Orbital Drop Shock Troopers

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Template:Infobox Military Unit

"Jump feet first into hell!"
— ODST Unofficial Motto

The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, more commonly abbreviated as the ODSTs, are a United Nations Space Command Marine Corps special forces unit.

History

File:ODST.jpg
An HEV pod, special equipment for ODSTs.

ODSTs were operating as early as 2525[1]. The first division created was the 105th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Division, which quickly gained a reputation as a brutal but effective fighting force.

Barring the personnel of the SPARTAN programs, ODSTs are one of the most effective forms of troops available to the UNSC, and the expectations on ODST units made them all-volunteer outfits, with some outsiders regarding such volunteers as 'crazy'.[2] By 2552 their strength had swelled to a larger of divisions in an attempt to fill the demands of the Human-Covenant War.

Some actively participated in training the SPARTAN-IIs, but the efficiency of that program was demonstrated when a single SPARTAN-II killed two ODSTs during an exercise. These fatalities resulted in some enmity between the two groups of elite soldiers. Friction was heightened by the stunning success of the SPARTAN-II program, whose members proceeded to accumulate more confirmed kills than "any three divisions of ODSTs."[3]

Operations

File:ODST 02.jpg
ODSTs preparing to enter a combat zone.

When assaulting a planetary target from orbit, ODSTs were trained to employ 'unorthodox' means of insertion. Those requiring stealth could be accomplished by 'jumping' from an orbiting ship and using a parachute once within the atmosphere. However, their hallmark method was in the form of Human Entry Vehicles, a particularly hazardous means of reentry. ODST methods of entry into battle also consist with a command pod being the first to touch down so that "...officers should lead rather than follow," This goes along with most Airborne units today whose officers are always one of the first to enter the battle to set an example and understand the situation.

Similar to regular marines, the ODSTs maintain units of varying strength aboard many UNSC vessels and installations. ODST units were present aboard the UNSC Atlas, the UNSC In Amber Clad, the UNSC Pillar of Autumn and Cairo Station[4].

While they are human, they are, overall, different from marines in the sense that they take the most dangerous, crazy, and suicidal missions. They have no physical differences between the Marines, but they are always ready to "Jump feet first into hell" as their motto goes (and thus gaining the nickname 'Hell Jumpers'), and dive into fights they may not return from, which shows an outstanding level of Courage, Honor and Valor.

ODST helmets as depicted in the Halo: Arms Race trailer.
ODST helmets as depicted in the Halo 3 "Arms Race" trailer.

They also drop into areas that are under heavy assault, or are heavily guarded by enemy troops. This is because these areas are too dangerous for Pelican dropships to land or drop reinforcements. They are also assigned to tasks such as landing and clearing a landing zone for reinforcements. An example of this is on Delta Halo, during the events of Halo 2. The ODSTs, accompanied by the Master Chief, must clear a Landing Zone so that pelicans could drop off a Warthog.


Equipment

In addition to using standard marine equipment, ODSTs were issued with a special issue combat dress. This combat dress is completly black, with a helmet and visor and having more supplies/ammunitions than typical marine forces. They also were each assigned an HEV and carry around a Combat Knife in a pouch on their back.


File:ODST Trooper.PNG
An ODST with typical equipment.

Notable Actions

ODSTs in their Human Entry Vehicles

ODSTs were onboard the Pillar of Autumn when she discovered Alpha Halo. An ODST group led by Major Antonio Silva was later instrumental in frustrating Covenant attempts to purge the ring-world of the Pillar of Autumn's survivors.[5]

Members of the 7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion would later drop from In Amber Clad onto Delta Halo. They then cleared a landing zone so that a Warthog could be deployed for the Master Chief.

List of known ODSTs

File:Odstsinpelican.jpg
A squad of ODSTs in a Pelican.

Sorted by rank, then alphabetically if rank is unknown.

ODST Units

File:Halo3ODST.JPG
ODST Concept Art for Halo 3.


ODST combat Images

See Also

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach
  2. ^ Halo: The Flood, page 35
  3. ^ Halo: First Strike Pg.104.
  4. ^ Halo 2. Four dead ODSTs can be seen in the first level.
  5. ^ Halo: The Flood. The ODSTs are never referred to in Halo: Combat Evolved, although it is possible that they were wearing standard marine uniforms in the game.