Scout Regiment

Klatsky Tsardom

Xinyin Monarchial Republic

* Eldische Heer (Currently)

The **Scout Regiment** is the branch of the military most actively involved in direct Titan combat, Titan study, human expansion, and outside exploration. Due to their constant expeditions and encounters with Titans, Scout Regiment members are the most skilled in using the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.

Despite having little success before 850, they still symbolized "the hope of mankind" with their insignia being known as the "Wings of Freedom."

After the truth about the Titans is revealed, the Survey Corps turned its attention to fighting Marley and the outside world.

## Duty

This Military division was in charge of the exploration and the eventual reclamation of human territory from Titan-infested lands through the act of setting up small bases, camps, resupply stations, and extra fortifications in available areas outside the Walls. This branch of the military had by far the highest death rate. Prior to the breach of Wall Maria by the Colossus Titan, they explored the land outside of the Wall, though they could never get far due to the heavy casualties suffered from Titan attacks.

After the fall of Wall Maria, they began laying down supplies from Wall Rose's Trost District to Wall Maria's Shiganshina District in preparation to seal the breach and reclaim Wall Maria. This ultimate goal was finally reached two months after the crowning of Historia Reiss, though at the price of nearly all soldiers of the Survey Corps.

A more recent (yet unofficial) duty was Titan observation and research. Given the safer nature of exploring within Wall territory (since Titans could only enter the Wall at one point), a wealth of information was revealed, such as their pain tolerance, sunlight dependence, and intelligence. Upon learning that Eren Yeager had the power to transform into a Titan, research had been conducted to uncover the extent of his Titan abilities. This would grant the Survey Corps vital information when dealing with enemies that also have this power.

After his admission into the Survey Corps, protecting Eren became an objective of paramount importance. On numerous occasions, soldiers had been made to risk and lay down their lives in order to defend or recover him.

After learning the truth about their world, the Survey Corps then served as special forces in the fight against Marley and other countries that viewed them as threats. They would inevitably become notorious throughout the world as efficient Titan slayers and the special forces of Paradis, along with the Royal Guard.

## Structure

The Survey Corps is the smallest branch of the Military in terms of membership, originally with an overall size of around 800 soldiers. This already-limited number of volunteers is made less and less by commonplace deaths and an infamy surrounding the body count that frightens most away from joining. While 800 is a common headcount for membership in the Survey Corps, there have been several occasions where expeditions took place with around only 300 - 500 soldiers.

Erwin Smith was the 14th Commander of the Survey Corps, with Captain Levi Ackerman serving directly beneath him. Under his leadership were four squad leaders, one senior team leader, 27 team leaders, 6 medics, 5 equine veterinarians, and 10 payroll staff soldiers (also team leaders), and 270 soldiers. The Survey Corps was divided into 27 teams, each led by a team leader. Each team leader answers to the squad leaders, who in turn answer to the commander. Team 1, led by the senior team leader, is in charge of reconnaissance on expeditions, while Teams 8 through 10 act as logistics units who carry supplies for the expedition.

Their stables also include a total over 3,000 specially-bred horses, including reserves. These horses are noted to be exceptionally valuable and bred for great speed, stamina, and calm temperament.

The Survey Corps is almost wiped out following the Battle of Shiganshina District, with only twenty soldiers surviving the fight. However, over the course of the following four years, there is a surge in recruitment, including transfers from other branches. By the time they attack Liberio in Marley, there are nearly 10,000 Active-duty Scouts in total, with an additional 5,000 serving in various auxiliary roles such as medics, veterinarians, and runners.

As mentioned above Post-850, the number of staff for each post was drastically increased as there was an influx of new recruits over the next four years, despite acceptance being limited to only those who made the top 30% of the Cadet Corps, as such, the structure of the Scout Regiment was overhauled, but retained many of the same elements of the previous structure. Squad Leaders commanded 'squads' of 100 Scouts each, with every ten Squad Leaders reporting to a Senior Team leader, who was in command of a 'Survey Battalion'. Each Survey Battalion had a 500-man auxiliary Battalion, which was structured similarly to the regular battalion but each squad had only 50 members rather than 100, and was led by an Auxiliary Senior Team Leader.

## Qualities

Since the Survey Corps are constantly on the front lines, fighting Titans, its high fatality, and low success rate discourage most people from enrolling, as seen when only 10% of the 104th Training Corps joins them. Thus, the Survey Corps suffers a constant personnel shortage and the only soldiers who enter the Survey Corps are completely dedicated to the cause of humanity, usually at the cost of their own lives. In stark contrast to the Military Police, there is no laziness or incompetence in the Survey Corps and no corruption. Whether at their headquarters or in battle, members of the Survey Corps have no one to depend on but each other. This has built a strong atmosphere of trust in the Survey Corps and a general no-nonsense form of honesty among its personnel. Survey Corps members tell and expect to be told the truth, no matter how good or bad it might be.

Feelings of pride of the individual soldiers are also very high, as they are aware of not only being the bravest of the three Military branches but whatever victories mankind gains against Titans are gained at the cost of the soldiers' lives. They realize this as they boldly go into the realm where most humanity dares not their pride is rightfully justified.

Trust between leaders and subordinates is absolute. As Gunther Schultz told Eren Yeager, if Erwin does not tell his men everything, there is most likely a reason for doing so; therefore, Eren should trust Erwin. Even Levi, with his prickly personality, tells his crew that Erwin is always a few steps ahead of others and follows his judgment unconditionally. Oluo Bozado chastised Eren during the 57th expedition for questioning Levi, and Eren raised Petra Ral's animosity when he raises the possibility of Levi not trusting the Special Operations Squad. Subordinates have absolute trust and admiration for Levi even as they are dying; in return, Levi would renew and confirm his determination to eradicate Titans to his men. This level of trust is necessary for a corps that has no one to rely on but each other.

While most soldiers do not survive their first expedition, each successive expedition exponentially increases their chances of survival. The Survey Corps' most hardened veterans each have numerous Titan kills to their name and, far beyond any members of the Garrison or Military Police Brigade, are the most skilled soldiers in the entire military. With its frequent expeditions outside the safety of the Walls and regular combat engagements with the Titans, however, membership in the Survey Corps is extremely dangerous. Each and every officer and enlisted man, from highest to lowest in rank, lives with the fatalistic knowledge that their next encounter with the Titans may very well be their last.

Despite their small numbers, the discipline and fighting prowess of the Survey Corps is regarded as the best out of the three military branches. There is no class-based segregation between officers and enlisted men, with all ranks sharing equally in the work and dangers. The Survey Corps has a well-earned reputation for toughness and cool-headed courage in the face of extreme hardship; members will fight on even in the smallest, most isolated of groups. Survey Corps members are physically and mentally tough, highly adaptable, and can be counted on not to panic even when the Garrison and Military Police personnel around them have broken ranks.

Unfortunately, this branch is also in the most uncomfortable position, politically and financially, despite being the best out of the three military branches in terms of the overall quality of its officers and enlisted men. The bureaucrats, rich conservatives, and many Military Police members dislike the Survey Corps and view it as a waste of money and resources, due to the Survey Corps' lack of definite, decisive successes and high losses of lives. Only from the support of the King does the Survey Corps still remain intact and protected from the greedy bureaucrats and hostile conservatives. Membership thus involves little glory, and Survey Corps members are thus arguably humanity's finest and most sincere soldiers - not after money, glory or promotions, but truly committed to buying humanity a better tomorrow, whatever the cost may be. Any graduate from the Training Corps can join the Survey Corps for that it does not have a certain requirement, unlike the Military Police branch. This was changed Post-850, when only the top 30% of the Cadet Corps could join the Scout Regiment when it began its shift from humanities sole-offensive branch to a supporting special forces unit of the *Eldische Heer.*

After the coup d'état when Historia Reiss is crowned Kaiserin, the Survey Corps experiences a recruitment boost through transfers from other branches of the military. This increases their numbers, only for the majority of them to be wiped out during the Battle of Shiganshina District. Regardless of the horrific numbers lost during the operation, the battle ended in their victory. The Survey Corps ultimately reclaiming Wall Maria from the Marleyan Warrior Unit.