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The forced enrollment of John (The Master Chief) in the UNSC (United Nations Space Command)
When he was six years old, he was identified as one of 150 preliminary candidates for the SPARTAN-II Program. John was the ideal physical and mental candidate, being a larger head than most of his peers, having great physical proportions, having great strength, exhibiting superior reflexes, and having an aggressive attitude for success. When Dr. Catherine Halsey and he, at the time, Lieutenant Jacob Keyes, visited Eridanus II in 2517 to study them. -
SPARTAN-II program
In 2517 John and 74 other six-year-olds were "recruited" to Reach: where they covered their abduction with Flash-Clones, who would later die of natural causes. Dr. Halsey informed them that in Project SPARTAN-II they would become the protectors of Earth and all of her colonies. The next morning, John discovered his identification number engraved on his uniform with his new name: John-117. -
Mission in the snowy forest
When the Spartans were eight years old, they were sent on a training mission in which they fell into a forest deep in one of Reach's snow-capped mountain ranges, and hoped to arrive safely at their extraction site where a Pelican from Extraction. The children were instructed to leave the last child behind, or the punishment would be painful, but John knew he couldn't do that. -
Beginning of his career
Promoted to Junior Master Chief Officer, John-117's first mission was against rebels in the asteroid belt of the Eridanus System, where his home planet was. He was wounded while leading his squad to capture the rebel leader, Colonel Robert Watts. He received a Purple Heart after the mission. UNSC technicians placing the MJOLNIR Armor on John
John wearing his Mark IV MJOLNIR Armor -
Beginnings of his career 2
John's first battle against the Covenant was shortly after he received his armor. All Spartans were thrown in a Pelican. Each brought an ANVIL Missile with them, to destroy a Covenant ship. Only three Spartans entered through a hole in the ship's hull, which was made by a MAC Cannonball. These Spartans were Samuel-034, Kelly-087, and John. They completed the mission and destroyed the Covenant ship, but lost Sam in the process. This first UNSC victory against the Covenant though at a high price.
