Sanaa “Nomad” El Maktoub

Designation

• Birth Name: Sanaa El Maktoub • Aliases: Nomad • Pronouns: She/Her • Titles: Environmental Operations Expert, Survivalist

Personal Data

• Place of Birth: Marrakech, Morocco • Date of Birth: July 27, 1979 • Age: 45 • Physique: Athletic and resilient, honed by extensive expeditions • Height: 1.71 meters (5’7”) • Complexion: Olive skin tone • Languages Spoken: Arabic, French, English • Nationality: Moroccan • Ethnicity: North African • Medical Conditions: Previous injuries from expeditions, including finger loss during an Arctic Circle trek

Persona

• Myers-Briggs: ENTP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving) • Morality: Principled adventurer with a strong ethical compass • + Traits: Resilient, resourceful, adaptable, culturally aware • – Traits: Tendency towards self-imposed isolation, risk-taking behavior

Relations & Connections

• Mother: Information not publicly available • Father: Information not publicly available • Significant Other: Not publicly disclosed • Siblings: Information not publicly available • Cousins: Information not publicly available • Aunt/Uncle: Information not publicly available • Relationship Status: Presumed single • Alliances: Groupe d’Intervention de La Gendarmerie Royale (GIGR), Rainbow Six Team

Skills & Knowledge

• Medical: Basic field medicine and survival healthcare • Combat: Expert in environmental operations, proficient in tactical engagements, specialized in area denial tactics • Communication: Effective cross-cultural communicator, skilled in team coordination • Education: Graduated from the Royal Military Academy, extensive survival and environmental training • Employment: Operator for GIGR and Rainbow Six Team • Location: Classified due to operational security Note: Some personal details are not publicly available to respect privacy and operational security.

Backstory

Brought up in a wealthy Moroccan family, Sanaa El Maktoub travelled considerably at a young age, visiting Europe and North Africa, and dreaming about braving remote regions. She enlisted in the military at 19 and later joined the Groupe d'Intérvention de La Gendarmerie Royale (GIGR) after graduating from the legendary Fortress under extensive training from Jalal "Kaid" El Fassi. She served 4 tours with the Mountain Infantry Battalion and took part in Flintlock exercises and joint missions with Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative partners. She became her unit’s expert on environmental operations. Between tours, she undertakes solo expeditions. El Maktoub is among the few explorers who can cross the Sahara Desert, climb up the Alps, trek through Asia’s rainforests, march along the Arctic Circle… and still return to her unit in operational shape. Rain or shine, desert or polar climates, she can walk through it all. Perceptive and resourceful, she’s an expert survivalist who sketches out her trips in her notebook. In 2015, El Maktoub was injured during an expedition in the Canadian wilderness and dislocated her arm. Luckily, she was found by Mina "Thunderbird" Sky who gave her medical attention and popped her arm back into place. While Thunderbird was repairing her helicopter, El Maktoub witnessed her rescuer successfully fend off a bear attack. Afterwards, Thunderbird flew them to safety. El Maktoub's survivalist expertise and experience with the GIGR led to her recruitment into Rainbow in 2018. In 2021, she recommended Thunderbird's recruitment to Rainbow and recounted the story of how they met to Tina Lin "Frost" Tsang. She also tells the story how in 2013, during her solo expedition in the arctic circle. Her bootlace became untied and to prevent the risk of frostbite on her foot she took her glove off to fix the lace, resulting in getting frostbite on her fingers and her middle and ring finger tip had to be removed.

Apperance

Sanaa “Nomad” El Maktoub exudes an aura of quiet strength and unshakable determination. Her face is a blend of sharp angles and soft curves, harmonizing her rugged lifestyle with a natural, understated elegance. presenting a striking and resolute figure. Her rich, dark brown hair frames a strong and defined face, cascading down with a natural wave, reflecting her rugged lifestyle and practicality. Her skin tone is a warm, sun-kissed bronze, indicative of her North African heritage and countless hours spent enduring harsh climates. Her deep, amber-brown eyes carry an intense, introspective gaze—both alert and contemplative—revealing the perceptiveness essential to a survivalist and tracker. They carry an intensity that reflects years of survivalism, yet they are softened by a glint of curiosity and thoughtfulness. Nomad’s eyebrows are thick and expressive, often slightly furrowed, as if perpetually calculating or contemplating her next move. Her hair is dark brown, thick, and slightly unkempt, falling in natural waves that reach just past her shoulders. It is practical in length—long enough to tie back if necessary but left loose, reflecting her carefree, pragmatic nature. The tousled, windswept look suggests she pays little attention to aesthetics, focusing instead on function and efficiency. Her full lips are set in a neutral expression—neither grim nor cheerful—giving her a stoic, grounded presence. There’s a subtle firmness to her mouth that hints at her determination and a capacity to endure discomfort without complaint. Despite her composed expression, there’s a sense of unspoken stories behind her eyes—moments of triumph, loss, and resilience. Nomad’s attire is practical and functional, adhering to the harsh realities of her environment rather than military formality. The high-collared jacket is made of durable, weather-resistant fabric, its earthy tones blending seamlessly with rugged landscapes.

Personality and Psychology

Nomad’s presence conveys more than just physical endurance; it emanates a profound mental resilience shaped by her unique upbringing and relentless pursuit of self-reliance. Growing up in a wealthy Moroccan family, Sanaa likely faced assumptions of softness or privilege—expectations she vehemently rejected. From a young age, she felt compelled to disprove stereotypes, channeling her frustration into a relentless quest to master hostile environments. Nomad’s passion for exploration and survival is not driven solely by thrill-seeking but by a personal mandate to challenge herself continuously. She seeks validation not from others but from nature itself—the ultimate judge of one’s strength and resourcefulness. Her expeditions into remote and unforgiving regions reflect a mindset that values solitude, introspection, and the purity of overcoming obstacles without external aid. Her psychological resilience is rooted in pragmatism and self-discipline. She is a meticulous planner, sketching her routes and recording her thoughts in a well-worn notebook—an artifact of her travels and a manifestation of her desire to leave behind something tangible amid fleeting experiences. Nomad’s tendency to record her journeys rather than photograph them speaks to her philosophy that survival is not about snapshots but about living through the moment, feeling every challenge rather than merely capturing it. Despite her strong sense of independence, Nomad is not devoid of empathy or connection. Her interactions with indigenous cultures, from the Maasai in Kenya to the Nenets in Siberia, have given her a nuanced understanding of cultural diplomacy. She approaches people with the same respect and curiosity that she applies to the environments she traverses, learning from their ways rather than imposing her own. This humility, paired with a quiet sense of honor, sets her apart from more boastful or overtly competitive personalities.

More personality and psychology

One of her most defining experiences was losing the middle and ring fingertips on her right hand during an Arctic expedition. Frostbite set in while she was trekking through a brutal snowstorm, her fingers numbing before she could react. Instead of retreating, she pushed forward, stubbornly determined to complete her journey despite the increasing pain and danger. By the time she recognized the severity of the damage, it was too late. Rather than perceiving the injury as a defeat, she took it as a hard-earned lesson—proof that even her endurance had limits. The loss became a badge of honor, a permanent reminder that even the most resilient souls can break. Though outwardly stoic and reserved, Nomad’s inner fire burns fiercely. She thrives in adversity, drawing energy from hardship rather than succumbing to it. Those who know her well understand that she rarely complains or seeks sympathy, downplaying her accomplishments and attributing her success to experience rather than innate talent. This modesty is not an act but a reflection of her belief that skills are earned through perseverance and that true strength lies in weathering hardship without succumbing to pride.