Load-Bearing Combat Goat

Joint-TRIDENT Symbol for LBCGs

A "Load-Bearing Combat Goat" (LBCG), commonly called "combat goats", and known in Iverican as Cabra Combata dei Carrega is the Republican Armed Service of Iverica designation for a specially trained goat used as a Pack Goat. As domesticated herd animals, they are easy to train, are commonly found around the wurld, and are loyal. They are generally employed by light infantry units and mountain warfare units. The Republic of Iverica's land warfare branch employs a large number of LBCGs, having a special school in the Navaerre Mountains for training combat goats and Combat Goat Specialists (9090G in Iverican Military Occupational Code).

A trained goat of the subspecies Capra aegagrus argica, or Argic Goat, can carry up to 30 percent of its weight and walk up to about 12-25 miles per day depending on its load weight, the terrain, and the animal's conditioning. Argic Goats are typically used because of their stronger bone structure and musculature. They require occasional watering, but mostly rely on moisture in their diet of raw vegetation to survive. Females also give off highly nutritious milk.

History

A small herd of combat goats crosses a stream

One of the earliest known written mentions of pack goats is in one of the songs of Argeidr, a Narvic folk hero and bard who travels with a herd of talking, possessed, ethereal goats. The song, number 061AR, is estimated to have been created around 1100 BCE; though archeological evidence has found frozen remains of pack goats in the Kongshaug mountains in Central Argis dating as far back as 8000 BCE. However, despite this widespread domestication and use of pack goats, the Narvics remain one of the cultures most associated with the practice, having pack goats on currency, coinage, postage stamps, post cards, tattoos, and coats of arms. It is believed that Narvic clans have been using pack goats continuously since the conception of their culture.

In 1620, when the Iberics arrived from Europa as a result of The Gran Viatge, the use of pack goats expanded. Iberics found the hardy and mobile animals useful for expeditions into the peninsular interior and developed a culture of training the goats not to fear gunfire. There is an unverified account of a 120-strong Iberic cavalry charge being routed because their horses were frightened by the unusual scent of Argic Goat. After the founding of the First Republic and during the Ivericans' eventual colonial ventures into Alharu, pack goats were extensively used by explorers and traders.

The usage of pack goats has continued to the present day. Being relatively cheap and not requiring much care, pack goats remain a common sight in Western Argic highlands.

Military Usage

a kid being trained as a combat goat

Military pack goats are typically used to haul ammunition and all manner of supplies for a unit. They may also be used to provide milk to supplement a unit's nutrition. Pack Goats were bred, trained, and used by the Iverican Army regularly since the branch's founding as the Guardia Expedicionare in 1620. They saw use as ''Cabra Combata dei Carrega" in conflicts with the Narvics, in putting down colonial revolts in Alharu, and in both Argic Wars. The goats earned the TRIDENT designation "Load-Bearing Combat Goat" (LBCG) in 2019 in order to be better recognised as friendly animal support by BLUFOR during joint-exercises.

Iverican Load-Bearing Combat Goats are specially trained not to flee from gunfire and to remain silent even when threatened. The species' natural herd-mentality to rally as a unit and go towards danger if their herd is threatened make them excellent combat support companions. Compared to horses and mules, a trained goat will not harm its human handlers and will not flee far, if they flee at all. Though not an advised tactic, the goats are trained to attack threatening persons on command and will do so in very-close quarters circumstances. In the First Argic War, a Goat named Guerrero was fitted with ear plugs and strapped safely with a directional anti-personnel mine. Guerrero would go around enemy infantry and run up to headbutt them, at which point, a nearby soldier with a radio-controlled trigger would detonate the mine. Guerrero would be unharmed, protected by eye-protection, ear plugs, and a padded flak-vest custom made to fit. Guerrero survived the war, though he lost a leg in combat, and was awarded a pension and the Gold Lozenge with swords for courage under fire.

In the Iverican Alpinieri, combat goats are deployed from the battalion level logistics officer to sections and platoons that go out on patrol. Commanders have found it necessary to ban sections from patrolling with the same goats routinely—studies have shown that the human combatants often develope dangerous levels of familiarity with the goats. An unfortunate situation at the Vasqqan border in 2015 lead to the capture of Soldado Primo Ernesto Monteviejo by Raqqan insurgents. SDP Monteviejo disobeyed orders and searched for one of the goats which had been injured from a fall down an obstructed gully. Monteviejo became separated from the patrol and was captured not long after by the insurgents. However, accounts say that the insurgents were sympathetic, tending to the goat and releasing the both Monteviejo and the goat 22-hours after capture.