Editing United Nations Space Command

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Military infobox advanced
|image=[[File:Merch UNSC Logo Black.svg|100px|class=invert-dark]]<br>The [[Symbols of the UNSC|UNSC logo]] circa [[2560]].
{{Pageimage|HW Cover-Wide.jpg}}[[File:HW Cover-Wide.jpg|300px]]<br>[[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marines]], and several UNSC vehicles
|formed=[[2163]]{{Ref/Reuse|waypointuniunsc}}
|allegiance=[[Unified Earth Government]]
|headquarters=*[[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], [[Earth]] {{C|Formerly, destroyed}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypointuniunsc}}{{Ref/Anthology|Fra|Story=Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World}}
*[[UNSC Supreme Headquarters]], [[United Republic of North America|URNA]], [[Earth]]{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=285}}
|branch=
|type=*Military, exploratory, and scientific force
*Emergency military government
|role=Military defense of [[Earth]] and [[Human colonies|her colonies]]{{Ref/Site|Id=waypointuniunsc|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/unsc|Site=Halo Waypoint|Section=Universe, Factions|Page=UNSC|D=19|M=1|Y=2021}}
|size-title=Divisions
|size=
*UNSC armed forces
**[[UNSC Naval Command]]
***'''[[UNSC Navy]]'''
****'''[[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'''
**[[Unified Ground Command]]
***'''[[UNSC Army]]'''
***'''[[UNSC Air Force]]'''
***'''[[UNSC Marine Corps]]'''
**'''[[Spartan Operations]]'''
|nicknames=UNSC
|motto=Per Mare, Per Terras, Per Constellatum{{Ref/Reuse|spartan ops}}
|engagements=*[[Mars Campaign]]
*[[Interplanetary War]]
*[[Inner Colony Wars]]
*[[Insurrection]]
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
*[[Created conflict]]
|commander1-title=Judicial branch
|commander1=[[UNSC Judge Advocate General's Corps]]
|commander2-title=Executive branch
|commander2=[[UNSC High Command]]
|commander3-title=Head of military
|commander3=
*[[UNSC Security Council]]<ref name="fs104">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', p. 104</ref>
**[[Chief of Naval Operations|Commander-in-Chief Fleet/Chief of Naval Operations]]<ref name="GL209">'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 209''</ref>
**[[Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence]]
**[[Commander-in-Chief of the Spartans]]
***<small>''Represented by:''</small><br> [[Chief of Staff of Spartan Operations]]{{Ref/Book|Id=osfm1|OSFM|Page=114}}
|commander4-title=Chairman
|commander4=[[Fleet Admiral]] [[Lord Terrence Hood]]<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters?page=4 ''Halo Waypoint'', Characters] "Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood is the UNSC Navy’s highest ranking officer and Chairman of the influential UNSC Security Council."</ref> 
}}
{{Quote|Per Mare, Per Terras, Per Constellatum.|Motto {{c|[[Human languages#Latin|Latin]] for ''"Through Sea, Through Land, Through the Constellations."''}}{{Ref/SpOps|Id=spartan ops}}<ref>[[:File:Colonial Militia logo.jpg|Colonial Militia emblem from licensed ''Halo'' products]]</ref>}}
The '''United Nations Space Command''' ('''UNSC''') is the military, exploratory, and scientific agency of the [[Unified Earth Government|Unified Earth Government (UEG)]] and has acted as the emergency governing body of the [[human]] race at large for a time.{{Ref/Site|Id=McLees|URL=http://halostory.bungie.org/oconnor_mclees_080508.html|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Frank O'Connor/Robt McLees Interview - August 2008|D=18|M=04|Y=2022}} The UNSC was formed in the 22nd century, a time when remnants of old cultural ideologies clashed for supremacy in the [[Sol System]]. The UNSC served mainly as overseer of [[United Nations]] military operations in space. After initiating massive militarization [[propaganda]] throughout its off-world colonies, through the UNSC, the UN defeated [[Frieden]] and [[Koslovic]] insurgent forces in a conflict known as the [[Interplanetary War]], which consisted of several side-battles that took place on [[Mars]], the [[Jovian Moons]] and the [[South America]]n rainforests. Although the Interplanetary War brought a great deal of suffering to both the colonial population and the residents of Earth, it also united most of humanity's military forces by the end of the 22nd century.{{Ref/Site|Id=xbox|URL=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo/storyline.htm|Site=Xbox.com|Page=Halo Storyline|D=24|M=04|Y=2008|LocalArchive=Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Timeline}}

Prior to the [[Covenant]] [[First Battle of Harvest|attack]] on [[Harvest]] in [[2525]],{{Ref/Reuse|xbox}} the UNSC was stretched across [[Human colonies|human space]]. The most urgent concern was to contain the spread of the [[Insurrectionist]]s, a violent resistance movement consisting of colonists who wanted independence from the Unified Earth Government. The UNSC fought constant battles in a loosely-defined civil war known as the [[Insurrection]]. In an attempt to help end the long-running war, the UEG commissioned the [[ORION Project]] and later the [[SPARTAN-II program]], which created elite supersoldiers to combat the Insurrectionists. When the [[Human-Covenant War]] began and the alien invaders began destroying the [[Outer Colonies]], these Spartans became humanity's best hope against the technological superiority of the hegemony. When the war began, the UNSC, which had been mired in controversy, became humanity's greatest protector. This allowed the UNSC to override civilian rule and establish itself as humanity's primary government. Although the Unified Earth Government was more open to step down, the [[Colonial Administration Authority]], the arm of the UEG ruling over the colonies, resisted the UNSC's rise to power, and was stripped of its influence.{{Ref/Reuse|McLees}}

Near the end of the year [[2552]], Earth was the last remaining major human bastion: it too nearly fell under attack by the Covenant, succumbing to occupation. Near-crippled in the aftermath of the [[Fall of Reach]], the UNSC led by [[United Nations Space Command Security Council|Chairman]] [[Chief of Naval Operations]] [[Fleet Admiral]] [[Lord Terrence Hood]], dedicated most of its remaining assets to the defense of the Sol System. The Human-Covenant War finally came to an end after the UNSC and the [[Sangheili]] [[Fleet of Retribution]] [[Battle of the Citadel|eliminated]] the Covenant [[Prophet of Truth|leadership]] and [[Raid on Installation 08|destroyed]] the Flood threat.

In the aftermath of the war, the UNSC has upheld its [[Treaty of 2552|alliance]] with the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and eventually ceded political power back to the UEG. The UNSC is now experiencing a resurgence as it rebuilds humanity's war-torn domain and moves to reestablish itself as a major power within the [[Orion Arm]].

==Mission==
[[File:HW2 MarineDeployment Concept.png|thumb|250px|A UNSC unit preparing to conduct a mass-deployment.]]
Though the official UNSC mission statement has been amended since it was established in [[2163]],{{Ref/Book|Id=osfm2|OSFM|Section=8: UNSC Organization}} the UNSC's statement of function can be summarized in two points:

*Uphold and advance the policies of the [[Unified Earth Government]].{{Ref/Reuse|osfm2}}
*Ensure the safety and security of Unified Earth Government territories, possessions, and areas vital to its interests.{{Ref/Reuse|osfm2}}

During the [[Human-Covenant War]], notably during the [[Siege of the Inner Colonies|later years]], the UNSC's purpose was to protect [[humanity]] and ensure the survival of the human species.

==Structure==
Ultimate authority to direct the actions of the UNSC's armed forces lies in the office of the [[President of the Unified Earth Government]]. The authority granted to the President is legally absolute, though the Chairman of the [[UNSC Security Council]] is the principal commander of all UEG military assets and is authorized to act in the president's stead regarding matters of defense.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22UNSC}} The Security Council acts as the principal staff element of the UNSC and is responsible for policy development, strategic planning, resource management and fiscal evaluations. The Security Council is staffed by the highest-ranking officers from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Office of Naval Intelligence - with the [[Chief of Staff of Spartan Operations|Chief of Staff]] of the Spartan Operations department granted a non-voting advisory role on the council as of [[2554]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22UNSC}} The UEG also maintains a [[Secretary of Defense]] position, though the powers and limitations of this office are unknown.{{Ref/Level|H2|H2:Metropolis|Metropolis}}

Despite the official status of the UNSC as subordinate to the UEG, the [[Massacre of the Outer Colonies]] in the war with the Covenant saw substantial authority handed from the government to the UNSC - with the military granted substantial emergency powers and martial law declared for the duration of the conflict. Civilian governance was formally restored in [[2553]] following the war's end, though this process considerably eroded the institutions of government and as such the UNSC retains a wide latitude of operational freedom regarding interactions with surviving colonies and affairs on Earth. This has led to a mass public sentiment that the UNSC is a military government, with the UEG in practice merely acting as its public relations arm.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22UNSC}} The UNSC is additionally bound by the laws of the [[UNSC colonial charter]], a document written to provide a set of regulations regarding military colonial governance.{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=15}}

Below the UNSC Security Council is the [[UNSC High Command]], or HIGHCOM - the UNSC's joint staff and executive body. Senior HIGHCOM officers report to the Security Council, but they primarily serve to coordinate joint and inter-agency protocols and objectives. HIGHCOM controls a wide range of sensitive and strategically vital officers and boards including the [[UNSC Inspector General]], [[General Officer Review Board]], [[UNSC Special Topics Committee]] and [[UNSC Ordnance Commission]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22UNSC}} HIGHCOM also serves to advise UEG civilian leadership on issues relating to defense, and are based at [[HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6]] in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]].{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFMOrganisation|OSFM|Page=120-121}} Other organizations included within HIGHCOM are a number of administrative commands, including [[UNSC Personnel Command]] (PERSCOM), the [[UNSC Medical Corps|Medical Corps]], the [[UNSC Engineering Corps|Engineering Corps]], [[UNSC Human Resources|Human Resources]], and [[UNSC Astrophysics|Astrophysics]].{{Ref/Novel|FoR|Chapter=15}} Legal matters such as the issuing and enforcement of [[:Category:UNSC protocols|protocols]] are handled by the [[UNSC Judge Advocate General's Corps]].{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Chapter=13}} Research designed to improve the UNSC's operations is carried out by the [[UNSC Internal Audit|Internal Audit]] office.{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Chapter=13}} 

Overall, HIGHCOM ensures that the UNSC's component branches work in close coordination, with very few "turf wars" over resources or responsibilities.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22UNSC}}

===Combatant commands===
The UNSC is divided into two primary combatant commands - [[UNSC Naval Command|Naval Command]] (NAVCOM) and [[Unified Ground Command]] (UNICOM). The former controls all space-based assets and operations, while the latter focuses on terrestrial and close-orbit missions.{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFMCommands|OSFM|Page=122-123}} NAVCOM has administrative control over the Navy{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}} and its officers alongside select Marine Corps units.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}} UNICOM has operational authority over UNSC Army{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Army}} and Air Force deployments and some Marine units{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}, and work alongside the Navy to coordinate [[Orbital bombardment|orbital fire support]] missions and in-atmosphere support.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}}

NAVCOM and UNICOM form joint task forces that are thus then assigned to one of four [[Central Command]]s (CENTCOMs) - responsible for the defense and security of a given region of human space, referred to as [[CENTCOM Region]]s. These regions follow well-mapped [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] routes which connect dozens of star systems; forces assigned to one CENTCOM cannot be moved to another without the approval of HIGHCOM, thus meaning each region must carefully marshal their limited resources. UNICOM planetside forces are organized into [[task force]]s that contain ground, aerospace, and maritime combat assets.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMCommands}}

==Military departments==
The UNSC's armed forces are comprised of six major military departments; four of these branches ([[UNSC Navy|Navy]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], [[UNSC Army|Army]] and [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]]) are recognized and defined in UEG law, while the [[Spartan Operations]] division is a "continuing organization" that lacks explicit recognition and instead works directly under the UNSC's [[UNSC High Command|High Command]]. The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] is a unique case; an organization that is bureaucratically a subordinate service of the Navy and not recognized as an independent service branch, but has enjoyed ''de facto'' autonomy from the Navy for nearly a century.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22UNSC|Enc22|Page=52-53}} Despite these technicalities, these six organizations are all on occasion informally referred to as the six branches of the UNSC{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFM120|OSFM|Page=12-121}}{{Ref/Reuse|waypointuniunsc}}

The military departments themselves are broken down into two major groupings; the '''UNSC Defense Force''' (UNSCDF) and the UNSCEF (presumably standing for something akin to '''UNSC Expeditionary Force'''). The former administers defensive assets of the UNSC and encompasses the Army and Air Force{{Ref/Reuse|McLees}}, while the latter includes Naval and Marine Corps forces. It is unclear whether the UNSCDF and UNSCEF have any relation to NAVCOM and UNICOM.

===Navy===
[[File:UNSC Navy Logo.svg|thumb|250px|The UNSC Navy's logo.]]
{{Main|UNSC Navy}}
{{Quote|Provide naval forces to ensure freedom of access for aerospace and terrestrial operations.|The Navy's official mission statement.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}}}
The Navy is the senior service of the UNSC{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Navy|Enc22|Page=62}}, formed in [[2163]] during the [[Interplanetary War]].{{Ref/Reuse|waypointuniunsc}} The UNSC Navy is commanded by the [[Chief of Naval Operations]] (CINCNAV){{Ref/Book|Enc22|Page=104}}, with a [[Deputy Chief of Naval Operations]] serving as their deputy.{{Ref/Novel|HFS|Chapter=11}} The Chief of Naval Operations serves as the Navy's representative on the UNSC Security Council.{{Ref/Comic|HE|Issue=1}} The Chief of Naval Operations also serves as the [[Commander-in-Chief Fleet]] (CINCFLEET).{{Ref/Novel|Gla|Chapter=11}}

The UNSC Navy operates, trains, organizes and equips space forces to establish space superiority in deep space and close orbit - primarily signified by the use of its vast fleet of [[UNSC starship|spacecraft]]. This force is used for the purpose of destroying or suppressing enemy space components, in particular those seeking to attack UEG commercial or terrestrial holdings.{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFMNavy|OSFM|Page=124-126}} The Navy ensures the safety of UEG trade and commerce, assists other governmental agencies in agencies of interstellar governance and as such, very little of interstellar consequence happens without the help or oversight of the Navy.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}} The UNSC Navy is headquartered at [[Fleet Command Headquarters]] on [[Reach]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH2|CH|Chapter=2}}

The Navy's collateral functions include;
*Interstellar transportation of UNSC combat assets.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}
*Development of doctrine, procedures and equipment that are of common interest to the Air Force and Marine Corps.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}
*Providing forces for joint aerospace and terrestrial operations, in accordance with UNSC doctrine.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}
*Coordinating with UEG civil agencies for the establishment and maintenance of naval depots and orbital yards.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}
*Establishment of emergency military government in designated crisis areas.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}
[[File:HM SpaceBattle ColourAdjusted Small.jpg|thumb|250px|UNSC Navy frigates engaging Covenant warships in space.]]
The Navy has a dual chain of command; administratively, Navy personnel report to NAVCOM while operationally they report to their assigned Task Command. There are three Task Commands under NAVCOM;
*[[UNSC Naval Command|UNSC Navy Fleet Command]] (FLEETCOM) - Headed by the Secretary of Fleet Command{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/dimah-tchakova|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Dimah Tchakova|D=30|M=06|Y=2021}} and directs the movement and tasking of naval squadrons and coordinates with UNICOM. FLEETCOM is responsible for the deployment of Navy warfighting assets and maximizing their combat efficacy.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}} Their direct deployment of the UNSC fleet sees them as the largest and most powerful of any NAVCOM grouping.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMNavy}}
*[[Naval Logistical Operations Command|UNSC Navy Logistical Operations Command]] (NAVLOGCOM) - Oversees the design, contracting and construction of Navy spacecraft alongside ensuring they are spaceworthy and supplied with parts, munitions, food and reaction mass.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}}
*[[Naval Special Warfare Command]] (NAVSPECWARCOM) - A smaller, culturally-distinct section of the Navy that trains, equips and oversees [[UNSC Special Forces|special forces]] personnel in support of UNSC space operations.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}} Marine Corps special forces units are typically tasked under NAVSPECWARCOM, as were the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II]] and [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-III]] program personnel prior to the establishment of the Spartan Operations branch.

Navy spacecraft are assigned to [[fleet]]s, which are organized in one of two ways;
*Expeditionary fleets - Numbered fleets (e.g. [[Third Fleet]]) designed for offensive operations in deep space and centered around massive [[UNSC carrier|carriers]].{{Ref/Book|HWF|Page=40-41}} Expeditionary fleets were largely decimated during the early years of the Covenant War, and by the war's end had no appreciable differences with defensive fleets due to being unable to make any major offensives without leaving the Inner Colonies dangerously vulnerable.{{Ref/Book|Id=HFB9|Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook|Page=9}}
*Defensive fleets - Named fleets (e.g. [[Epsilon Eridani Fleet]]) typically named after the star system in which they are based. Defense fleets were historically considered little more than revenue police, though the onset of the Covenant war saw these units take a valuable role in providing desperately-needed training cadres and battle-ready (if outdated) warships.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}}{{Ref/Reuse|HFB9}}
Fleets are assigned to numbered CENTCOM Regions such as [[CENTCOM Region One]], contextually organized based on low-energy slipspace routes leading away from [[Earth]]. Special [[task force]]s may also be created without being assigned to a sector, and given responsibility for regions outside of these standard routes - designated as "lettered sectors".{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}} Fleets are comprised of numerous [[battle group]]s, flexible combat elements that can be "plugged together" into ad-hoc fighting forces depending on the immediate situation. [[Squadron]]s serve as administrative groupings of warships for record-keeping and honorific purposes.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Navy}}

The UNSC Navy maintains its own [[military police]] force{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFM112|OSFM|Page=112}}

===Marine Corps===
[[File:UNSC MC Logo.svg|thumb|250px|The UNSC Marine Corps' logo.]]
{{Main|UNSC Marine Corps}}
{{Quote|Provide combined arms expeditionary forces and security detachments.|The Marine Corps' official mission statement.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}}}}
The UNSC Marine Corps is another senior service of the UNSC{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}, and was formed alongside the Navy in 2163.{{Ref/Reuse|waypointuniunsc}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22Marines|Enc22|Page=56-57}} The Marine Corps is the space infantry department of the UNSC, and works closely alongside the Navy to effect military action across human space.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}} The administrative head of the Marine Corps is the [[Commandant of the Marine Corps]] (CMC), who serves as the Marine Corps' senior general and service representative on the UNSC Security Council and Unified Ground Command staff. The CMC is responsible for organising, planning and implementing all Marine Corps activities.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}} The Marine Corps is headquartered at [[Fleet Command Headquarters]] on Reach.{{Ref/Reuse|CH2}}
The Marine Corps is responsible for maintaining an expeditionary force in readiness, which can seize and defend terrestrial and extraterrestrial strategic sites in advance of a larger main UNSC deployment. As such, the Marine Corps organizes, trains, equips and maintains planetary and space-based combined-arms teams capable of being rapidly deployed by the Air Force and Navy.{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFMMarines|OSFM|Page=130-132}} They are the general-purpose combat force of the UNSC, and employ a wide range of personnel from [[Sniper|sharpshooters]] to [[combat engineer]]s to xenolinguists.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}} Marine Corps forces are under administrative control (ADCON) of [[Marine Corps Forces]] (MARFOR), which focuses on the ability to reorganize, train and direct a given unit's long-term activities. Operational control (OPCON) of combat forces is handed to one of two combatant commands; Naval Command (NAVCOM) and Unified Ground Command (UNICOM) - which provides the authority to conduct missions and delegate tasks, but not the ability to alter the internal organization of subordinate units.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}

Marine Corps forces are unusual in that they may transition back and forth between combatant commands in combat zones, synchronized by [[Joint Deconfliction Team]]s. Marine Corps forces assigned to NAVCOM form a unit referred to as Fleet Marine Forces, under the operational control of [[UNSC Fleet Command|FLEETCOM]] command. Fleet Marine Forces include Marines assigned to shipboard and facility security, [[Naval boarding|boarding parties]] and most aerospace assets. Landing parties and expeditionary ground combat elements remain under the jurisdiction of NAVCOM, though this reading of the regulations is vehemently contested by UNICOM. Conversely, Marines conducting long-term planetary security missions, train-and-equip details and force augmentation for UNSC garrisons fall under UNICOM control.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
[[File:H3ODST Mombasa Marines Concept.png|250px|thumb|Marines and ODSTs on deployment in [[Mombasa]].]]

The Marine Corps' collateral functions include;
*Enforcement of emergency military law in designated crisis areas.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}}
*Development of doctrine, procedures and equipment that are of common interest to the Army and Navy.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}}
*Furnishing security teams for the protection of UNSC property and high-value personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}}
*Deployment of security detachments and organizations for service on Navy ships.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}}
*Development of doctrine, tactics, techniques and equipment for the rapid deployment and utilization of interstellar combat power.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFMMarines}}

Marine Corps forces are typically deployed as part of a [[Marine Expeditionary Force]], which may encompass several divisions as subordinate units and is itself subordinate to Fleet Marine Forces.{{Ref/Novel|CH|Chapter=7}}
:xx - [[Division]] - 14,000 Marines led by a [[Major General]] and deployed as a [[Marine Expeditionary Force|Marine Expeditionary Unit]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:x - [[Brigade|Marine Brigade]]/[[Wing|Marine air wing]] - 9,000 Marines led by a [[Brigadier General]] and deployed as a Marine Air Wing{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:||| - [[Regiment]]/Marine Air Regiment - 3,000 Marines led by a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] or [[Colonel]] and deployed specifically by UNICOM as a Rapid Reaction Force{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:|| - [[Battalion]] - 900 Marines led by a Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel and deployed as a [[task force]] ground combat element or as a unit assigned to a [[UNSC carrier|carrier]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:| - [[Company]] - 180 Marines led by a [[First Lieutenant]] or [[Captain (UNICOM)|Captain]] and deployed as a special task force or as a unit assigned to a [[cruiser]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:{{*}}{{*}}{{*}} - [[Platoon]] - 40 Marines led by a [[Second Lieutenant]] or [[Staff Sergeant]] and deployed as a unit assigned to a [[UNSC frigate|frigate]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:{{*}}{{*}} - [[Squad]] - Thirteen Marines led by a Corporal or [[Sergeant]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:{{*}} - [[Section]] - Eight Marines led by a Lance Corporal or Corporal{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}
:Ø - [[Fireteam]] - Four Marines led by a [[Lance Corporal]] or [[Corporal]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}}

Marine [[Special operations (disambiguation)|special operations]] forces such as the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] (ODSTs), [[UNSC Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance]] and other Marine special forces are typically deployed under the control of [[Naval Special Warfare Command]] (NAVSPECWARCOM).{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22Marines}} The ODSTs maintain a number of specialized internal divisions to oversee special activities such as the [[ODST Special Pur