Rebel trooper

Following the proclamation of the New Order which occurred 19 years prior to the Battle of Yavin, surplus military hardware from the defunct Grand Army of the Republic frequently ended up in the possession of insurgent groups across numerous star systems. Due to widespread resentment of Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine's expansionist endeavors into the galaxy's outer reaches, many coalesced into loosely structured, uncoordinated cells to oppose the Emperor's rule. Cham Syndulla's Free Ryloth Movement exemplified the intensity of initial resistance efforts four years into the Imperial era, while smaller operations conducted by entities such as Berch Teller's rebel cell and the Corellian Resistance remained a persistent annoyance to Imperial authorities throughout the Age of the Empire.

A decentralized rebel network emerged at least five years before the Battle of Yavin, challenging the Galactic Empire on a scale that spanned nearly the entire galaxy. However, this network lacked a centralized command structure, with many groups unaware of each other's existence to safeguard their individual survival in case of compromise. One such group, known as Phoenix Cell, employed CR90 corvettes and a Republic-era Pelta-class frigate, along with RZ-1 A-wing interceptors that would remain in service with Rebel forces throughout the Galactic Civil War; their soldiers wore uniforms that bore a striking resemblance to those worn by later resistance fighters.

After the formation of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Rebel troopers experienced widespread deployment and diverse variations in armor and equipment. They were stationed on planets as distant as Sullust, Coyerti, and Haidoral Prime, and participated in major engagements such as the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor. Following the establishment of the New Republic, Rebel troops were repurposed and integrated as New Republic soldiers.

Rebel troopers formed the essential core of the Rebel Alliance's military strength. They were structured into various formations, ranging from two-person fire teams to four-person squads when circumstances demanded, and operated under the command of Generals such as Crix Madine or Carlist Rieekan. Overall strategic direction was provided by Alliance High Command, which retained ultimate authority over all coordinated military actions. Troopers could be assigned to infantry units such as the Twenty-First or Thirty-Second Infantry, the amphibious Sixty-Eighth Infantry, or the vanguard 61st Mobile Infantry. The Rebel Alliance Special Forces, which included the Pathfinders, consisted of the most capable soldiers within the Rebellion, often selected from the Rebel trooper ranks, and were regarded and utilized as highly skilled and organized commando units. Pathfinders were also classified as rebel troopers.

Given the widespread deployment of Rebel troopers across numerous planets throughout the galaxy, their standard attire and equipment varied contingent upon the specific environment and mission at hand. Unable to afford a standardized uniform for the entire military, the Alliance established a common appearance for troopers to foster identification, improve unit cohesion, and boost morale. Many Rebel soldiers adopted the uniform of Alderaanian consular security, which included blue shirts, black tactical vests, gray pants, and black mid-calf boots, accompanied by a distinctive white helmet featuring a visor above the forehead. This uniform was seen at locations like Base One, while a variation was used by support personnel on Yavin 4, who wore a similar white helmet but with a light brown jumpsuit instead of a combat vest and shirt. Officers wore a uniform akin to their trooper counterparts, but featured a light brown jacket, shirt, and pants, along with a brown belt. Members of the Rebel Honor Guard wore dark green, buttoned jackets with pockets, matching pants, and black boots, while retaining helmets similar to those of consular security.

Troopers stationed on Hoth wore white or beige shirts and pants, paired with matching tan and white caps equipped with ear flaps, and could employ goggles when necessary. Troopers operating in the field, away from the safety of Echo Base, often wore a similar variant as those in the hangar but with more of a white and gray coloring, along with white Alliance Cold Weather Backpacks.

Troopers assigned to forest, desert, and volcanic planets often, though not always, wore uniforms resembling those used by the strike team tasked with disabling the Death Star II's shield generator on the forest moon of Endor, featuring camouflaged green and brown jackets and pants, along with backpacks similar to those worn by troopers in cold climates but camouflaged in green or gray. They could also carry brown sacks and had a green metal rim around their helmets. Pathfinders were commandos who used this same outfit. Troopers assigned to desert planets could also wear uniforms similar to troopers on the Tantive IV. Bantha Riders rode banthas and utilized a tan shirt and brown jacket along with a similar helmet worn by troopers on the Tantive IV.

Rebel troopers commonly used the DH-17 blaster pistol and DL-18 blaster pistol, as well as the A280 blaster rifle or its modified version, the A280C blaster rifle, while the E-17d sniper rifle was employed by Rebel marksmen. Rebel Vanguards wore a white shirt and black jacket, along with brown pants and black boots, and utilized PLX-1s to eliminate heavily armored targets.

Alliance troops also utilized the personal energy shield technology obtained from the Empire to mitigate damage from enemy blaster fire. Often operating in the field with limited supplies and weaponry, Rebel troopers modified their weapons into multi-purpose tools, developing an insert that allowed soldiers to fire charged ion bolts for a limited duration. When Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. sought to expand its market presence, it developed the widely adopted MPL-57, which was popular due to its versatility and ability to fire a wide spectrum of ammunition.

The Rebel Alliance employed a variety of specialized troopers, trained to safeguard Alliance leaders across countless worlds and during numerous operations, adapting their uniforms and strategies to meet each distinct challenge.

• Bantha Riders — Rebel troopers who rode trained banthas to strike down enemy defenses. [21]

• Cold-weather Soldiers — Rebel troopers that operated in arctic conditions. [21] Cold-weather Heavy Soldiers— a variation of Cold-weather soldiers and Heavy Soldiers that were trained for combat in subzero conditions and wielded Z-6 rotary blaster cannons and wore light armor to maintain mobility.[21] Tauntaun Riders— Rebel Alliance soldiers that rode tauntauns, creatures indigenous to Hoth.[6] Tauntaun Riders specialized in scouting and missions in subzero temperatures, and the tauntauns were also specially trained to ram enemies and, at times, fortifications.[21]
• Combat engineers — Rebel troopers who specialized in engineering . [23]
• Desert Soldiers — Rebel troopers that operated in desert environments. [21] Heavy Desert Soldiers— A variation of Desert and heavy soldiers that were trained for combat in desert environments.[21]
• Drabatan Saboteurs — Drabatan Rebel troopers that specialized in sabotage operations. [21]

• Fleet troopers — Rebel troopers stationed aboard the starships of the Alliance Fleet , although they could also be found in ground bases [4] and in ground operations. [24]
• Gigoran Fighters — Gigoran mercenaries that served in the Rebel Alliance. [21]
• Heavy Soldiers — Rebel troopers equipped with Z-6 rotary blaster cannons . [25]
• Iakaru Warriors — Warriors from Iakar that served in the Rebel Alliance. They had keen eyesight and strong spatial awareness, allowing them to effectively attack enemy defenses. [21]
• Ithorian Infiltrators — Ithorian commandos employed by the Alliance to Restore the Republic that specialized in infiltration tactics while using a personal energy shield and modified ion blaster to get close to deflector shield generators and disable them. [21]
• Jetpack Troopers — Recruited from the most dauntless of Rebel soldiers, Jetpack Troopers were specialized troopers that were equipped with jetpacks . [21] Arctic Jetpack Troopers— a variation of both Cold weather soldiers and Jetpack troopers that were equipped with modified jetpacks, allowing them to move quickly and deal more damage in extremely cold environments.[21] Desert Jetpack Troopers— a variation of both Desert and Jetpack Troopers that were equipped with modified jetpacks, allowing them to move quickly and deal more damage in extremely hot and dry conditions.[21] Forest Jetpack Troopers— a variation of Jetpack troopers that were equipped with modified jetpacks, giving them greater agility, speed, and damage needed for combat in dense forest and jungle environments.[21] Ishi Tib Jetpack Troopers— a variation of Jetpack troopers who were made of Ishi Tib soldiers and were equipped with jetpacks, personal energy shields, and blasters.[22]
• Special Forces Trackers Unit — An elite group of commandos that served as a special forces unit in the Rebel Alliance. [26] They were trained in recon, infiltration, sabotage and tactics for hit-and-run raids. [27]
• Rebel Honor Guard — A squad of Rebel Alliance soldiers that swore to defend and protect key members of the Rebel Alliance [28] with their lives. [19]
• Rebel marines — A group of soldiers that served as a special forces unit. [29]
• Rebel Marksmans — a group of soldiers that served as snipers in the Rebel Alliance. [21]
• Rebel Vanguards — an elite group of soldiers that served in the Rebel Alliance and carried PLX-1 missile launchers . [21]
• Rocket-jumpers — an infantry unit that served in the Rebel Alliance. They were equipped with Jump Packs and Smart Rockets . [25]
• Rodian Snipers — a group of Rodian soldiers that served in the Rebel Alliance and specialized in the usage of long range weapons and were also equipped with smoke grenades. [22]
• Shock troopers — an infantry unit of the Rebel Alliance. [30]
• Special-weapons flamethrowers — a group of Rebel Alliance soldiers that carried flamethrowers . They were normally in the center of a squad and worked in conjunction with combat engineers to take down fortifications. [23]
• Sullustan Demolition — a group of Sullustan soldiers that served in the Rebel Alliance and specialized in the usage of Smart Rockets and explosives. [22]
• Sullustan Recon Sharpshooters — a group of Sullustan that served in the ground forces of the Rebel Alliance. [21]
• Wookiee warriors — a group of Wookiees that served in the Rebel Alliance. [21]

Rebel soldiers, recognizable by their uniforms adapted from those of Alderaanian consular security, made their initial appearance alongside the Tantive IV in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. They emerge shortly after R2-D2, C-3PO, and U-3PO. They are the first soldiers and organic rebels to ever appear Star Wars franchise. The rebel soldier Kori Zaran holds a prominent role in the non-canon book LEGO Star Wars Galaxy Mission, where Zaran embarks on the galaxy mission to return to Echo Base.