"Gunny in the Green"
Forging strong camaraderie within their own ranks is a core tenet of G.I. Joe's warfighting philosophy. One of the preeminent facilitators of this is Gunnery Sergeant Wendell "Leatherneck" Metzger, a U.S. Marine tasked with balancing the rigorous tasks of both frontline infantry and warfare training. Having previously served as a Drill Instructor on board Parris Island, Leatherneck is no stranger to pushing recruits to their physical and mental limits to be the best at what they do, and he asserts that the same principle must also be applied to those who have already earned their titles in the armed services. For him, training never truly ends, and his method of playing as the "enemy" in training evolutions is done to keep new members of the Joe team on constant alert.
His abrasive and less-than-personable attitude with others is a universally-recognized trait in Leatherneck's character, but the man himself uses it to convey the message that you may not like the people you work with, but you must be completely willing, comfortable, and able to fight alongside them to accomplish the greater mission at hand. Rumor says that the only other Joe that Leatherneck has any sign of an actual friendship with is Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian "Wet Suit" Forrest, a Navy SEAL with the same affinity for rigorous training to build physical and mental strength. Their separate branches of origin make their rivalry inevitable and their arguments gargantuan, but their respect for each other is foundational, and they watched each other's backs to great effect during the first invasion of Cobra Island.
"Gunny in the Green"
Forging strong camaraderie within their own ranks is a core tenet of G.I. Joe's warfighting philosophy. One of the preeminent facilitators of this is Gunnery Sergeant Wendell "Leatherneck" Metzger, a U.S. Marine tasked with balancing the rigorous tasks of both frontline infantry and warfare training. Having previously served as a Drill Instructor on board Parris Island, Leatherneck is no stranger to pushing recruits to their physical and mental limits to be the best at what they do, and he asserts that the same principle must also be applied to those who have already earned their titles in the armed services. For him, training never truly ends, and his method of playing as the "enemy" in training evolutions is done to keep new members of the Joe team on constant alert.
His abrasive and less-than-personable attitude with others is a universally-recognized trait in Leatherneck's character, but the man himself uses it to convey the message that you may not like the people you work with, but you must be completely willing, comfortable, and able to fight alongside them to accomplish the greater mission at hand. Rumor says that the only other Joe that Leatherneck has any sign of an actual friendship with is Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian "Wet Suit" Forrest, a Navy SEAL with the same affinity for rigorous training to build physical and mental strength. Their separate branches of origin make their rivalry inevitable and their arguments gargantuan, but their respect for each other is foundational, and they watched each other's backs to great effect during the first invasion of Cobra Island.