Steel Brigade

Background
Steel Brigade is a network of covert operatives jointly run by the GI Joe team and the US Central Intelligence Agency. The unit, which despite it's name is nowhere near brigade-strength, is intended to provide support for operations in unfriendly nations. The operatives are deployed undercover, to act as a support network for covert ops for the Joe team. Single agents or small cells have been sent to various potential hotspots across Central America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. The cells set up safe houses and false identities for any Joe to use in a mission if they needed to operate covertly or to escape incognito. When the Joe team was disbanded, the CIA continued to fund and operate the network. Among its operatives were an agent codenamed 'Dog-tag' who was involved in an incident in Santalla, which led to him being recalled to the US and subsequently court-martialled from the US Army. A four-man cell in Georgia was responsible for locating the headquarters of the Red Shadows following their assault on Washington DC. The cell was made up of former Delta Force operator Alpha Dog, who was covered as an FBI liaison at the US Embassy,  former US Navy SEAL Lone Star, former US Marine Force Recon commando Jarhead and former US Army Ranger Firebolt. That cell also had use of a hidden Sky Hawk VTOL jetcraft. This cell participated in the assault on the compound led by Action Force and were then brought into the GI Joe team proper as a reward.

Cells or agents are located in various nations as noted, including Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Panama, China, South Korea (to support North Korea operations), Georgia, Pakistan, Armenia, Ukraine, Belrus, Colombia, Punta del Mucosa, Santalla, Angola, Ethiopia, Chad and Ishmal.

Stories
The Steel Brigade appeared in the following story

War of the Red Shadows