#gold investments firms USA

[iragoldproof]

Investing in gold is a proven strategy for wealth preservation and portfolio diversification. At IRA Gold Proof, we offer expert guidance on how to safely invest in gold through IRAs, physical gold, and other options.

[wack-ashimself]

Quick catch up to where Congo is today.

This is long, but worth the read. Basically, the USA (of course) did not help Congo, but (I can't believe I get to say this) a LOT of the present day issues are DUE TO CHINA.

And people keep saying they're such a good peace loving country. NO. Just the USA propaganda quit working, but the Chinese stuff is still up to snuff.

"The abundance of natural resources—especially precious minerals—found in Congolese soil has globalized the conflict in eastern DRC. While U.S. companies once owned vast cobalt mines in the Congo, most were sold to Chinese companies during the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations. Chinese companies connected to Beijing now control the majority of foreign-owned cobalt, uranium, and copper mines in DRC, and the Congolese army has been repeatedly deployed to mining sites in eastern DRC to protect Chinese assets. The Joe Biden administration has acknowledged that China’s virtual monopoly in DRC’s mining industry plays a significant role in boosting China’s comparative advantage in the energy and technology arenas and is a hindrance to U.S. clean energy aspirations.

China is involved in Congo’s internal conflict as well as its economy: the Congolese government is fighting M23 rebels with the help of Chinese drones and weaponry, and Uganda has purchased Chinese arms to carry out military operations within DRC’s borders. The deals China negotiated with Congolese leadership, especially during the Joseph Kabila regime, have helped Chinese firms secure unprecedented access to metals that allow them to mass produce electronics and clean energy technologies. The Beijing-Kinshasa relationship came under international scrutiny leading up to President Kabila’s resignation in 2019 when evidence emerged that Chinese capital—intended for infrastructure investment as repayment for mining rights—was being funneled to Joseph Kabila and his associates. China and DRC’s complex, multi-layered economic and military relationship has resulted in limited access to the Congo’s vital resources and profits for other countries and the Congolese people themselves. China’s presence in resource-rich eastern DRC is not without its risks, however; in September 2023, Chinese nationals were among the casualties of a militant group’s deadly robbery of a mining company convoy. Additionally, a U.S. congressional human rights commission heard testimony in July 2022 regarding the use of child labor and other illegal practices in Congolese mines, allegedly including those owned and operated by Chinese companies. While the United States does maintain a relationship with DRC, the trade relationship is minimized by U.S. restrictions on imports from conflict-affected states and bans on importing “conflict minerals,” which are resources such as tin and gold mined for the profit of armed groups in the Congo and neighboring countries."

Side note: this again goes back to the line 'NO ONE SHOULD OWN LAND THEY DO NOT LIVE OFF OF. Especially a foreign fucking country, no matter which country it is.'

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violence-democratic-republic-congo

[wcambridge]

Personality Secrets - Why Golds Advocate Discipline

Golds promote and advocate discipline. On the off chance that any personality style is known for having faith in the advantages of discipline, it's the Gold. They like controlled instructional classes that improve individuals ethically and intellectually. They support firm discipline to address bad conduct. Truth be told, the Gold accepts a little, momentary investment in discipline will quite often yield substantial long haul find out more here dividends in character. Discipline, in their book, is a mighty good investment.

It's similar to how a purifier's fire wears the pollutants out of precious metals. Likewise, discipline eliminates undesirable qualities from a person's personality. So the more discipline you experience, the better you become.

Discipline focuses on the evacuation of unfortunate behavior patterns and the substitution of good ones, especially those of request, routineness, and acquiescence. - - Charles John Smith

What's more, that is probably why numerous Golds in a real sense become the disciples of fruitful individuals. Take a gander at a portion of those unscripted TV dramas on TV where you have some accomplished master attempting to guide a few youngsters and transform them into prodigies.

For instance we should check The Disciple out. In the USA rendition of the show, every challenger is competing with their partners to win a regular work functioning as a leader for Donald Trump. As the show progresses, obviously most candidates frantically want to be like Mr. Trump. To such an extent that they start taking on a portion of the Wear's characteristics - - some of which are good, and, as I would see it, some of which aren't super great. It seems like a large portion of the competitors are driven, similar to Golds can be, to accomplish their objectives, and will take the necessary steps. And, surprisingly, however a couple appear to be fundamentally Orange, they all focus on showing Gold ways of behaving that lead to progress in the business world.

Numerous Golds, paying little mind to who their guide is, once in a while follow them to the degree that they'll put to the side their very own considerable lot inclinations together to follow their chiefs. So they start to walk the walk and talk the discussion. Trusting, as they walk and as they talk, that they're headed for progress so that can earn what they don't yet possess.

[jcurryllc]

🌱 Why Your Business Needs a Biogas Expert Right Now

Listen up, sustainability warriors! Let's talk about one of the most overlooked players in the renewable energy game: biogas compliance consulting. If you're running an agricultural operation, food processing facility, or waste management company, you NEED to know this.

Here's the tea: More companies are turning waste into gold through waste to energy solutions. But here's the thing - you can't just throw organic waste into a tank and expect magic to happen. That's where a biogas expert engineering team comes in.

Your friendly neighborhood Biogas Consulting firm isn't just pushing paperwork. These wizards understand the entire bio gas system from start to finish. They're the difference between a failed investment and a thriving renewable energy operation.

What can a biogas expert actually do for you?

Transform your waste streams into profitable energy

Navigate complex environmental regulations

Optimize your system design for maximum efficiency

Troubleshoot technical issues before they become disasters

Keep you compliant with ever-changing regulations

The truth? The biogas industry is BOOMING in the USA, but success depends on having the right expertise in your corner. Biogas compliance consulting isn't just a luxury - it's your ticket to joining the renewable energy revolution.

#RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #WasteToEnergy #BiogasConsulting #CleanEnergy #GreenBusiness #Biogas #SustainableFuture #ClimateAction #RenewableTech

💚 Pro tip: Don't wait until you're knee-deep in compliance issues. Get a biogas expert on your team early. Your future self (and the planet) will thank you!

[iragoldproof]

When it comes to retirement planning, simplicity and transparency are key. The right company will offer a straightforward process for opening your Gold IRA, funding it, and purchasing your gold.

[iragoldproof]

When selecting a gold investment firm in the USA, take the time to research firms that offer experience, transparency, and the variety of options you need to make the best investment choices.

[bestgoldiracompaniesinusa1]

Best Gold IRA Companies In USA

Howard, an authority at Top Gold IRA Firms in the USA, carefully examines the top-tier choices in precious metals retirement investment options accessible on the internet. Operating inside the borders of the United States, he is dedicated to uncovering the most beneficial retirement investment opportunities possible, all the while offering in-depth and unbiased analyses of the advantages and disadvantages of each company. His work not only highlights the essential benefits of precious metals IRAs but also prepares individuals with vital information to make informed decisions in their pursuit of establishing a robust financial future in their golden years.

Our Social Pages:

facebook

pinterest

youtube

[iraempirecom]

BullionMax Rating

What is BullionMax?

BullionMax is a company that provides trading services with the intention of selling precious metals. The platform of the organization provides trading services for precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Providing clients with the ability to purchase gold coins, silver coins, platinum bars, and other related products directly from the manufacturer.

A subsidiary of the parent firm J M Bullion, a Dallas, Texas-based operator of an online precious metal retailer, is BullionMax. The company works directly with mints and distributors to provide customers. With insured bullion delivered discretely to doors throughout the USA. It also offers physical gold and silver items, including bars, rounds, and coins. To build a business that is focused on the client experience, BullionMax invests in top-notch customer service, innovation, and leadership. This will provide their clients with a sense of assurance that BullionMax will fulfil their commitment to them. BullionMax’s primary goal is to create lasting client connections by providing value. Through reasonable pricing, simplicity of use, a wide range of products, and individualized service. A secure portfolio, in BullionMax's opinion, must include investments in precious metals. BullionMax makes investing convenient, secure, and safe. In this article, we will look into BullionMax Rating on BBB as well as on other rating platforms. For detailed information read BullionMax Reviews.

BullionMax Rating

BBB- Better Business Bureau Founded in 1912, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, nonprofit organization. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB) in Arlington, Virginia. Coordinates the work of 97 separately incorporated local BBB organizations around the United States and Canada to advance marketplace confidence.

The Better Business Bureau is independent of all governmental organizations. Businesses that are BBB members and uphold its criteria do so through self-regulation within the sector. Even if they still represent corporate interests, BBB's policy is to refrain from promoting them. Or advocating any specific company, good, or service to avoid prejudice. According to the BBB rating, BullionMax Silver has got the following rating:

The BBB's assessment of a company's potential consumer interactions is reflected in its rating. The BBB rating is based on data the BBB can gather about the company, including customer complaints. BBB solicits and makes use of data from public data sources as well as directly from businesses. A+ is the highest rating given by BBB, and F is the lowest. In some circumstances, BBB won't give a company a rating (marked by an NR, or "No Rating"). Because there isn't enough information available about it or because its file is still being reviewed or updated. In general, BBB Business Profiles explain the key elements that influence a company's rating. Ratings from the BBB do not represent a promise of a company's dependability or performance. BBB advises customers to take into account a company's BBB rating. In addition to all other relevant information about the company. Here are some of the reviews from people:

Trustpilot Trustpilot Group plc is a Danish consumer company that runs a review website. That offers reviews of companies from all over the world and was established in Denmark in 2007. Each month, around a million fresh reviews are published. Businesses can use the website's freemium services. It has drawn criticism for allowing businesses to delete unfavourable evaluations and for publishing phoney reviews. A stock exchange in London lists Trustpilot.

On Trustpilot, reviews can be submitted by anybody. To create a user account, you must have either an email address or a Facebook account. The company offers specialized marketing and analytics services in its subscription plans. And permits businesses to gather and respond to evaluations without charge.  It makes money by charging subscription fees to businesses that utilize its software in exchange for consumer reviews and business insight. Trustpilot reviews may appear on Google.com as "Google Stars" or "Google Seller Ratings" as a result of a license agreement between the two parties. 700 staff members are working there, and more than 1,000,000 new reviews are uploaded each month. More than 228,000 brands have had 50 million reviews posted on them. BullionMax Rating on Trustpilot According to the Trustpilot rating for BullionMax - It is 4.5 out of 5 which is pretty good. And proves that BullionMax is not a scam company.

Shopper Approved

Shopper Approved is a cloud-based solution that allows businesses to collect, manage, and actively promote reviews and ratings from their online customers. From the Shopper Approved platform, teams can create widgets to be displayed on websites while choosing the specific ratings and reviews they want to show. BullionMax Rating on Shopper-Approved According to the shopper-approved ratings BullionMax has received a 4.8 rating out of 5 which is more than satisfactory.

Why customer ratings are important

1) Increase customer service and better understand your customers. By giving your firm input on what your consumers want, customer reviews can help your organization better understand overall customer happiness. By swiftly and effectively resolving the problems that customers encounter, you will be able to enhance customer service by giving them a great experience and maintaining your attention on their needs. 2) Reputation and Social Proof We have always been social beings since the minute we arrived on this planet, and we are always curious about what other people have to say before we make a purchase. Review sites give us the ability to do this online with just a few clicks, much like how we would ask friends and family for advice. 3) Use experience to fight for margins. Reviews help fledgling businesses compete head-to-head with more established rivals and possibly carve out a favourable niche in the public's assessment and expectations. Consider it this way...Which company—one with 50 ratings at three stars or one with five at five stars—would you choose to purchase from? Voila! You've just diverted attention from the sale and price! 4) Give consumers a voice so they develop a sense of loyalty. Customers who take the time to write a review for your company online are much more likely to experience a sense of loyalty and return. It enables customers to feel like they have a voice even behind a desktop, smartphone, or tablet screen and can provide feedback in a positive and meaningful way through the act of leaving a review and developing a relationship with your brand.

BullionMax Rating: Conclusion

To find a detailed analysis of the company, I suggest checking out BullionMax Reviews. Opening a precious metals IRA is a major decision. That's why I suggest checking out our top gold IRA providers list. There, you can find the best precious metals dealer in your state and choose accordingly. Also, the list will help you understand what the industry's best has to offer. Also, it helps with what you might miss out on. If you're unfamiliar with gold IRAs, check out this free guide: Find the best Gold IRA company in your state Read the full article

[iragoldproof]

Gold has proven to be a stable and effective way to protect wealth, especially in times of economic uncertainty. If you're considering gold as part of your investment strategy, choosing the right gold investment firm in the USA is crucial.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Political economy vs inflation

As Biden lays out ambitious plans to stimulate the US economy and fight inequality with new money creation (spending) and money destruction (higher taxes on corporations, capital gains and the right), a firing squad of economists assembled to issue dire inflation warnings.

They're repeating the economic doctrine of the pasty 40 years, an austerity doctrine that focuses on the inflationary risks of "deficit spending" (when governments don't tax as much money out of the economy as they inject in the same year).

It's a doctrine that made a pretense to being a science, going to far as to create a fake "Nobel Prize" in economics in a bid for scientific credibility (the Nobel administrators eventually folded the economics prize into its administrative remit).

The "neoclassicals" used abstract equations to "prove" a bunch of economic truths that - purely coincidentally - made rich people much, much richer and poor people much, much poorer.

Tellingly, the most exciting development in economics of the past 50 years is "behavioral economics" - a subdiscipline whose (excellent) innovation was to check to see whether people actually act the way that economists' models predict they will.

(they don't)

It's this vain, discredited and shambolic group who have assembled behind leaders like Larry Summers to decry Biden's stimulus spending plans, insisting that we are flirting with hyperinflation and the collapse of the USD as a global reserve currency.

But economists aren't the last word in understanding stimulus and inflation. If you're trying to figure out whether Summers is right and inequality, poverty and crumbling infrastructure are the price of American stability, it's worth checking out the *political* economists.

Here's a great place to start: Brown University economist Mark Blyth's interview with The Analysis, available in audio, video, and as a transcript:

https://theanalysis.news/interviews/mark-blyth-the-inflated-fear-of-inflation/

Blyth doesn't dismiss Summers' inflationary fears out of hand, but he does say that Summers is vastly overestimating the likelihood that stimulus spending will trigger inflation - Summers says there's a 1-in-3 chance of inflation, while Blyth says it's more like 1-in-10.

To understand the difference, it's useful to first understand what we mean by inflation: "a general, sustained rise in the level of all prices."

It's not a short-term spike (like we saw with GPUs when everyone upgraded their gaming rigs at the start of the pandemic).

It's also not an asset-bubble. House prices in Toronto are high, but that's not inflation. They're high because "Canada stopped building public housing in the 1980s and turned it into an asset class and let the 10 percent top earners buy it all and swap it with each other."

For inflation to happen in the wake of the stimulus, the spending would have to lead to too much money chasing not enough goods. Blyth gives some pretty good reasons to be skeptical that this will happen.

Start with the wealthy: they don't spend much, relative to their income. Their consumption needs are already met (that's what it means to be rich). You can only own so many Sub-Zero fridges, and even after you fill them with kobe beef and Veuve Cliquot, you're still rich.

What rich people do with extra money is *speculate*. That's why top-level giveaways generate socially useless, destructive asset bubbles. Remember, these aren't inflation, which is good, because everyone agrees that inflation is hard to stop once it gets going.

They're speculative bubbles. We have a much better idea of how to prevent bubbles: transaction taxes, hikes to the capital gains tax, and high marginal tax rates at the top bracket.

Okay, fine, so the rich won't be able to spend us into inflation after a broad stimulus, but what about poor people? Well, the bottom 60% of the US is grossly indebted, suffocating under medical debt, student debt and housing debt. A *lot* of that will disappear.

That will transfer a lot of stimulus money from poor people to rich people (who own the debt), which is why we need high capital gains and top-bracket taxation. But it will also sweep away a vast swathe of the financialized economy.

The point of long-term debt isn't to get paid off - it's to generate ongoing cash-flows that can be securitized and turned into bonds. Securitization converted "advanced" economies into shambling, undead debt-zombies.

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/02/innovation-unlocks-markets/#digital-arm-breakers

It's securitization that led to the 2008 financial crisis, and it's securitization that sustains Wall Street's speculative acquisition of every single-family dwelling for sale in America as part of a bid to turn every home into an extractive slum.

Blythe explains that if the rich have nothing to buy and the poor use most of their stimulus to get out of debt, it will likely reorient the US economy to useful things: creating jobs to make stuff that people want to buy.

But what about the dollar's status as a global reserve currency? Won't all that stimulus send other countries scurrying around for another form of national savings? Blyth's answer is pretty convincing.

First, because there aren't any great alternatives: the European economy is growing at half the rate of the US. The Chinese economy is booming, but if you buy Chinese assets, there's a good chance you'll never be able to get them out of China.

Gold? Bitcoin? Leave aside the deflationary risk of pegging your currency to an inelastic metal or virtual token, leave aside the environmentally devastating effect of cryptocurrency (cryptos consume enough energy to offset the entire planetary solar capacity!).

Instead, think of the volatility of these assets, with their drunken, wild swings - countries that dump USD due to inflationary fears are hardly likely to switch to a crypto that can lose 20% of its value in a day.

And remember how much of that volatility is driven by out-and-out fraud, with major crypto exchanges and gold schemes imploding without warning, taking hundreds of millions of dollars with them. This is not a stable alternative to the dollar!

Beyond the lack of an alternative, there's another reason to believe that the USD will remain a global reserve, as Blyth elegantly explains.

Think of a Chinese company supplying the US market. Chances are, that's actually US company's subcontractor, getting paid in USD.

These end up swapped with the Chinese central bank for Chinese money, because Chinese companies need to pay salaries, rent, and other expenses in Renminbi, not dollars. The Chinese central bank holds onto the USDs, using them as a national savings, a reserve currency.

If China were to dump all its USD holdings into the world economy, it would tank the US dollar - which is to say, it burn China's own national savings. China's central bank needs to do something with those dollar savings, so they buy 10-year US T-bills.

Same goes for Germany - net exporters depend on a net importer to buy their stuff, and primarily that's the USA. They are stuck in a form of "monetarily assured destruction," and a crisis of confidence is unlikely "because you’ve got nowhere else to take your confidence."

Next, Blyth takes up is the proposed increase in the corporate tax rate, and he says that investors are actually surprisingly okay with this - he reminds us of Buffett's maxim, "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked."

A hike in the corporate tax rate has the potential to reveal which of the "great" firms "are just really good at tax optimization" rather than efficient production. It'll smash those unproductive firms to pieces that can be bought by good firms for pennies on the dollar.

The final issue that Blyth takes up is an excellent one for this May Day: the relationship of higher wages to inflation. When the US had large, centrally managed industries with large, centralized unions, there was the risk that higher prices would trigger higher wages.

But the US doesn't have a unionized workforce with guaranteed COLA inflationary rises - there's no "wage-price spiral" risk of higher prices leading to higher wages and then higher prices.

The neoclassical theory of wages is based on the "marginal productivity" and "higher than outside option" theories: wage-levels are the product of how much money they stand to make from your work, and how much someone else is willing to pay you to work for them.

But economists like Suresh Naidu describe how high-tech surveillance can disrupt this equilibrium: you can spy on workers instead of paying them more, can impose onerous conditions on them that wring them of everything they can produce.

This kind of bossware was once the exclusive burden of low-waged, precarious workers, but thanks to the shitty technology adoption curve, it is working its way up the privilege gradient to increasingly elite workforce segments.

Digital micromanagement went from the factory floor to remote customer-support reps to office workers who are minutely surveilled by Office 365, all the way up to MDs and other elite professionals:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

This has led to increased profits for firms - firms now take a larger share of their productivity gains, and workers see stagnant or declining wages. That excess profit represents slack in the system.

It means that even if companies' costs go up, they can hold prices steady - all they need to do is reduce their retained profits.

We've had 40 years of price stability at the expense of a living wage for working people.

Higher wages are only inflationary if we assume that the 1% will continue to extract vast sums from their investments and use them to kick off destructive asset bubbles.

Image: badsci https://www.flickr.com/photos/7941730@N06/8625213990/

CC BY-SA: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

[anakeb]

How to make a binary options trading account and earn $200 a day - an easy tutorial for trading

binary options trading strategy, binary options trading for beginners, binary options trading strategy pocket option, binary options trading live, binary options trading binomo stock market financial, binary options trading pocket option, binary options trading strategy 2021, binary options trading platform, binary options trading app, binary options trading ai, binary options trading australia, binary options trading alligator, binary options trading academy, binary options trading and forex, binary options trading average income, binary options trading account, binary options trading bot, binary options trading broker, binary options trading beginners, binary options trading basics, binary options trading books, binary options trading bitcoin, binary options trading binance, binary options trading course, binary options trading cash trap, binary options trading cryptocurrency, binary options trading challenge, binary options trading course for beginners, binary options trading course online, binary options trading canada, binary options trading company, binary options trading deposit, binary options trading demo, binary options trading discord, how does binary options trading work, day trading binary options, binary options trading for dummies, binary options vs day trading, delta river binary options trading, binary options trading explained, binary options trading english, binary options trading europe, binary options trading education, binary options trading examples, binary options trading earnings, epic trading binary options, etoro binary options trading, binary options trading forex, binary options trading full course, binary options trading firm, binary options trading fraud, binary options trading for us, binary options trading format, binary options trading facebook scam, binary options trading groups, binary options trading guide for beginners, binary options trading germany, binary options trading guide pdf, trading gold binary options, binary options trading hfx, binary options trading hacks, binary options trading halal or haram, binary options trading how does it work, binary options trading hindi, how to binary options trading, hfx binary options trading overview, how binary options trading works, binary options trading indicators, binary options trading iq options, binary options trading iml, binary options trading in the us, binary options trading in usa, binary options trading investment, binary options trading in canada, binary options trading india, binary options trading journal, binary options trading journal excel, binary options trading kya hai, binary options trading kenya, binary options trading lady trader, binary options trading lifestyle, binary options trading legit, binary options trading lessons, binary options trading legal in india, binary options trading legal us, binary options trading live charts, binary options trading mobile, binary options trading macd, binary options trading mistakes, binary options trading millionaires, binary options trading mt4, binary options trading malayalam, binary options trading malaysia, binary options trading meaning in hindi, binary options trading nadex, binary options trading ninja the bandit strategy, binary options trading ninja the bandit strategy freecoursesite, binary options trading nigeria, 5 minute binary options trading strategy nadex, binary options news trading strategy, news trading binary options, nadex binary options trading strategy, binary options trading otc, binary options trading on weekends, binary options trading olymp trade, binary options trading online, iq option binary options trading, binary options trading real or fake, binary options trading plan, binary options trading platform usa, binary options trading paid course free, binary options trading philippines, binary options trading psychology, binary options trading platform us, binary options trading quotes, binary options trading quora, binary options trading strategy quotes, iq binary options trading, binary options trading strategy iq option, iq option binary

options trading tamil, binary options trading robinhood, binary options trading robot, binary options trading raceoption, binary options trading review, binary options trading rsi, binary options trading risk management, binary options trading risks

[hedwigstalons]

High Expectations - Ch9

This was meant to be just a quick bit of practice at freehand drawing so I could work on doing neat straight lines and circles.  Then I found my old glass paints that have been in a box for...8 years (?) and suddenly I now have a WASP suncatcher.  I’m a bit wobbly with the relief edging, probably not helped in that the tubes had gone a bit firm and funky, but I’m predicting more sun catchers and maybe a few candle holders will appear soon.

Many thanks are due to @willow-salix​ who has provided much hand holding and head pats.

Earlier parts: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight

AO3 chapter link

Chapter Nine

Gordon fell into line amongst the other hopefuls.  For the next few days he wasn’t Gordon Tracy, Olympian and heir to one of the largest fortunes in America, he was Number 14 and the anonymity suited him just fine.  The elastic armband around his bicep was the sole identifier to distinguish him from the other candidates as the assessors marked down their observations.  Only the course leader had the information that linked names to numbers; each stage of selection was kept separate to avoid bias.  

“Atten...shun!”

The command was barked out by the officer placed in charge of his group and Gordon found himself jumping to the alert and snapping his feet together automatically.  Evidently something had remained buried deep in his memory from all the times watching Scott being taught drill by their father or practicing out in the yard in Kansas all those years ago.  The rest of the group also snapped to attention with varying degrees of success.

“Group C, your first test is pool fitness.  You have two minutes to fetch your swimming kit and fall back into line.  Go!”

There was a mad scramble towards the door of their temporary accommodation as Gordon and the other potential recruits allocated to group C raced to retrieve their kit from their bunks.  They had barely been on base for an hour but had already learnt that failure to meet a time limit or just being last to complete a task would result in being given punishment press ups.  By the time they had reassembled groups A and B were nowhere to be seen, evidently separated off to undertake one of the other selection tests.

As they marched across the base to the pool Gordon couldn’t help but feel slightly pleased that his group was getting to swim first.  This was his natural environment and he justifiably had every confidence in his own abilities.  It would also give him a good chance to stretch out his muscles after sitting around in the airport and then being cramped in an airline seat; domestic flights were always taken in coach class for a Tracy son travelling solo.

Once within the pool building more orders were barked giving a time limit to get changed.  Gordon quickly found a space on the bench and started stripping.  Some of the other recruits seemed a little uncomfortable about changing in the communal space but Gordon figured that privacy would often be hard to come by within the submarine service and now was not the time to be worried about modesty.  After years of completing the action several times a week he could be in his kit almost as quickly as he could swim 200m and he was one of the first ready.  

He snapped on his sunshine yellow swimming cap drawing a few strange looks but Gordon shrugged them off; so what if only a couple of candidates in his group were wearing them?  To Gordon the cap was just a standard part of his kit, however he was glad he had decided to leave his Team USA branded items at home and opt for his plain training set; there was no need to draw more attention to himself than was strictly necessary.

Out on the poolside the elastic armbands were replaced by numbered stickers slapped on shoulder and thigh.  From the way the sticker pulled tightly at the skin Gordon just knew that ripping it off later would be a painful experience.  Once numbers had been applied everyone lined up expectantly, awaiting further orders.

“Right, I want two circuits of the pool as warm up.  No cutting the corners.  No touching the wall.  Do you understand?”

“Yes Sir!”  the chorus of voices responded in unison.  

“Into the water, in number order.  Go!”

One by one the men allocated to group C were counted into the water to complete their circuits around the perimeter of the pool.  The pace was frustratingly slow for the Olympian whose number placed him towards the rear of the pack and it took a lot of self control not to stretch out and overtake those ahead of him.  

The slow pace allowed Gordon plenty of opportunity to look around the facility.  WASP evidently invested in its sporting areas for the pool itself was up to Olympic standards even if the viewing and changing areas were a little more basic than Gordon had encountered at some of his competitions.  If he was given the opportunity to continue his swimming training, and it wasn’t unheard of to encounter military participants released for competitions, he would have no complaints about the standard of the Marineville pool.  Unfortunately his appraisal of the facilities nearly earned him a kick in the face, he hadn’t realised how close he had got to the swimmer in front and had to drop his pace yet again to maintain some distance.  For him the actual tests and the chance to stretch out his limbs couldn’t come soon enough.  

With warm-up over the first eight swimmers were allocated their lanes.  Gordon watched the action even more closely than the assessors, critiquing the style of others was all part of his ingrained training and he winced at some of the sloppy dives and mangled turns.  Still, the tests were about meeting a minimum standard rather than being competition ready.

Soon enough it was time for swimmers 9 through to 16 to claim a lane.  It didn’t escape Gordon’s notice that his number placed him in lane six and the coincidence struck him as lucky.  If you had asked him just a few months ago what his favourite lane was he would have promptly answered four but after his Olympic success he has developed a soft spot for his current position, after all it had been good enough to earn him gold and a world record.  He adjusted his goggles and wiggled his toes on the edge of the pool, he would have preferred to use a starting block but he could adapt.

The sound of the whistle had him launching into the water in a clean dive.  There had been no stipulations on the stroke to be used and Gordon automatically found himself using his preferred butterfly, unaware of the raised eyebrows this was causing among the onlookers; his rejection of freestyle making him stick out almost as much as the yellow hat.  That and the fact that he left the other candidates in his wake.  He shot through the water, powerful muscles propelling him towards the finish at a rate that far exceeded expectations.

Less than 2 minutes later and Gordon had completed his fourth lap and finished the test.  He had taken it easy, or at least he thought he had until he turned and realised the next nearest swimmer was almost a full lap behind him.  He returned bemused stares with a shrug and a smile before placing his hands on the poolside and launching himself out to sit on the edge and wait for the others to finish.

The remainder of the pool tests passed in much the same fashion with Gordon easily outstripping his cohort.  He could swim faster, dive further and hold his breath for longer than any of the others.  His techniques were sharp and in the water he moved with a strength and grace that were enviable.  Even skills like casualty towing, which wasn’t part of his usual repertoire, came naturally to him and he aced the tests with ease.  The assessors scribbled some hurried notes on their pads; when it came to the water based activities at least candidate 14 was marking himself out as someone to watch.

xoxoxox

The first day drew to a close and Gordon was thankful when his group were released to the freedom of their dormitory.  The pool session had been swiftly followed by a run then a drill lesson in one of the large parade squares dotted around the base.  His muscles were weary and clearly grumbling at the lack of deep stretching after his swim but he was in a better shape than many in the room.  WASP only accepted the very best to join its ranks and the selection tests were designed to weed out those not up to standard.  Already three beds in his room were empty after their allocated occupants had withdrawn, either having had a change of heart or to avoid the shame of being rejected at the end of the course having already failed too many of the test elements. 

Tempting as it was to just flop down onto his bunk Gordon knew from painful experience that he would regret it the following day.  He settled himself on an empty patch of floor and started running through some yoga poses to try and work out the tension in his back and legs.  Just because the instructors hadn’t given them much opportunity to stretch didn’t give him the excuse to neglect his body.  It also gave him something productive to do while waiting for his turn in the showers.

His activities drew some curious looks and half-sniggered comments from the others in the room but he zoned out and ignored them, instead focussing on his form until the showers came free.  He didn’t have long to wait, two showers came free at the same time and both he and Number 13 grabbed their towels and headed through to the wash rooms.

He stripped down to his shorts and picked experimentally at the stickers left in place after the pool session, the glue was strong and part of him was tempted to leave them except the edges were just beginning to lift and annoy him.  He gritted his teeth, pinched the loosest corner and ripped back sharply.  He swiftly repeated the action on the second sticker then rubbed briskly at the angry red patches left on his skin.

“That looked painful.  Not too sure I want to do that to myself”

He looked up, met the eyes of Number 13 and grinned.

“It’s just like pulling off a band-aid.  Nothing to it.” 

“Rather you than me.  I think I'll try and get mine in the shower.”

They went their separate ways into the empty cubicles and Gordon turned the shower up high.  The accommodation might be spartan but he was glad the water was hot and plentiful.  The powerful drops blasted away the sweat and chlorine that had built up on his skin and he turned his face into the stinging stream.  Much as he would have liked to stand there for longer he knew others were waiting their turn and it wouldn't be fair to hang around.  The temptation was strong but he hadn’t been impressed by the amount of time some candidates had taken and it wasn’t fair to keep the last few waiting longer than they had to.  

All too soon he was back in the chilly dorm room, hauling himself onto the bunk that had been marked out as his.  Eight sets of bunk beds lined the room, with thirteen of the individual beds now filled.  He wondered how many more gaps would appear as the selection course progressed.  Murmurs of conversation broke out around the room as the participants made use of the first real chance they had to get to know each other since arriving.  The instructors had kept them busy all afternoon and unnecessary chatter during the tasks had been swiftly quelled by punishment press ups,  but now, with no instructors around, the candidates could speak more freely.

Gordon lay back and listened.  It was the usual first-night whispers he remembered from some of his swim camps; name, city but unsurprisingly not their favourite distance and stroke.  The introductions travelled around the room; it seemed Marineville saw applicants from the west coast right through to the central states.  Gordon knew it would soon be his turn and he resolved to say as little as possible, he was enjoying being just another person in the crowd.

“So what about you 14?”

“Gordon, I'm from LA.” 

If he thought he was going to be able to get away with the bare minimum he was sorely mistaken.

“So what were you doing before you decided to try out for WASP?  You're built like a tank and you swim like a fish.  You some personal trainer or something?”

“Me? Uh, I've just high finished school.  I do swim competitively though.”

Thankfully the candidate doing the questioning latched on more to the school part than the swimming.

“Only just left school?  You don't act like some kid, I thought you were at least 20, maybe 22.”

“Nope, only 17.”

“Jeez, that makes you the baby of the group.  So what do your family think of you heading off to sea first chance you get?”

Thankfully Gordon was spared answering by a bellow from the doorway.

“This is a military base, not a holiday camp.  If you lot have enough energy to gossip you obviously aren't working hard enough.  Now if I hear another sound from this room I will have you outside running laps until you drop.  Do you understand me?”

A chorus of “Yes, Sir!” rang out before the room descended into total silence.

Gordon rolled over, wondering what challenges tomorrow would bring.

xoxoxox

The second day of selection started with the sound of drums at daybreak.  Sleepy heads were raised in confusion.  Others who were quicker on the uptake, Gordon included, leapt from their beds and started throwing on clothes.  He was glad he hadn’t skimped on the stretches the night before, some of his contemporaries were looking decidedly stiff after the exertions of the previous day.

The now familiar sound of shouting filled the room.

“Up!  Up!  Sports kit on and outside for PT before breakfast.  Move!”

Gordon was no stranger to early morning training.  As the first beats had sounded from the speakers in the corners of the room he had been on his feet, all shreds of sleep disappearing in an instant.  It was an enviable skill and obviously not one possessed by all in the room.  To the observing instructor in the doorway  Number 14 shone through yet again as one of the stronger candidates.

   There was no denying that WASP selection was a taxing experience. The group was whisked from one set of tests to another.  If it wasn’t their bodies being tested it was their minds as they sat exam papers or explored leadership scenarios.  By lunch time another member of his group had dropped out, and judging by the numbers sitting down to eat groups A and B were now similarly depleted.  Even those that lasted the distance had no guarantee they would be accepted to wear the prestigious grey uniform; the standards might have an absolute minimum but it had been made clear that if more met the standard than was needed then only the very best would be made an offer.

While many were struggling Gordon was relishing the challenge.  It was as though he had found his niche.  Even the written tests, which he had approached with some trepidation, had been well within his comfort zone which helped his confidence soar.  Theories and concepts which had seemed so abstract at school seemed to make more sense when applied to a real life scenario and for once in his life Gordon walked away from a classroom without feeling a failure.

After lunch group C were to take their turn on the obstacle course, a gruelling array of beams, walls and aerial wires that would require both strength and agility to navigate.  To Gordon the course looked like a massive playground and he couldn’t help but grin at the prospect.

The instructors divided the group into smaller teams of four and Gordon’s team set off onto the course first at the sound of the whistle.  

The group raced along, leaping over pits using rope swings and stepping along narrow beams as quickly as their balance allowed, each candidate aiming to be the first to reach and therefore clear each piece of equipment.  It was every man for himself.  That was until they were brought up short by a 10 foot wall.  Number 6, who was keen to keep his early lead, took a running jump at the obstacle.  His fingers caught the top edge but he was unable to keep a good enough grip to climb over and he soon fell back down again.

To Gordon the solution was obvious; it was quickly becoming apparent to him that this test was different to those that had gone before and if they were to have any hope of making it through successfully then teamwork would have to be the order of the day.  

“Look, if any of us are to stand a chance of getting through this course we are going to have to work together.”

Number 6, after a second failed leap, was quick to agree.  Numbers 3 and 10, arriving a moment later, could also see sense in the plan.  

“Sure.  So how are we going to tackle this one.”

Three sets of eyes turned to Gordon expectantly.  Having been the one to voice the idea the others were evidently expecting him to come up with the solution.  He thought for a moment then turned and planted his back against the wall, bending his knees to make a step.

“6, you’re tallest, you go first.  Use me as a ladder to get up but stay on top of the wall, don’t drop down the other side.  You can then help up 3 and 10.  Once you’re all on top you can reach back down and haul me over.  Got it?”

There were three nods of agreement. 

Gordon braced himself as first his legs then his shoulders were used as steps.  Once.  Twice.  A third time.  His clothes became marked with muddy footprints but he didn’t care, the plan was working and he was soon being bodily lifted up and over the obstacle by the team he had helped up first.

Having made the decision to work together the group soon found themselves speeding through the course.  Many obstacles, while able to be attempted solo, could be cleared much quicker with careful cooperation and support; Gordon had evidently read the situation correctly.  

Despite being the youngest the others seemed happy to defer to him as their leader and Gordon found himself naturally assuming command of the team.  He directed the group to make the best use of their combined talents.  Before long the band of four found themselves at the far end of the course, just one final obstacle to navigate their way over then the run for home.

Using their now tried and tested method the team were soon atop the final wall despite it being the biggest yet.  From here they could look back over the whole course, the other candidates and their assessors were indistinct figures in the distance.

“Wonder who that is come to visit?  Probably from the World Navy.  Best make sure we put on a good show, they might be important.”

From his lofty vantage point Gordon looked back towards the start point.  Number 6 was right, someone new had joined the cluster of watching assessors, the dark blue of their uniform a stark contrast to WASP grey.

“No idea.  Come on, let's finish this as a team.”

The group jumped down from the final obstacle and began the mad sprint back to the beginning of the course and their waiting assessors.  As they closed the gap between themselves and the waiting officers, making sure no one was left behind, the mystery figure resolved itself into a familiar form for Gordon 

Recognition led first to confusion and then to anger.

Scott.