Military Assault Command Operations

The MACOs (an acronym for Military Assault Command Operations) is a military organization in service in the Federation from the 2150s through the late 23rd century. The MACOs (pronounced "MAY-ko") operate in tandem with Starfleet personnel. This allows them the freedom to operate outside of the direct chain of command. Though they are afforded this freedom, on board a Starfleet ship, they accept orders from the captain and the command staff.

A MACO officer

MACOs have similar training and tactics as the special forces of a number of member nations of United Earth (the US Navy SEALS, Delta Force, Army Rangers, Marine Force Recon, Special Air Service, etc), and their rank insignia is similar to that of the U.S. Marine Corps. Their operation aboard Starfleet vessels is comparable to that of the U.S. Marines on board U.S. Navy vessels in the 20th and 21st centuries.

In the 22nd century

During the 2150's the MACO's were overseen by General Casey. At the time MACO posts included Atlanta and the Janus loop. The primary training post was West Point in New York. MACO's were deployed aboard Starfleet vessels during the Xindi crisis, and remained aboard until the birth of the Federation. (ENT: "The Expanse", "The Xindi", "Hatchery", "The Council")

Aboard Enterprise

The MACO patch for the Enterprise squad.

A detachment of troops were assigned to the Enterprise under the commanded of Major J. Hayes during the ship's mission into the Delphic Expanse in 2153. (ENT: "The Expanse")

Aboard the Poseidon

MACO patch for Poseidon contingent.

MACO's also served aboard the Poseidon during the Birth of the Federation. (Star Trek: Poseidon - The Birth of the Federation)

In the 23rd Century

After the Xindi War, the newly formed Federation began to set its sights on the peaceful exploration of the Galaxy. It was decided that MACO's projected the wrong image for ships of peace, and therefore they were slowly phased out of primary starship service, leaving the protection of the larger starships to their own security forces. By the end of the 22nd century, MACO's could only be found on board the lighter ships of Starfleet.

MACO's would return to regular service, however, to great advantage during both the Earth-Romulan War in 2266 as well as the beginning of the Klingon Cold War in the 2240s, but as these wars were resolved or waned, MACOs would once again be pushed into the service of the lower-line vessels of the fleet. (Tamerlane)

The MACOs on the Tamerlane

The patch for the USS Tamerlane MACO detachment. The blue trim denotes Destroyer service

The USS Tamerlane along with a number of her sister ships have carried MACOs aboard since the beginning of the Klingon Cold War. Most of the time the MACOs were used as boarding parties or ground assault troops, but as the war cooled down, they began to find roles more akin to their Starfleet counterparts.

Led by Major James Arbough, the MACOs of the Tamerlane in the latter part of her career have seen some very interesting missions, but have often found themselves prepped for battles that rarely, if ever, occur. (Tamerlane)

The MACOs on the Saladin

The patch for the USS Saladin MACO detachment.

Led by Lt. Commander Robert Shea, USS Saladin's MACOs saw considerable action as boarding parties, as ground assault teams, and as peacekeeping forces while assigned to the disputed Triangle sector of space between the three major star-faring empires of the Alpha Quadrant.

In the 24th Century

MACO's served aboard Federation starships when the Federation was either in a state of war or on the verge of war.

See also

• MACO ranks
• Star Trek: Poseidon - The Birth of the Federation
• Tamerlane

External links

• Military Assault Command Operations article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
• MACO article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.