Editing Whiteshield Conscript (section)

==Overview==
So named because of their...well...white painted stripe on their helmets. These chumps fight in actual combat as part of their latter training, until they have proven themselves ready to join the regiment as full [[Infantry Squad|Guardsmen.]]

Officially designated as probitors, they are more commonly called whiteshields, as well as cadets, probationers, gun babies, or FUNGs (fukking new guys). Whiteshields are the sons fathered by Guardsmen during their posting and raised within the regiment. However, most of the time, these conscripts are hastily conscripted men, raised from surrounding planets when shit has clearly hit the fan. 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.

In the case of [[Cadia|Cadian]] regiments, Whiteshields are instead members of their Cadia's Youth Armies. As they are not yet considered true Guardsmen, Whiteshields do not wear unit insignia - the only markings they are allowed to wear are blank white badges as well the aforementioned white helmet stripe that distinguishes them. Imperial Guard Regiments are generally posted to combat zones far from their homeworlds, and it is rarely practical to recruit from the homeworlds to replace casualties. Regiments that are left to garrison a world they have conquered instead gain recruits by drafting the sons of the regiment's Guardsmen when they come of age. Children fathered by Guardsmen are usually brought up within the regiment. They perform menial and support duties that would otherwise eat into the regiment's fighting strength.

Promotion from Whiteshield to Guardsman is seen as a changing point in a recruit's life. They are afterwards considered adults and given the right to wear the regimental symbols on their uniform, and often receive ritual scars and tattoos.