War stories have a number of different levels of focus, from the global strategic level all the way down to squad tactics, and even the plights of individual soldiers on the battleground.
When the focus is at the smaller end of the scale, we get
The Squad. Very often, this is a squad composed (like a
Five-Man Band) of interlocking character types or roles.
There are quite a few similarities with the types and roles of the
Command Roster. The main difference is the
Command Roster is a very specific combination of skills that may not be
strictly military.
The Squad may be a
Badass Crew and have a
Squad Nickname. If it's made up of women, it's an example of an
Amazon Brigade.
Compare
The Index Team.
Some of those character types and roles:
If the story follows the characters through boot camp, or specialized training, expect to see
Drill Sergeant Nasty make an appearance. If the story follows them after the war, expect at least one
Shell Shocked Senior.
Some
The Squad series:
