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Matt in his 'Delta 38' Republic Commando armour at Auckland Armageddon, 20th October 2007. Photo by Rob Clarke.
ROYAL MARINES GREEN DAGGER USA 2019
IMAGE SHOWS: A Royal Marine from Alpha Company 40 Commando radios up a situation report during a firefight. Taken in California at 29 Palms on Ex Green Dagger 2019.
40 Commando Battle Group take on their US Marine Corps counterpart in a peer-on-peer scenario in the deserts of California. Their training took place in the excellent, and truly vast, range complex at Twentynine Palms (near the border of Mexico).
The Royal Marines have been invited by the Commandant General of the US Marine Corps to compete in a peer-on-peer warfighting scenario: “we must train the way we intend to fight. Training must reflect how we would fight a thinking adversary who can compete in all domains”. 40 Commando Battle Group have partnered with 7th Marine Regiment USMC as the adversary for; providing a commando force to be the lethal tip-of-the-spear to take on 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV).
British Army Commandos, 59 Commando Squadron, 24 Commando Engineer Regiment, practice methods of
entry and room clearing during Integrated Training Exercise 1-20 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, Calif. Oct. 20, 2019. The Commandos took advantage of training areas at
MCAGCC while preparing to participate in the Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise as an adversary
force in early November. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cedar M. Barnes)
ROYAL MARINES GREEN DAGGER USA 2019
IMAGE SHOWS: A section of Royal Marines Commandos from Alpha Company 40 Commando clear through a desert compound as part of an urban training exercise. Taken in California at 29 Palms on Ex Green Dagger 2019.
40 Commando Battle Group take on their US Marine Corps counterpart in a peer-on-peer scenario in the deserts of California. Their training took place in the excellent, and truly vast, range complex at Twentynine Palms (near the border of Mexico).
The Royal Marines have been invited by the Commandant General of the US Marine Corps to compete in a peer-on-peer warfighting scenario: “we must train the way we intend to fight. Training must reflect how we would fight a thinking adversary who can compete in all domains”. 40 Commando Battle Group have partnered with 7th Marine Regiment USMC as the adversary for; providing a commando force to be the lethal tip-of-the-spear to take on 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV).
EXERCISE GREEN DAGGER 19.1
Pictured: Royal Marines during a CALFEX, a live fire exercise involving ground troops and Fire Support from 29 Commando and Jackals.
As part of their Force Generation process and wider preparation for Lead Commando Group, 45 Commando Royal Marines deployed to America during Exercise Green Dagger. The exercise involved Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT) and a Force of Force (FEX) exercise with two United States Marine Corps (USMC) Battle Groups (BG), conducted on an impressively large village complex. During the exercise 45 Cdo were stationed at Camp Wilson, located on the Marine Air Ground Combat Centre, a huge training complex of approx 100 square kilometres in the Mojave Desert. It was a great opportunity for the Commandos to meet and train with their American counterparts.
Pictured are 40 Commando Royal Marines attacking Cilieni village at Sennybridge training area during Exercise Joint Warrior as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force exercise. May 3, 2018.
Royal Marines from 42 Commando take part in counter-piracy, anti-smuggling ops, and training local forces in the Gulf Guinea.
HMS Trents remit is to protect UK interests at sea, work and support our allies, assist British citizens, provide aid in the aftermath of natural disasters.
She has a flight deck and is armed with an array of weaponry, meaning she can support a range of operations, from counter-piracy to anti-smuggling.
@royalnavy
A British Royal Marine Commando with Alpha Company, 40 Commando Battle Group provides security during
Integrated Training Exercise 1-20 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Oct.
21, 2019. The Royal Marines took advantage of training areas at MCAGCC while preparing to participate in the
Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise as an adversary force in early November. (U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Lance Cpl. Cedar M. Barnes)
Pictured: 45 Commando during fight phase of artic warfare training.
Royal Marines from 45 Commando have deployed to Norway for WINTER DEPLOYMENT 20 (WD 20).
The Arbroath-based Royal Marine Commando Unit are being put through their paces in the harsh Arctic conditions. As 3 Cdo Bde’s mountain and cold weather warfare specialists, WD20 will ensure that the Unit is ready in all respects to operate in one of the world’s most arduous environments.
As part of Ex CETUS, training for the Unit starts with the Cold Weather Warfare Course which teaches students the skills needed to operate in an Arctic environment. The course has three phases – survival, mobility and warfare, culminating in a final exercise which puts the newly-taught skills into practice. The Unit will then begin a period of Skills to Arms training, where each sub-unit will undertake their own bespoke training package, which includes working with other Royal Marine units and a variety of NATO allies.
WD20 will conclude with Exercise COLD RESPONSE, a large, multi-national NATO exercise which will build on from the success of BALTIC PROTECTOR 19. The exercise is spread over several weeks and will see Littoral Strike and Future Commando Force playing a key part, with the 45 Cdo Battlegroup operating from a variety of different platforms alongside other NATO partners.
Photos: LPhot Stevie Burke
ARMY COMMANDOS GREEN DAGGER USA 2019
IMAGE SHOWS: Army Commandos from 24 Commando practise explosive method of entry and close quarters battle clearence in USMC training facilities. Taken in California at 29 Palms on Ex Green Dagger 2019.
40 Commando Battle Group take on their US Marine Corps counterpart in a peer-on-peer scenario in the deserts of California. Their training took place in the excellent, and truly vast, range complex at Twentynine Palms (near the border of Mexico).
The Royal Marines have been invited by the Commandant General of the US Marine Corps to compete in a peer-on-peer warfighting scenario: “we must train the way we intend to fight. Training must reflect how we would fight a thinking adversary who can compete in all domains”. 40 Commando Battle Group have partnered with 7th Marine Regiment USMC as the adversary for; providing a commando force to be the lethal tip-of-the-spear to take on 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV).
Pictured are 40 Commando Royal Marines attacking Cilieni village at Sennybridge training area during Exercise Joint Warrior as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force exercise. May 3, 2018.
Pictured are 40 Commando Royal Marines attacking Cilieni village at Sennybridge training area during Exercise Joint Warrior as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force exercise. May 3, 2018.
A British Royal Marine Commando with Alpha Company, 40 Commando Battle Group looks through a window
during Integrated Training Exercise 1-20 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms,
Calif. Oct. 21, 2019. The Royal Marines took advantage of training areas at MCAGCC while preparing to
participate in the Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise as an adversary force in early
November. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cedar M. Barnes)
Pictured: 45 Commando Assault Engineers conduct Close Quarter Battle (CQB) training in northern Norway.
Royal Marines from 45 Commando have deployed to Norway for WINTER DEPLOYMENT 20 (WD 20).
The Arbroath-based Royal Marine Commando Unit are being put through their paces in the harsh Arctic conditions. As 3 Cdo Bde’s mountain and cold weather warfare specialists, WD20 will ensure that the Unit is ready in all respects to operate in one of the world’s most arduous environments.
As part of Ex CETUS, training for the Unit starts with the Cold Weather Warfare Course which teaches students the skills needed to operate in an Arctic environment. The course has three phases – survival, mobility and warfare, culminating in a final exercise which puts the newly-taught skills into practice. The Unit will then begin a period of Skills to Arms training, where each sub-unit will undertake their own bespoke training package, which includes working with other Royal Marine units and a variety of NATO allies.
WD20 will conclude with Exercise COLD RESPONSE, a large, multi-national NATO exercise which will build on from the success of BALTIC PROTECTOR 19. The exercise is spread over several weeks and will see Littoral Strike and Future Commando Force playing a key part, with the 45 Cdo Battlegroup operating from a variety of different platforms alongside other NATO partners.
EXERCISE GREEN DAGGER 19.1
Pictured: Army Commandos and Royal Marines in support of a company level advance to contact exercise.
As part of their Force Generation process and wider preparation for Lead Commando Group, 45 Commando Royal Marines deployed to America during Exercise Green Dagger. The exercise involved Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT) and a Force of Force (FEX) exercise with two United States Marine Corps (USMC) Battle Groups (BG), conducted on an impressively large village complex. During the exercise 45 Cdo were stationed at Camp Wilson, located on the Marine Air Ground Combat Centre, a huge training complex of approx 100 square kilometres in the Mojave Desert. It was a great opportunity for the Commandos to meet and train with their American counterparts.
Portuguese Army Commandos serving the Central African Republic as part of the UN Peacekeeping forces deployed n that Country.
Commandos return to base in bangui...
Congratulations to all the military who, with bravery and mastery, add another successful mission to the service of the United Nations!
After a month of a complex operation in bocaranga, about 500 km from bangui, the army and air force military of the 5th National Force deployed in the Central African Republic, mostly composed of commands, are back Based in the capital.
The Portuguese rapid reaction force was called upon to intervene to protect the locations of letele, boukaya and bohong from the oppression of elements of armed groups following the massacre of more than 50 people last may.
Once again, the presence of the Portuguese military in the region, in the name of the maintenance of peace, brought security to the local populations and boosted the negotiation between a delegation of the African Union, the government of the Central African Republic, representatives of the The leadership of the armed group, seeking a solution under the khartoum peace agreement, signed earlier this year.
Photos: Forças Armadas Portuguesas
Royal Marine from 45 Commando conducting patrols whilst located in strategic positions around Senja during Exercise CR20. Ships, helicopters, armoured vehicles, commando units, medics, and specialist raiding craft are all committed to the Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response. In all 15,000 military personnel from ten countries are committed to the demanding winter war games, which will test the abilities of allied nations to fight in one of the most hostile environments on earth.
Photo: PO Phot Si Ethell
Photo taken by my father probably in India in 1944 preparing for the Air Commando invasion of Burma. The Army Air Corps had local labor help construct airfields in India to stage aircraft.
Royal Marines from O Squadron, 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines based at HM Naval Base Clyde near Helensburgh have recently conducted an exercise to sharpen their ‘Commando skills’ during a period away from delivering their core nuclear security role in Faslane and RNAD Coulport.
Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is a two-week exercise that aims to strengthen the fundamental conventional skills of the Royal Marines and has also included an amphibious landing and live firing phase. The exercise has taken place in the local area around Faslane and also at the military training area in Kirkcudbright.
“Exercise REVENANT SHADOW is an important part of the O Squadron yearly training programme and aims to revise and strengthen core skills that are utilised by Royal Marines in all types of deployment including by the Troops deployed on Nuclear Security duties in Faslane and Coulport. It also ensures that the Marines from O Squadron remain proficient in the skills they will require as they move to other units within 3 Commando Brigade in the future,” said Capt Josh Roughton RM, Second in Command of O Squadron, 43 Commando who organised the exercise.
43 Commando Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is a 550-strong Unit based at HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland
Its primary mission is to prevent unauthorised access to the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent through the provision of specialist military capability. Additionally, maritime boarding and sniper teams and the very high readiness Fleet Contingent Troop are deployed worldwide to conduct specialist maritime security tasks in support of the Royal Navy.
Royal Marine teams from 43 Commando are currently deployed on counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, and maritime interdiction operations in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean. There is also a detachment of cold weather warfare trained Royal Marines from the Unit deployed on the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship.
Photos: L(Phot) Stephen Burke RN
Royal Marine from 45 Commando conducting patrols whilst located in strategic positions around Senja during Exercise CR20. Ships, helicopters, armoured vehicles, commando units, medics, and specialist raiding craft are all committed to the Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response. In all 15,000 military personnel from ten countries are committed to the demanding winter war games, which will test the abilities of allied nations to fight in one of the most hostile environments on earth.
Photo: PO Phot Si Ethell
"Maria Hill: What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?
Grant Ward: Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
Maria Hill: And what does that mean to you?
Grant Ward: It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out "S.H.I.E.L.D."
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s introduction in the Strange Tales featuring "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." occurred during a trend for action series about secret international intelligence agencies with catchy acronyms, such as television's The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which Stan Lee stated in a 2014 interview, was the basis for him to create the organization.
Colonel Fury (initially the lead character of Marvel Comics' World War II series Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos) was reimagined as a slightly older character with an eyepatch (which he lacked in his wartime adventures) and appointed head of the organization. Some characters from the Sgt. Fury series reappeared as agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., most notably Timothy "Dum-Dum" Dugan, Fury's bowler hat-wearing aide-de-camp.
Its most persistent enemy is Hydra, a criminal organization founded (after some retcon) by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was presented as an extant, full-blown entity in its first appearance, with Tony Stark in charge of the Special Weaponry section and Fury seeing "some of the most famous joes from every nation" (then "half the leaders of the free world" a page later) at a meeting of the Supreme International Council.
Much was revealed over the years to fill in its labyrinthine organizational history. Stan Lee wrote each story, abetted by artist Kirby's co-plotting or full plotting, through Strange Tales #152 (January 1967), except for two issues, one scripted by Kirby himself (#148) and one by Dennis O'Neil (#149).
Following an issue scripted by Roy Thomas (#153), and one co-written by Thomas and new series artist Jim Steranko,* came the sole-writer debut of soon-to-become industry legend Steranko—who had begun on the feature as a penciller-inker of Kirby layouts in #151 (December 1966), taken over the every-other-issue "Nick Fury" cover art with #153 two months later, and full writing with #155 (April 1967).
Steranko quickly established the feature as one of comics history's most groundbreaking, innovative, and acclaimed. Ron Goulart wrote,
"Even the dullest of readers could sense that something new was happening. … Which each passing issue Steranko's efforts became more and more innovative. Entire pages would be devoted to photocollages of drawings [that] ignored panel boundaries and instead worked together on planes of depth. The first pages … became incredible production numbers similar in design to the San Francisco rock concert poster of the period."
Larry Hama said Steranko "combined the figurative dynamism of Jack Kirby with modern design concepts. The graphic influences of Peter Max, Op Art, and Andy Warhol were embedded into the design of the pages — and the pages were designed as a whole, not just as a series of panels. All this, executed in a crisp, hard-edged style, seething with drama and anatomical tension".
The series won 1967 and 1968 Alley Awards and was inducted in the latter year to the awards' Hall of Fame. Steranko himself was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2006.
The 12-page feature ran through Strange Tales #168 (sharing that "split book" with the occult feature "Doctor Strange" each issue), after which it was spun off onto its own series of the same title, running 15 issues (June 1968–Nov. 1969), followed by three all-reprint issues beginning a year later (Nov. 1970–March 1971). Steranko wrote and drew issues #1–3 and #5, and drew the covers of #1–7.
New S.H.I.E.L.D. stories would not appear for nearly two decades after the first solo title. A six-issue miniseries, Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. (June–November 1988) was followed by Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (vol. 2). This second series lasted 47 issues (September 1989–May 1993); its pivotal story arc was "the Deltite Affair", in which many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were replaced with Life Model Decoy androids in a takeover attempt.
A year after that series ended, the one-shot Fury (May 1994) retconned the events of those previous two series, recasting them as a series of staged events designed to distract Fury from the resurrection plans of Hydra head von Strucker. The following year, writer Howard Chaykin and penciler Corky Lehmkuhl produced the four-issue miniseries Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. (April–July 1995).
Various publications have additionally focused on Nick Fury's solo adventures, such as the graphic novels and one-shots Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection (1989), Wolverine/Nick Fury: Scorpio Rising (October 1994), Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty and Captain America and Nick Fury: Blood Truce (both February 1995), and Captain America and Nick Fury: The Otherworld War (October 2001).
Origin
S.H.I.E.L.D. was formed by Nick Fury, in the period after World War II. However, he figured the U.S. government wouldn't want a group like that, so he disbanded it. Later, though, after a terrorist attack, he noticed that a group like S.H.I.E.L.D. could really have helped and prevented the disaster. So he reformed it.
Meanwhile, the United Nations had already taken S.H.I.E.L.D. and restarted it, having Colonel Rick Stoner becoming the first Director of the organization. Fury immediately joined and rose to the top. The Nations had reformed it in response to a HYDRA attack, and once Fury was leading it, it flourished.
Creation
S.H.I.E.L.D. made their first appearance in Strange Tales #135. They were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Team Evolution
S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Hazard Intervention, Espionage and Logistics Directorate) or Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division (see Iron Man #227) is a group affiliated with the U.N that deals with superhuman threats. It is an intelligence and anti-terrorism group similar to the FBI, only it is an international corporation that spans all the world. It acts like the police force.
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are armed and work well, much more effective then standard police. They fight terrorists as well as super humans. S.H.I.E.L.D. also has been responsible for the starting of spin-off groups like S.W.O.R.D. and S.T.R.I.K.E. S.H.I.E.L.D. has agents that also are higher level, that often are super humans.
Captain America, Spider-Woman, and Iron Man all have operated as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps ties to the superhuman community, too-they often call on the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and Captain America.
S.H.I.E.L.D. has superhuman agents in the past-two teams were formed in an effort to make a S.H.I.E.L.D. superhuman team. The first team consisted of Marvel Man, Texas Twister, the Vamp, and Blue Streak.
However, it quickly failed, and another team in the same vein also failed. The Psi-Division of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a group of psychics or telepaths that deal with psionic menaces. This is only one of the groups of super humans that work in S.H.I.E.L.D. for the greater good.
All S.H.I.E.L.D. members have a certain level, based on their importance. A normal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent will have a Level One-which means he can pass through Level One areas and has clearance.
A sergeant might have Level Two, which means he has Level Two and One clearance. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. has a Level Nine clearance. Level Ten means the most important person in the world-no one currently possesses a Level Ten clearance. Not even the President, or Nick Fury.
S.H.I.E.L.D. has many bases around the world. Many are on land-most notably S.H.I.E.L.D. Central, which is located in New York City. There are also many shelters that are secretly placed around the world.
Fury has used one, as has the Secret Avengers when they needed a base during the events of Civil War. However, their most famous and important base is the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Helicarrier
The Helicarrier is an aircraft that is constantly in the air. It is large enough to hold an aircraft carrier. It is the mobile headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is extremely protected. The Helicarrier has held an entire squadron of jet fighters and a nuclear ballistic missile.
There is one major Helicarrier, which is the one that is most important and used. There are also many smaller Helicarriers, however, which all serve as bases too.
The Helicarrier has an extremely high level of security-even if someone managed to get on without clearance, guards and extremely powerful security technology would have them gone in a second.
The Helicarrier was first proposed by Stark Industries, and was designed by Tony Stark, Forge, and Mr. Fantastic.
S.H.I.E.L.D. operated as a covert, military/intelligence agency at the time, and members of it had already appeared. S.H.I.E.L.D. already fought HYDRA then-the evil group had plots like the aforementioned "Overkill Horn".
A.I.M. made its first appearance, and individual villains such as Red Skull also popped up and needed to be stopped by S.H.I.E.L.D..
At this time, Godzilla came, and the Godzilla Squad was formed to take the monster down. S.H.I.E.L.D. had tough periods during this time. Several lifelike robots got so smart that they became able to think and make choices-they became sentient beings.
They had a grudge against S.H.I.E.L.D. for making them follow orders all the time before they had intelligence-so they drugged important S.H.I.E.L.D. members and took their place within the organization.
Several of these were Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, Jimmy Woo, and Jasper Sitwell, among others. However, the valiant Fury managed to take them down.
Fury's Influence
Most of the reason that S.H.I.E.L.D. was so effective started with Fury.** He started the group and put good, effective agents in place. He was extremely popular in and out of S.H.I.E.L.D. and had strong ties with the hero community. Without him, many "pessimists" and intellectuals theorized that S.H.I.E.L.D. would fall, and fall hard.
Unfortunately, they were right. S.H.I.E.L.D. ran into disastrous times. As aforementioned, Nick Fury did a mission in Latveria to stop them from attacking the U.S. However, it was totally unauthorized, and Fury was forced to resign from S.H.I.E.L.D. Warrants went out for his arrest.
The new head of S.H.I.E.L.D. was Maria Hill-who proved to be incompetent at the position. The President of the U.S. was a driving force behind Hill's election-for two reasons.
Hill was an American, so the President expected her to be loyal first and foremost to the U.S. even though S.H.I.E.L.D. was a United Nations facility. Also, many men and women had been members of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a long time, and they would have been much better as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.. However, they were "too loyal to Fury", so Hill got the job to keep the Fury loyalists out.
S.H.I.E.L.D. took a downward turn. Fury's work as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. was extremely effective, and an insane amount of work had kept corruption out of the huge organization.
Unfortunately, Hill wasn't as good as Fury at it, and S.H.I.E.L.D. became corrupt and weak. Crimes were committed. Criminals were "stockpiled" in prison. Worst of all, the Avengers discovered that someone was mining the anti-metal in the Savage Land using slave labor-and S.H.I.E.L.D. was the prime suspect.
Subdivisions
S.H.I.E.L.D. also has many subdivisions and other groups based off it. Two other groups have been formed from S.H.I.E.L.D.:
S.W.O.R.D. and S.T.R.I.K.E.
S.W.O.R.D. stands for Sentient World Observation and Response Department. As you can easily guess, S.W.O.R.D. works with extraterrestrials. It stops extraterrestrial threats, keeps tabs on powerful aliens, etc. They are not a subdivision of S.H.I.E.L.D. but are actually a separate, yet similar group that simply works with S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, they are closely affiliated with both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United Nations. S.W.O.R.D. encountered Ord, an alien who was convinced that a mutant from Earth was destined to destroy his planet.
He attempted to attack Earth to kill all the mutants but S.W.O.R.D. and the X-Men stopped him, effectively stopping an interplanetary war. The leader of S.W.O.R.D. is Abigail Brand, a tough, effective leader who stopped many crises and is extremely valuable to S.H.I.E.L.D.
She was a Fury loyalist and respected him a lot and greatly dislikes Maria Hill. As for Tony Stark, he has not encountered S.W.O.R.D. or Brand yet. S.W.O.R.D. is currently trying to stop another war with a planet called Breakworld.
Since S.H.I.E.L.D. is loyal to the United Nations two countries have created their own answer to S.H.I.E.L.D. that works within their country and their country alone. The first to appear was the British version of S.H.I.E.L.D., S.T.R.I.K.E. (Special Tactical Reserve for International Key Emergencies).
S.T.R.I.K.E. was British, but one of their early leaders, Tod Radcliffe, was revealed to be a traitor that worked for the Red Skull. The next leader was Lance Hunter. They worked closely with Captain Britain.
However, Vixen (Captain Britain's enemy) took them over and S.T.R.I.K.E. was disbanded. The most prominent person to work for S.T.R.I.K.E. was Betsy Braddock, who had psychic powers. After leaving S.T.R.I.K.E.. she joined the X-Men as the heroine Psylocke.
S.A.F.E. is the United States answer to S.H.I.E.L.D. The name stands for Strategic Action For Emergencies. S.A.F.E. is nearly identical to S.H.I.E.L.D., except they are only in the U.S. They have fought many enemies, including Doctor Doom and Baron Heinrich Zemo. The leader is Sean Morgan, a competent leader and good soldier. Joshua Ballard is the most prolific agent, and he's extremely helpful-he's the Dum Dum Dugan of S.A.F.E..
Along with these agencies, other small groups have been formed including Euromind and Starcore.
Another group that has continually showed up over the years is the Cape Killers. They were never an official S.H.I.E.L.D. group, but S.H.I.E.L.D. agents did make up it's ranks.
The term Cape Killers was given to any group of soldiers trained to hunt, subdue and in worst case scenario kill meta humans. The Cape Killers have had such members as Agent Abrams, Agent Cleery, Dum Dum Dugan, & Special Agent Marquez, and her partner Agent McAllister.
Members
Nick Fury
The most prominent, important, and effective member of S.H.I.E.L.D. is the man who runs it all, Nick Fury. Fury was born in New York City in 1921, to decorated World War I pilot Jack Fury. He and his friend Red Hargrove lusted after adventure-so they joined the U.S. Army in World War II.
Nick was an adept soldier, and he was given command of the First Attack Squad-nicknamed the Howling Commandos. The Howling Commandos were extremely effective-and Fury quickly became a decorated war hero.
After the war, Fury was hit by a land mine and badly injured. The government decided to test a new formula on him-that would heal him and greatly retard his aging. This was called the Infinity Formula.
It worked-Fury was restored to full strength and is still in his physical prime today. He eventually joined the CIA and became a CIA agent in Korea, also interacting with the Fantastic Four.
Tony Stark hired him to be the second commander of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury excelled at the job. Under his leadership, S.H.I.E.L.D. grew and grew until it is now one of the most powerful organizations in the world. Fury led S.H.I.E.L.D. for over forty years, working tirelessly and keeping it powerful and secret.
However, Fury recently discovered that Latveria, led by the evil Doctor Doom, was planning to attack America. He immediately had S.H.I.E.L.D. launch a covert assault on the country, effectively stopping the massive attack that would have taken place.
A year later, Latveria attacked back, and thousands were killed. Fury was blamed-and Luke Cage was injured. Captain America was angered at Fury. Eventually, this culminated in Fury being fired as commander of S.H.I.E.L.D.. A warrant was put out for his arrest, and Maria Hill took his place as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Hill still leads S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury is still in hiding. He keeps control over parts of S.H.I.E.L.D. and lent a base to the Secret Avengers during Civil War.
Nick Fury is infused with the Infinity Formula, meaning he barely ages at all. He is an soldier, with lots of experience as both a warrior and a leader. He is a master tactician and strategist, and is very good with all sorts of weapons.
He wields great political power as the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., and is a very good hand-to-hand combatant.
Nick Fury is not the only S.H.I.E.L.D. agent-not by a long shot. Many of the other important S.H.I.E.L.D. members date back from Fury's old team-the Howling Commandos.
Dum Dum Dugan
Dum Dum Dugan (Timothy Aloysius Cadwallader Dugan) was working as a circus strongman before he enlisted in World War II.
He was put in the Howling Commandos, a new division led by Nick Fury. He was extremely valuable to the team-he was so strong that he was able to save them from many things that should have killed them.
He was a great marksman, strongman, and leader, and he became Fury's second-in-command. When the war ended, Fury invited Dugan into S.H.I.E.L.D. as his second-in-command. Dugan has easily been the second-most-important person to S.H.I.E.L.D.
His missions have included tracking down and killing a radioactive monster ( Godzilla, in the Godzilla Squad) and various independent missions to take super villains (often with Squirrel Girl).
For a long time, he worked maintaining security on the Helicarrier, and working for Fury whenever needed. When Fury was replaced by Maria Hill, he was her second-in-command and was put in charge of mutant affairs.
This involved conflicts with Wolverine, who he had a mysterious contact with. Eventually, he tried to resign from S.H.I.E.L.D. when Tony Stark took control. He was rejected-he was too important to S.H.I.E.L.D. to quit. He was recently shot in the chest by Daken, but he survived, and is currently in the hospital.
Gabriel Jones
Gabriel Jones was a young man living in New York City when a little thing called World War II popped up. Jones joined the army, and realized that he was naturally a great soldier and leader. He was put into the elite Howling Commandos and proved invaluable to the team.
After the war was over, Jones served on the Godzilla Squad with other former Howling Commandos (not Fury), and later joined S.H.I.E.L.D.
He ran out missions with or without other agents for S.H.I.E.L.D. until he retired, due to the events in the miniseries "Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.." He remains retired today, living the quiet, peaceful life. He sure deserves that. He also has the honor of being the first African-American in the Howling Commandos.
Sharon Carter aka Agent 13
Agent 13 (also known as Sharon Carter), is one of the most important members of S.H.I.E.L.D.. As a young girl, Sharon loved hearing stories of her older sister Peggy, who was a World War 1 flying ace and freedom fighter. Peggy had worked with Captain America, and the two fell in love.
However, Cap never learned her name, and he then froze in suspended animation. Sharon was a good fighter and loved justice, so she joined S.H.I.E.L.D. under the code-name "Agent 13" and ran out several missions for them.
She kept crossing paths with Cap, who had been resurrected and they eventually fell in love. Cap wanted her to quit as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but she refused. Eventually, her death was faked so she could be sent off on a top-secret mission. The mission failed, and she was presumed dead. Cap was never informed that her death was faked the first time.
However, he eventually found her, and she rejoined S.H.I.E.L.D.. She now works as a high-level agent, reporting directly to Hill for missions. Recently, she was given a hypnotic suggestion by Dr. Faustus to help kill Captain America, and under hypnotism, shot him in the stomach after Crossbones, a sniper and Red Skull's henchman, shot him.
Other important S.H.I.E.L.D. agents include Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, Clay Quartermain, Jimmy Woo, and Jasper Sitwell.
HYDRA***
Since S.H.I.E.L.D. is a major force and such a huge, powerful organization, it bound to have many enemies. Most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s enemies are big groups-and the most powerful, fearsome, and deadly one of them all is HYDRA.
HYDRA is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s archenemy. The motto of the group is "Cut off one of our heads, and two more will take it's place!" This is a reference to the Ancient Greek monster called the hydra, which fought Hercules and had the same ability.
HYDRA is a terrorist group dedicated to taking over the world and destroying S.H.I.E.L.D., which has foiled them many a time.
HYDRA has actually been around for centuries. The group goes all the way back to Imperial Japan, which only sought to rule Japan. This all changed in the 1900s when Wolfgang Von Strucker joined the group. Strucker was insane, deluded, and powerful-and he quickly rose to the top of the group.
He steered it away from Japan and decided on a new goal-rule the world! When he got to the top, he changed his name and got a title-he became Baron Strucker.
HYDRA was originally very open, not quiet, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was actually specifically formed to fight it (as you will read later). HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. became enemies-constantly warring to take each other down. HYDRA made several daring moves.
Strucker invented the "Overkill Horn", which would detonate all nuclear explosives worldwide. Later came the biological "Death-Spore Bomb". Both plots were foiled by S.H.I.E.L.D., and the latter resulted in Strucker's death.
After Baron Strucker died, HYDRA split into many mini-groups, or "heads" of HYDRA. Some of these were East Coast HYDRA, Las Vegas HYDRA, New York HYDRA, and Germany HYDRA. These factions also genetically created super agents for HYDRA, resulting in the creation of many villains.
However, this backfired when the great hero Spider-Woman was created by HYDRA related. Eventually Strucker was revived, and he reunited HYDRA. They continued their war against S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Earth.
HYDRA later planned a massive attack on the U.S-they smuggled nuclear missile into America and was going to launch a bio nuclear assault on a major aquifer.
They also tried to brainwash an army of heroes and villains (including Elektra and Northstar). Both times, they were foiled by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the New Avengers (including Spider-Woman, who they created).
HYDRA is still extremely dangerous, and cannot be stopped easily. The only reason they don't currently rule the world is because of the heroic efforts of S.H.I.E.L.D..
The HYDRA Agent is similar to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. He is extremely well-trained-only the elite become agents. They carry a large variety of weapons and are trained especially in stealth.
HYDRA Agents often get missions to detonate, destroy, beat up, or burn things, and they are superb fighters. Some Agents of HYDRA have been Red Skull, Spider-Woman, Kingpin, and many others.
A.I.M.
Although HYDRA is easily S.H.I.E.L.D.'s greatest enemy, it is by no means the only one. One of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s other enemies is A.I.M.
A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) was created as a subdivision of HYDRA, by Baron Strucker. A.I.M.'s purpose was to create new technological wonders for HYDRA to use against S.H.I.E.L.D. and to take over the world.
It is a group of scientists, industrialists, and technological geniuses, and originally, they provided and designed weapons, defenses, and huge assault mechanisms for HYDRA. However, HYDRA suffered a huge defeat from the U.S and Japan Armies, so A.I.M. broke off into it's own group.
Like HYDRA, A.I.M.'s goal is to rule the Earth. However, unlike HYDRA, who wants to do it by force, A.I.M. seeks domination by technological means. They have created huge weapons and marvels before, and share one trait with HYDRA-they are dedicated to destroying S.H.I.E.L.D.. A.I.M. was led by the Scientist Supreme, an evil, shadowy figure where very little about him is known by S.H.I.E.L.D..
The Cosmic Cube was an intensely powerful item as it could literally alter reality to the user's whim. Red Skull once stole it and wreaked havoc with it, but that was later.
The Cube was created by the scientists at A.I.M., who sought to use it to rule the world. However, the Cube actually evolved into a new creature, Kubik, and A.I.M. no longer controls it. In this vein, A.I.M. created the Super-Adaptoid, which could exactly mimic the powers and appearance of other superheroes and villains.
Although it was immensely powerful, the Adaptoid contained a sliver of the Cosmic Cube that gave it its power. When the Cube became Kubik, it wanted the shard back, so it easily destroyed the creature and regained the sliver.
A.I.M. also created M.O.D.O.K. (Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing). M.O.D.O.K. was originally one of AIM's own scientists, and he took control of A.I.M. and improved it, continuing the fight to rule the world and destroy S.H.I.E.L.D..
M.O.D.O.K. still is in charge of A.I.M. Along with A.I.M., some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s enemies are Zodiac and Godzilla.
Zodiac
Zodiac is a criminal organization that was created using S.H.I.E.L.D. technology. Each member is another sign of the Zodiac, and they are dedicated to world domination. Although the Zodiac mostly fights the Avengers, they often collide with S.H.I.E.L.D. in their efforts to have the world ruled by their criminal organization.
Godzilla
Godzilla***** was a radioactive monster that rose out of the waters of Tokyo, Japan. S.H.I.E.L.D. immediately responded to the crisis, and formed the Godzilla Squad out of some of its members.
The Squad was led by Dum Dum Dugan (who never fully recovered from the experience), and its mission was to take down Godzilla.
Godzilla caused lots of property damage around Asia and North America before it was finally driven back into the sea. Obviously, this is based on the Japanese movie in real life of the same name-minus the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Major Story Arcs
Civil War
The Civil War started when the New Warriors (consisting of Robbie Baldwin, Namorita, Microbe, and Night Thrasher) went on a basic mission to catch four criminals in an old house.
They included Speedfreek and an old Captain Marvel villain- Nitro. These villains had escaped from The Raft when Electro broke them out. The New Warriors easily defeated the villains-but Nitro was escaping.
Namorita stopped him, but he let off an explosion, destroying Stamford and murdering 600 people.
Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man,**** proposed the Superhuman Registration Act, where all super humans would have to register their powers and identities. They'd basically be cops. Maria Hill, who was the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. supported the Act, and eventually it was passed.
Many super humans disagreed with the Act, the most important and prolific being Captain America. S.H.I.E.L.D. was enlisted by the U.S. government to take down Cap and his anti-registration hero team, the Secret Avengers.
New S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, nicknamed cape-killers, went after anti-reg heroes. S.H.I.E.L.D. was led by Maria Hill, and was fully pro-reg. Iron Man worked closely with S.H.I.E.L.D. also-he revealed his identity as Tony Stark.
Many battles were fought. Eventually, Tony Stark's pro-registration side-and S.H.I.E.L.D. won. However, Maria Hill found out why she had been made the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., as aforementioned-to keep more effective "Fury loyalists" out and be loyal to the U.S. She was not supposed to be effective, and she wasn't.
Dismayed, she turned leadership of S.H.I.E.L.D. over to the man she thought deserved it most-Tony Stark. Stark, also Iron Man, is currently the leader and head of S.H.I.E.L.D..
H.A.M.M.E.R.
In the fallout of Secret Invasion Norman Osborn is granted the keys to the whole world and closes down S.H.I.E.L.D. and replaces it with his own special forces known as H.A.M.M.E.R. He also replaces all of the organization's Stark Tech (which had been compromised during the Secret Invasion) with technology and weapons created by Oscorp.
Nick Fury also discovers a dark secret about who as been pulling S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strings the whole time he was an agent in Secret Warriors #1.
Weapons and Equipment
LMDs
S.H.I.E.L.D. has a lot of technology, important technology that is often used. Perhaps the most important is the LMD- Life Model Decoy.
The Life Model Decoy is an android that is absolutely indistinguishable from whoever it impersonates. Fingerprints, DNA, hair, speech, thought patterns (for telepaths), anything, the Decoy is exactly the same. However, it is an android.
LMDs are used to duplicate people and take their place if they are going to be assassinated or there is a strong chance of an attack. LMDs have been used in place of personnel since the beginning of the organization, including Jessica Drew.
Most often, they have been used as a substitute for Nick Fury, who has had at least five LMDs destroyed in attempts to have him killed. These robots are a lot of the reason that many key S.H.I.E.L.D. members are still alive.
The Zodiac, a criminal organization, was created using stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. LMDs. Also, LMDs have gained sentience a few times. The Deltites were a group of LMDs that gained sentience and tried to infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D.. They were narrowly defeated by Nick Fury.
Red Ronin
S.H.I.E.L.D. also has used robot exoskeletons and gargantuan robots to achieve its ends. Red Ronin is the most important of those. Red Ronin was a huge, super powerful robot that was used by the Godzilla Squad.
The robot was destroyed by Godzilla before he was driven into the sea. It was rebuilt, but was hijacked by a mad scientist who was trying to start World War Three. It was stopped by the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. regained the remains.
It has been stolen and used for evil many times, by Dr. Doom, The Hand, and Henry Gyrich. Each time, the robot has been defeated and rebuilt (by heroes like Wasp and Hulk)-only to be stolen again. Red Ronin is currently possessed and used by the evil villain The Fixer-it appears that the cycle is still going.
The Helicarrier
Of course, the most prolific technology created and used by S.H.I.E.L.D. is the Helicarrier.
The Helicarrier is outfitted with weapons, security, and is constantly filled with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who are extremely effective and good fighters.
The Helicarrier is always being attacked by villains, and they are barely ever successful. A smaller version of the Helicarrier, the Behemoth, is often used by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents on missions, including by the Squad and by Dum Dum Dugan.
The Behemoth is similar to the Helicarrier, only there is less weapons, technology, and it isn't as fast or powerful.
As for other technology, S.H.I.E.L.D. has access to an infinite amount of military-level tech. Tools, weapons, anything that's used, S.H.I.E.L.D. can get.
Anything from pistols to nuclear weapons is easily attainable. Fighter jets are often used by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents when it is necessary for their mission.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
_____________________________
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: N/A
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Strange Tales #135 (August 1965)
Created by: Stan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
* Steranko art
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/48269254846/
** Nick Fury identity crisis
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53250989962/
*** Baron von Strucker and Hydra
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51932058251/
**** Tony Stark, Iron Man
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52817252977/
***** Godzilla
Dodge Commando DDF149T in retirement.
Perhaps the campaign to increase the popularity of these fine trucks could start with this one?
Here are some essentials:
Pictured are 40 Commando Royal Marines attacking Cilieni village at Sennybridge training area during Exercise Joint Warrior as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force exercise. May 3, 2018.
Portuguese Army Commandos serving the Central African Republic as part of the UN Peacekeeping forces deployed n that Country.
Commandos return to base in bangui...
Congratulations to all the military who, with bravery and mastery, add another successful mission to the service of the United Nations!
After a month of a complex operation in bocaranga, about 500 km from bangui, the army and air force military of the 5th National Force deployed in the Central African Republic, mostly composed of commands, are back Based in the capital.
The Portuguese rapid reaction force was called upon to intervene to protect the locations of letele, boukaya and bohong from the oppression of elements of armed groups following the massacre of more than 50 people last may.
Once again, the presence of the Portuguese military in the region, in the name of the maintenance of peace, brought security to the local populations and boosted the negotiation between a delegation of the African Union, the government of the Central African Republic, representatives of the The leadership of the armed group, seeking a solution under the khartoum peace agreement, signed earlier this year.
Photos: Forças Armadas Portuguesas
Pictured: 45 Commando during fight phase of artic warfare training.
Royal Marines from 45 Commando have deployed to Norway for WINTER DEPLOYMENT 20 (WD 20).
The Arbroath-based Royal Marine Commando Unit are being put through their paces in the harsh Arctic conditions. As 3 Cdo Bde’s mountain and cold weather warfare specialists, WD20 will ensure that the Unit is ready in all respects to operate in one of the world’s most arduous environments.
As part of Ex CETUS, training for the Unit starts with the Cold Weather Warfare Course which teaches students the skills needed to operate in an Arctic environment. The course has three phases – survival, mobility and warfare, culminating in a final exercise which puts the newly-taught skills into practice. The Unit will then begin a period of Skills to Arms training, where each sub-unit will undertake their own bespoke training package, which includes working with other Royal Marine units and a variety of NATO allies.
WD20 will conclude with Exercise COLD RESPONSE, a large, multi-national NATO exercise which will build on from the success of BALTIC PROTECTOR 19. The exercise is spread over several weeks and will see Littoral Strike and Future Commando Force playing a key part, with the 45 Cdo Battlegroup operating from a variety of different platforms alongside other NATO partners.
Photos: LPhot Stevie Burke
Royal Marines held at high-readiness for maritime security operations have pyshed themselves in a vast underground comokex beneath a town in the South West ahead of being deployed to the Mediterranean.
Marines from Juliet Company of Plymouth-based 42 Commando work in small teams on Royal Navy warships around the world, ready to react to emergencies and specialist missions, like counter-piracy and boarding operations.
J Company is also the home of the Fleet Contingency Troop (FCT) – experts in a range of security missions and the UK’s only force trained in opposed boarding operations (known as Level 3 (Opposed)) outside of Special Forces.
The complex of tunnels became a facility for the potential relocation of the government in times of crisis during the 1950s with the threat of nuclear war looming large.
These days, parts of it are a useful training area; a place where the commandos can push themselves in the art of close-quarters combat, testing their well-rehearsed tactics, techniques and procedures to quickly assess and deal with threats in even the trickiest of environments.
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Photos: Royal Navy
Portuguese Army Commandos serving the Central African Republic as part of the UN Peacekeeping forces deployed n that Country.
Commandos return to base in bangui...
Congratulations to all the military who, with bravery and mastery, add another successful mission to the service of the United Nations!
After a month of a complex operation in bocaranga, about 500 km from bangui, the army and air force military of the 5th National Force deployed in the Central African Republic, mostly composed of commands, are back Based in the capital.
The Portuguese rapid reaction force was called upon to intervene to protect the locations of letele, boukaya and bohong from the oppression of elements of armed groups following the massacre of more than 50 people last may.
Once again, the presence of the Portuguese military in the region, in the name of the maintenance of peace, brought security to the local populations and boosted the negotiation between a delegation of the African Union, the government of the Central African Republic, representatives of the The leadership of the armed group, seeking a solution under the khartoum peace agreement, signed earlier this year.
Photos: Forças Armadas Portuguesas
Double Dutch for Clyde-Based Commandos and Police
Royal Marines tasked with safeguarding Britain's nuclear deterrent have been testing their skills, alongside their Ministry of Defence Police counterparts, in The Netherlands during Exercise Gelderland Strike. The Scotland-based Marines – from O and P Squadrons at 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group RM – are trusted with the important duty of keeping Britain’s strategic nuclear deterrent safe, whether on a Vanguard-class submarine in and around the Clyde, or elsewhere in the UK.
The mission relies on the Royal Marines, MOD Police and other agencies working together, so a joint training exercise was the ideal opportunity to build the partnership and share tactics.