Desert Rangers

Desert Rangers are a faction living east of California, in the Nevada area. They are descended from people who survived the devastation when the Great War happened, likely living among the badlands of Nevada. This small community kept a strong survivalist contingent -- so they still had some small arms and books. They probably had something like the cliff-dwelling Indians going on for their town. Tycho is a descendant from one of the Desert Rangers. He can wield rifles, shotguns and spears. In 2271 the Desert Rangers signed an agreement with the NCR to be amalgamated with the NCR Rangers in exchange for NCR's protection of the Hoover Dam. A monument at the Mojave Outpost depicts this historic moment.

Tycho's answers

 * We Rangers hail from back east, what used to be called Nevada. Our heritage stretches back to the days of the Texas Rangers. We learn survival and combat skills in order to go out into the world and have a chance of surviving and making things better.
 * Had some pretty good training, and some good weapons, too. My grandfather was a Ranger way back when, and he taught my father everything he knew. Dad passed it on to me.

Appearances in games
In the first Fallout, Tycho mentions that his grandfather was a Desert Ranger, and that his grandfather taught him and his father those survival skills. In "Fallout: New Vegas" there is at the entrance of the "Mojave Outpost" that depicts a Desert Ranger and NCR Soldier shaking hands, representing the pact between the two groups. At the end of the game during the final battle for Ceaser's Fort, General Kimball is accompanied by 6 Desert Rangers, only to be terminated by Mr.House's security bots, ( can only equip armor for a mere 10 seconds before the end of the game ). <- James Cochran

Behind the scenes
Tycho's grandfather was a Desert Ranger, a reference to Wasteland, the 1980s game which is considered to be Fallout's predecessor.