We all know and love the classic ODST emblem; the skull in fore, above the silhouette of a SOEIV. For many years, it has been assumed to be the emblem for the ODST corps, like the Eagle and lightning is for the Spartans (Both old and new). However, I’ve also noticed this version of the emblem in use, seen in two places. Here on the forums, and tattooed on the back of Cadmon Lasky in the Insurrection, before the Covenant War.
So, we can rule out one overriding the other, as both were in service before the war, and both have been used in modern Halo media (Such as this screenshot for the classic design) alongside the new emblems for the Army, Navy, ONI and such.
So, does one reperesent a specific branch of the ODSTs like the Helljumpers or Bullfrogs? Are they indicative of rank or is one simply a stylization of another used by troops, but isn’t official? Or is it another reason?
I’d go with simple stylization. The one seen on Buck’s armor in Halo 5, as well as the limited edition Xbox One console, is probably the official insignia for the ODSTs. As such it’s probably older and dates back to the command’s establishment. The variant used by Cadmon Lasky would be the stylized of the two as it incorporates the background of a solid drop pod into the design of the skull and includes the smoke and flames that would accompany it during a drop. None of it seems very “heraldic,” so it’s definitely something you’d see popularly used in unofficial insignia, tattoos, stuff like that.
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> I’d go with simple stylization. The one seen on Buck’s armor in Halo 5, as well as the limited edition Xbox One console, is probably the official insignia for the ODSTs. As such it’s probably older and dates back to the command’s establishment. The variant used by Cadmon Lasky would be the stylized of the two as it incorporates the background of a solid drop pod into the design of the skull and includes the flames smoke and flames that would accompany it during a drop. None of it seems very “heraldic,” so it’s definitely something you’d see popularly used in unofficial insignia, tattoos, stuff like that.
that was my thought. A variant used by the troops themselves, whereas the original is that variant in service since the corps was first established.
Yeah I’d have to go with stylization just like in modern military members will take the symbols of their units and stylize them a bit to get a tattoo and make it more artistic and unique or members of the same platoon will get the same tattoo.
ODST is made of various team/battalion, I wouldn’t be surprised if ODST have varied detachment insignia. Point being navy seals have numerous patches, 10 in all… I dont see a discrepancy as it can easily be explained that Buck did not serve in the same team/battalion as Tomas’s brother.
