COMMAND OPERATIONS OFFICER File Name: Abernathy, Clayton M. Pay Grade: O-5 Call-Sign: Hawk Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, USA Unit assignment prior to GIJOE selection: SFOD-C (Command and Control), 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (US Army) Post-Secondary Education: BS in Military Art and Science (United States Military Academy), MS in Military Arts and Sciences (US Army School of Advanced Military Studies), MS in Defense Analysis (Special Operations/Irregular Warfare)-Irregular Warfare subspecialty (Naval Postgraduate School) Relevant Training (partial list): Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course; Short-Range, Hawk Missile, and Patriot Missile Air Defense Artillery Resident Training; Air and Missile Defense Captains Career Course, Basic Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, SF Unit Officer Qualification Course, SFQC Individual Skills Phase, SFQC Collective Training Phase, SF Functional Language Training, Special Operations Forces Interagency Collaboration Course, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Joint Special Operations Irregular Warfare Advanced Course, Combined/Joint Force Special Operations Component Commander's Course, Army Red Team Leader's Course, SERE Level-C Training, Individual Terrorism Awareness Course, ISAF SOF Operations Course, NATO SOF Technical Exploitation Operations Course, CJFSOCC Staff Officer Course, CJFSOCC Planning Course Miscellaneous Notes: Born into a prominent military family, father a highly decorated retired Army colonel, grandfather a former sergeant major with the American Expeditionary Forces. Graduated 1991 from West Point at the top of his class. Went on several rotational deployments with ARCENT-SA's PATRIOT Task Force in Saudi Arabia before going Special Forces in 1995. Took part in numerous missions in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2008 as a member of the 5th Special Forces Group. Served on part-time cadre at the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies at Fort Leavenworth, overseeing Red Team Leader exercises between 2006 and 2008. A widower (wife succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia in 2007) with a son, Scott, born in 2001. Fluent in Arabic (Modern Standard and Iraqi), Persian (Dari, Farsi and Tajiki dialects), and Russian; conversant in French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Recently rated as being in the 99th percentile among all active-duty Department of Defense field grade officers in conventional, analytical, creative, and practical intelligence measures. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AGENT (INTELLIGENCE & SURVEILLANCE PLATOON CI TEAM) File Name: Arashikage, Kimiko Pay Grade: E-6 Call-Sign: Jinx Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA Unit assignment prior to GIJOE selection: A Company (Counterintelligence/HUMINT), 524th Military Intelligence Battalion, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade (US Army) Post-Secondary Education: BA in Economics (Bryn Mawr College), AA in Mandarin (DLIFLC) Relevant Training (partial list): Financial Management Technician AIT, Counterintelligence Special Agent Course, Basic Airborne School, Air Assault School, Defense Strategic Debriefing and Interrogation Course, Defense Against Sound Equipment Course, Advanced Foreign Counterintelligence Course, Fast Rope and Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction Master Course, Rappel Master Course, SERE Level-C Training, Individual Terrorism Awareness Course, NATO SOF Intel Course, NATO SOF Technical Exploitation Operations Course Miscellaneous Notes: At the age of 12, sent by parents to live with relatives in Tokyo in an effort to instill discipline and a sense of culture. While abroad, extensively studied her clan's traditional martial art, Arashikage-ryū bujutsū. Returned to the United States after graduating at the top of her class from the Saitama Prefectural Inagakuen Comprehensive Upper Secondary School. Joined the Army as a financial management technician after receiving her economics degree from Bryn Mawr in 2002. Re-classed as a counterintelligence agent in 2006, deployed to South Korea in support of USFK/CFC operations as a member of the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion. Fluent in French, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin (Standard dialect); conversant in Cantonese/Yue (Standard dialect). U.A.V. PLATOON LEADER File Name: Armbruster, Bradley J. Pay Grade: O-4 Call-Sign: Ace Birthplace: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA Unit assignment prior to GIJOE selection: 3rd Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, 27th Special Operations Group (USAF) Post-Secondary Education: BS in Electrical Engineering (University of Rhode Island), MS in Defense Analysis (Special Operations/ Irregular Warfare)-Combat Systems subspecialty (Naval Postgraduate School) Relevant Training (partial list): Private Pilot Certification (Cindtronix Aviation), Commercial Pilot Certification (Cindtronix Avaiation), Aerobatic Proficiency Training Certification (Tutima Academy of Aviation), Officer Candidate School Basic Officer Training, Air and Space Basic Course, Initial Flight Screening, USAF Specialized Undergraduate Training, Transitional and Operational Flight Training (F-15E Strike Eagle), USAF Weapons School (F-15E Strike Eagle), Air Liaison Officer Qualification Course, Flight Commander Course, Organizational Leadership Course, Expeditionary Leadership Course, Introduction to Special Operations Course, USAF Weapons School (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), Squadron Officer School, Mission Commander's Course, Basic Airborne School, SERE Level-C Training, Individual Terrorism Awareness Course, NATO Air Integration and Planning Course, Joint Special Operations Warfighter Certification (JSOU) Miscellaneous Notes: Started flying in high school, working three jobs in order to afford lessons. After high school, worked for a year as a bush pilot in Alaska to earn money for college. While enrolled in the University of Rhode Island, spent his free time training to be an aerobatic pilot, twice competing in the FAI Grand Prix. Joined the USAF after earning his degree in electrical engineering. As a member of the 391st Fighter Squadron, flew F-15E Strike Eagles on combat air patrol, air interdiction, and close air support missions in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2005. Entered UAV pilot training and re-assigned to the 3rd Special Operations Squadron in 2007, flying MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs on armed reconnaissance missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. An accomplished amateur poker player, Armbruster has competed in numerous poker fund-raising events for various charities. SCOUT-OBSERVER (H.AL.O./H.A.H.O. RECON TEAM) File Name: Arndt, Philip W. Pay Grade: E-6 Call-Sign: Free Fall Birthplace: Downers Grove, Illinois, USA Unit assignment prior to GIJOE selection: Regimental Reconnaissance Company, Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (Airborne) (US Army) Post-Secondary Education: BA in Philosophy (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale), MA in Comparative East-West Philosophy (University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa) Relevant Training (partial list): Aviation Operations Specialist AIT, Joint Air Tasking Order Process Course, Joint Firepower Course, Infantryman AIT, Basic Airborne School, Ranger School, Air Assault School, Ranger Assessment and Screening Program, SERE Level-C Training, Individual Terrorism Awareness Course, Basic Military Mountaineer Summer Course, Fast Rope and Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction Master Course, Rappel Master Course, Jumpmaster Course (Static-Line), Basic Instructor Course, Military Free Fall Parachutist Course, ISAF SOF Operations Course, NATO SOF Technical Exploitation Operations Course Miscellaneous Notes: Started his military career as an aviation operations specialist with the 82nd Combat Aviation Regiment, deploying to Bosnia with the 2nd Battalion in support of Operation Joint Guard (1997). After fulfilling his term of service, went back to school to earn his master's degree in comparative east-west philosophy. Re-enlisted in 2004 and re-trained as an infantryman, eventually earning a slot with the 75th Ranger Regiment. Deployed to Afghanistan, 2006. Highly intelligent and strongly motivated individual. Fluent in Mandarin (Standard dialect), conversant in Cantonese/Yue (Standard dialect). EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE CLEARANCE AGENT (H.V.T. TRACKER TEAM TWO) File Name: Ayvazyan, Varujan Pay Grade: GS-09 Call-Sign: Taurus Birthplace: Sultanbeyli, Istanbul Province, Turkey Employer prior to GIJOE selection: Terrorism and Violent Crimes Division, United States National Central Bureau of INTERPOL Post-Secondary Education: BA in Security Sciences (Güvenlik Bilimleri Enstitüsü-Polis Akademisi Başkanlığı), AAS in Chemical Technology (Essex County College) Relevant Training (partial list): Pre-Undergraduate Police Training Program (Polis Akademisi Gölbaşı), Basic Police Special Operations Course (Özel Harekat Polis Okulu), INTERPOL International Police Training Program, Search and Security Foundation Course (ISSEE), Search and Security Advanced Searcher Course (ISSEE), High Risk Search Course (ISSEE), EOD Level 1 Course (ISSEE), EOD Level 2 Course (ISSEE), EOD Level 3 Course (ISSEE), IED Awareness Course (ISSEE), IED Technician Course (ISSEE), Booby Traps Course (ISSEE), Program in American Language Studies (Rutgers University- Newark), English for Academic Purposes Course (Rutgers University-Newark) Miscellaneous Notes: Born and raised in Istanbul Province to Turkish-Armenian parents. Overcame cultural and racial barriers to become a ranking police officer with the Istanbul Police Department's Special Security office. Served with distinction in numerous police special operations