The film offers a glimpse of the human drama surrounding recruits’ decisions to enlist through its remarkable central character: Sergeant First Class Clay Usie. He firmly believes that every American should serve, and that it is his mission to recruit new soldiers from his hometown. The film shows the new recruits during their last semesters of high school, as Sgt. Usie prepares them for boot camp. After graduation, each of them says goodbye to their loved ones before heading off to basic training, where they will hopefully make a successful transition from civilians to soldiers.