G.I. JOE INSIDE THE FILECARDS FEATURING ‘GRAND SLAM’!
Story by Staff Writer “Shaft”
Today we look at G.I. Joe Grand Slam. His PMS is listed as “Artillery” and SMS is “Electronics Engineer”. So with “Artillery” he could have been nearly any enlisted MOS in the 13 series (Field Artillery). He could have been a 13B Cannon Crewmember, a 13F Fire Support Specialist or any other 13 series. His filecard states he served with a 155mm battery. However when you look at the HAL and its monitor that Grand Slam views it clearly shows an aircraft in his sites. Compounding this is the fact that a laser would be a direct fire weapon, not an in-direct fire weapon such as artillery. So this begs the question, is the term “Artillery” ambiguous and could mean either the “Field Artillery” branch or maybe even the “Air Defense Artillery” branch (14 series)? Air Defense would use direct fire weapons. However a “155mm battery” would be referring to an indirect fire weapon though so the Air Defense Artillery seems out of the question (except for target in his viewfinder on the HAL and being a direct fire weapon).
There is no such MOS in the US Army as an “Electronics Engineer”. Some people may say maybe he got his Bachelors Degree in this before joining the Army. However since these are listed as “military specialties” I narrow these down to any MOS or training that was received while serving in the military. Later filecards state Grand Slam as being a “Special Electronics Device Repairer”. The closest MOS I can see to this is under the Logistics Corps as a 94F Computer/Detection Systems Repairer.
So Grand Slam could have started his enlistment as a 94F then re-classed later as a 13 series. I know in my Joe-verse I place him as a 13F as I would think the Joes would need this particular MOS in the type of unit they are. I know the Ranger Recon teams employ 13F’s in them so I figure this would be a good fit for Grand Slam and also keeping with the spirit of his character (he deals with artillery but in this case calls it in). What are your thoughts on Grand Slam’s filecard? Share them with us in the comment section below!
