One thing about New Vegas has always upset me somewhat and I wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way. Why does the NCR only have two branches of their military (Army and Rangers) in the Mojave when an Air Force or Naval/Coast Guard prescene would make the occupation of the region easier.

They do have an airforce, they have Vertibirds and they had a number of them at the Long 15.

As for naval/coast guard, it would have been great to see some Vietnam or World War 2 era type PT Boats going up the River or in Lake Mead.

But as to why we don't see those things in the Mojave. My guess would bureaucracy, politics and above all cost. The NCR isn't there for full scale war, it's more of a defensive police action.

That's good anolysis but the Air Force angle still makes no sense given one asset. Bear Force One. Why on gods green earth are they flying that vertibird without some type other air support. that's pretty ballsy considering for an aircraft that can be taken down with small arms fire.

I was always bothered by the fact that Bear Force One seemed like it was supposed to protect itself.

You know, it's not like the president of the NCR is important enough to warrant two or three vertibirds. He's just a president after all.

Vertibirds being taken out with small arms fire was a bad game mechanic Bethesda came up with. I never tried to shoot down Bear Force One but if it can also be take be out with small arms fire then that's just stupid. They are military aircraft designed by the Enclave and yet anyone can shoot it down with an assault rifle?

If we set aside "the play must feel like Rambo on super steroids" aspect. Vertibirds must be able to take some serious damage in order to be shot down and I don't see the Legion or anyone else with anti-aircraft weapons.

Let's assume the small arms fire was a mistake I would still argue that a presidental transport should automatically come with other vertibird for air support given that the NCR is still at war with the BOS which could have anti aircraft weaponary or at least small arms that could pose a serious threat. It would seem like Bear Force One would always have extra support as a reduceny.

We also have to look at the area we saw the Bear Force One. It was at Hoover Dam. A place full of Rangers, Heavy Armour NCR and the place was checked before it even landed. The threat wasn't so much it being shot down by AA but sabotage and assassination.

I don't think Vertibird being shot down by small arms fire was a mistake, simply a game play mechanic to make the player feel awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ssUivM-eM Same reason we can take out busses with a pistol.

By the time of New Vegas, I believe the NCR didn't feel the BoS were a threat and really they aren't. Even if you get them to leave their hole they don't go out and attack the NCR. In the endings I think they do, but no in the actual game.