Editing UNSC Special Forces

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:Masterchief with sniper.jpg|thumb|400px|A SPARTAN-II (left) and several Orbital Drop Shock Troopers deployed in [[Old Mombasa]] during the [[Battle for Earth]]; some of the primary special forces of the UNSC Navy and Marine Corps, respectively.]]
The '''Special Forces''' comprise the special operations units of the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3shotgun|Site=Bungie.net|Page=The M90A Shotgun|D=08|M=6|Y=2020|LocalArchive=Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present/M90A}} By [[2555|March 2555]], the UNSC Special Forces is headed by Captain [[Annabelle Richards]], who reports directly to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence|Commander-in-Chief]], Admiral [[Serin Osman]].<ref name="preview 2">[http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hunters-in-the-Dark/Peter-David/HALO/9781476795874/browse_inside '''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''Preview'']</ref>

==Naval Special Warfare Command==
[[File:HTFOR original cover art.png|thumb|250px|SPARTAN-II Blue Team in combat with the Covenant]]
'''Naval Special Warfare Command''' ('''NAVSPECWARCOM''') is a major special forces division under the oversight of [[UNSC Naval Command]]. The branch includes the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]], operatives of the now defunct [[ORION Project]], and most of the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]]. The [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] also served under NAVSPECWARCOM until early [[2553]], when they were folded into the independent [[Spartan Operations|Spartan branch]]. NAVSPECWARCOM specializes in covert operations, assassinations, and conducting high-priority, high-risk operations against enemy forces.

NAVSPECWARCOM also includes '''Naval Special Weapons''' ('''NAVSPECWEP'''), under which the ODSTs{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 3 ODST : Field Guide - ODST|D=25|M=05|Y=2013|LocalArchive=Archive:Bungie.net/Halo 3: ODST: Field Guide#Intel}}<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/odst '''Halo Waypoint''': ''ODST'']</ref> and the SPARTAN-IIs serve.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 175'' (2003)</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 121''</ref> Some NAVSPECWEP units fall under the operational supervision of [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Three|Section Three]] within the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 224'' (2003)</ref> The group has a large amount of operational and command flexibility. Although this office is technically subordinate to both the UNSC Naval Command and the [[Unified Ground Command]], UNICOM primarily has oversight of NAVSPECWEP special forces.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 65'' (2011 edition)</ref>
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===SPARTAN===
[[SPARTAN programs|Spartans]] are the most skilled and disciplined soldiers in service to the UNSC. SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III personnel took part in intense training from childhood; most saw combat by their early teens. The SPARTAN-IIs wear performance-enhancing [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], whereas most SPARTAN-IIIs wore [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]]. After the Spartan branch's establishment, NAVSPECWARCOM still maintains operational command over Blue Team.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/spoilers-john-117-is-no-longer-blue-leader/00e462e3-9293-42ac-8f61-12c0dcc878df/posts|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=John-117 is no longer blue leader|D=29|M=12|Y=2019|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#John-117 is no longer blue leader}}

====Known units====
*[[ORION Project]]
*[[SPARTAN-II program]]
**[[Blue Team]]
**[[Black Team]] - All Members KIA
**[[Red Team]]
**[[Gray Team]] - ''formerly''; as of September, 2558, under authority of the Office of Naval Intelligence.
**[[Green Team]]
**[[Gold Team]]
**[[Team Omega]]
*[[SPARTAN-III program]]
**[[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]]
**[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]]
**[[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]

===Orbital Drop Shock Troopers===
[[File:H3 7thHelljumpers.jpg|250px|thumb|7th Battalion troops heading toward an enemy position on [[Installation 00|the Ark]].]]

The [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines Corps']] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] (ODST) are an important part of the UNSC's offensive operations. Disciplined and skilled, they drop into the most hostile areas via [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV drop pods]]. They attempt to complete some of the most difficult tasks in hostile areas, such as clearing enemy ground forces or establishing landing zones for incoming [[dropship]]s.

====Known units====
*[[65th Shock Troops Division]]
**[[103rd Shock Troops Battalion]]
***[[Alpha-Nine]]
*[[105th Shock Troops Division]]
**[[2nd Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]
***[[First Platoon (ODST)|First Platoon]]
**[[9th Shock Troops Battalion]]
***[[Boomerang Company]]
****[[First Platoon (Spirit of Fire)|First Platoon]]
*****[[Sunray 1-1]]
****[[Lotus Squad]]
**[[10th Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[11th Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[15th Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[19th Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[22nd Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST]]
**[[3rd Platoon]]
**[[105th Drop Jet Platoon]]
*[[Alpha-Five]]
*[[21st Space Assault Battalion]]
*[[340th ODST Combat Training Unit]]
**[[Echo Team (ODST)|Echo Team]]
**[[Kilo Team]]
*[[ODST Special Purpose Forces]]
**[[Bullfrogs|ODST Air Assault units]]
*[[Fireteam Raven]]
*[[Gamma-Six]]
*[[NSWG2-ODST team 5]]
*[[Unidentified ODST squad|Unidentified squad]]

==Unified Special Warfare Command==
'''Unified Special Warfare Command''' ('''USW'''{{Ref/Book|Halo: Reach manual|Page=1}} or '''UNISPECWARCOM''') often simplified as '''Special Warfare Command''' ('''SPECWARCOM'''), is a special forces [[division]] under the authority of [[Unified Ground Command]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p74|Enc22|Page=74}}{{Ref/Book|Id=USWDivision|Enc22|Page=98|Quote=Directly attached to the USW division....}} It maintains oversight of special operations carried out by the [[UNSC Army]],{{Ref/Site|Id=voc|URL=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1085710|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Re: Just checked out the Essential Visual Guide|D=30|M=04|Y=2023}} alongside the ability to provide tactical oversight of personnel deployments in the [[Spartan Operations]] division (something shared with NAVSPECWARCOM).{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p74}}

Given UNICOM's authority over the UNSC Marine Corps on the whole,{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=54-55}} it is possible that USW also oversees Marine special force units apart from the ODST, who fall under NAVSPECWAR's authority.

====Known units====
Within the UNSC Army, UNISPECWARCOM is divided into a number of "Special Warfare Groups", with at least three such units in existence. Each Special Warfare Group is commanded by a [[Colonel]], with a strength likely equivalent to a [[brigade]]. Overall, USW has the strength of a division.{{Ref/Reuse|USWDivision}}
*'''[[Special Warfare Group Three|Special Warfare Group THREE]]'''
**[[NOBLE Team]]
**[[3 Charlie]]

==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Starry Night]]''
*''[[Believe]]'' 
**''[[Diorama]]'' {{C|Diorama only}} 
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Arms Race]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[The Life]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Scanned]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal/Halo 2: Anniversary|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
**''[[Hunt the Signal]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
{{col-end}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{United Nations Space Command}}
[[Category:UNSC Special Forces| ]]
[[Category:UNSC Armed Forces|Special Forces]]