Survey Corps - Attack on Titan
The Survey Corps is the branch of the military composed of only the best soldiers and is often involved in close contact with Titans and expeditions beyond the Wall. The Survey Corps has two important roles: they are responsible for widening the path for large battalions for counter-offensive attacks in Titan-infested territory and they study Titans from new angles by analyzing their biology and discovering new technologies and methods of countering them. Only 10% of the 104th Training Corps enlist as members of the Survey Corps ( Attack on Titan Manga : Chapter 21 (p. 31)).
They are known for their green hooded capes adorned with the "Wings of Freedom" crest. But beyond their appearance, they represent hope and freedom for humanity through their bravery, honor, and sacrifice.
Given that the Survey Corps has a high mortality rate and suffers many casualties, joining the Survey Corps was said to be a "suicide" mission that was a waste of taxpayer money before the breach of Wall Maria. They lost approximately 90% of their soldiers within 4 years. However, after the breach of the Walls and the subsequent increase in Titan protection, the Survey Corps quickly became humanity's greatest weapon, especially with Eren Jaeger among their arsenal.
In addition to their combat skills, their members share enormous courage and a burning desire to fight. Survey Corps soldiers are arguably considered the best of the best, largely due to their battlefield experience. Each expedition sharpens their skills and their chances of survival, as few are expected to survive beyond their first expedition.
The Survey Corps could also be considered the most dedicated to humanity, acting as saviors who ask for virtually nothing in return. Not motivated by money, power, or greed, the soldiers of the Survey Corps are truly fighting for a better future for humanity.
In a note written by Claude Duvalier to members of the Survey Corps, it is written:
“You're all here for one reason or another. Maybe it's a dream you're chasing, a love for humanity, or maybe you just want revenge on the Titans who ate your family.” [Excerpt from AoT Guide [p.232]
Organization
Erwin Smith was the 13th commander, but passed his rank to Hange Zoe after his death.
The Survey Corps is organized into ten teams, each led by a team leader. The team leaders then report to one of four squad leaders, who are supervised by the commander.
A survey corps has only 300 combat-ready soldiers, which is a relatively small number compared to other sections such as the garrison (10,000 soldiers) or the military police brigade (2,000 soldiers). A corps consists of a commander, four squadron leaders, a senior team leader with eight team leaders under him, five payroll clerks, six doctors, five horse veterinarians, and 270 soldiers.
The key to the Survey Corps' strategy is its crescent-shaped formation, with its commander at the front. Teams 8 and 10 act as logistics units, stockpiling supplies with the surrounding formation. The Corps commander controls the entire unit as "one giant organism," requiring a great deal of communication and trust to prevent the formation from collapsing. A V-shaped or crane-wing formation is used during enemy search missions.
Awareness
Although damaging certain parts of a Titan's body can slow it down, there is only one way to kill a Titan: sever its neck just below its head - one meter long and ten centimeters wide.
Equipment and weapons
Each Survey Corps soldier is equipped with vertical maneuvering gear and disposable blades. The maneuvering gear is a device that allows a soldier to move in three dimensions. It comes with gas cylinders for propulsion and scabbards containing additional disposable blades. They are located on each leg.
Disposable blades are made of ultra-hard steel, which is both strong and flexible. They can only be manufactured by industrial cities with suitable blast furnaces. The "breakable" blades used against Titans are easily dulled by a Titan's tough hide and require frequent replacement. Once a blade becomes dull, the blade used to cut through a Titan's hide can be easily broken off and replaced with a sharper edge.
For conventional and long-distance travel, a soldier is provided with two horses, meaning one is left in reserve. This means there are 600 horses in the Corps, since it is composed of approximately 300 soldiers.
Final notes from Claude Duvalier:
“Soldiers, you are in a desperate situation. But humanity is not so stupid or pathetic that it wants to resign itself to this fate. We have the ability to kill the Titans. This is the undeniable truth. Soldiers, one day, you will die. So will I. Even though our deaths may seem insignificant, these countless deaths bind us to one another [...] Until then, we are eternal. Our knowledge and experience will be passed down from generation to generation to forge new blades.”
