The Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (or ODSTs for short) are a special forces unit of the UNSC Marines who make orbital insertions through planetary atmospheres. Delivered to their targets via Human Entry Vehicles or if stealth is needed, by parachute, these soldiers are always in the most danger of being killed on a mission. As the HEVs enter the atmosphere, they become unbearably hot, occasionally to the point of death. Thus, one must volunteer to be an ODST, making many people view them as crazy. They are the toughest soldiers the UNSC has to fight the Covenant with other than the SPARTAN-IIs. The 105th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Division is the toughest of the ODST Divisions and are nicknamed "Helljumpers" for their tenacity.
ODSTs were operating as early as 2525. In Halo: The Fall of Reach, the Master Chief was forced to fight ODSTs on more than one occasion. Because of this, it seems that the ODST and Spartan units do not get along most of the time. ODSTs were aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, the UNSC Atlas as well as the UNSC In Amber Clad. It is very possible that every vessel in the UNSC has a detatchment of ODSTs.
In Halo: The Flood, the group of ODSTs led by Major Antonio Silva were instrumental in ensuring that the survivors of the Pillar of Autumn were well protected, although none of them were ever seen in Halo: Combat Evolved.
In Halo 2, the ODSTs that accompany the Master Chief on the drop onto Delta Halo are clad in black armour with silver reflective visors instead of the regular Marine uniform. ODST soldiers were on the orbital defense stations in orbit above Earth as on the first level of Halo 2 four ODSTs could be seen lying dead on Cairo Station. Also ODSTs were seen in the video Another Day at the Beach.
List of ODSTs
- Major Antonio Silva
- First Lieutenant Melissa McKay
- Second Lieutenant Dalu
- Second Lieutenant Oros
- Master Sergeant Lister
- Company Sergeant Tink Carter
- Gunnery Sergeant Waller
- Sergeant Corly
- Sergeant Parker
- Corporal Locklear
- Lance Corporal "Snaky" Jones
- Private First Class Hosky
- Private Marie Postly
- Private Satha
