Forty men and women from 1 Platoon, Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment begins mission-specific training for the most intense combat situation any of them have ever faced.

With the reality that 1 Platoon is further behind in training than any other platoon at Fort Bliss, company commander Oberwarth does not mince words to get them motivated.

After intense training in Texas, 1 Platoon returns home with change in the air.

Without their leader, Captain Cox, 1 Platoon is assigned to a remote forward operating base for guard duty.

When 1 Platoon tries to protect a disabled helicopter, Warrant Rhodenizer - commanding the platoon in Captain Cox's absence - is "critically injured" by shrapnel.

After months of demanding training, the 'battle-ready' troops of 1 Platoon, Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment finally arrive in Afghanistan - their home for the next six months.