The Company They Keep [antikvár]

Author's Note iJF nomenclature is specific and standard. Each team in every group carries a different three-numeral number. The first numeral designates the ODA's Group. The second and third numerals combined indicate the ODA's battalion and company. For instance, ODA 311 is a team in A Company of the First Battalion of 3rd Group. It is a regular (or ruck) team. So would be 312, 313, and 316. In 3rd Group ODA numbers ending in 4 (e.g., 314) generally indicate a HALO (High-Altitude, Low-Opening military free-fall parachute) team, while numbers ending in 5 (e.g., 315) generally indicate a combat diving, or scuba, team. Members on both types of specialty teams have speciahzed qualifications above and beyond the normal Special Forces skills. Because I wish to preserve as much as possible the anonymity of the men I describe, I have created my own set of ODA numbers: 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, and 309. Number 304 is a HALO team, and 305 is a scuba team. The numeral 3 correctly places each of these teams in 3rd Group. Otherwise, there is no 0 Battalion. I have likewise dubbed the company, which would normally be known only as A (Alpha), B (Bravo), or C (Charlie) Company, as Z Company. Finally, 1 do not use soldiers' real names. Just as most of these men shy away from having their photographs taken for security reasons, many are still working in SF or elsewhere in Special Operations. The last thing I want to do is jeopardize their positions or endanger them in any way. IX