Orbital Drop Shock Troops

Greetings, welcome to the ODST Project Page. The goal of this page is to give an overview of the ODST History in Daybreak. This history will stretch from their inception to the start of the Unnamed Conflict. Given the work I put into the 105th Shock Troops Division, the goal is to create a similar history for the ODSTs, much like the US Army Special Forces and US Navy SEALs wikipedia pages. This will be more of a historical catalog with organizational aspects more than operational and tactical. In the end, the page should provide a good idea of what the ODST history might look like and how it has developed over the centuries.

Inception and Expansion
Under the United Nations Space Command Special Warfare Command, the Drop Jet Jumpers were a Special Warfare Force designed to conduct shock infantry tactics during the Interplanetary Wars. Throughout the following years, the Drop Jet Jumpers grew to the size three Regiments spread across Earth, Luna, and Mars. The establishment of the UNSC Marine Corps moved the Drop Jet Jumpers under the UNSC Marine Corps Special Warfare Command and out of WARCOM. Under the 2210 Force Modernization, the Drop Jet Jumpers were renamed to the Drop Shock Troops. Under MARSPECWAR, the DST was expanded to a Division with its headquarters on Mars while serving as the UNSC Marine Corps Special Warfare Component Force to the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command. By 2250, the Drop Shock Troops added Orbital and became the Orbital Drop Shock Troops and the premier Special Warfare Component Force to NAVWARCOM. They grew to four Divisions by the end of the 23rd century with three active-duty and one reserve, two on Mars, one on Luna, and another on Earth.

Structure and organization
The ODSTs fall under the UNSC Marine Corps Forces Special Warfare Command, a component command for the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command, known as WARCOM. The UNSC Marine Corps Forces Special Warfare Command, informally known as SHOCKCOM, is the primary command over all ODST units across the United Nations Space Command, with a four-star General in command. SHOCKCOM does not command ODSTs but is the command providing the UNSC Marine Corps Special Warfare support to WARCOM. From the General Officer Level, the ODSTs are organized much like a Marine Expeditionary Force. The overarching Command and Control of ODSTs in a Sector is through a Shock Troops Corps, commanded by a Lieutenant General. Shock Corps are considered the largest operational command within WARCOM. Notably, a Shock Corps can serve as a Joint Special Warfare Task Force Headquarters for star systems. The Shock Corps oversees all operational and administrative activities within their assigned Area of Responsibility. Within SHOCKCOM, there are a total of 36 Shock Corps.

Within each Shock Corps, depending on the Sector, there can be two to five Shock Troops Divisions under the command of a Corps. A Shock Troops Division is the primary fighting force of a Shock Corps and commanded by a Major General. Along with the Shock Troops Division, there is also a Shock Troops Training Brigade, commanded by a Brigadier General. The Shock Troops Support Brigade, also commanded by a Brigadier General, are the two support elements to the Corps and provide support to the Shock Troops Divisions assigned under the Shock Corps. Shock Troop Divisions can deploy outside of their Corps Area of Responsibility based on needs by WARCOM.

Specialized Special Operations Capable units such as the Space Assault Battalion, Shock Troops Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and Force Reconnaissance/ODST Battalion are Division assets to conduct operations outside of SHOCKCOM's area of expertise. The units were stood up as a Proof of Concept during the 25th century to prepare ODSTs for specialized combat operations outside of their main mission of shock tactics. Through the SHOCKCOM Special Operations Capable Program, the three units became instrumental in giving a Division more options in defeating a target. Some of the Special Operations Capable units went on to become the most decorated units in SHOCKCOM.

The Shock Troops Warfighting Laboratory is the Research and Development arm of SHOCKCOM, commanded by a Major General. The Lab is known for overseeing all modernization efforts to SHOCKCOM.

In conjunction with WARCOM, SHOCKCOM stood up the Helljumper Demonstration Teams, a recruitment and public relations unit to help engage the public with the ODSTs. ODST Drop Teams perform a combat drop and showcase their skills to encourage people in trying out. The Public Relations Office, known as Shock Snaps, works closely with media corporations on recruitment and advertising through a number of communication channels. Their most famous work, Making of a Helljumper, showcased the training of an ODST and brought the training to public eyes for the first time, prior to the Insurrection.