Covenant military

The Covenant military is the armed forces branch of the Covenant Empire, incorporating the Covenant Navy, Covenant Army, and Covenant Special Operations divisions. Prior to the Great Schism, it maintained the largest military force in the known Milky Way galaxy. Their technology is far more advanced than that of the United Nations Space Command, due to their adoption of Forerunner technology.

History
In the early centuries of the Covenant, the Writ of Union established the Sangheilian armed forces of their own as the sole military force, with the San 'Shyuum having little part in its day-to-day operation. As the Covenant conquered and assimilated various new species, members of each race were incorporated into the Covenant military to perform different functions, adding their own unique advantages and disadvantages.

The Covenant military lies under the jurisdiction of the High Council, formerly composed of Elite Councilors who oversaw the operation of the military. With the Great Schism and the attack on High Charity by the Flood, it is unknown whether the High Council remains at all. However, with the Sangheili departure from the Covenant military, it is likely that the Hierarchs took direct control over the military.

Command and organisation
The Council of Deed and Doctrine is the highest command organisation within the Covenant military and aids the Hierarchs with military tactics and strategy. During major conflicts the Council of Deed and Doctrine creates a Council of Masters to directly oversee operations. Because San 'Shyuum do not hold military ranks, no San 'Shyuum is truly a "member" of the Army. Instead, they are responsible for strategic decision-making, but also travel with Covenant military units as religious or political overseers.

The Covenant military is organised based on the Covenant's caste system. The officer corps is primarily staffed by Jiralhanae (and formerly by Sangheili), while the Unggoy and Kig-Yar generally fill menial or infantry roles. Ranks are denoted by the color and type of armor worn for Sangheili and Unggoy, shield color for Kig-yar, and accessories for Jiralhanae. There are only three species within the Covenant that have no known ranking system: Mgalekgolo, Yanme'e, and Huragok.

Member races

 * Sangheili - former dominant military caste prior to the Great Schism
 * Jiralhanae - current dominant military caste
 * Mgalekgolo - personal guards for Ship Masters, shock infantry, heavy weapons platforms
 * Yanme'e - recent additions, airborne infantry, combat engineers
 * Kig-Yar - scouts/snipers, police force
 * Unggoy - majority of infantry, "cannon-fodder"
 * Huragok - combat engineers, medics, suicide bombers

Subdivisions

 * Navy - responsible for the coordination of the Covenant's numerous fleets and naval personnel. Primarily staffed by Sangheili with Unggoy, Yanme'e, and Huragok maintenance staff. After the Great Schism, the Hierarchs have taken direct control over Covenant military operations.
 * Army - responsible for most ground-based combat operations, incorporating most of the Covenant's client races. Mostly comprised of Unggoy, Yanme'e, and Kig-yar infantry, with Sangheili or Jiralhanae officers.
 * Special Operations - responsible for small-scale, high-priority high-risk operations against specific points of interest, mostly comprised of Sangheili and Unggoy commandoes. Its status after the Great Schism is unknown.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Legends
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach