When you think of the Empire’s military in Star Wars, stormtroopers are probably the first thing that comes to mind.
They’re everywhere—leading invasions, patrolling streets, and guarding Imperial strongholds.
But then you see something different, like in Solo: A Star Wars Story, where “regular” infantry troops show up—soldiers without the iconic white armor.
It makes you wonder, if stormtroopers handle everything, why does the Empire need these other soldiers? Are they just redundant, or is there more to their role?
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Why We Rarely See Imperial Infantry
One major reason for the confusion lies in how the Empire’s forces are portrayed in the original trilogy.
Most of the time, we only see stormtroopers deployed because of the settings and situations we’re shown.
In A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, stormtroopers are primarily seen disembarking from Star Destroyers, which don’t typically carry regular Army troopers—only stormtroopers.
Regular infantry soldiers, often referred to as Army troopers, were typically reserved for large-scale ground battles or planetary operations that required heavy support.
However, these massive ground conflicts don’t appear often in the movies, which is why Army troopers are so rarely depicted on screen.
Take the original trilogy as an example:
A New Hope: The troopers deployed on Tatooine come directly from the Devastator, Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer.
The Empire Strikes Back: The forces on Hoth and Cloud City are deployed from the Executor, Vader’s flagship.
Return of the Jedi: The stormtroopers stationed on Endor are again deployed from the Executor.
According to StarWars.fandom, Imperial Army troopers—also referred to as Imperial Army soldiers—served as the Empire’s standard infantry.
Unlike the elite Stormtrooper Corps, these troopers were made up of conscripts and recruits, drawn from local planetary defense forces or directly enlisted into the Imperial Army.
These troops were the Empire’s on-the-ground grunts, primarily tasked with subjugating rebellious worlds and maintaining control over vast territories.
They were often deployed in large-scale ground battles or planetary operations, serving as the backbone of the Empire’s military might.
For example, during the Mimban campaign, as seen in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Army troopers—commonly known as mudtroopers due to their swamp gear—fought alongside stormtroopers against the Mimbanese Liberation Army.
The Empire Needs Both Stormtroopers and Army Troopers
Stormtroopers as Elite Forces
Stormtroopers serve as the Galactic Empire’s shock troops and the most visible representation of its military power.
Clad in iconic white armor, they symbolize the regime’s dominance and are often deployed in high-profile missions that demand precision, loyalty, and overwhelming force.
These aren’t your everyday soldiers—they’re trained for specialized operations, making them indispensable in critical scenarios.
Take their role in the Battle of Hoth, as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Stormtroopers led the ground assault on the Rebel base, supported by AT-AT walkers.
Their deployment in this mission highlights their specialization: executing strategic objectives with ruthless efficiency under intense conditions.
Similarly, on Endor in Return of the Jedi, stormtroopers were tasked with guarding the shield generator critical to the Death Star’s defense, underscoring their role in protecting key installations.
A striking example of their adaptability is the uprising on Rix Road in Andor. Initially, Imperial Army troopers were deployed to control the funeral procession for Maarva Andor.
However, as the crowd’s unrest escalated into full-scale rebellion, the stormtroopers were called in to take control. Their intervention marked a shift in tactics, from standard crowd control to a decisive display of force.
Army Troopers as Ground Forces
Imperial Army troopers, in contrast, form the backbone of the Empire’s military operations.
These soldiers are the grunts of the Galactic Empire, handling routine tasks like patrolling occupied planets, garrisoning Imperial outposts, and engaging in large-scale ground battles.
Unlike stormtroopers, Army troopers don’t wear intimidating white armor. Instead, they are equipped with practical gear suited for their environments.
Another notable example is the garrison on Aldhani from Andor. Imperial Army troopers were stationed at the dam facility, serving as a crucial security presence to maintain control over the local population.
Unlike the high-profile missions stormtroopers usually handle, these soldiers were tasked with day-to-day security, logistics, and enforcing Imperial policies.
Their role reflected the Empire’s reliance on ordinary troops to maintain dominance across countless occupied worlds.
Army troopers also worked alongside stormtroopers when needed, providing additional manpower in major battles.