Nathan Spencer was a member of the Federal States of America's armed forces, but his military career was stopped short when a grenade removed his left arm. While on rehabilitation leave, he accepted a position as the first test subject for bionics technology by T.A.S.C., the FSA military's intelligence division. He was given the codename: Research And Development #1, or RAD #1, and the name stuck; many continued to call him "Rad" Spencer for years on end.