 Rico's ship, the "Valley Forge", is destroyed, and his unit is decimated; he is reassigned to the Roughnecks on board the "Rodger Young," led by Lieutenant Rasczak and Sergeant Jelal.The unit carries out several raids, and Rico is promoted to corporal by Jelal, after Rasczak dies in combat.One of his comrades in the Roughnecks suggests that Rico go to officer training school and try to become an officer.