105th Shock Troops Special Missions Detachment

The 105th Shock Troops Special Missions Detachment is a black military unit under the 105th Shock Troops Division assigned to the HOPLITE program. Assigned to report directly to the division's headquarters battalion, the unit is known to conduct special operation missions alongside SPARTAN units in the field. Known as The Detachment by its peers, it is considered the most elite unit that performs operations exclusively for Naval Special Warfare Command and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Mission
The Detachment is known to be capable of performing nearly every special operations mission since they deploy alongside SPARTANs in the Hoplite Program. ODSTs assigned to the detachment are known to be experts in their field and are handpicked to assist missions alongside SPARTANs. Regardless of their skills, the core missions of the Detachment revolve around providing six mission specialties for NAVSPECWAR to utilize in a situation where they need to deploy an ODST/SPARTAN unit. While the Detachment is apart of the 105th division, they can deploy across UNSC Controlled Space for whatever mission the SPARTANs require an ODST unit.
 * Direct Action
 * Counter-Insurgency
 * Counter-Terrorism
 * Hostage Rescue
 * Special Reconnaissance
 * Operational Preparation of Battlefield

Organization
Compared to the rest of the 105th Shock Troops Division, the Special Missions Detachment organizes itself in a much different fashion. The Detachment is led by a Lieutenant Colonel known as the Detachment Commander who has a Senior Enlisted Advisor that is a Sergeant Major. Squadrons are led by Majors known as Squadron Commanders and accompanied by a Master Gunnery Sergeant who is called the Squadron Chief. Troops are led by Captains who are called Troop Commanders alongside a Master Sergeant who is called a Troop Chief. There are four ODST Combat Teams per troops that have forty operators ranging from Gunnery Sergeant to Corporal.

In the two assault squadron, there are three troops that specialize in direct action, counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and hostage rescue. For the reconnaissance squadron, two troops specialize in special reconnaissance, operational preparation of the battlefield, and provide sniper teams. The Combat Support Squadron has full-time MOS specialists to assist the Detachment in conducting missions alongside the SPARTANs or other units.
 * Headquarters and Staff Detachment
 * A Squadron (Assault)
 * B Squadron (Assault)
 * C Squadron (Reconnaissance)
 * D Squadron (Combat Support)

Activation
In January of 2534, ONI Section Three approached the 105th Shock Troops Division with the option to conduct missions alongside the SPARTAN-II Program since the Program needed specialized operators to assist the SPARTANs skillset in combat. Known as the Hoplite Program, the 105th HQ Battalion began a small cell to develop a unit to support SPARTANs on combat missions. The Deputy Commander of the 105th at the time, Brigadier General Lennart Mouritsen oversaw the creation of the unit and worked closely with Section Three. In the early days, the unit resided under a Special Access Program and given a callsign every three months to conceal the unit from within the 105th Shock Troops Division. In July of 2534, the 105th Shock Troops Special Missions Detachment was established inside of the Headquarters Battalion under a Major with two Squadrons. One was specialized in Direct Action and another in Reconnaissance. Throughout the rest of 2534, the Detachment grew to 150 operators that were capable of performing operations alongside SPARTANs. In the early months of 2535, the Detachment was given the green light to deploy.

Recruitment
Recruitment for the Special Missions Detachment is conducted through the 105th Shock Troops Training Center along with former operators of the detachment. Instead of looking for the best ODSTs, they are tasked with looking for the right candidates to go through the further steps. The Detachment is known to recruit to officers at the ranks of Captain and Major then at enlisted from Corporal to Master Sergeant. Requirements include at least two years in a Shock Troops Regiment and conducting a combat deployment. Picking from exclusively in the division, the detachment is known to have current and former operators spread throughout the entire unit to pick out personnel.

Assessment and Selection
The Assessment and Selection Program ran by the Detachment is far more different than the Assessment and Selection ran by the 105th Shock Troops Division. It's a two-week course that focuses more on the candidate's ability to think critically, deductively, and inductively throughout multiple scenarios. Since the candidates that have been selected already proven themselves, the Detachment ensures that the prospect can navigate their way to a solution with their mind and skillset rather than firepower and coordinated airstrikes. A&S includes a physical, academic, and psychological cycle to ensure that all candidates are capable of performing the tasks at hand.

Due to small candidate classes, the Detachment works with Section Three to put together an ODST Performance Optimization Team that includes psychologists, weight trainers, and a medical team to help the candidates through the entire process. The ODST PO Team works with the candidates from when they arrive for the first day to the time they graduate from the Operator Training Course. The washout rate for Selection is 89% without the ODST PO Team and it lowers to 43% for those who utilize every function of the team. It is considered the hardest Selection Program in the Marine Corps Special Operations Command.

Operator Training Course
The Operator Training Course, better known as OTC, is what makes those who passed Selection and turns them into operators. The six-month course is conducted through many organizations within the UNSC. The OTC for Direct Action Operators encompasses ONI training from Section Three and One on conducting direct action raids, hostage rescue, sensitive site exploitation, and enable each person to become an expert in their MOS. Reconnaissance Candidates become case officers who can run spy networks to perform counter-insurgency, conduct missions out-of-uniform, navigate cyber networks, and allow Scout Snipers to perfect their craft of marksmanship. ONI is known to host almost all the courses that the candidates go through to ensure they are the most qualified personnel to operate alongside the SPARTAN units.

Following the graduation of the OTC, candidates are awarded the title operator by the Detachment Commander and report to a troop or squadron. Since the detachment is small, officers and enlisted persons can be Released For Standards if they are not performing at their best ability. If an operator is unable to perform their duties due to an injury, they are placed on Injured Reserve then reassessed to ensure they do not need to be Released for Medical Reason by the Detachment.