Quote from LEAPup:
Former Mustang here, USMC
E-4 Corporal 1990-1994 0331- Machinegunner
Went to OCC after College; got pinnned, and left the Corps O-3+8 years. Weapons Company Commander
I thought I may have been watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGosYIlXdmU a few pages ago, and have an idea where you're going with this. Yes, I was in combat, and know the horrors of combat. I know what horror is...
I'm no star trader by any means, but can see where you're starting with this. Know the enemy. The market makers; the people taking the other sides of the trades. Know who's carrying ammo from the "footprints" they leave in the sand so we can deal with them accordingly. Know the one's running away. No need to kill them. Yet... But know them, and be able to recognize them very fast, and take action before they can fathom getting a shot off.
My personal two cents:
I know the horrors of war. Trading is the same as combat. Losing money is horror. However, being able to be as without emotion as the enemy that Brando talks about is a major plus towards reaching a fast victory. I used to show Apocalypse Now to my Marines, and rewind (yes it was VHS for us then. lol), to that scene with Brando over and over, telling them, "don't ever commit an atrocity while deploted. However, have the mindset instead...
Hope I don't get banned or demoted for my above points.
E-4 Specialist Four LEAPup-
I must demote you for your own good-you have already got some privilege for serving as mentioned-but this war is slightly different to what you might think.
Part of training is to recognise false signs-and this terrain has been mined with many different types of AP devices-much thanks to the idiots who sell books and courses.
Now-the soldier-and Officers-must be prepared to forget everything they think they know-concentrate on survival-and then they will start to move away from the front-little by little.
Eventually-it will become clear that the battles are won-not by being well equipped-and having a heavy load-but by being very smart-knowing how to stay alive to fight another day-and OBSERVING the soldiers who are getting killed-for they are the ones who leave all their kit on the battlefield to be picked up by the elite core who move in to clean up the mess.
The General
Print off for reference for those who do not have it.
Enlisted Ranks:
E-1 Private - No insignia
E-2 Private - One Chevron
E-3 Private First Class - One chevron, One Rocker
E-4 Specialist Four - Inverted solid insignia with Army Eagle emblem
E-4 Corporal - Junior NCO - Two Chevrons
E-5 Sergeant - NCO - Three Chevrons
E-6 Staff Sergeant - NCO - Three Chevrons, Three Rockers
E-7 Sergeant First Class - NCO - Three Chevron, Two Rockers
E-8 Master Sergeant - NCO - Three Chevrons, Three Rockers
E-8 First Sergeant - NCO - Three Chevron, Three Rockers with a diamond in the center
E-9 Sergeant Major - NCO - Three Chevrons, Three Rockers with a star in the center
E-9 Command Sergeant Major - NCO - Three Chevrons, Three Rockers with Eagle and Star insignia in the center
E-9 Sergeant Major of the Army - NCO - Three Chevrons, Three Rockers with the Army Eagle insignia in the center
Warrant Officers:
W1 - Warrant Officer - Silver Bar with one black square.
W2 - Chief Warrant Officer One - Silver Bar with two black squares.
W3 - Chief Warrant Officer Two - Silver Bar with three black squares.
W4 - Chief Warrant Officer Three - Silver Bar with four black squares.
W5 - Master Warrant Officer - Silver Bar with single black line.
Officers:
O-1 - 2nd Lieutenant - Single brass bar (Gold Bar, or "Butter Bar")
O-2 - 1st Lieutenant - Single Silver Bar
O-3 - Captain - Two Silver Bars
O-4 - Major - Single Brass Oak Leaf Cluster.
O-5 - Lt. Colonel - Single Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.
O-6 - Colonel - Silver Army Eagle Emblem.
O-7 - Brigadeer General - Single Silver Star
O-8 - Major General - Two silver Stars
O-9 - Lt. General - Three Silver Stars
O-10 - General - Four Silver Stars
O-10 - General of the Army - Five Silver Stars