Fill in the blanks with the appropriate nouns in their correct plural form. 

THE MANUFACTURING OF COMBATANTS 

    With a background of discipline and training, the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy shapes its students into ____. The ____ of distinguished past students remind future sergeants of the legacy that they will receive. Marching in synchronized rhythm, they learn to move as a single unit, leaving no fallen ____ behind. They spend hours perfecting fieldcrafts or strategizing like ____ in the wild. Their ____ carry them through long exercises and hikes. At the core, these aspiring warriors desire to protect the innocent ____ of their homeland who depend on their strength and dedication.