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Snow Serpents are the Arctic Environment Specialist branch of the Eels (Cobra Frogmen) cadres and are specially trained and equipped to fight under Arctic conditions. Candidates are screened for optimum strength, endurance, and motivation, and are expected to the same endure rigorous physical and psychological training program as the Eels with the addition of a six month cold weather course somewhere above the Arctic Circle with an over fifty percent drop out rate. Other aspects of the training include airborne operations (under arctic conditions), anti-tank procedures, and the use of snow-shoes, skis, and kayaks. In order to graduate, Snow Serpent trainees must complete a HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jump in a blizzard, ski cross country fifty miles carrying a hundred pound pack, hit over 95% of pop-up targets on the combat range, and swim a hundred meters in freezing water while carrying fifty pounds of ammunition. By the end of the training, full-fledged Snow Serpents can march 50 miles with full field packs and then go for a swim in sub-zero ice flow just for the fun of it. All of this activity enhances their ability to become formidable arctic fighters, mainly because it makes them exceedingly mean and nasty–perfect traits for Cobra.
Each Snow Serpent is Airborne qualified and licensed to operate Cobra's full arsenal of Polar heavy attack vehicles including the Polar Class Ice Saber. Their methods include low opening parachute drops and bombarding their enemies with anti-tank weapons. These elite troops use the latest advancements in down-filled suits warmed by the same backpack heating system that circulates hot air through the working parts of their weapons. Snow Serpents can continue to fight in temperatures low enough to freeze the bolts of most G. I. Joe weapons.
In 1993, Cobra developed a weapon so dangerous that it threatened the safety of the entire planet. Perched high upon Mt. Everest, what was believed to be a giant thermal conversion laser cannon stood ready to strike targets at strategic military base camps and heavily populated world cities. The G.I. Joe Team decided the laser cannon had be destroyed to prevent global devastation, a task perfectly suited for G. I. Joe's elite Arctic Attack Force. With Sub-Zero–a winter operations specialist–leading the mission, he assigned Dee-Jay to climb Everest and plant explosives at the base of the laser cannon. It was then up to Sub-Zero and Stalker to fight off platoons of Snow Serpents, who had adapted to Mt. Everest's freezing winter temperatures.
The modern Snow Serpent features a uniform very reminiscent of the original 1985 deployment, but Cobra made a radical revision to the base Snow Serpent uniform in 1991. This same Snow Serpent uniform with color variations was carried through until 1998. That year, Snow Serpents were deployed to the Cobra Polar Base along with Firefly and Night-Creepers. Four years later, Snow Serpents would be deployed back to the United States, again resembling the original 1985 style with updated equipment. This same uniform would be utilized for Snow Serpents deployed with Polar Blast ski-mobiles in 2003. The latest 2005 platoons of Snow Serpents have again heralded back to the 1985 style, but feature another equipment redesign and upgrade.
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