Congratulations

This month it will be Tom Berenger`s 59th birthday. (May 31, 1949)
(Bob Barnes)

Trivia

Release date: December 19, 1986

Oscar: Best Director ->Oliver Stone
Best Film Editing
Best Picture
Best Sound

Oscar nominees: Best Actor in a Supporting Role ->Tom Berenger
Best Actor in a Supporting Role -> Willem Dafoe
Best Writing -> Oliver Stone
Best Cinematography

The actors undertook a two weeks basic training at the hand of the film’s technical adviser US Marine Captain Dale Dye.Source / More (Book)

Director Cameo: An officer at the bunker which gets destroyed by a suicide runner.

The film is based on Oliver Stone’s personal experiences during the Vietnam war. The sergeants Barnes and Elias were existing soldiers. Elias died under strange circumstances.Source / More (Book)

The encyclopedia says about platoon
A military unit consisting of 30 to 40 soldiers with two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.Source / More (Web)

Extra

The Army

An army is a large organized land force armed and trained for war.

Platoon:

A subdivision of a company of soldiers, usually led by a lieutenant and consisting of two to three sections or squads of ten to twelve people. The term platoon has been used in U.S. military manuals since 1779.

Hierarchy in the army:

• Corps -> consisting of approximately 30,000 soldiers, composed of two or more Divisions.
• Division -> consisting of approximately 10,000 soldiers composed of two or more regiments or Brigades.
• Brigade -> consisting between 1,500 and 3,500 soldiers.
• Battalion / Regiment -> consisting of approximately 500 to 1000 soldiers composed of a two to six Companies.
• Company -> consisting 100 to 300 soldiers composed of three to six Platoons.
• Platoon -> consisting from 25 to 50 soldiers composed of two or three Squads.
• Section / Squad -> consisting of of between eight and twelve soldiers.
• Soldier