The Pit's training area

   The motor pool at the Chaplain's Assistants School at Fort Wadsworth was equipped to meet any repair and maintenance need, just like any other Army motor pool. It was also the only motor pool in the world with a hydraulic lift that went down and the only one with five floors of armored basement below it. In reality, the motor pool hid the secret headquarters of the G.I. Joe team, also known as "The Pit." Built under extremely tight security, the Pit was designed to keep certain the Joe team's status remained classified and its existence virtually unknown. Apparently, even the rest of the personnel at Fort Wadsworth was unaware of the Pit's existence, believing that the Joe team members were just motor pool staff.

    Hidden under the Chaplain's Assistants School, the least threatening of all army installations, the Pit housed nearly the entire G.I. Joe operation within its five levels. These levels contained an elaborate training area, briefing rooms, an armory and high-tech communications equipment and computer systems. A staging area held the Joe team's vehicles and offered access to the equipment lifts leading to the motor pool above. (Of the team's many vehicles, only their aircraft were housed elsewhere, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.) Personnel support areas such as a canteen (kitchen) and living quarters were also included. The bottom levels of the Pit could be sealed off and could operate independently for six months, withstanding up to a five megaton blast. Fortunately, that aspect of the Pit was never tested. The team's original thirteen members actually took up residence in the base before it was completely operational.

Motor pool entrance

    During the early days of the team, Cobra's first attempt at infiltrating the Pit occurred when following a battle, the Joes brought a dismantled Cobra battle robot into the Pit for study. It was believed to be deactivated, but an outside signal from Cobra caused the robot to reactivate and reassemble itself. After a brief battle and minor damage to the Pit, the robot was destroyed before it could reach the surface and transmit a signal that would reveal the location of the base.

    Many months after the Cobra's first attempts to find the location of the base, the Pit was threatened with a Cobra assault. Cobra had discovered that the Joes were quartered at Fort Wadsworth, but the Joes were tipped off by Cobra agent, Scar-face. Knowing that a Cobra assault was imminent, Hawk had a prefabricated fortress built one level below the motor pool. Using the equipment lifts, the fortress was pushed to the surface just as a Cobra attack destroyed the motor pool. Cobra believed that the ground level fortress was the entire G.I. Joe H.Q., so when they blew it up they assumed the Pit itself had been destroyed. After the battle that followed, Cobra's forces retreated. During the battle, General Flagg was killed by the mercenary Major Bludd, making the victory a hollow one for the Joes.

    Much of the Pit remained intact after the destruction of the prefab fortress, but the top levels had been severely damaged. The Army took the opportunity to rebuild the Pit, this time expanding its facilities to deal with the team's growth within the last year and allow for even more Joes to subsequently join the team. Many of the team members themselves took part in the reconstruction. The rebuilt headquarters was different enough for the Joes to unofficially call it "Pit II." The new Pit had an expanded motor pool above it, which allowed for many more vehicle lifts, a helicopter launch pad and even a hidden ICBM missle silo. The original Pit had an escape tunnel leading to a water tower on the ground level. In addition to that, Pit II included an earth-boring vehicle to allow for an additional escape route. After months of construction, the new Pit was officially opened with a dedication ceremony hosted by General Austin.

    The Joes later found their base infiltrated by Cobra once again when Zartan, disguised as G.I. Joe member Ripcord, was brought into the Pit to treat supposed injuries he sustained during a mission to Cobra Island. Once deep in the Pit, Zartan used his abilities to disguise himself as numerous Joes as the team locked down the base and tried to track down the elusive master of disguise. He nearly escaped before being stopped by Sergeant Slaughter. Zartan was then held prisoner in the base, and remained there when most of the Joe team invaded the Cobra-controlled town of Springfield.

Pit II "war room"

    The Battle of Springfield proved disastrous after Cobra managed to evacuate their town, leaving behind little evidence that they were ever there. As the Joes made their way back to Fort Wadsworth, a group of Dreadnoks beat them there. They learned the location of the Pit from Buzzer, who had been held prison there for a time. The biker gang freed Zartan with the help of his siblings, Zandar and Zarana, due in part due to the small amount of staff left at the base.

    After the Joe team was put on suspension following the debacle at Springfield, the Pit was sealed and all personnel were assigned to regular barracks above ground. Cobra chose this moment to again attack the Pit, using Zartan's knowledge of its location. The mission was led by Serpentor, who was quickly taking control of Cobra away from Cobra Commander. The off duty Joes, stationed throughout Fort Wadsworth organized an attack on the motor pool, where the Cobra forces had gathered. Cobra Commander, trying to prove himself as Serpentor usurped his leadership, led a group of Cobra troopers into the Pit along with Destro.The only people actually inside the base were a group of high-ranking officers who were investigating the team. Hawk, General Hollingsworth, General Ryan and Admiral Dyson tried to fend off Destro and Cobra Commander's attack on their own, but failed.

Crater of collapsed Pit II

Dyson gave his life to save the others, and a mortally wounded Ryan detonated explosives that destroyed the Pit even as Hawk and Hollingsworth escaped. The Pit collapsed, leaving a crater in the middle of Fort Wadsworth and the Joes without any headquarters. After taking up temporary residence in the Chaplain's Assistants Gymnasium, the Joe team was to become a mobile unit. That plan proved to be unfeasible for the G.I. Joe team's size, and a new Pit would soon be built.


Fort Wadsworth actually exists on Staten Island. According to the series' writer, Larry Hama, it was easy to use the Army base as a reference for the comic book because of its closeness to Marvel's Manhattan offices. It did house the Chaplain's Assistants School for a time, though only up until 1979, three years before G.I. JOE #1 was published.