Mission Markers represent NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) racetracks in the United States:
- Daytona - Daytona Beach, Florida
- Darlington - Darlington County, South Carolina
- Charlotte - Charlotte, North Carolina
- Talladega - Talladega County, Alabama
- Watkins Glen - Watkins Glen, New York
- Bristol - Bristol, Tennessee
- Fontana - Fontana, California
- North Wilkesboro - North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
The "meat on a stick" Sonny says Turkmenistan is famous for is the Shashlik, which is grilled meat skewered on a stick, much like a shish kebab. Traditional shashlik is made with lamb, but it can also be made with pork, beef, venison and in some countries horse meat. However in Turkmenistan it is almost always lamb or beef, horse meat is specifically outlawed for consumption in Turkmenistan.
General Lionheart refers to the target package from the pilot episode of the series, Tip of the Spear (2017).
A fallen eagle refers to a wounded soldier.
The episode title refers to the phrase "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" imprinted on the passenger side mirrors of an automobile.