(1)Some people say with the way the setting is, there's no organizational justification for the SC to be allowed to exist in the first place, that 90% of people don't care or have trouble with their existence, that they're a literal drain in a scarcity-civilization, that they're much too ineffective to justify their operations. What about you?

(2)To them, i say this - It doesn’t matter what the majority want, it’s the government’s fund and approval (not a democratic one at that) that keep the SL running. There is organizational justification that make perfect sense for the SL to operate, especially from the higher-ups’ eyes (at least up until the Uprising Arc). Consider these points: (3)The SL can serve as a constant reminder for the populace how futile it is to venture outside or defeat the titan. That alone can tone down a lot of dissatisfaction and suspicion from the masses, regarding the efficiency and benevolent of those who are in charge of their society, since now they have a scapegoat to direct all those things at.A convenient way for the monarchy to exterminate any potentially dangerous individuals who wish to rebel against the status quote, without lifting a finger (4) A small percentage of the populace are still willing to espouse the SL’s cause, hence fresh martyrs per years to fill in the constant depletion of the Legion’s personnel. And in any event, you may have noticed that the Legion is by far the smallest of the branches, and according to Isayama, their pay is not that great compared to the other two Corps. Their own horses cost more than most corpsmen make in a lifetime. The government’s belief the Coordinate’s invincible against mere mortals… (5) Whatever dent they’re putting in the budget, it’s a small and acceptable one, in comparison to the benefit they can bring as stated above, from their main investor’s perspective (the king himself!), Not counting that the government and MP probably got all the credit for the Legion’s achievements (Titan’s fatal spot, supreme horse, 3DMG), and simultaneously get to put all the blame on them for whatever problems occurred. (6) After wall Maria was breached, everybody in the Walls knew with absolute certainty that humanity’s days were numbered. The doomsday clock was ticking, and the existence of the Armored and Colossal Titans confirmed that there was a malevolent force actively conspiring to ensure our annihilation. At that point, the Recon Corps’ mission was finally validated. Either they desperately strive to attain the knowledge they need to understand their enemy and reverse the tides - or all die like cattle (7) Most of the Legion’s vets has no intention to ever call it quit, even if it means to save their own skin, despite the constant urgings from their relatives-and the masses as well- to do so. Sorry for the overly-long ask, feel free to give me the flak if you find it inappropriate, i’ll be sure to take note.

Ha, um, yeah, generally speaking, this much is slightly left of what my brain can handle. You’re fine, I just suffer from being very much not.

I’d also postulate that even if the government has faith in the Reiss family and no desire to seek out the world outside, on some level, people have to know that it’s strategically unsound to know absolutely zilch about the outside world. A handful of bloodlines kept their memories, but the rest are told to just accept their fishbowl and never worry about it.

As we see, that works out in the end, but in the very beginning, when the Survey Corps is working with a pitiful fraction of the effectiveness they come to have a century later (where most everyone still ends up dead), human curiosity wouldn’t be quite so stifled. Forgoing that, human paranoia would probably be active enough to keep the branch alive.

Once everything’s stagnated, then, you have a system where everyone who wants to disrupt the system goes outside to die. It’s convenient and easy.



Also, it gives the government the appearance of Doing Something. Even when it’s not a valuable something, the benefits of being seen Doing Something instills more confidence in the government–while neatly pinning all the tragic deaths and waste of money on the dying soldiers not doing a good job.

Cynicism is a marvelous mine of reason for the most idealistic branch of the walled society surviving.

Really, however much of a drain the Scouts are, they provide a valuable public service. If they find out what’s outside, it’s a victory for the common people. If they don’t, and die, it’s a victory for the government.

Additionally, it keeps all of the aggravators of the system within the system.

Splinter groups of randomly curious people are extremely dangerous. There’s no law there except for human curiosity and ingenuity, and letting that run loose is a danger that no one in upper government wants.

Their mission statement might be ineffective and costly, but they clean up all kinds of loose ends for the interior.

