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. 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.
Aboard Enterprise
The MACO patch for the Enterprise squad.
A detachment of troops commanded by Major J. Hayes was assigned to the Enterprise (NX-01) for its mission into the Delphic Expanse in 2153. Admiral Maxwell Forrest was surprised that Captain Jonathan Archer had requested military officers aboard his ship. They saw their first action six weeks into the mission, in September, Hayes and a six-man team rescued Archer, Commander Charles Tucker, and Kessick from the clutches of a trellium mining planet. (Enterprise)
Aboard Challenger
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)
See also
External links
- Military Assault Command Operations article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- MACO article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.