Think it was implied in the trailer somewhere. If so, shouldn't s/he start with some relevant traits due to military training like the Commando and Grunt perks, maybe even start a few levels higher than Level 1? Because a fresh Level 1 character is just those who haven't gotten into scraps before and have a lot to learn.

It's not spelled out explicitly that he is a veteran --- there could be other reasons he would be giving a speech at the Veteran's Center --- but it's also a highly popular theory that they both are (male and female characters). There's no reason to assume they are 'super soldiers', however, so there's no reason for them to have any perks to start; could be that he was an intelligence anolyst who never fired a gun, for example.

In any event, after being frozen for 200 years, s/he's likely to be pretty stiff (even if, mentally, s/he just went to sleep and woke up, from his/her point of view). There's also the whole issue of re-acclimating to the world. In short, no, I don't think the PC should start higher than level 1.... we're babes in the woods at the beginning, regardless of what training we might have had in the past. And the speed with which we become masters of the universe (in comparison to most wastelanders) should be sufficient tribute to any previous training we had, and have re-affirmed/enhanced through gameplay.

"You're gonna knock them dead at the veteran's hall tonight, hon..." [Nora] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5esyZPt5Jo.

What do we know?

'Howard' is speaking at the veteran's hall that evening.

That might mean 'Howard' is a veteran (lore-wise, logically during China's invasion of Alaska 2066-2077)

It might mean Nora is also a veteran.

If they are veterans, there are a variety of roles they may have held, not everyone is at the front line.

Sorpaijen's point about the effects of cryo/stasis may be quite right.

Personally my PC will be with high intelligence, charisma and (they just survived a nuclear war) luck, I'll start with '1's in physical/combat skills.

I would imagen the implied veteran status will more be used for small meta gameplay factors, such as explaining why he can jump into a PA as a level 2 when previous games established you need training to pilot those, or to explain how our character has a baseline understanding of all sorts of ranged weapons, which explains why there is no specific energy weapons, guns etc "skill" perks

The leaked audition script thats been around for a while now says the protagonist was in the army as well as mentioning the veteran speech.

Also given that the US is involved in a 11 year war with China, occupying Canada and also using the military to put down internal dissent its likely that almost every eligible male (at the very least) would have served at some point.

I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be the 'hero' that the Operation Anchorage simulation was based on.

The protagonist is definitely a veteran. Given Fallout is based on the 1950s utopian America set in the future, it's also likely they still use the draft for major wars, especially against Communism. The fact the protagonist is placed in a cryogenic sleep suggests he's probably very important to the US military and likely held a very high or prestigious rank.

Not so sure we can assume that far. The vault experiment could just be cryonics. Besides, if our character were that important, wouldn't they be in the Enclave?

indeed, he/she is most likely more important to Vault-tec as a test subject then anyone of note to the US army, just another social experiment.

Keep in mind the Enclave was an extremist fringe of the US government. It was never fully endorsed and does not have full legitimacy, even if the last President of the United States and various high ranking members in all three branches of the federal government were affiliated with it in some way, shape, or form.

Vault-tec, while a private corporation, was being funded by the US government in order to use these vaults for nefarious reasons. It's possible that Vault 111 provided cryonics for all of its inhabitants, but it's very unlikely in my opinion. Whatever the circumstances, I think the protagonist's past plays a large role in the game and the future.

My hate for the PC's family intensifies

Uhm just a thought of mine:

Maybe Nora and Howard are veterans, but in a logistics/research division. This could make Vault 111 being a storage/lab of some sort, not a vault to live in.

How do I come up with this idea -> the movie: "http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182789/".

We do have the 200 years; We do have a vault we don't know much about.

That's not much to go on about, but knowing Beths likes all those easter eggs and influences - it's a possiblity.

This. I hate the military and everything about it and I hope we won't be forced to be a part of it.

My hope is that the flag on the shelf in the PC house in the demo is one that was given to him/her when a family member passed away, and that's why they're giving a speech, and aside from that has nothing to do with the military.

I suspect this is a case of Schroeders plot, its up to the player to decide if the player is a vet, or the family member of a vet.

I suspect there will be more than enough vagueness to allow people to have flexibility.

From the leaked script, 'time in the army' is extremely unspecific.

• A veteran can have volunteered or have been drafted.
• They can have been there for a mandatory 6 months or for the 11 years of the Alaskan Invasion.
• A veteran can be hero of the Anchorage Campaign, or the most incidental file clerk.

6 months of working in the cafeteria would be acceptable =)

I've been working off the theory that the SS is a veteran of the Resource Wars, maybe even having fought in Operation: Anchorage.

I'm not holding out hope that he/she was like...The Commander Shepard of the war...Maybe a Captain or LT.

If you're at a veteran's hall and talk about your "time in the army", I think you kinda have to use Occam's razor...

"Peel those taters maggot! Move, move, move! Gotta get these grunts fed and out there kicking some Commie ass!"

Until its on the screen I don't think we can take anything for granted. I mean, I saw a cut scene where Jaba the hut was a fat 50 year old man in a fur coat, we all saw how that turned out. There are other reasons to speak at a veteren's hall. Maybe you are a citizen (scientist, industrialist, ombudsman) being honored for past contributions. Maybe you are a local civic leader seeking support for a campaign. Maybe a relative of someone dead who is being honored.

I don't think they will lock us down too tightly....then again....They have done it in the past. I guess we will see.

http://orcz.com/Fallout_4:_Protagonist%27s_Family is a good source that gives the background on the Sole Survivor's family

I'm going in assuming both Howard and Nora are some kind of vet (active combat, intelligence, etc). If that changes, I will change with it.

In addition to being a good source, it's also pure speculation.

Speculation, but based on evidence shown in game such as the diploma and the veterans flag and speech

Indeed, there is no basis for determining the owner or provenance of either the law certificate or the flag.

'Howard' could be giving a legal talk to veterans organised by Nora.