Editing UNSC Special Forces

{{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
The '''Special Forces''' comprise the special operations units of the [[United Nations Space Command]].<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halo3/content.aspx?link=h3shotgun '''Bungie.net''': ''M90A Close Assault Weapon System'']</ref> 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>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx '''Bungie.net''': ''Halo 3: ODST Field Guide'']</ref><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: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]''', ''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>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2963582_-Spoilers--John-117-is-no-longer-blue-leader.aspx#post2963582 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''John-117 is no longer blue leader (Catalog's answer)'']</ref>

====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>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''game manual''</ref> often simplified as '''Special Warfare Command''' ('''SPECWARCOM'''), is a special forces branch under the authority of [[Unified Ground Command]].{{Ref/Note|Most sources refer to the organization solely as "Special Warfare Command". The "Unified" part of the name is extrapolated from various sources but it has never been used directly in official material. The introduction to the ''Halo: Reach'' game manual refers to [[Colonel]] [[Urban Holland]]'s group as "USW". In several pre-release materials for ''Halo: Reach'' (including the [[Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta|multiplayer beta]] and the pre-order bonus card for the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/R variant|Recon]] helmet), Special Warfare Group Three is indicated to be under UNICOM's operational authority. Based on this information, "USW" can be inferred to mean "Unified Special Warfare". The wiki uses this title for the sake of consistency with the naming of Naval Special Warfare as well as to more clearly differentiate the two organizations.}} It maintains oversight of special operations carried out by the [[UNSC Army]].<ref name="voc">[http://carnage.bungie.org/haloforum/halo.forum.pl?read=1085710 '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Re: Just checked out the Essential Visual Guide'']</ref> Given UNICOM's authority over the UNSC Marine Corps on the whole,<ref>'''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe''', ''pages 54-55'' (2011)</ref> it is possible that USW also oversees Marine special force units apart from the ODST, who fall under NAVSPECWAR's authority.

====Known units====
*'''[[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|Limited Edition]]'' {{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]]