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It is often observed that young Whiteshields train more harder and fight more fiercely than many experienced guardsmen. In battle they are driven by a desire to prove their courage and skills that borders on the fanatical. They fight fearlessly in the face of enemies that older and wiser guardsmen would fight with caution. Failure to earn their colours is a terrible blow to a whiteshield - cowardice is unforgivable, and death is deemed preferable than to return home in shame.{{Fn|1}}
Passing from Whiteshield to Guardsman is seen not simply as a promotion, but a changing point in a recruit's life. Only those who have distinguished themselves in battle are allowed to become guardsmen. Some regiments simply require that a whiteshield participate in battle without giving way to fear, while others require them to draw or collect a trophy of war from a foe, be it a banner or even a piece of a slain enemy. They are afterwards considered adults and given the right to wear the regimental symbols on their uniform, and are formally inducted into the Imperial Guard. More important are the unofficial rituals unique to each regiment and culture, which can include tattoos or further tests of courage such as receiving a ritual scar without a cry of pain.{{Fn|1}} They wear their scars and tattoos with as much pride as the uniform of their regiment, ready to return to the battlefield with new experience, and perhaps, a little more caution.{{Fn|1}}<sup>[[Whiteshield#Trivia|[Trivia]]]</sup>
The tradition of Whiteshields is over ten millennia old, going back as far as the [[Imperial Army]] and the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|4}}{{Fn|1}} The [[Primarch]] [[Leman Russ (Primarch)|Leman Russ]] spoke favourably of them, having fielded them in support of his own [[Space Wolves]] during campaigns.{{Fn|1}} During the [[Horus Heresy]], many Probitor units would be fielded as '''Levy Troops''' of the [[Imperialis Militia]].{{Fn|4}}
*Although the terms '''Whiteshield''' and [[Conscript]] are often used interchangeably, and many visual depictions of conscripts portray the famous white stripe, the informal term "Whiteshield" nominally refers specifically to young ''Probitors'' or Cadets, i.e. 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|7a}}{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|5b}}. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription Conscripts] is a more general term for pressed troops, which can be probitors as per Cadia (both terms are used){{Fn|2}} but also include non-probitors (such as [[gangers]] of [[underhive]] in the case of [[Armageddon]]), rather than soley indoctrinated youths.{{Fn|7b}} More varied examples of conscription include the different types of '''levy troops''' of the [[Imperialis Militia]].{{Fn|6}}
*The [[Juventia]] of [[Macragge]] may represent the [[Ultramar Auxilia]] equivalent to the [[Whiteshields]], having a similar purpose and function.
*The fact that Whiteshields are said to fight more fanatically as probitors, and then upon becoming guardsman gain "a little more caution" is likely a reference to [[1st Edition]] where on the tabletop whiteshields had the unbreakable and fearless trait, while regular guard squads did not. Reflective of their willingness to die in order to prove themselves and, perhaps, desire to live once they have proved themselves
==See also==
