TFW2005
Hisstank
Thundercats
TokuNation
Toyark
Home
News
G.I. Joe Movie
G.I. Joe Classified
G.I. Joe Vintage
Compatible Military Toys
G.I. Joe Comics
G.I. Joe Conventions
All News Categories
Photo Shoots
Database
G.I. Joe Database Index
G.I. Joe Classified
G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary
G.I. Joe Resolute
G.I. Joe Movie
G.I. Joe Pursuit of Cobra
G.I. Joe Renegades
G.I. Joe 30th Anniversary
G.I. Joe Retaliation
G.I. Joe Basic
G.I. Joe 50th Anniversary
G.I. Joe Con & Club
G.I. Joe FSS
Forum
Recent Posts Page
Characters
Snake Eyes
Cobra Commander
Destro
Baroness
Storm Shadow
Roadblock
Companies
Fun Pub
IDW
DeNA
Sideshow
Gentle Giant
Boss Fight
Ori Toy
Marauder
HissTank.com
>
HissTank.com - G.I. Joe
Integration
User Name
Remember Me?
Password
Rules
Register
Community
Today's Posts
Search
Community Links
Social Groups
Pictures & Albums
Members List
Search Forums
Show Threads
Show Posts
Advanced Search
Go to Page...
Thread
:
What secrets lurk in the filecards?
View Single Post
03-13-2009, 04:24 PM
oliverbox
I Ride with Claymore!!!
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 6,821
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zuludelta
If I recall correctly, several years ago, the US Department of Defense had what I think they called the "direct accession program" or something like that (my memory's a bit rusty). It was kind of the enlisted equivalent to the current Direct Commissioning program for officers (where doctors, lawyers, and religious ministers with extensive professional experience receive direct commissions after OCS, bypassing the lieutenant ranks and entering service as full captains).
Anyway, there were instances when successful applicants to the direct accession program with vast professional experience and/or significant academic background in certain fields would enter service as E-5s or E-6s. And while nominally, they would outrank E-3s and E-4s, they were generally employed more as technical specialists, and not as squad leaders because of their lack of military experience (think of them as Warrant Officers Lite). The DOD scrapped the program after a couple of years (I think it was because they were getting complaints of a glut of "paper" E-5s and E-6s), and now, the highest enlisted entry rank a bachelor's degree holder can get in the US Armed Forces is E-4.
But I could very well imagine the DOD employing a similiar direct accession program for a unit like G.I. Joe, though, so you could theoretically have a situation where a direct accession E-8 would be serving "under" a traditional E-7.
In Special Forces, there is what's known as the "18X MOS" enlistment option, also known as the "Baby Beret" program. A person and enlist with a contact promise of "18X", which means they will go straight through Basic, Airborne, Infantry, and Special Forces Training - provided that they don't wash out.
The Rangers have a similar program for the Regiment.
Delta Force has no program like that because they require more seasoned soldiers. Experience is one of the main things they look for before inviting someone to try out for their team.
It is certainly possible, that like the "18X" program, G.I. Joe could have a program like that. Anyone's Joeverse is their own business. Certainly there are file cards that would suggest that certain members of the team were recruited from civilian jobs for interesting reasons. I just always thought that every Joe had come through the military somehow. A guy like Shockwave, even with his SWAT background, probably joined the Army to do SWAT work as an MP, and ended up trying out for G.I. Joe... but that is, of course, merely conjecture on my part.
Your idea of an "18X" program for G.I. Joe makes a lot of sense, and is certainly rooted in reality. Thanks for the suggestion.
__________________
Why aren't there more Joes from the Deep South?
And would it kill Hasbro to give us a Marine Corps Officer?
oliverbox
View Public Profile
Send a private message to oliverbox
Find More Posts by oliverbox
Sponsors
Recent Threads
G.I. Joe Classified Series Official Thread 2024!
Top 5 LEAST liked characters or figures from GI Joe
Whose waist is this?
Pick the next VAMP-level vehicle
Classified Night Force Jodie "Shooter"...
G.I.Joe Classified Picture thread
Marauder Task Force Super Thread
Classified Scarlett (Retro)
Classified Clutch with VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack...
O-Ring Returns to G.I. Joe
Super7 Ultimates (Could-be the Official) Thread
New Classified Firefly: Did yours have tight joints or...
Boss Fight Studio Action Figure Line
I WANT TO ARGUE! Part XXI, About the 2024 HasLab
Customizer's Water Cooler
Movies Unlimited updates
Every Classified Figure Ranked / Classified Figure...
Best of the 80s Custom Project
Cobra Desert Razorback RC
Bazooka upgrade! (Thanks Metal-head)
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra New Video Game
Delta-17 o-ring line
Black Out
Duke #5 (Spoilers)
Operation Mosterforce - New 1/12 Line of Figures from...
Recent Off Topic Threads
Hisstank Late Night thread...
What song are you listening to?
G.I. Joe March Madness 2024 Round 3 Dreadnok...
G.I. Joe March Madness 2024 Championship Battle Armor...
Joy Toy's Dark Source Line
Recent B/S/T Threads
looking for weapons and assorted pieces 25th Ann -50...
80s GI Joe Vehicles & Aircraft
Hellion42's BST list
Wtb 82-83 file cards or?.
Closet Cleanout...
Vintage Tomahawk for sale, 99% complete
FOR SALE: "Master of Disguise" Zartan, Pulse...
MagicWazard's B/S/T thread