri's dialogue) 
As of 2281, Alpha Team of 1st ReconThe Courier: "Driver Nephi."Dhatri: "My advice is this. Talk to Lieutenant Gorobets. He's in charge of Alpha Team, 1st Recon. Snipers. If you're lucky, you can lure Nephi into the open, and the sharpshooters can bring him down. You bring me the head, you'll still get the bounty.It's a better bet than trying to take Nephi one-on-one, but it's your call."(Dhatri's dialogue) has been stationed at Camp McCarran for six months to help with the local Fiends harassing NCR's western flanks. Should their target, Driver Nephi, be eliminated, their standing orders are to transfer to Camp Forlorn Hope and reinforce its defense against the Legion.The Courier: "How long have you been stationed here?"Sterling: "Going on six months, now. But I reckon we'll be moving out, soon enough. Can't talk about the details. Til then, we'll man the towers and keep an eye on the Fiends. We've had more than our share of trouble from their direction. Whole things smells of Caesar to me. 'Course, that's just guesswork, but I'd still bet a few caps that he's stirring up the locals against us."(Sterling's dialogue)
==Organization==
1st Recon teams operate in two-man pairs, a spotter and a shooter.The Courier: "Why do you think you let Betsy down?"10 of Spades: "She's my g-g-goddamn partner. See, we work in pairs. We spot for each other. W-watch each other's backs. Nobody wanted to w-work with me. They said I was too green. But Betsy volunteered. Shit, you don't even know how big a d-d-deal that is. "(10 of Spades' dialogue) The battalion's troops can be distinguished from regular soldiers by their distinctive red berets with the unit's insigniaThe Courier: "Is that a First Recon beret?"Craig Boone: "Yeah. You can tell by the patch. Bear skull with crossed rifles behind it. Slogan underneath."(Craig Boone's dialogue) and occasionally special uniforms for survival and assault missions.The sharpshooter equipment in Fallout: New Vegas.
Beyond hunting down critical targets like Nephi, 1st Recon is also called in to mercy kill NCR personnel taken as prisoners of war, used by the enemy (especially Caesar's Legion in the Mojave) to demoralize NCR troops.Craig Boone: "Mercy killing is expected of NCR snipers. The Legion likes to torture their prisoners within sight of NCR positions. We get called on to end it. I've had my share. Some of them, you think, maybe you could've gotten them out. Maybe it's not the Legion that got them killed. Maybe it's your orders and you following them."(Craig Boone's dialogue) However, mercy killing is still seen as a last resort if getting the prisoners back would prove too costly.Craig Boone: "Mercy killing is a last resort. Glad you recognized we had options."(Craig Boone's dialogue) 
===Alpha Team===
Stationed at Camp McCarran, the Alpha Team is structured in the following way:
# Lieutenant Gorobets, commanding officer
# First pair: 10 of Spades and Betsy
# Second pair: Sterling and Bitter-Root
current roster has two pairs of sniper/spotters: and Sterling/Bitter-Root, with Lieutenant Gorobets in command of the team. 
===Former members===
Two former members of 1st Recon, Craig Boone and Manny Vargas, live in Novac and used to work as a pair.
==Outside relations==
As an extension of the New California Republic Army, 1st Recon holds contempt for the NCR's enemies, including, but not limited to, Caesar's Legion, the Great Khans and the Fiends. They also frequently buy sniper rifles from the Gun Runners, who regard First Recon as a top-notch unit.Alexander: ""(Alexander's dialogue)
==Technology==
By and large, 1st Recon sharpshooters use .308 caliber hunting rifles to execute their orders, often without scopes (in keeping with their sharpshooter-skirmisher mission). An exception is Corporal Sterling, a former NCR Ranger who uses a modified .357 caliber lever-action rifle, and was granted the exception by his commanding officer, since it didn't impact his combat performance.Courier: "Interesting rifle you have there. Lever-action, right?"Sterling: "I call her La Longue Carabine. Didn't always have the scope - I added that myself. Been shooting with her so long... couldn't bring myself to toss her away. Would have felt guilty to part with the old girl. The other snipers use bolt-action, but Gorobets reckoned it didn't matter none if I was different, so long as I can hit my targets."(Sterling's dialogue)
In addition, while most members wear standard issue NCR body armor, specialized armor exists within the unit, and almost all members are equipped with the unit's distinct red berets.
==Interactions with the player character==
* Alpha Team of 1st Recon is part of the quest Three-Card Bounty and can provide the Courier assistance in hunting down Driver Nephi. Upon completing the Driver Nephi portion of the Three-Card Bounty quest by claiming Nephi's bounty, the entire First Recon moves to Camp Forlorn Hope. Their presence allows the Camp to repel the Legion attack during the Second Battle of Hoover Dam with very few casualties, in a stunningly decisive victory.NCR Emergency Radio: "The troops at Forlorn Hope, assisted by First Recon, have repelled the Legion attack with very few casualties."NCR Emergency Radio: "The troops at Forlorn Hope, assisted by First Recon, have repelled the Legion in what will surely be the most decisive victory in this entire battle."
** If the player follows 1st Recon after completion of Three-Card Bounty, they will take an unorthodox route to get to Camp Forlorn Hope. They travel south of Camp McCarran, east through Allied Technologies offices, southeast just outside of Black Mountain, east through the El Dorado Dry Lake, southeast close to the cazador nest, and finally south to enter Camp Forlorn Hope from the northern entrance. Due to pathfinding issues, 1st Recon members may get stuck in the environment and will seek alternative routes. However, if the player fast-travels after the killing of Driver Nephi, they should arrive at their destination without incident.
** Originally, after traveling to Forlorn Hope, all 5 members of 1st Recon would congregate in a clearing inside the camp. This was changed in a subsequent patch for map optimization purposes, and now the different members can be found inside different buildings in the camp: two inside the command tent, two inside the barracks, and one inside the mess hall.
* A 1st Recon veteran, Craig Boone, is a potential companion. At least one possible ending to the game has him rejoining his old unit.Fallout: New Vegas endings: "Looking for a place where he could be of some use, Boone found himself re-enlisting with his old unit. Though his regrets remained in his thoughts, they coalesced into a purpose, and Boone embraced it. He spent his leave time hunting down slavers in the desert, his First Recon beret the last thing they never saw"
* Caesar's Legion are trying to get their howitzer operational during I Hear You Knocking specifically for the purpose of suppressing 1st Recon and Veteran Ranger snipers.
==Appearances==
The 1st Reconnaissance Battalion appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.
==Behind the scenes==
* 1st Recon may be a reference to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the United States Marine Corps.
* The motto for 1st Recon sharpshooters was coined by either Eric Fenstermaker or Roger Chang.Question: "Who came up with the First Recon's "The last thing you never see" motto?"Joshua Sawyer: "It was either Eric Fenstermaker or Roger Chang, I think."(Joshua Sawyer on Spring.me)
* The battalion was described as being "more akin to a squad of sharpshooter skirmishers than snipers" by Joshua Sawyer.Question: "First Recon must be some pretty awesome dudes if they can snipe without scopes."Joshua Sawyer: "First Recon are more akin to a squad of sharpshooter skirmishers than snipers."(Joshua Sawyer on Formspring)
* George Ziets wrote Corporal Betsy.Question: "Who wrote Corporal Betsy?"Joshua Sawyer: "George Ziets."(Joshua Sawyer on Formspring)
==Bugs==
* After arriving at Camp Forlorn Hope, the members of the 1st Recon may not realize they have moved and still speak as if they were battling the Fiends in the ruins of the city. 
* Members of 1st Recon share idle lines with generic NCR troopers, including "Wish I had a 1st Recon guy looking after me" if Boone is a companion.
==Gallery==
First Recon at Forlorn Hope.jpg|1st Recon at Camp Forlorn Hope
1st Recon beret.png|1st Recon beret
Outfit rberet.png|Texture file
==References==
Non-game
Category:Fallout: New Vegas factions
Category:New California Republic Army
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es:1º de Reconocimiento
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ru:Первый разведывательный батальон НКР
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