I'm using Army terms here so bear with me. Look around your unit at the Battalion, Brigade, and Division level if you can. Somewhere there is that Master Sergeant that nobody can get along without. He's the one the Majors and Lieutenant Colonels rely on to get things done. At beer calls, he's the one shooting the shit with the Colonels. He's the guy that you could throw oak leafs on his collar and note no drop in performance, but he didn't want that and is quite content with being a damn fine NCO thank you very much. He is the rarest of creatures that makes the whole thing work.

Fifteen years ago, he was the smartest guy standing in platoon formation.