The Special Forces comprise the special operations units of the United Nations Space Command. By 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, Admiral Serin Osman.

Naval Special Warfare Command

SPARTAN-II Blue Team in combat with the Covenant

Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWAR) 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-IIs. The SPARTAN-IIIs also served under NAVSPECWAR until early 2553, when they were folded into the independent Spartan branch. NAVSPECWAR specializes in covert operations, assassinations, and conducting high-priority, high-risk operations against enemy forces.

NAVSPECWAR also includes Naval Special Weapons (NAVSPECWEP), under which the ODSTs and the SPARTAN-IIs serve. Some NAVSPECWEP units fall under the operational supervision of Section Three within the Office of Naval Intelligence. 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.

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SPARTAN

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, NAVSPECWAR still maintains operational command over Blue Team.

Known units

• ORION Project
• SPARTAN-II program
  • Blue Team
  • 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
  • Alpha Company
  • Beta Company
  • Gamma Company

Orbital Drop Shock Troopers

7th Battalion troops heading toward an enemy position on the Ark.

The 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 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 dropships.

Known units

• 105th Shock Troops Division
  • 2nd Shock Troops Battalion
  • 7th Shock Troops Battalion
  • 9th Shock Troops Battalion
    • Boomerang Company
      • First Platoon
  • 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
  • Alpha-Nine
• 65th Shock Troops Division
  • 103rd Shock Troops Battalion

Unified Special Warfare Command

Unified Special Warfare Command (USW) often simplified as Special Warfare Command (SPECWARCOM), is a special forces branch under the authority of Unified Ground Command. It maintains oversight of special operations carried out by the UNSC Army. Given UNICOM's authority over the UNSC Marine Corps on the whole, it is possible that USW also oversees Marine special force units apart from the ODST, who fall under NAVSPECWAR's authority.

Known units

• Special Warfare Group THREE
  • NOBLE Team
  • 3 Charlie

List of appearances

Halo: The Fall of Reach (First appearance) 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 (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 Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Blunt Instruments Dirt Headhunters Human Weakness Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian Palace Hotel Pariah

Halo: Blood Line Remember Reach Birth of a Spartan Deliver Hope Halo: Reach Dr. Halsey's personal journal Halo: Fall of Reach Boot Camp Covenant Invasion Halo: Glasslands 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 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 Limited Edition (Mentioned only) Halo: Ground Command Halo Mythos Halo: Tales from Slipspace Halo Wars 2 Halo: Envoy Halo: Retribution Halo: Bad Blood