Editing UNSC Special Forces

{{Status|Canon}}
The '''Special Forces''' comprise the special operations units of the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3shotgun|Site=Bungie.net|Page=The M90A Shotgun|D=08|M=6|Y=2020|LocalArchive=Machines, Materiel and Munitions from the Human-Covenant Conflict, 2525 - Present/M90A}} By [[2555|March 2555]], the UNSC Special Forces is headed by Captain [[Annabelle Richards]], who reports directly to the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence|Commander-in-Chief]], Admiral [[Serin Osman]].<ref name="preview 2">[http://books.simonandschuster.com/Hunters-in-the-Dark/Peter-David/HALO/9781476795874/browse_inside '''Halo: Hunters in the Dark''', ''Preview'']</ref>

==Naval Special Warfare Command==
[[File:HTFOR original cover art.png|thumb|250px|SPARTAN-II Blue Team in combat with the Covenant]]
'''Naval Special Warfare Command''' ('''NAVSPECWARCOM''') is a major special forces division under the oversight of [[UNSC Naval Command]]. The branch includes the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]], operatives of the now defunct [[ORION Project]], and most of the [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]]. The [[SPARTAN-III program|SPARTAN-IIIs]] also served under NAVSPECWARCOM until early [[2553]], when they were folded into the independent [[Spartan Operations|Spartan branch]]. NAVSPECWARCOM specializes in covert operations, assassinations, and conducting high-priority, high-risk operations against enemy forces.

NAVSPECWARCOM also includes '''Naval Special Weapons''' ('''NAVSPECWEP'''), under which the ODSTs{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 3 ODST : Field Guide - ODST|D=25|M=05|Y=2013|LocalArchive=Archive:Bungie.net/Halo 3: ODST: Field Guide#Intel}}<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/odst '''Halo Waypoint''': ''ODST'']</ref> and the SPARTAN-IIs serve.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 175'' (2003)</ref><ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 121''</ref> Some NAVSPECWEP units fall under the operational supervision of [[Office of Naval Intelligence#Section Three|Section Three]] within the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]].<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 224'' (2003)</ref> The group has a large amount of operational and command flexibility. Although this office is technically subordinate to both the UNSC Naval Command and the [[Unified Ground Command]], UNICOM primarily has oversight of NAVSPECWEP special forces.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 65'' (2011 edition)</ref>
{{Expand-section}}

===SPARTAN===
[[SPARTAN programs|Spartans]] are the most skilled and disciplined soldiers in service to the UNSC. SPARTAN-II and SPARTAN-III personnel took part in intense training from childhood; most saw combat by their early teens. The SPARTAN-IIs wear performance-enhancing [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]], whereas most SPARTAN-IIIs wore [[Semi-Powered Infiltration armor]]. After the Spartan branch's establishment, NAVSPECWARCOM still maintains operational command over Blue Team.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/spoilers-john-117-is-no-longer-blue-leader/00e462e3-9293-42ac-8f61-12c0dcc878df/posts|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=John-117 is no longer blue leader|D=29|M=12|Y=2019|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#John-117 is no longer blue leader}}

====Known units====
*[[ORION Project]]
*[[SPARTAN-II program]]
**[[Blue Team]]
**[[Black Team]] - All Members KIA
**[[Red Team]]
**[[Gray Team]] - ''formerly''; as of September, 2558, under authority of the Office of Naval Intelligence.
**[[Green Team]]
**[[Gold Team]]
**[[Team Omega]]
*[[SPARTAN-III program]]
**[[SPARTAN-III Alpha Company|Alpha Company]]
**[[SPARTAN-III Beta Company|Beta Company]]
**[[SPARTAN-III Gamma Company|Gamma Company]]

===Orbital Drop Shock Troopers===
[[File:H3 7thHelljumpers.jpg|250px|thumb|7th Battalion troops heading toward an enemy position on [[Installation 00|the Ark]].]]

The [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines Corps']] [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] (ODST) are an important part of the UNSC's offensive operations. Disciplined and skilled, they drop into the most hostile areas via [[Single Occupant Exoatmospheric Insertion Vehicle|SOEIV drop pods]]. They attempt to complete some of the most difficult tasks in hostile areas, such as clearing enemy ground forces or establishing landing zones for incoming [[dropship]]s.

====Known units====
*[[65th Shock Troops Division]]
**[[103rd Shock Troops Battalion]]
***[[Alpha-Nine]]
*[[105th Shock Troops Division]]
**[[2nd Shock Troops Battalion]]
**[[7th Shock Troops Battalion]]
***[[First Platoon (ODST)|First Platoon]]
**[[9th Shock Troops Battalion]]
***[[Boomerang Company]]
****[[First Platoon (Spirit of Fire)|First Platoon]]
*****[[Sunray 1-1]]
****[[Lotus Squad]]
**[[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]]
**[[3rd Platoon]]
**[[105th Drop Jet Platoon]]
*[[Alpha-Five]]
*[[21st Space Assault Battalion]]
*[[340th ODST Combat Training Unit]]
**[[Echo Team (ODST)|Echo Team]]
**[[Kilo Team]]
*[[ODST Special Purpose Forces]]
**[[Bullfrogs|ODST Air Assault units]]
*[[Fireteam Raven]]
*[[Gamma-Six]]
*[[NSWG2-ODST team 5]]
*[[Unidentified ODST squad|Unidentified squad]]

==Unified Special Warfare Command==
'''Unified Special Warfare Command''' ('''USW'''{{Ref/Book|Halo: Reach manual|Page=1}} or '''UNISPECWARCOM''') often simplified as '''Special Warfare Command''' ('''SPECWARCOM'''), is a special forces [[division]] under the authority of [[Unified Ground Command]].{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p74|Enc22|Page=74}}{{Ref/Book|Id=USWDivision|Enc22|Page=98|Quote=Directly attached to the USW division....}} It maintains oversight of special operations carried out by the [[UNSC Army]],{{Ref/Site|Id=voc|URL=http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1085710|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Re: Just checked out the Essential Visual Guide|D=30|M=04|Y=2023}} alongside the ability to provide tactical oversight of personnel deployments in the [[Spartan Operations]] division (something shared with NAVSPECWARCOM).{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p74}}

Given UNICOM's authority over the UNSC Marine Corps on the whole,{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=54-55}} it is possible that USW also oversees Marine special force units apart from the ODST, who fall under NAVSPECWAR's authority.

"Force Recon" has been mentioned in various Halo sources. Little details are known and it's unclear if these units fall under USW or NAVSPECWAR. It can be assumed that these units are modeled off of [[Wikipedia:United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance|Force Recon]] from the [[Wikipedia:United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps]].

====Known units====
Within the UNSC Army, UNISPECWARCOM is divided into a number of "Special Warfare Groups", with at least three such units in existence. Each Special Warfare Group is commanded by a [[Colonel]], with a strength likely equivalent to a [[brigade]]. Overall, USW has the strength of a division.{{Ref/Reuse|USWDivision}}
*'''[[Special Warfare Group Three|Special Warfare Group THREE]]'''
**[[NOBLE Team]]
**[[3 Charlie]]

==List of appearances==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[i love bees]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Starry Night]]''
*''[[Believe]]'' 
**''[[Diorama]]'' {{C|Diorama only}} 
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Arms Race]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Helljumper]]''
*''[[The Life]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST Pre-mission Evaluation]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
**''[[The Package (animated short)|The Package]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]''
**''[[Human Weakness]]''
**''[[Midnight in the Heart of Midlothian]]
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]''
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn]]''
*''[[Scanned]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo 2: Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
**''[[Hunt the Signal]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
**''[[Halo 5: Guardians Limited Edition dossiers|Limited Edition dossiers]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Lone Wolf]]''
*''[[Halo: Renegades]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
{{col-end}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{United Nations Space Command}}
[[Category:UNSC Special Forces| ]]
[[Category:UNSC Armed Forces|Special Forces]]