Editing Jem'Hadar (section)

==Culture and tradition== 
Although the Jem'Hadar worship the Founders as gods, the vast majority of the Jem'Hadar have never actually seen a Founder, and some doubt that they even exist. (DS9: "Hippocratic Oath") Yet they have built their service to the shapeshifters into a religion, literally regarding the Founders as living gods, to the extent that the Jem'Hadar ritualistically commit suicide if they fail to protect a shapeshifter from harm. (DS9: "The Ship") 

The Vorta, as the representatives of the Founders, are also given immense loyalty by most Jem'Hadar – even when such loyalty seems unwarranted. Absolute obedience from the Jem'Hadar is further guaranteed by the Vortas' control of the ketracel-white. (DS9: "The Abandoned", "Hippocratic Oath", "Rocks and Shoals") 

Although the glory of the Founders means everything for the Jem'Hadar, they also show a strong sense of honor for themselves. Ikat'ika, First of Dominion Internment Camp 371 showed this, when he refused to kill Worf, whom he could not defeat without killing him, even after he was ordered to by his superior Vorta. He chose rather to yield the fight than to kill Worf because it "no longer ... [held his] interest". He was ordered to be shot for this insubordination. That means, a Jem'Hadar might prefer insubordination and therefore death to doing something he considers to be dishonorable (DS9: "By Inferno's Light"). 

Jem'Hadar combat units follow a very specific hierarchy. Normally, a Vorta commands one or several units. Every unit contains a Jem'Hadar First, who is in command. Each Jem'Hadar after the First is also given a number rank (Second, Third, Fourth, etc.). In the event the First is killed, the Second shall take over for the First, the Third will take over Second, and so forth. Although the succeeding Jem'Hadar will take over the duties of his superior, he will only receive the higher number rank if his Vorta commander allows it. (DS9: "Hippocratic Oath", "Rocks and Shoals") 

Before each battle, the First states the following speech to his unit: 

"I am [Rank] [Name], and I am dead. As of this moment, we are all dead. We go into battle to reclaim our lives. This, we do gladly, for we are Jem'Hadar. Remember - victory is life." 
The rest of the unit then responds: 

"Victory is life." (DS9: "To the Death") 
A similar exchange states: "Obedience brings victory, and victory is life." (DS9: "Rocks and Shoals", "One Little Ship") 

The dispensing of Ketracel-white has a ritual statement, spoken between the Vorta and the First. The Vorta presents the vials of white and asks: 

"[Rank] [Name], can you vouch for the loyalty of your men?" 
The First responds: 

"We pledge our loyalty to the Founders from now until death." 
The Vorta then replies: 

"Then receive this reward from the Founders. May it keep you strong." (DS9: "To the Death") 
Jem'Hadar Firsts were also capable of distributing the white among those under their command. By 2374, Alpha Jem'Hadar no longer recited the ritual dispersal statement, as they demonstrate their loyalty by their actions, not their words. (DS9: "One Little Ship")