Editing Orbital Drop Shock Troopers

{{Era|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

<center>''This article is about the special forces group. For more, see [[ODST (disambiguation)]].''</center>

{{Unit infobox|variant=Human

|image=[[File:ODST Crest.png|300px]]

|affiliation=[[Unified Earth Government]]

|authority=[[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Weapons]]

|branch=[[UNSC Marine Corps]]

|mission=

*[[Wikipedia:Shock troops|Shock infantry]]

*[[Wikipedia:Special operations|Special operations]]

|size=Several divisions

|armament=

|equipment=

*[[ODST armor]]

*[[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle]]

*[[Visual Intelligence System, Reconnaissance]]

|notable=

*[[Colonel]] [[Felicia Sanderson]]

*[[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Aboim]]

*[[Major (UNSC)|Major]] [[Antonio Silva]]

*[[Faison|Major Faison]]

{{Quote|multi=yes|q1=Most of the crew - not to mention your fellow [[UNSC Marine Corps|jarheads]] - will be leaving the ship in lifeboats. They'll ride to the surface in air conditioned comfort, sipping wine, and nibbling on appetizers. Not you, however. Oh no, you're going to leave the ''Pillar of Autumn'' in a different method. Tell me boys and girls... how will ''you'' leave?|Major Silva|q2=We go feet first, sir!|Shock Troopers|[[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]] rousing his battalion aboard the ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn|Pillar of Autumn]]''}}

The '''Orbital Drop Shock Troopers''' ('''ODST''')<ref group="note">The plural form, when referring to the organization, is "ODST". However, individuals or small groups of troopers are addressed as "ODSTs".</ref> are a [[Wikipedia:Special Operations Capable|special operations capable]] unit of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]]. One of the primary special operations forces of the [[UNSC Defense Force]], the ODST are under the administrative and operational control of [[UNSC Special Forces|Naval Special Weapons]].<ref name="EVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 131''</ref><ref name="FG">[http://www.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''', ''ODST Field Guide'']</ref>

[[File:Helljumper Squad.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An ODST fireteam in action.]]

Under the authority of Naval Special Weapons, the ODSTs' methods of operation allow them to conduct missions against targets that more conventional forces cannot approach undetected. A strictly volunteer force, the ODST are recruited from special operations units in the Marine Corps, the [[UNSC Army|Army]], and the [[UNSC Navy|Navy]]; they are also drawn from the special operations groups of all UEG member nations' standing militaries.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 83''</ref><ref name="FG"/> Potential ODSTs are selected because of their performance in their chosen [[Military Occupational Specialty]]; because every ODST candidate is a veteran from another special operations outfit they have already gone through at least two layers of screening and months of intense training — not counting the years of training received before volunteering for the ODST. There are no age or gender restrictions — as long as the candidate meets the physical and mental requirements they are guaranteed the opportunity to try out for the ODST. Once in the ODST, a candidate's training continues - its entrance requirements serve as a third layer of screening upon two more, where applicants would have theoretically failed to pass. Candidates would, therefore, already have extensive experience in conducting the types of high-risk missions that the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers typically perform.<ref name="FG"/>

Though ODST units are not embedded within conventional UNSC forces, they do participate in joint operations and tend to be force multipliers - increasing the effectiveness, willingness, and morale of those they fight alongside. ODST combat teams usually consist of six to eight - with each combat team specializing in a particular mission set, but they are expected to be flexible enough to adapt to any given situation. These combat teams however can vary from company to company. ODSTs are known for their unusual methods of insertion, dropping from orbit onto terrestrial environments. Similar to their infantry counterparts, the ODSTs maintain units of varying strength aboard many UNSC vessels and installations.<ref name="FG"/>

The ODST perform highly specialized, small scale, high-risk operations including:<ref name="FG"/><ref name="EVG"/>

*'''Deep ground surveillance and long range reconnaissance''': Patrols in small groups, in uniform, usually far behind the enemy lines. While direct ground surveillance units may direct air or artillery strikes against enemy positions, they strive to be unobserved, and have only self-defense, not direct action, capability. Groups engaging in surveillance deep behind enemy lines, are commonly known as [[wikipedia:LRRP|Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols]].  

*'''Direct action''': Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover, or damage designated targets. Direct action differs from conventional offensive actions in the level of physical and political risk, operational techniques, and the degree of discriminate and precise use of force to achieve specific objectives.

*'''Unconventional warfare''': Military and paramilitary operations, normally of long duration, predominantly conducted by indigenous or surrogate forces who are organized, trained, equipped, supported, and directed in varying degrees by an external source. It includes guerrilla warfare and other direct offensive, low visibility, covert, or clandestine operations, as well as the indirect activities of subversion, sabotage, intelligence gathering, escape and evasion.

*'''Counter-terrorism operations''': The response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.

*'''Counter-contraband operations''': Missions undertaking the recapturing of smuggled/stolen goods.

*'''Personnel and special equipment recovery/capture''': The recovery/medical treatment of friendly personnel in combat environments, as well as the capability of capturing high valued individuals and any equipment.

The idea of inserting highly trained troops behind enemy lines from high altitudes has its roots in the paratroopers of 20th and 21st century fame, who dropped frequently behind enemy lines to capture strategically important targets in anticipation for a larger advance by more conventional and numerous military forces.  

Such troops were first used prior to [[World War II]] by Italian and Soviet forces, but the first serious application of the doctrine was seen in 1940 by the German Air Force in World War II to overrun the Allied positions in [[wikipedia:Denmark|Denmark]], the [[wikipedia:Netherlands|Netherlands]] and the legendary [[wikipedia:Fort Eben-Emael|Eben-Emael fortress]] in Belgium. Paratroops were also used to capture the entire island of [[Wikipedia:Crete|Crete]]. Later, during the Battle of Normandy known as Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944, when two [[United States|American]] Airborne Divisions and one British Airborne Division landed behind enemy lines in Normandy, France on [[wikipedia:D-Day|D-Day]] and again in [[wikipedia:Operation Market Garden|Operation Market Garden]]. Although they were only marginally successful, they proved the concept of paratroops as useful and effective in large scale warfare.

===Interplanetary War===

Although the concept of dropping human soldiers from orbit had been around since the early 21st century, the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers themselves are known to have existed as part of the UNSC since its inception in [[2163]],<ref>[http://halostory.bungie.org/oconnor_mclees_080508.html '''Halo.bungie.org''': ''Frank O'Connor/Robt McLees Interview - August 2008'']</ref> the year that saw the organization of Earth's national militaries into the [[UNSC Defense Force]] and the subsequent first historic first extraterrestrial deployment of UNSC Marines in the [[Argyre Planitia Campaign|Martian Campaign]] against the [[Communism|Neo-Communist]] [[Koslovics]].<ref name="enc">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', Chapter 2, ''page 42''</ref>

The conclusion of the [[Interplanetary War]] in [[2170]], along with the signing of the [[Callisto Treaty]] and the subsequent years that followed, the ODST saw little action as more political, and more important issues such as overpopulation and famine and a massive military with no purpose gripped the postwar nations of [[Earth]].<ref name="enc"/>

The first major combat re-emergence of the ODSTs occurred in [[2490]] during the beginnings of the civil conflict between the UEG and the [[Insurrectionist]]s. Using the members of the [[ORION Project]] as exemplary models,<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 11]]''</ref> the reputation of the ODST, as well as their training, was restored and enhanced as time passed. For the years leading up to [[2525]], the ODST conducted high-risk operations against the Insurrectionists, to either stop the enemy before they could carry out attacks against supporters, and officials of the Unified Earth Government or to cut off major suppliers to the Insurrectionists.

On [[2525#November|November 1, 2525]], the UNSC moved into a full alert status after the devastating and horrifying [[First Battle of Harvest|first contact]] with the [[Covenant]] at [[Harvest]]; this marked a change in objectives for the ODST, who up until that point had been fighting the [[Insurrectionist]]s. As humanity's military turned to meet the threat of the Covenant, divisions of ODSTs prepared to participate in the most critical engagements in the war and also to conduct the riskiest missions in the history of mankind. The [[Battle of Hat Yai]] marked one of the first deployments of ODSTs against Covenant ground forces; although the planet was lost in the ensuing conflict, the ODSTs were successfully extracted before the UNSC retreated.

 

In mid-[[2526]], the [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]] on [[Circinius IV]] came under attack by Covenant forces. ODSTs were deployed directly onto the campus to reinforce the already-present Marine garrison. But by the time [[SPARTAN-II]]s [[John-117]], [[Kelly-087]], and [[Fred-104]] arrived, the deployed ODSTs, along with the entire academy's staff, students ([[Thomas Lasky|save]] [[Chyler Silva|for]] [[Michael Sullivan|four]] [[April Orenski|survivors]]), and garrison were slaughtered.

 

Not long after the [[Harvest Campaign]], the ODST participated in the [[Battle of Arcadia]], where they assisted [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine forces]] and SPARTAN-II [[Red Team]] in defending the [[Pirth City|capital city]] from Covenant ground forces, thus allowing the evacuation of the civilian population. Having successfully kept Covenant forces from occupying the city, the Corps began launching multiple assaults on the Covenant's bases of operations to reclaim the planet. Several ODST platoons joined the ''[[UNSC Spirit of Fire|Spirit of Fire]]'''s rescue operation after retaking the planet and soon participated in [[Battle of Shield 0459]].

[[File:Helljumpers One-Cropped.png|thumb|250px|ODSTs during [[Battle of Ariel|Operation: FIRESIDE]].]]

Following the enactment of the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] in [[2535]], ODST combat teams were tasked with boarding commercial and private vessels and purging their navigation databases. During one of these routine operations, a group of ODSTs aboard the ''[[UNSC Midsummer Night]]'' were captured and taken to the [[Rubble]]. They, in conjunction with SPARTAN-II [[Gray Team]], would later [[Battle of Metisette|defeat]] a [[Kig-Yar]] plan to trick the inhabitants of the Rubble out of their navigation data, which could compromise the location of Earth.

As the Human-Covenant War progressed, the ODST would participate in many engagements; among these were the [[Battle of Jericho VII]], an [[Raid on Heian|assassination mission]] on [[Heian]], the [[Battle of Skopje]], the [[Battle of Sigma Octanus IV]], the [[Battle of New Jerusalem]], the [[Battle of Tribute]], and the [[Battle of Ariel]]. The numerous campaigns and operations in which the ODST participated throughout the long war all pale in comparison to the [[Fall of Reach]] in [[2552]], during which countless ODSTs lost their lives defending strategic locations on the planet.

During the initial invasion of Reach, a large contingent of ODSTs participated in the [[Battle of Viery]], assisting the Army in repelling the Covenant forces from the planet. Throughout the course of the battle, the UNSC formed joint forces to combat against the overwhelming Covenant forces. Some time during the event, several battalions were stationed on the ''[[UNSC Pillar of Autumn]]''. As the planet fell to the Covenant onslaught, the vessel made a blind Slipspace jump away from the [[Epsilon Eridani]] system, discovering the long-abandoned [[Installation 04]]. During the [[Battle of Installation 04]], shock troopers led by [[Major]] [[Antonio Silva]] and [[First Lieutenant]] [[Melissa McKay]], operated as a guerrilla force by conducting hit-and-run operations against the forces of the Covenant's [[Fleet of Particular Justice]].<ref name="flood">'''Halo: The Flood'''</ref>

====Endgame====

Fresh from the disastrous loss of Reach, the ODST participated in the most significant battle of the entire war: the [[Battle of Earth]]. The battle began on [[2552#October|October 20, 2552]], when a [[Fleet of Sacred Consecration|smaller-than-expected Covenant fleet]] led by the [[Prophet of Regret]] jumped into the Solar System. ODST combat teams, along with the Marines, began engaging Covenant forces on the Orbital Defense Platforms ''[[Cairo Station|Cairo]]'', ''[[Athens Station|Athens]]'', and ''[[Malta Station|Malta]]''. Despite the ODSTs' valiant efforts, ''Malta'' and ''Athens'' were destroyed. As the Covenant ship carrying the Prophet of Regret landed over the African mega-city of [[Mombasa]], teams of ODSTs were deployed over the city from orbit in an attempt to board the carrier; before the teams could reach the target, however, the carrier jumped into Slipspace. Only [[Unidentified Shock Trooper squad|a single squad]] managed to safely land in the city to carry out the retrieval of the [[Superintendent]]'s data.

After Regret's unexpected retreat from New Mombasa, members of the [[7th Shock Troops Battalion]] would later drop from the ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' onto [[Installation 05]] during the [[Battle of Installation 05|operation]] to capture the Prophet of Regret. Most of these troopers would perish during the initial firefights against the Covenant, and only a few would escape back to [[Earth]] with [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] to lead a resistance against the Covenant occupation forces.<ref>'''Halo 2''', ''[[The Great Journey (Level)|The Great Journey]]''</ref>

Overall, the defense of Earth was one of the largest campaigns the ODST fought in during the entire war. The fighting spread across the globe and in space as the [[Fleet of Furious Redemption]] and the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|own fleet]] attacked the remnants of the Orbital Defense Grid. The fleets soon deployed troops throughout the continents of [[North America]], [[South America]], [[Europe]] and [[Wikipedia:Asia|Asia]]. The [[Battle of Cleveland]] is one example of the ODSTs' participation during the war on Earth. Two ODSTs from the [[2nd Shock Troops Battalion]] fought alongside a detachment of Marines in the [[Battle of Sector Six|Battle of Pawas]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Combat Part Two]]'''</ref> Troopers [[T. Rymann]] and [[S. Hartley]] were tasked with calculating the crash site of John-117 on Earth, while a Marine battalion was tasked with defending a narrow corridor between Covenant and UNSC forces in [[Pakistan]]. Bravo-21 and numerous [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] were killed in the clash, while Bravo-22 was injured along with some of the other surviving Marines. Their actions successfully allowed [[UNSC High Command|HIGHCOM]] to track and locate the Spartan.

After the opening of [[Portal at Voi|the Portal]] in November of 2552, the [[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST]], stationed aboard the {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}}, fought alongside SPARTAN [[John-117]], during [[Human-Covenant War#Arrival of the Flood and Sangheili/human victory|Operation: BLIND FAITH]].<ref name="encyclopedia">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]''', ''Chapter 2, pages 56/57''</ref> Men and women from this battalion were also some of the first [[human]]s to travel outside the [[Milky Way|Milky Way Galaxy]], during the [[Battle of Installation 00]].<ref name="h3ark"/> One such assault happened during a mission to destroy numerous Covenant [[Anti-Aircraft Battery|anti-aircraft artillery platforms]] overlooking a desert. These AA guns were destroyed by the ODSTs, allowing the ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn]]'' to successfully land near the [[Cartographer|Cartographer building]].<ref name="h3ark">'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Ark]]''</ref> During the [[Battle of the Citadel|last battle]] of the Ark campaign - the last battle of the war - ODSTs were again airlifted into combat. This time, they punched holes in Covenant armor and artillery positions to allow SPARTAN-117 and the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter]] to eliminate the [[Prophet of Truth]]. After the battle, the surviving ODSTs were taken back to Earth aboard the Sangheili flagship ''[[Shadow of Intent]]''. <ref>'''Halo 3''', campaign level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]''</ref>

Many ODSTs joined the [[SPARTAN-IV program]] after the war ended, prompting the development of a [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR (GEN2)]] [[ODST armor#MJOLNIR GEN2 variant|variant]] of the ODST BDU.<ref>[http://worthplaying.com/article/2013/7/6/news/89850/ '''Worthplaying''' ''Halo 4 (X360) Champions Bundle To Add New Maps, Mode, Skins, Armor, Bonus Upgrades'']</ref> The ODSTs remain an active military unit, with the [[3rd Platoon|3rd Helljumper Platoon]] participating in the [[Battle of Draetheus V]] against [[Merg Vol's Covenant faction]] in [[2554]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''', ''[[Mission 11: Descend from the Perch|Descend from the Perch]]''</ref> There was a battalion of ODSTs aboard the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} as of [[2558]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Escalation]]''', ''Issue #3''</ref>

*[[105th Shock Troops Division]]

**[[2nd Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[10th Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[11th Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[15th Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[19th Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[22nd Shock Troops Battalion]]

**[[11th Marine Force Reconnaissance/ODST]]

**[[105th Drop Jet Platoon]]

**[[Buck's squad]]

*[[Bullfrogs]]

*[[340th ODST Combat Training Unit]]

The status of each trooper is in accordance with his or her last known act of service.<!--That's not supposed to read "active service". "Last known 'appearance'" breaks the fourth wall.-->

*[[Felicia Sanderson|Colonel Felicia Sanderson]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Teller|Colonel Teller]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Sedavian|Major Sedavian]]: '''Active'''

*[[Canfield|First Lieutenant Canfield]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Melissa McKay|First Lieutenant Melissa McKay]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Dalu|Second Lieutenant Dalu]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Oros|Second Lieutenant Oros]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Tink Carter|First Sergeant Tink Carter]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Frost|Master Sergeant Frost]]: '''Active'''

*[[Cortez|Master Sergeant Cortez]]: '''Active'''

*[[Lister (Marine)|Master Sergeant Lister]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Edward Buck|Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck]]: '''Active'''

*[[Waller|Gunnery Sergeant Waller]]: '''KIA'''

*[[O'Reilly|Sergeant O'Reilly]]: '''Active'''

*[[Parker|Sergeant Parker]]: '''KIA'''

*[[Taylor Miles|Corporal Taylor Miles]]: '''Active'''

*[[Sarah Palmer|Corporal Sarah Palmer]]: '''Active as a [[SPARTAN-IV program|SPARTAN-IV]]'''

*[["Snaky" Jones|Lance Corporal "Snaky" Jones]]: '''MIA'''

*[[Rookie|Lance Corporal J.D.]]: '''Active'''

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

}}

The ODST battle dress uniform is the signature piece of equipment used by the ODSTs - the armor is vacuum-rated, capable of extravehicular activity for fifteen minutes. The ODST BDU has been in use for well over 50 years by the 105th, and remains untouched by its ability to protect its wearer during the toughest operations.{{fact}}

The Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle abbreviated SOEIV is a tear-drop shaped pod made of [[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A]], [[lead foil]] and coated with ceramic skin. The SOEIV is the signature piece of equipment used by the ODSTs and is known for its risks and intense heat which has garnered 105th ODST Division the nickname "Helljumpers". While most combat deployments are made by means of ordinary dropships, the SOEIV was designed as a more efficient method of orbital deployment for high-risk operations.<ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 35''</ref>

*The ODST were heavily influenced by the [[Wikipedia:Mobile Infantry (Starship Troopers)|Mobile Infantry]] from Robert A. Heinlein's seminal novel ''[[wikipedia:Starship Troopers|Starship Troopers]]'', which popularized the use of drop pods in science fiction. The ODST's tradition of officers deploying before enlisted personnel is also inspired by the Mobile Infantry. In addition to drop pods, the science fiction tropes of powered armor (such as [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]]) and hive-minded, insectoid aliens (including the [[Yanme'e]]) were also codified in the book; the [[NOVA bomb]] is named for a similar weapon from ''Starship Troopers''.

*The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers have been referred to by [[Bungie]] as a futuristic successor to the [[Wikipedia:Marine Force Recon|US Marine Force Recon]] and the [[Wikipedia:Special Air Service|British Special Air Service]].<ref>[http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/090224HaloODST.aspx '''Gameplayer''': ''Halo 3: ODST Exclusive Developer Interview'']</ref>

File:H2-Concept-Earth-MOUT.jpg|Concept art of ODSTs fighting alongside [[John-117]] in [[New Mombasa]].

File:Halo2 - SFPelican.jpg|Twelve ODSTs in a D77-TC Pelican dropship.

File:H2-ODST-BattleRifle.png|An ODST wielding a BR55 Battle Rifle on Delta Halo in ''[[Halo 2]]''.

File:TanODST.jpg|Another ODST on Delta Halo in ''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''.

File:Rymann and Hartley.jpg|[[T. Rymann]] and [[S. Hartley]] at Sector Six in [[Pawa]], [[Pakistan]] in ''[[Halo: Landfall]]''.

File:ODST Patrol.jpg|A team of ODSTs deployed on Installation 00 alongside John-117 in ''[[Halo 3]]''.

File:ODSTwithBuck.jpg|Two ODSTs get ready to board Gunnery Sergeant Buck's [[UH-144 Falcon]] in [[New Alexandria]].

File:Halo Initiation.jpg|The former ODST [[Sarah Palmer]] fighting several [[Sangheili]] on the cover of ''[[Halo: Initiation]] #1''.

File:7thODSTunitpatch.PNG|The unit insignia of the 7th Battalion.

File:ODST.png|The 7th Battalion insignia on an ODST's shoulder pauldron.

File:ODSTlogothing.jpg|The Chinese character "混", (meaning ''"get away"''), on an ODST's body armor.

File:H2A-AnotherDay1.jpg|ODST as they appear in [[Halo 2 Anniversary]].</gallery>

{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of ODSTs}}

*''[[ONI Candidate Assessment Program V5.02A]]''

*''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' {{Mo}}

*''[[Halo 2 Anniversary]]''

==Note==

<references group="note"/>

{{Reflist|2}}