Soldiers with an N7 designation, like Commander Shepard, are some of the most elite forces in the Mass Effect series. The requirements for N7 are challenging to attain, and would-be N7s must first pass through six N ranks, each with its own rigorous qualification processes. The training is grueling, but those that do not pass training are no less honorable, as any who achieve a single N rank are considered some of the most distinguished soldiers in the Alliance military.
Commander Shepard earned their N7 rank through a ruthless training process. It involved participating in active combat zones across Mass Effect’s Milky Way Galaxy, which solidified their prowess in battle. However, the most challenging aspect of N7 training is an intense survival exercise. In this scenario, Shepard and the other would-be N7s are taken to an isolated asteroid and separated from one another. They have only basic gear and limited oxygen. When the last trainee runs out of oxygen, the test ends. Those who survived and performed admirably receive the N7 designation and are permitted to wear it on their armor and casual clothing.
Mass Effect's N7 Program Is By Invite Only
The training exercise required to achieve Mass Effect’s N7 designation is the toughest, but that doesn’t mean the training for ranks N1 to N6 is easy. The first level involves training at the Interplanetary Combatives Academy in Rio de Janeiro, and getting there in the first place is an accomplishment in itself. Only the most notable soldiers and officers from Mass Effect’s Earth Systems Alliance forces are recruited to attend the program. They begin with N1 designation training, which frequently entails land-based combat scenarios longer than twenty hours. Those who excel are invited back for further training.
Training Is Increasingly Difficult For Mass Effect's N7 Rank
Most of the training for levels N2 to N6 occurs away from Earth and in more demanding environments. For example, Europa and Arcturus Station - the latter being where the N7 graduation ceremony is held - are notable training locations. These designations require training in combat scenarios that take place in low gravity, underwater, and with jetpacks. In addition to combat, trainees must study first responder and field medical procedures for humans and the numerous alien races in Mass Effect.
The N7 soldiers are genuinely the finest that the Alliance has to offer the galaxy, with notable graduates including Commander Shepard and Admiral Anderson, who was among the first to complete the rigorous program. This intensity of N7 training is a testament to why Shepard is so capable in their fight against the Reapers in Mass Effect.
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