There are a lot of variables behind this idea of ODSTs becoming Spartans, and as much as I hate to admit it, some of the old rivalry would likely be in place restricting some from wanting to make the change. This cuts both ways however, as personnel in the ODST program are still needed for their specific role type.
I for one, would absolutely hate to see classic characters like Buck’s squad or Bullfrog Platoon become Spartan IVs for the sake of character. Buck, Mickey, Dutch, Romey and the Rookie were all perfect character types in their short appearance into the Halo Universe, and part of their charm came from the fact that they were regular trained humans capable of fighting a war against impossible odds. To give them Spartan status might be cool in shortsight, but in the longrun it’s likely going to make them uniniteresting as the focus of Halo has been heavy on the Spartan POV already. Seeing things from a regular enlistee perspective would be a nice change of pace from time to time, and remind players of the challenge humanity has to face.
It concerns me that ODSTs weren’t even mentioned in Halo 4, aside from Master Chief’s speculation-worthy reference to Force Recon in Mission 5. Rumors have risen that ODSTs have been entirely disbanded since the dawn of the Spartan IV program, which I hope is not the case because this would be a very foolish act on the part of those handling Halo’s fiction.
We have Navy SEALs; that doesn’t mean we’re getting rid of Air Force Pararescue. We have Army Rangers; Marine Force Recon or Delta Force. Why? Because, while similar, they still have different roles in the field. In addition, Spartan augmentation still costs money, and as far as I’ve heard the Infinity only has somewhere around one thousand Spartans. Over the years of the UNSC, I’m sure it’s safe to assume that the number of ODSTs and Marines vastly outnumber those of Spartan operators.
Quality of Quantity can be argued, but Quantity still makes the difference on a larger scale. Spartans, as far as we’ve seen, are Infinity-exclusive, and with Earth’s many colonies a larger security force is needed to keep them safe, this includes a Quick Reaction Force (QRF), a role best suited by ODSTs with their orbital deployment capabilities.
Psychologically, I can’t see a number of ODSTs taking the change lightly. Where some might fit in, others might recognize this decision as literally life-changing to a point where they can’t go back. Others might fit right in, and might even–as seen with the case of Fireteam Majestic–become self-absorbed in their new position of battlefield power. While the hatred for the SIIs was partially misplaced (partially because John 117 did kill a few Troopers on Naval orders, which was sure to leave a bad taste) and even revealed to be such with potential declassification, the Spartan IVs would likely receive similar judgment based on volunteer candidacy and the likelihood of cases akin to Spartans DeMarco and Madson.
People have a right to be cocky now and then, but having worked in many environments, hostile and otherwise, overconfidence can be the downfall for some.
Long thesis aside, if an ODST became a Spartan, I would have to say good for him or her. They’ve earned it. I only hope their decision wasn’t hastily made or half-thought. I only hope it’s what they really wanted.
