UNSC Army

The UNSC Army is a branch of the UNSC Defense Force that is primarily responsible for land-based military operations. They typically serve as a garrison force on UNSC-controlled colony worlds. Unlike the UNSC Marine Corps, which is frequently used in expeditionary operations across the galaxy in conjunction with the Navy, the Army is primarily implemented in ground combat operations and garrison duties.

History
In May 2545, the Army's 53rd Armored Division, commanded by Colonel Akono Menteith, defended the human colony of Actium during the Covenant's invasion of the planet. At the end of the campaign, 12,000 soldiers of the 53rd took part in a massive assault on a trio of Covenant staging grounds. Though these attacks succeeded, the 53rd was ultimately annihilated and Actium was subsequently glassed.

On April 22, 2552, UNSC Army personnel supported SPARTAN Noble Team in Battle of Fumirole against Covenant forces.

Between July 23 and August 30, 2552, thousands of Army personnel defended the fortess world Reach during the Covenant's invasion of the planet. Trooper fireteams dispatched by Colonel Urban Holland initiated first contact with the Covenant at the UNSC communications relay at Visegrád on the night of July 23. Only July 14, Army troopers stationed near the Office of Naval Intelligence's Sword Base, with crucial assistance from SPARTAN Noble Team, defended against Covenant attackers. Following these early engagements, Army personnel continued to combat the Covenant's advance invasion force for several weeks. On August 12, three Army brigades served as part of a large joint UNSC force during the battle for the Viery Territory. Part of this force was used to eliminate a series of Covenant teleportation spires during the Battle at Szurdok Ridge. Two days later, a much larger Covenant fleet arrived at Reach. By August 23, Army forces had attempted to break the Covenant's siege of New Alexandria for some time. With the assistance of SPARTAN-B312, they were able to evacuate most of the civilians and military personnel from the city, though some stragglers remained. On August 29 and 30, the few Army personnel remaining on the Eposz continent attempted to rally at the area's ship-breaking facilities, which served as the only evacuation area left on the continent. There, they engaged in a large-scale battle against the Covenant, who had arrived on Reach in force and had begun glassing the area. Most of the convoys on the way to the evacuation zone were destroyed by the Covenant.

Contemporary with the Fall of Reach, Army forces participated in the Battle of Tribute. In September 2552, the Army fought in the Battle of New Jerusalem.

During the Battle of Earth on October 20, 2552, an Army convoy was sent to New Mombasa to aid the Marines and civilians stationed there; the unit was destroyed in the attempt. Later, during the Battle of Mare Erythraeum on Mars, Colonel James Ackerson led Army personnel against Covenant forces led by the Jiralhanae commander Lepidus.

Curiously, the Army was the only military branch in the UNSC not invited to the Hillside memorial ceremony towards the end of the Human-Covenant War.

Organization
Like the UNSC Marine Corps, the UNSC Army is organized under the Unified Ground Command.

Special forces
The Army operates its own special forces branch, the Special Warfare Command (SPECWARCOM). Some Spartans are known to serve under the authority of this branch. For example, Noble Team served under Special Warfare Group Three.

Airborne
The UNSC Army maintains an Airborne infantry formation. The Airborne are deployed on aerial assault operations in advance of the regular infantry. Such operations include being deployed behind enemy lines, such as to disrupt enemy supply chains and to sabotage other operations; spearheading assaults, sometimes to establish an airhead; and performing reconnaissance deep within enemy-occupied territory. As with their US Army predecessors, the Airborne are likely an all-volunteer force that is considerably smaller than other combat elements, though they are presumably given more intensive training than the regular infantry.

Personnel
Large numbers of men and women are employed by the UNSC Army. Servicepeople hold ranks, which are divided between officers and enlisted. The rank structure of the UNSC Army is based around that of the United States Army.

UNSC Army personnel wear distinctive uniforms. The dress uniform is worn outside combat, while battledress is worn in combat. The Battle Dress Uniform incorporates many modular components shared by other branches of the UNSC Defense Force, including the CH252 combat helmet.

Infantry weapons
The Army and Marine Corps share many matériel assets, though some of their weapons differ. The Army fields the MA37 Individual Combat Weapon System instead of the MA5B and MA5C assault rifles as the standard assault weapon, as well as the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle for medium-range suppression, which has been supplanted in the other branches of service by the BR55 Battle Rifle. In addition, the M6G pistol is the standard sidearm, while the M45 Tactical Shotgun is used for close-quarters combat. The Army is the only branch of the UNSCDF to make use of the M6J carbine variant of the M6 series. The M247H Heavy Machine Gun serves as a heavy suppression weapon.

Snipers operate the SRS99AM Sniper Rifle for long-range suppression and anti-matériel operations. The M319 grenade launcher is used for medium-range suppression and anti-fortification duties. The Army also operates the M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose Grenade. Anti-armor fire is provided by the M41 rocket launcher and the Model 6 Grindell/Galilean Nonlinear Rifle directed-energy-weapon.

Vehicles
The Army's standard vehicle is the M12 Force Application Vehicle, which is used for armored patrols and personnel mobility. The M12 FAV is produced in several variants. The most common of these variants is the M12 Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, which is armed with an M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun. Light anti-vehicle support is provided by the M12R Light Anti-Armor Vehicle, which features an M79 Multiple Launch Rocket System. The M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle is commonly used for scouting and light target interdiction. For heavy engagements, the Army operates the M808B Main Battle Tank, which is armed with an M512 Smooth Bore High Velocity Cannon and an M247T Medium Machine Gun.

Trivia

 * The UNSC Army makes its in-game debut in Halo: Reach, in which UNSC Army troopers, Marines, and ODSTs have their own service tags showing their name and rank as part of the fireteam gameplay mechanic. Most of them are named after Bungie and Rooster Teeth employees.
 * Bungie concept artist Isaac Hannaford was largely responsible for designing the look of the UNSC Army troopers in Halo: Reach. When first starting to design the troopers, he drew them as all-female, as he was looking to do something different after drawing the Master Chief for three years during the development of Halo 3.
 * All male Army troopers have an emblem with a hexagon divided by a diagonal line on their shoulders. Curiously, female troopers lack this symbol. The BDUs worn by many Marines in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary also feature this symbol, showing that it is not unique to the Army.
 * Soldiers on Reach sport insignia on their armor pauldrons resembling the divisional patch of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division. This may be a simple homage to the historic Army unit or suggesting that many of the soldiers seen in Halo: Reach were members of a unit carrying on the division's lineage.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Palace Hotel
 * Halo: Glasslands
 * Halo: Uprising
 * Birth of a Spartan
 * Patrol
 * Deliver Hope

Related pages

 * List of UNSC Army personnel
 * List of UNSC Army Units