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 is an UNSC Marine Corps Special Operations unit.

They are more commonly known as just the ODSTs or Helljumpers.

History

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

ODSTs were operating as early as 2525[1]. The first division of ODST's 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 something of a rivalry between the two groups of super 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 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

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

In addition to using standard marine equipment, ODSTs were issued with a special issue combat dress. This combat dress is completely 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 on their back.

During the Battle of the Ark, the ODST's appear to have colors on their shoulder armor which may denote ranking. Since there were 3-4 "whites" assigned to one "red," it can be assumed that an ODST with a red patch on his shoulder is equal to a sergeant or captain, while white would be more akin to a private. However this is extremely unrealistic as a real military unit operating in a combat area would never display their rank openly in fear of being a target for enemy snipers. This is more to do with standardized military doctrine than the troopers own self preservation. Even a unit known for taking risks such as the ODST would abide by this rule especially if they were a elite force.

It is possible that the coloured shoulder pads refer to which fire team each trooper belongs to. We know marines operate in small teams known as fire teams and if like the Spartans they give each team a colour (e.g. red team, blue team ect...) then it is a sound possibility that the shoulder pads represent the team they belongs to rather than rank.


= Weaponry

   In the Halo: Combat Evolved era, ODSTs would usually go into combat armed with an MA5B ICWS Assault Rifle, favoring it for its ammunition capacity, rate of fire, and overall flexibility, and M90 Shotguns while some specialists would wield SRS99C S2-AM Sniper Rifles or M19 Rocket Launchers. Since they are trained to survive up to two weeks of combat without resupply, ODSTs nearly always cram as much ammunition, medical packs, MREs, flares, and weapons into their HEVs as possible. They are also proficient in the use of Covenant weaponry, and will take weapons from their kills if they run out of their own ammunition.
    In the Halo 2 era, ODSTs that are not on specialist missions will use standard UNSMC weaponry- namely, BR55 Battle Rifles, SMGs, Sniper Rifles, and Rocket Launchers, and will keep one or even two M6C Magnum Sidearms

as secondary weapons. 

    In Halo 3, ODSTs favor Battle Rifles and MA5C Assault Rifles, but are proficient in nearly every weapon system.

Notable Actions

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 John-117. Later, they were dropped from the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn to assist John-117 again, during the Battle of Installation 00 near the Ark and the Citadel [6].

List of known ODSTs

File:ODSTStacker helmetless.jpg
Gunnery Sergeant Pete Stacker
File:Odstsinpelican.jpg
A squad of ODSTs in a Pelican.

Sorted by rank, then alphabetically if rank is unknown.

ODST Units

Trivia

  • The thigh and wrist armor of the new ODST armor from Halo 3 resembles that of NOD troopers from Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun concept art. The helmet also has a slight resemblance apart from the visor is not red.
  • One of the new Armor Permutations for Halo 3 Multiplayer is based of the ODST helmet. This is possibly a reaction to the fan popularity of ODSTs.
  • ODSTs appear more frequently in Halo 3. This is possibly due to fan complaints that over their rather short appearance in Halo 2.

Related Articles

Images

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.
  6. ^ Halo 3, level The Ark and The Covenant (Level)
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