A former gang leader, STALKER joined the military to perfect the deadly arts he learned on the streets of Detroit. He graduated at the top of his class in Basic Combat Training and Advanced Infantry Training. He also trained at the U.S. Army Language School and the Intelligence School. Before joining G.I. Joe as one of its original 13 members, Stalker served as a member of a LRRP (Long Range Recon Patrol) with Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow in southeast Asia during Vietnam.