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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|UNSC|HCW|Post}} |
| [[File:HR_NobleAndCivilians_Concept.jpg|300px|thumb|UNICOM forces include regular personnel assigned to terrestrial deployments and [[Special Warfare Command]] units like [[Spartan]]s, sometimes attached from the [[Navy]].]]
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| The '''Unified Ground Command''' (abbreviated '''UNICOM''' or '''UniCom''') is one of two combatant commands in the [[United Nations Space Command]] military organization, alongside [[UNSC Naval Command|Naval Command]], tasked with coordinating the terrestrial operations of the UNSC's terrestrial defensive forces.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=54-55}} It oversees the operational deployments of the [[UNSC Army|Army]], [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and the [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]],{{Ref/Site|Id=Catalog|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=14|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Catalog Interaction|Quote=Query Answer: Human [aerospace] assets allocated to Air Force control fall under terrestrial combatant command [ref: UNICOM].|D=13|M=04|Y=2021|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014}} though administrative control of these forces is kept within their respective branches.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=52-65}} | | The '''Unified Ground Command''' (abbreviated '''UNICOM''' or '''UniCom''') is a [[United Nations Space Command]] organization tasked with coordinating the terrestrial operations of the [[UNSC Army|Army]], the [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and the [[UNSC Air Force|Air Force]].<ref name="catalog">[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317 '''Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' page 14]</ref> UNICOM's roles include, but are not limited to, disaster relief, infantry operations, search and reconnaissance, and other "ground pounder" duties. Special operations within the organization's oversight are coordinated by UNICOM's dedicated [[UNSC Special Forces#Unified Special Warfare Command|Unified Special Warfare Command]]. The Marine Corps' [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] are an exception as they are instead controlled by [[UNSC Naval Command|Naval Command]]'s [[UNSC Special Forces#Naval Special Warfare Command|Naval Special Weapons]].<ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]''', ''pages 54-55'' (2011)</ref> UNICOM has the authority to take control of [[Colonial Militia|colonial militias]] and [[Law enforcement|security forces]] to accomplish its goals.<ref name="fb">'''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''', ''Core Rulebook - page 6''</ref> |
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| ==Overview== | | ==Structure== |
| ===Role and responsibilities===
| | Ground forces under UNICOM's authority are loosely modeled on the organization of the 21st century [[Wikipedia:United States Armed Force|United States military]]. The force numbers given in the descriptions below are ideals, rarely matched exactly in the field. At the higher levels, these numbers include a significant amount of support personnel such as logistics and administration. |
| UNICOM serves as the terrestrial equivalent for the [[UNSC Naval Command]] - and focuses on operational control of ground, air, and maritime forces during [[planetary warfare]] campaigns.{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFM|OSFM|Section=Part 08: UNSC Organization|Page=118-142}} Missions conducted under UNICOM oversight include disaster relief, search and reconnaissance, infantry deployments and other "ground pounder" missions.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} While administrative control is retained within their respective branches (such as [[Army Component Command]] and [[Marine Corps Forces]] for the Army and Marine Corps, respectively), UNICOM maintains the authority to direct units to conduct missions and delegate tasks - though does not include the ability to alter the internal structure of their forces.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Forces tasked under UNICOM are organised into combined-arms [[task force]]s, which may be paired with NAVCOM equivalents to form larger joint task forces - which are appropriately assigned to one of the four [[Central Command]]s covering a given region of [[Human colonies|human space]].{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM}} | |
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| ===Forces=== | | ===Fireteam=== |
| UNICOM oversees deployments of the [[UNSC Air Force]] and [[UNSC Army]],{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} alongside select units of the [[UNSC Marine Corps]]. Unlike the other two branches, Marine Corps units may transition back and forth between NAVCOM and UNICOM authority in combat zones - something which is managed by UNSC [[Joint Deconfliction Team]]s. Marine units generally organised under UNICOM are those conducting long-term planetary security, training and equipment for other forces, and force augmentation for other UNSC garrisons.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Marine forces deployed in space and aboard [[UNSC starship]]s, alongside the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]], are not under UNICOM authority and are instead under NAVCOM control (with the ODSTs and Marine special forces units specifically falling under [[Naval Special Warfare Command]]).{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} This includes those Marine forces deployed by NAVCOM as landing parties and expeditionary ground combat units - a reading of the regulations vehemently contested by UNICOM.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
| | A [[fireteam]] is the smallest unit of UNICOM's force organization. It contains a total of three soldiers plus a fireteam leader, usually a corporal or sometimes a lance corporal in the Marine Corps.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| Special operations within the organization's oversight are coordinated by UNICOM's dedicated [[Unified Special Warfare Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
| | ===Squad=== |
| | A [[squad]] contains three fireteams led by a sergeant for a total of thirteen members.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| Alongside regular UNSC military forces, UNICOM has the authority to take control of [[Colonial Militia|colonial militias]] and [[Law enforcement|regional security forces]] to accomplish its goals.{{Ref/Book|Id=fb|Halo: Fleet Battles core rulebook|Page=6}}
| | ===Platoon=== |
| | A [[platoon]] normally contains three squads (39 personnel); plus the platoon leader, a [[Second Lieutenant|Second]] or [[First Lieutenant]]; the Platoon Sergeant (the second-in-command), usually a [[Sergeant]] or [[Staff Sergeant]]; and a medic, for a total of forty-two men.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| ==Structure== | | ===Company=== |
| While UNICOM's structure is loosely modelled on that of the now-defunct [[Wikipedia:United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} it has a number of major differences owing to the advancement of technology and the spread of humanity across the stars. The advent of [[artificial intelligence]] and other automated processes allows much of UNICOM's administrative functions to be delegated - resulting in its human personnel focusing more of their time and energy on direct military matters. Combined with the UNSC's high standards for training, this allows UNICOM to maintain a high "tooth to tail" ratio of warfighters to support and logistics personnel, as well as ensuring that UNICOM [[Commissioned officer|comissioned]] and [[non-commissioned officer]]s have considerably more authority and autonomy than their historical forebears.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM}}
| | A [[company]] contains four platoons plus a group of personnel assigned as "Company Headquarters Section" (164 personnel). It is commanded by a captain with a company first sergeant. The twelve companies of a brigade or regiment are named phonetically "A" (Alpha) through "M" (Mike) with the exclusion of "J" (Juliet). First Battalion consists of companies A through D, Second Battalion is companies E through H, and so forth.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| | A typical infantry company would have three infantry platoons and one heavy weapons platoon, but these numbers are flexible depending on the unit type and mission. "T" companies, for example, eschew this model and mix their heavy weapons personnel into each platoon so all the platoons have one heavy weapon squad.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| | ===Battalion=== |
| | A [[battalion]] contains four companies plus a group of command and staff personnel assigned as Headquarters Company (eight hundred personnel). It is commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a battalion sergeant major; this would be a sergeant major in the Marine Corps or a command sergeant major in the Army.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| | ===Regiment (Marine Corps) or brigade (Army)=== |
| | A Marine Corps [[regiment]] contains three battalions, plus a group of personnel assigned as Headquarters Company (3,000 personnel) commanded by a colonel with a sergeant major as senior non-commissioned officer.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
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| As part of its military standardisation, UNICOM maintains a generally standardised [[UNSC rank structure#UNICOM ranks|rank structure]] and organisational chart. While per-service and circumstantial exemptions do exist (such as the Marine Corps and Air Force generally not employing [[Warrant Officer]]s), there is a considerable degree of standardisation for personnel and military units across all three of the service branches under UNICOM's purview.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM}} The following is an overview of the standard UNICOM force deployments, particularly geared toward the Marine Corps and Army. The numbers provided are ideals though circumstances in the field mean that these numbers are highly variable. The higher echelons of the force are accompanied by significant numbers of logistics and support personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
| | The Army uses permanent [[brigade]]s in lieu of regiments, though their unit compositions are largely similar to Marine regiments. Army brigades likewise contain an average of three battalions and their attendant personnel. |
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| *'''[[Fireteam]] (Ø)''' - 4 personnel led by a [[Lance Corporal]] or [[Corporal]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
| | ===Division=== |
| *'''[[Section]] ({{*}})''' - around 8 personnel led by a Lance Corporal or Corporal.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
| | A [[division]] contains four regiments plus a group of personnel assigned as Headquarters Battalion (14,000 personnel) commanded by a major general. The extra personnel in the force number given are support units, including medical, combat engineering, maintenance, and military police.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}} |
| *'''[[Squad]] ({{*}}{{*}})''' - around 12{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} to 13{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} personnel lead by a Lance Corporal, Corporal or [[Sergeant]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Squads consist of three fireteams, with a basic rifle squad consisting of two fireteams supported by a heavy weapons fireteam. A weapons squad contains all heavy weapons fireteams.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *'''[[Platoon]] ({{*}}{{*}}{{*}})''' - around 40 personnel led by a [[Second Lieutenant]] and a [[Staff Sergeant]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Marine rifle platoons consist of three squads, while vehicle platoons consist of two to four vehicle sections.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *'''[[Company]] (|)''' - around 180 personnel consisting of four platoons plus an additional Company Headquarters Section, commanded by a [[First Lieutenant]] or [[Captain (UNICOM)|Captain]]. These may be used by UNICOM as a special task force.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *'''[[Battalion]] (||)'''
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| *'''[[Regiment]] (|||)''' - 3,000 personnel commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel or Brigadier General.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Regiments are used by UNICOM as a rapid reaction force,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and consist of three battalions plus an additional group of personnel designated as the "Regimental Headquarters Section".{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
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| *'''[[Brigade]] (x)''' - 5,000{{Ref/Novel|HOblv|Chapter=4}} to 9,000 personnel commanded by a [[Brigadier General]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| *'''[[Division]] (xx)''' - 14,000 personnel commanded by a Brigadier General or [[Major General]]. Divisions are comprised of three regiments or brigades, alongside various logistical and noncombat support units.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
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| ==Production note== | | ==Production note== |
| The ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'' claims that UNICOM's unit composition and rank hierarchy are based on those of the [[Wikipedia:Organization of the United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps]]. This has since been negated as the Army uses the rank of specialist (E-4) and fields permanent brigades. These are both [[Wikipedia:Structure of the United States Army|United States Army]] traditions that are not shared by the Marine Corps. | | The ''[[Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]'' claims that UNICOM's unit composition and rank hierarchy are based on those of the [[Wikipedia:Organization of the United States Marine Corps|United States Marine Corps]]. This has since been negated as the Army uses the rank of specialist (E-4) and fields permanent brigades. These are both [[Wikipedia:Structure of the United States Army|United States Army]] traditions that are not shared by the Marine Corps. |
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| ==List of appearances== | | ==List of appearances== |
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| *''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]'' {{Mo}} | | *''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]'' {{Mo}} |
| *''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'' {{Mo}} | | *''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'' {{Mo}} |
| *''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
