Grunt

Grunts by Steve Johnson

"Hey guys, I don't want no trouble. Just move on along and there won't be none. But you need to do it fast, 'cause there's a lady named Tonya that'll be back here any minute. She ain't had a good week, and if I was bettin', I'd say she kinda wants some trouble. Nothing brighens that woman's day like the smell of gunpowder and the spray of blood. If you don't want to move along peacefully, you better start comin' now so I can knock you the hell out with this bat before she gets back and starts puttin' bullets in you."--Big Mike, Goon

Grunts provide muscle and firepower for a convoy. Their job is pretty straightforward: when somebody causes trouble for the convoy that can't be resolved through negotiation and rational discussion, the grunt's responsible for punching them, stabbing them, shooting them, or hitting them in the head with something heavy. Grunts need to be able to hold their own in both fistfights and firefights, but some tend to specialize in one or the other. The grunts who prefer victory through superior firepower are called gunners. The ones who prefer dealing with threats up close and personal are goons. 
Outside of combat, grunts are responsible for convoy security: circling the wagons at night, keeping watch, and generally being on the lookout for trouble. Most have other useful skills that they put to use when needed: goons help load and unload cargo, clear fallen trees and other debris that's blocking the road, sometimes do a little prize fighting at dinertowns who over that kind of entertainment. Gunners--who often have some form of military or law enforcement training--tend to have more specialized and exotic areas of expertise: medic training, demolitions expertise, or black ops experience, for example. The head grunt in a convoy is generically referred to as the "Gun Boss," but many convoys use other titles, often military ranks or slang: Sarge, Gunny, Captain, and so on.

Career

Qualifications

Grunts are judged on how well they fight, whether that means raining down bullets or giving someone a beatdown. Pre-Boom soldiers, security guards, cops, and criminals often gravitate toward the grunt role.

Perception

Demographics

Grunts come from all walks of life, but those who were adults before the Boom are predominantly former members of the military, with combat veterans being especially well-represented among the ranks.

Operations

Tools

Weapons are a grunt's most important tools, and most carry a lot of them. When the convoy is moving, those who aren't responsible for manning one of the big guns (machine guns and other vehicle-mounted weaponry) always have a rifle or shotgun within easy reach. Most also carry a personal sidearm and a knife or other melee weapon. Goons in particular are fond of larger hand-to-hand weapons, especially things like sledgehammers, tire irons, and axes that can also come in handy outside of combat.

Many grunts also use some form of armor, which varies from pre-Boom military gear to homemade armor pieced together from scrap metal, sports equipment, and anything else that will stop a knife or bullet.

Materials

Ammo can be hard to come by, so grunts are always on the lookout for unspent bullets and shells.

Provided Services

A grunt's duties don't change much between the convoy and the camp. When the convoy's at home, grunts man the walls and gaurd the gates.

Dangers & Hazards

Grunts from other convoys.

Alternative Names

Brawler, Bruiser, Commando, Guard, Gunslinger, Martial Artist, Merc, Muscle, Road Warrior, Shooter, Soldier, Scrapper

Type

Military