The sleeve stripes on Ray's dress uniform indicate that he was appointed as a Chief Warrant Officer Four (CWO-4), the second highest grade of Warrant Officer. In the US military Warrant Officer has five grades starting with Warrant Officer One (WO-1), Chief Warrant Officer Two (CWO-2), Chief Warrant Officer Three (CWO-3), Chief Warrant Officer Four (CWO-4) and finally Chief Warrant Officer Five (CWO-5). When someone from the enlisted ranks is chosen for Warrant Officer School their performance during training has a determination on which grade of Warrant Officer they are appointed to, however the biggest determining factor is their previous rank and experience. As Ray was a Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) with 18 years of experience and is a highly decorated SEAL it is only appropriate that he be granted the rank of CWO-4.
A ghost plane, also known as Rendition aircraft, is an aircraft used by national governments to move prisoners internationally. Rendition, or extraordinary rendition, itself refers to the practice of sending a foreign criminal or terrorist suspect covertly to be interrogated in a country with less rigorous regulations for the humane treatment of prisoners.
Nicknames given to Clay throughout episode:
- Julian Blondesange. - Julian Assange, head of Wikileaks, an on-line publisher of unauthorized release of classified intelligence from various governments around the world
- Blonde Rumsfeld - Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense during the administration's of American Presidents' George W. Bush (2000-2008) and Richard Nixon (1969 - 1974)
- Obi-Blonde Kenobi - Obi-Wan Kenobi, mentor of the protagonist Luke Skywalker, from the Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) franchise