Who is ARVN Soldiers from Dispatches and what is their importance?

The ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) soldiers accompany Lurp squads of about a dozen Green Berets and seem perpetually frightened to death. This may be a result of the NVA killing so many of them. Herr portrays the ARVN as less than effective, a serious problem for a government without strong public support and a mandatory draft.