Valerie Cooper gave a proposal for a new type of Sentinel that would be piloted. She cited that the government can not rely on the Fantastic Four or the Avengers, much less the X-Men during a crisis and thus needed its own sanctioned superhero team. The new models were developed by Tony Stark. James Rhodes was selected as Direct Command Officer and instructor. Various candidates were selected to be part of this new Sentinel Squad They were pushed hard, with initial 'training simulations' against the likes of Galactus and the Silver Surfer Their initial mission was to protect a senator targeted by Hydra due to his anti-terror legislation. They apprehended agents, who then triggered explosives and unleashed the Growing Man. Slayton was injured, losing both legs, and the mission failed, despite the fact they saved the senator