A YJA Moment - G.I. Joe

The Joint Operations Executive was formally founded in 1964 by General Colton as a direct result of the events in the Caribbean Sea that year. The actions of metahumans during attempting to influence the Cuban Missile Crisis put President Kennedy on edge, prompting Colton to propose a radical new fighting force.

The "Joes" (as they were affectionately known) were a multi-branch combat unit composed of soldiers drawn from the United States Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force.  In addition, soldiers from other NATO countries would be able to transfer, lending their unique skills to the team.

For decades the Joes served with distinction across the globe, fighting both conventional and unconventional enemies.  Among their most common foes were the worldwide terrorism organization HYDRA and the Soviet Union Red Shadows agency and their elite October Guard.

Throughout their tenure, the J.O.E. program had to content with finances and they were often slashed by successive Presidencies looking for budget savings. This forced the Joes to continually upgrade their existing weapons and vehicles instead of being replaced by new models.

This was ironic because the team was often chosen to field-test experimental technology in the field.  While the rest of the United States Military are using M1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and F-35 Strike Fighters, G.I. Joe made do with surplus MBT-70 "M.O.B.A.T." Tanks and XF-14F "Skystriker" Aircraft. This despite fielding soldiers equipped with energy rifles and other advanced technology.

In 1980 the J.O.E. organization was superseded and absorbed by the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), though little changed in their operational chain of command.  Major General Lawrence Flagg, the commander of SOCOM, felt that the secret of the Joes' success was in their independence.

Nonetheless, in 2020 after almost 55 years of service, it was announced that the Joint Operations Executive program would be discontinued; its members being transferred back to their original service branches.  It had been intended to slowly phase out the program, but with the Apokolips Invasion, that has been put on hold by S.H.I.E.L.D.

The current Joe's commander, Colonel Conrad "Duke" Hauser, has been tasked with dealing with a new military faction that has splintered from HYDRA, known only as Cobra.