Difference between revisions of "Conscript"

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A '''Conscript Infantry Platoon''' is an [[Imperial Guard]] [[Imperial_Guard_Structure#Troops|troops choice]]. They are the most basic infantry units with very little training and only basic equipment. A soldier is known as a Conscript while the unit is known as a Conscript Infantry Platoon.
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{{AstraMilitarumPortal}}
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[[Image:Cadian Conscript Codex Imperial Guard 6th Edition.png|thumb|right|A [[Cadian]] conscript (6th edition). Notice the white stripe on the helmet. Cadian conscripts are typically [[Whiteshield]]s.{{Fn|32}}]]
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'''Conscription''' in the [[Imperium]] occurs during times of desperation, as barely trained masses of expendable bodies best employed manning fortifications or impeding the foe’s movements.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|Note}}
  
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
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A Conscript is the most basic soldier the Imperial Guard employ. Often they are forced into service by any means, including subversion, and simply placed on the front lines and used as cannon fodder. They are a new addition to [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition)#2nd Codex|Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]] and come in vast swarms of soldiers.
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[[Image:Whiteshield Conscript Platoon Codex Imperial Guard 3rd Edition (2nd Codex) pg 23.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Platoon]] of '''Conscripts''' (3rd edition).{{Fn|32}}]]
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Typically all planetary [[governor]]s are nominally obligated to provide ten percent of their [[PDF|world's military]] as recruits to the Imperial Guard. However, in times of great emergency, the [[Departmento Munitorum]] will demand local [[Governor]]s raise vast quantities of troops for immediate action. Such measures can see entire cities or continents all but emptied and its citizens sent off to fight.{{Fn|3a}}
  
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==Squad Design==
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Conscripts represent such hastily gathered troops, whose training is limited.{{Fn|1a}} Some conscripts may be [[Whiteshield]] cadets, organised into several squads massed together as a single [[Imperial Guard Platoon]]{{Fn|2}} or in the example of [[Cadia]] even entire Batallions per [[Imperial Guard]] [[Imperial Guard Regiment|Regimental]] organisation.{{Fn|3a}}  The concentrated firepower of a large platoon tends to outweigh the relative lack of combat ability of the individual conscripts.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|2}}. In the example of the [[Armageddon Steel Legion]], some of the most notorious [[gangs]] of [[Armageddon]]'s [[underhive]] are conscripted wholesale, their ruthless skills honed in gang warfare allowing them to require no additional training at all.{{Fn|1d}}
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A Conscript Infantry Platoon consists of at least two squads of ten Conscripts. This number may be increased to five squads of ten Conscripts. They do not make use of any form of [[Sergeant]].
 
  
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;Equipment
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The practice of conscription predates the [[Imperial Guard]] itself, going all the way back to the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Horus Heresy]] where the '''levy troops''' of the [[Imperialis Militia]] could include various kinds of conscripts drawn from a variety of sources, such as [[Ogryn]] conscripts. Conscription would also be undertaken by the [[Mechanicum]], where unaugmented forge world thralls would undergo rapid augmentation into the [[Skitarii|Tech Guard]].{{Fn|6}}
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Like most of the rest of the Imperial Guard, Conscripts wear [[flak armour]] giving them the most basic defence. Each Conscript is, by standard, armed with a [[lasgun]].
 
  
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Conscripts may be armed with an upgrade of either a [[Flamer]] or a [[Grenade Launcher]], but only one per Platoon has this honour. They may also be armed with an upgrade of either a [[Heavy Bolter]], [[Missile Launcher]], or [[Autocannon]], but only two per Platoon have the honour to form one team.
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==Combat Use==
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A Conscript squad consists of a massive squad of anywhere from twenty to fifty conscripts, operating as one unit. Due to their lack of training and combat experience, they are denied access to the arsenal of special weapons the Imperial Guard has to offer. Instead, the squad is issued the basic load out of [[flak armour]] and [[lasgun]]s.{{Fn|1c}}
  
 
==Famous Regiments==
 
==Famous Regiments==
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Conscripts are common throughout the [[Imperium]] due to their ease of raising and low cost maintenance. Some regiments known to employ conscript platoons are:
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Conscripts are common throughout the [[Imperium]] due to their ease of raising and low cost. Some regiments, such as the [[Cadian Shock Troops]], [[Valhallan Ice Warriors]] and the [[Armageddon Steel Legion]]s employ Conscripts.{{Fn|1b}}
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*[[Cadian Shock Troops]]
 
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*[[Valhallan Ice Warriors]]
 
  
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===Whiteshields===
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==Note==
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{{Trivia}}
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Although the term '''Conscript''' and [[Whiteshield]] are often used interchangably, and many visual depictions of conscripts portray them with the famous white stripe, the informal term "Whiteshield" nominally refers specifically to young [[Whiteshield|Probitors]] or Cadets, children raised in a military lifestyle either on highly militarized worlds (such as the [[Fortress World]] of [[Cadia]]), or as direct descendants of [[Imperial Guard]] men and women whose regiment has earned the [[Right of Settlement]]{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|5}}{{Fn|2}}. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription Conscripts] is a more general term for pressed troops, which can include other sources (such as [[gangers]] of [[underhive]] in the case of [[Armageddon]]), rather than indoctrinated youths.{{Fn|1d}} More varied examples of conscription include the different types of '''levy troops''' of the [[Imperialis Militia]].{{Fn|6}}
  
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'''Whiteshields''' are young men or women, before the age necessary to enroll in the military, who can wield a gun sufficiently to be of use to the armed forces. This is used throughout the galaxy, but the name originates on [[Cadia]]. They are sometimes known as cadets, probationers or gun babies, although it would not be wise to say this to the face of a whiteshield.
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==Miniatures==
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<gallery heights="170px" widths="300px" mode="packed" caption="">
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Conscript.jpg|A [[Cadian]] Conscript [[3rd Edition]]
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Imperial Conscripts Games Workshop Complete Catalog and Hobby Reference - 2005-2006 Edition pg 137.png| Imperial Conscripts
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</gallery>
  
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They perform menial tasks for the [[Imperial Guard]] until they prove themselves worthy of the title [[Guardsman]]. As they grow older, the amount of time spent on firing practice increases until they are proficient with the standard pattern [[Lasgun]].
 
  
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A lot of the recruits are actually the sons of members of the Imperial Guard. They are often used to do menial tasks that would drain the resources of the regiment and are a much safer way of keeping numbers up when garrisoned on an unfriendly planet.
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==See also==
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*[[Press Gang]]
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Promotion from whiteshield to guardsman is seen as a changing point in their lives. When they are promoted it is considered that they are now adults and are given the right to wear the regimental standard on their uniform. Often the unofficial tasks given to a newly promoted whiteshield are what really admits them to their new regiment. This sometimes involves receiving scars without crying out or having tattoo painted on them.
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*[[Whiteshield]]
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Whatever happens, if a whiteshield survives these ordeals, he is then officially a very effective guardsman.
 
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
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* [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition)#2nd Codex|Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]]
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*1: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)]]:
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**{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 37
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**{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 57
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**{{Endn|1c}}: pg. 97
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**{{Endn|1d}}: pg. 19
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*{{Endn|2}}: [[Codex: Eye of Terror]], Cadian Shock Troops (Army List), pg. 39
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*3: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (6th Edition)]] (e version)
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**{{Endn|3a}}''Raising the Tithe''
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**{{Endn|3b}} ''Cadian Shock Troops''
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*{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]], Pg. 32
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*{{Endn|5}}: [[Warhammer 40,000 Compendium]], pgs. 41 & 44 — ''Rough Riders and Whiteshields''
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*{{Endn|6}}: [https://archive.ph/t2sm6 Warhammer Community: Imperialis Militia – Download this free PDF army list] - [https://assets.warhammer-community.com/eng_aug25_thehorusheresy_legacies_militia-t5meeumjk6-p29qqcsrnh.pdf Legacies of the Age of Darkness: The Imperialis Militia PDF]  ''(Saved archive page, dated 28 August 2025, last accessed 28 August 2025, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/z9ikifym/imperialis-militia-download-this-free-pdf-army-list/)''
  
 
{{IGInfantry}}
 
{{IGInfantry}}
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[[Category:Imperial Guard and PDFs]]
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[[Category:Troops (Astra Militarum)]]

Latest revision as of 03:21, 10 March 2026

A Cadian conscript (6th edition). Notice the white stripe on the helmet. Cadian conscripts are typically Whiteshields.[32]

Conscription in the Imperium occurs during times of desperation, as barely trained masses of expendable bodies best employed manning fortifications or impeding the foe’s movements.[1a][Note]

Background

A Platoon of Conscripts (3rd edition).[32]

Typically all planetary governors are nominally obligated to provide ten percent of their world's military as recruits to the Imperial Guard. However, in times of great emergency, the Departmento Munitorum will demand local Governors raise vast quantities of troops for immediate action. Such measures can see entire cities or continents all but emptied and its citizens sent off to fight.[3a]

Conscripts represent such hastily gathered troops, whose training is limited.[1a] Some conscripts may be Whiteshield cadets, organised into several squads massed together as a single Imperial Guard Platoon[2] or in the example of Cadia even entire Batallions per Imperial Guard Regimental organisation.[3a] The concentrated firepower of a large platoon tends to outweigh the relative lack of combat ability of the individual conscripts.[1a][2]. In the example of the Armageddon Steel Legion, some of the most notorious gangs of Armageddon's underhive are conscripted wholesale, their ruthless skills honed in gang warfare allowing them to require no additional training at all.[1d]

The practice of conscription predates the Imperial Guard itself, going all the way back to the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy where the levy troops of the Imperialis Militia could include various kinds of conscripts drawn from a variety of sources, such as Ogryn conscripts. Conscription would also be undertaken by the Mechanicum, where unaugmented forge world thralls would undergo rapid augmentation into the Tech Guard.[6]

Combat Use

A Conscript squad consists of a massive squad of anywhere from twenty to fifty conscripts, operating as one unit. Due to their lack of training and combat experience, they are denied access to the arsenal of special weapons the Imperial Guard has to offer. Instead, the squad is issued the basic load out of flak armour and lasguns.[1c]

Famous Regiments

Conscripts are common throughout the Imperium due to their ease of raising and low cost. Some regiments, such as the Cadian Shock Troops, Valhallan Ice Warriors and the Armageddon Steel Legions employ Conscripts.[1b]

Note

TriviaScrollTrans.png

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

Although the term Conscript and Whiteshield are often used interchangably, and many visual depictions of conscripts portray them with the famous white stripe, the informal term "Whiteshield" nominally refers specifically to young Probitors or Cadets, children raised in a military lifestyle either on highly militarized worlds (such as the Fortress World of Cadia), or as direct descendants of Imperial Guard men and women whose regiment has earned the Right of Settlement[1a][5][2]. Conscripts is a more general term for pressed troops, which can include other sources (such as gangers of underhive in the case of Armageddon), rather than indoctrinated youths.[1d] More varied examples of conscription include the different types of levy troops of the Imperialis Militia.[6]

Miniatures


See also

Sources


Imperial Guard Infantry
Command Company Command Squad • Platoon Command Squad • Scion Command Squad • Tank Commander • Regimental Advisors • Commissar • Primaris Psyker • Tech-priest Enginseer • Priest • Ogryn Bodyguard
Specialists Master of Ordnance • Breacher • Scout • Medic • Vox-Operator • Weapons Specialist • Sharpshooter • Operator
Troops Infantry Squad • Heavy Weapons Team • Special Weapons Squad • Armoured Fist Squad • Veteran Squad (Spectre Squad) • Engineer Squad • Scions Squad (Kasrkin) • Canids • Penal Legion Troopers • Ogryn Squad • Ratling Squad • Psyker Battle Squad • Rough Rider Squad • Field Ordnance Battery • Jump Trooper • H-Grade Combat Servitor • Cyber-Altered Task • Servo-Sentry
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