[NARRATOR]: PREVIOUSLY ON COMBAT SCHOOL...
MIKE COMPANY RALLIES
FOR ITS LAST TRAINING BATTLE BEFORE AFGHANISTAN.
MORTARS IN THE AIR!
A FINAL HEAD-TO-HEAD SHOWDOWN WITH THE MOCK TALIBAN.
[NARRATOR]: ONE LAST CHANCE
FOR SOLDIERS TO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES.
I [BEEP] UP.
I KILLED TWO OF MY GUYS.
[NARRATOR]: NINE MONTHS
OF THE WORLD'S MOST HIGH-TECH
COUNTER-INSURGENCY TRAINING ARE OVER.
ATTENTION!
[STOMPING]
YOU WILL WIN
EVERY TIME.
[NARRATOR]: THEY SHIP OUT.
ABOUT AS READY AS THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE RIGHT NOW.
I'M READY TO GO.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: READY TO TAKE THE BIGGEST STEP OF ALL...
FROM COMBAT ROOKIE
TO FULL-FLEDGED WARRIOR.
[BLASTING]
[DETONATING]
[***]
[NARRATOR]: IN A WAR ZONE...
[***]
...THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "NORMAL."
[***]
EVERY VILLAGE...
[***]
EVERY ROAD...
[***]
EVERYWHERE...
IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP.
IT'S HERE
THAT CAPTAIN JON COX
AND THE SOLDIERS OF 1-PLATOON, MIKE COMPANY
WILL LIVE AND FIGHT FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
[***]
[CPL. CHICK]: IT'S OUR FIRST DRIVE INTO KANDAHAR CITY...
HOW'S EVERYBODY FEEL?
PRETTY SWEET!
[NARRATOR]: THEY'VE TRAINED HARD FOR THIS.
[GIGGLING]
THEY THINK THEY'RE PREPARED...
I WANT TO GET UP AND SEE!
LET ME OUT!
[NARRATOR]: ...BUT THIS PLACE WILL TEST THEM
IN WAYS THEIR TRAINING COULD NOT.
THEIR MISSION--
PUSH TALIBAN INSURGENTS OUT OF THIS VOLATILE REGION.
IN THE MONTH BEFORE 1-PLATOON LEFT FOR AFGHANISTAN,
SEVEN CANADIAN SOLDIERS DIED DOING THIS JOB.
[***]
THEY'VE LEFT THE SECURITY OF KANDAHAR AIRFIELD.
THEY'RE ARRIVING AT A PATROL BASE
40 KILOMETRES SOUTHWEST OF KANDAHAR...
WHERE THE ENEMY IS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE WIRE.
YEAH. WE'RE EAGER.
VERY EAGER.
[***]
IT'S NOT FUN AND GAMES ANYMORE.
IT'S THE REAL THING.
[NARRATOR]: THE PLATOON'S 25-YEAR-OLD COMMANDER
MAY BE A COMBAT ROOKIE,
BUT HE KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR.
300 METRES OUTSIDE THAT WIRE
FROM WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S GUYS THAT WANT TO KILL US,
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND FIGHT THEM,
AND THAT'S... THAT'S THE REALITY THAT WE NOW LIVE IN.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: MIKE COMPANY'S OFFICER COMMANDING,
MAJOR CAYLE OBERWARTH,
REMINDS THEM--
THEY'RE NOW IN THE ENEMY'S SIGHTS...
24-7.
IT'S THE HORRIBLE TRUTH ON THE GROUND.
AS SOON AS YOU LEAVE THE WIRE, PEOPLE ARE WATCHING YOU.
THEY'RE SENDING PHONE MESSAGES,
TEXT MESSAGES.
WE'LL NEVER SURPRISE THEM.
THESE PEOPLE--
THE "INSURGENTS", WE'LL CALL THEM--
THEY LIVE HERE.
THEY AREN'T TRANSIENTS.
THEY'RE AFGHANS WHO DON'T WANT US HERE.
[ALL]: HOO-AH.
ALL HELL'S GOING TO BREAK LOOSE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TRYING TO KILL YOU.
UNLIKE TRAINING--
WHEN YOU'RE, YOU KNOW...
YOU'RE A SIMULATED CASUALTY OR SIMULATED DEAD,
YOU REALLY ARE WOUNDED HERE,
OR YOU REALLY ARE DEAD.
[NARRATOR]: THE ENEMY WILL MAKE ITS POINT
BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER.
[***]
[EXPLOSION ROARS]
[SCRAMBLING AND SHOUTING]
THE BASE IS UNDER ATTACK.
[EXPLOSION ROARING]
[***]
[NARRATOR]: OBERWARTH AND SOME OF HIS MEN
HOLE UP IN THE BASE COMMAND POST.
[***]
UP ON THE HILL,
IN THE BASE OBSERVATION POST,
THEY SPOT SOMETHING.
IT MIGHT BE THE ATTACKERS.
[NARRATOR]: BEFORE FIRING BACK,
MIKE COMPANY NEEDS TO CONFIRM
THAT THESE MEN ARE BEHIND THE ROCKET STRIKES.
[NARRATOR]: THE NEXT REPORT
IS NOT THE INTEL OBERWARTH IS HOPING FOR.
OKAY, SO I NEED A GENERAL CARDINAL DIRECTION
FROM WHERE YOU LOST SIGHT OF 'EM.
[NARRATOR]: THE SUSPECTS HAVE SLIPPED AWAY.
[***]
THEY'VE FIRED AND... AND SCURRIED AWAY.
THEY'RE TRYING NOT TO GET HURT THEMSELVES,
SO WE'RE GOING TO STAND DOWN NOW.
WE'LL GET THEM NEXT TIME.
[NARRATOR]: THEN...
A SIGN THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE OVER AFTER ALL.
THEY'VE GOT 1,500 METRES.
[NARRATOR]: 1,500 METRES FROM THE BASE,
SOMEONE APPEARS TO BE DIGGING BY THE ROAD.
OBERWARTH'S HUNCH?
IT'S AN INSURGENT PLANTING A ROADSIDE BOMB.
[RADIO CHATTER CONTINUES]
[NARRATOR]: IN TRAINING,
OBERWARTH WAS THE MASTER OF DIVERSIONARY TACTICS,
DESIGNED TO FOOL THE ENEMY...
[REPLACES RECEIVER]
...NOW THE INSURGENTS MAY BE TURNING THE TABLES.
IN A FEW HOURS,
OBERWARTH WILL FIND OUT IF HIS HUNCH IS RIGHT...
AND 1-PLATOON WILL HEAD OUTSIDE THE BASE
AND FIND OUT
THE ENEMY IS READY...
AND WAITING FOR THEM.
HEADS UP! IT'S COMING DOWN!
[***]
[NARRATOR]: AFTER A NIGHT SHATTERED BY A MORTAR ATTACK...
MORNING BRINGS NEWS.
[***]
MIKE COMPANY'S OFFICER COMMANDING,
CAYLE OBERWARTH, WAS RIGHT.
THE MORTAR HIT WAS JUST A DIVERSION
SO INSURGENTS COULD PLANT A ROADSIDE BOMB.
[LAUGHTER]
ALL RIGHT?
[NARRATOR]: THEIR ALLIES, THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY,
MADE THE DISCOVERY DURING AN EARLY MORNING PATROL.
MORE PROOF FOR CAPTAIN COX
THAT THE ENEMY IS LAYING TRAPS
RIGHT WHERE HE AND HIS PLATOON WILL SOON BE HEADED.
THE SOLDIERS WILL HEAD INTO THE DANGER ZONE ALONE...
AND ON FOOT.
I WANT THEM TO GET THEIR FEET ON THE GROUND,
GET USED TO THE AREA, GET INTO A FIGHT,
SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
[MEN CHATTING CASUALLY]
YUP... A LITTLE, UH, BATTLE PREP.
THE FURTHER OUT YOU GET...
THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE
OF GETTING CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY.
NOTHING'S EVER SECURE.
[***]
OKAY. SITUATION-- ENEMY.
OKAY, THERE'S NO CHANGE FROM THE ENEMY SITUATION.
THE LOCALS HAVE INDICATED TO US
THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE TALIBAN.
I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE THEM AT THIS POINT,
UM, BUT WE ALL KNOW
THAT THEY ARE OPERATING WITHIN THIS AREA.
IT'S NOT A SECRET TO ANY OF US.
[***]
OKAY, LET'S GO, GUYS!
LET'S START GETTING MARSHALLED HERE!
[NARRATOR]: THIS FOOT PATROL IS A FORAY INTO REAL DANGER...
OUTSIDE THE WIRE,
BEYOND THE RELATIVE SECURITY OF THE BASE.
THE MISSION--
TALK TO THE VILLAGERS
AND SUSS OUT WHERE THE BAD GUYS ARE HIDING.
THIS IS IT.
GAME ON.
ARE YOU SCARED?
UM... ALWAYS A LITTLE ANXIOUS.
YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME
ACTUALLY GETTING OUT ON A FOOT PATROL.
I'M ANXIOUS.
YEAH?
YEAH.
THIS'LL BE THE ROUGHEST FOUR HOURS OF MY LIFE.
[NARRATOR]: FROM HERE ON,
THE PLATOON'S SECOND-IN-COMMAND,
WARRANT OFFICER BRUCE RHODENIZER,
WILL STEP BACK A BIT.
MY JOB IS TO GET THE TROOPS HERE.
NOW THEY'RE HERE, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A JOB.
I LIKE IT.
[NARRATOR]: NOW, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SUCCESS
AND SURVIVAL
IS IN THE HANDS OF CAPTAIN COX.
[***]
THE PLATOON TAKES ITS FIRST STEPS
INTO TALIBAN TERRITORY.
[***]
FOR THE NEXT SIX KILOMETRES,
THEIR TRAINING WILL BE THEIR ONLY PROTECTION.
[***]
IT'S 40 DEGREES,
AND THEY'RE LOADED DOWN
WITH NEARLY HALF THEIR WEIGHT IN GEAR.
[***]
IT IS EVEN WORSE
THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, ACTUALLY. YOU KNOW?
WHEN YOU'RE WEARING THIS MUCH KIT,
JUST THE SMALLEST MOVEMENTS
ARE THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, RIGHT?
WALKING THROUGH SAND...
AND A SMALL HILL FEELS LIKE A BIG HILL, AND...
HOW COME PEOPLE IN MOVIES
ALWAYS MAKE THIS SHIT LOOK SO EASY?
[***]
HOW YOU DOIN'?
GOOD.
[NARRATOR]: AGAIN AND AGAIN,
CHILDREN EMERGE...
FOLLOW 1-PLATOON...
THEN STOP.
[***]
MAYBE IT'S JUST CURIOSITY...
BUT CHILDREN ARE SOMETIMES USED AS SPIES
BY INSURGENTS.
[***]
THE SOLDIERS ARE ON EDGE.
[***]
THEY PUSH FORWARD.
[***]
HEADS UP! IT'S COMING DOWN!
OKAY, STAY RIGHT HERE!
COWS!
[STAMPEDING]
[LAUGHTER]
APPARENTLY, THE COWS JUST KIND OF STAMPEDED US THERE.
[CHUCKLES]
[***]
[NARRATOR]: 1-PLATOON ENTERS THE VILLAGE.
[DOG YAPPING IN DISTANCE]
[DOOR RATTLES]
ADULT MEN APPEAR.
GET THIS GUY.
[GRAVEL CRUNCHING]
CAPTAIN COX NOTICES SOME OF THEM SIGNALING.
[***]
COX ASKS A LOCAL FARMER ABOUT TALIBAN ACTIVITY.
SO THE TALIBAN COME THROUGH HERE
AND PLANT BOMBS IN THE ROAD, RIGHT?
[SPEAKING DARI]
OKAY.
[NARRATOR]: COX LEARNS
THAT THE TALIBAN FREQUENTLY VISIT THIS VILLAGE.
[CAR HORN HONKS TWICE THEN BLARES INTERMITTENTLY]
OKAY, SIR--
[NARRATOR]: THAT CAR HORN
PUTS EVERY SOLDIER ON HIGH ALERT.
INSURGENTS HAVE USED THEM IN THE PAST
TO SIGNAL AN ATTACK.
[NARRATOR]: MASTER CORPORAL CHAD PORTER
SPOTS A GROUP OF MEN ON THE MOVE.
UH, WE'VE JUST HEARD SOME CAR HORNS HONKING...
AND WE SEE MOVEMENT OF FOUR FIGHTING-AGE MALES
TO OUR NORTHEAST, OVER.
[COX]: OKAY.
[NARRATOR]: COX CHANGES HIS ROUTE,
ORDERING A MACHINE-GUNNER TO COVER THEM.
[NARRATOR]: BUT AS THEY MOVE OUT,
COX RECEIVES INTELLIGENCE--
HIS NEW PATH HOME
IS LEADING THEM DIRECTLY INTO A TALIBAN AMBUSH.
[NARRATOR]: THE PLATOON IS FAMILIAR
WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN AMBUSH.
THEY TRAINED FOR IT BACK IN FORT BLISS.
[CLICKING]
[FIRES SHOTS]
[***]
WE'RE GOOD, SIR?
[NARRATOR]: COX DECIDES TO RE-ROUTE HIS SOLDIERS AGAIN
TO AVOID THE ATTACK...
OKAY, CHICK.
...BUT AROUND HERE, NO PATH IS SAFE.
THEY HAVE TO KEEP THEIR GUARD UP.
[***]
AS THEY CLOSE IN ON HOME BASE,
IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER TO STAY FOCUSED.
THE HEAT AND THE ADRENALINE RUSH
HAVE COMPLETELY DRAINED THEM.
TIRED... REAL TIRED.
TROOP'S A LITTLE TIRED...
LIKE, SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE.
[NARRATOR]: NOW, TOO EXHAUSTED TO STAND...
...OR EVEN SPEAK...
THEY'D BETTER HOPE THEY GET THEIR ENERGY BACK.
THEY OUTWITTED THE ENEMY TODAY.
NEXT TIME, THEY WON'T BE AS LUCKY.
[MORTAR EXPLODES]
[TECHNICIAN]: ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN GUYS
MOVING TACTICALLY THROUGH THE GRAPE FIELDS...
AND ONE OF 'EM'S RUNNIN'!
[***]
[NARRATOR]: WHEN THE ONLY THING
BETWEEN YOU AND ENEMY INSURGENTS IS YOUR GUN...
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH TARGET PRACTICE.
[ROCKETS BLASTING]
[CACKLES HAPPILY]
[NARRATOR]: THE SOLDIERS OF 1-PLATOON, MIKE COMPANY...
[FIRES]
...ARE GEARING UP FOR A MAJOR PUSH...
[EXPLODING]
[FIRING]
...INTO A DEADLY TALIBAN STRONGHOLD.
IT'S, THEY SAY, "BAD LANDS."
NOT THAT IT'S NOT BAD ALL AROUND HERE,
BUT THAT'S THE WORD ON THE STREET.
[NARRATOR]: A FEW HUNDRED METRES FROM THE BASE,
THERE'S AN IMAGINARY LINE IN THE SAND.
THE MILITARY CALLS IT "THE 2-9 EASTING."
OTHER TROOPS WHO'VE TRIED TO CROSS IT
HAVE BEEN MET HEAD-ON BY THE ENEMY.
MAJOR OBERWARTH'S STRATEGY--
CROSS THE 2-9 EASTING.
SHOW THE ENEMY HIS SOLDIERS ARE NOT AFRAID
TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE,
OR TO TAKE ON THE TALIBAN IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
EVERYTHING WE DO PAST THE 2-9 EASTING
FORCES THE ENEMY TO REACT TO US,
AS OPPOSED TO US SITTING HERE WAITING TO REACT TO THEM,
AND THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP US TO WIN THE WAR.
THAT LINE IS...
IT'S WHERE THE GAME REALLY BEGINS.
IF WE'RE GOIN' THAT WAY AND LOOKING FOR A FIGHT,
WE'RE GOING TO FIND ONE OVER THERE.
[NARRATOR]: CAPTAIN COX HAS YET TO FEEL THE HEAT OF ENEMY FIRE,
BUT A NEAR-AMBUSH
DURING 1-PLATOON'S FOOT PATROL THREE DAYS AGO...
[CAR HORN HONKS, THEN BLARES]
OKAY, SIR!
WE'VE GOT MOVEMENT OF FOUR GUYS OVER HERE.
OKAY.
[NARRATOR]: ...HAS MADE IT PERSONAL FOR THEM ALL.
THE SOLDIERS ARE IN A FIGHTING MOOD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PASSING ENEMY LINES.
SO SWEET.
I'M PUMPED.
I'M REALLY, REALLY PUMPED.
[***]
[CPT. COX]: OKAY. SITUATION: ENEMY.
A SURGE OF 40 INSURGENT FIGHTERS
HAS THE EXPRESSED INTENTION
TO ENHANCE OR STEP UP THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING IN HERE.
WE'RE NOT BACKIN' DOWN.
[MEN CHUCKLE]
[NARRATOR]: AND THEY'LL HAVE HELP
FROM SOME HEAVY-HITTING ASSETS...
[***]
40 KILOMETRES AWAY, AT KANDAHAR AIRFIELD,
INSIDE THE TACTICAL NERVE CENTRE,
OBERWARTH'S BOSSES
ARE ASSEMBLING AN IMPRESSIVE ARSENAL--
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF [BEEP] OVERHEAD.
NO, EXACTLY. EXACTLY.
[NARRATOR]: THE BATTLE GROUP COMMANDER,
LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROGER BARRETT,
HAS ORDERED UP HEAVILY-ARMED HELICOPTERS
AND F-16 FIGHTER JETS.
A PLANNED SHOW OF FORCE
TO SHAKE UP THE ENEMY
RIGHT BEFORE 1-PLATOON'S ARRIVAL.
[LAUNCHER CLATTERS AND ZINGS]
HEADQUARTERS ALSO HAS
A FLEET OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES,
OR "U.A.V.s"--
[***]
...GATHERING INTELLIGENCE ON THE TARGET AREA.
WE'LL FOLLOW THESE GUYS FOR A BIT, FIND OUT, UM...
WHETHER THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UH, DOING ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.
[NARRATOR]: DURING THE MISSION,
THESE U.A.V.s WILL OPERATE LIKE "EYES IN THE SKY"...
TRANSMITTING IN REAL TIME.
WE WILL BE WATCHING AND ANALYZING THAT INFORMATION
TO SEE HOW THE INSURGENTS REACT AND MOVE.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: SOUTHWEST OF HEADQUARTERS,
AT MIKE COMPANY'S BASE,
A SET OF 122MM HOWITZERS
WILL ROUND OUT THE MISSION'S SHOW OF FORCE,
MANNED BY THEIR ALLIES, THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY.
OBERWARTH IS ALSO COUNTING ON THE A.N.A.
TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH HIS SOLDIERS
DURING THE MISSION ITSELF.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: THE PLATOON HEADS OUT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
MAJOR OBERWARTH WANTS THE INSURGENT SPIES TO SEE THEM
AND SPREAD THE WORD.
[***]
OBERWARTH'S PLAN--
HEAD EAST TO FOOL THE ENEMY...
THEN, OVERNIGHT,
DOUBLE BACK...
CROSS THE 2-9 EASTING LINE...
INTO A VILLAGE CODE-NAMED "OBJECTIVE SWORD,"
AND SURPRISE THE TALIBAN AT THEIR OWN DOORSTEP.
[***]
THE SOLDIERS SPILL INTO THE DESERT
AS IF THEY'RE BUNKING DOWN FOR THE NIGHT.
[NARRATOR]: 2:00 a.m.,
MIKE COMPANY ROLLS BACK THE WAY IT CAME.
BY DAYBREAK,
THEY'LL HAVE CROSSED THE NOTORIOUS 2-9 EASTING
AND BE POISED FOR AN ATTACK.
THE ENTIRE PLAN
DEPENDS ON CATCHING THE INSURGENTS OFF-GUARD...
[***]
...BUT 1-PLATOON IS GOING TO BE MET
WITH A NASTY SURPRISE OF ITS OWN.
[***]
[ROCKET SCREAMS OVERHEAD]
CONTACT! GET ON THE GROUND!
[***]
[NARRATOR]: OVERNIGHT, THE SOLDIERS OF 1-PLATOON
HAVE CROSSED THE INFAMOUS 2-9 EASTING...
THE IMAGINARY LINE
THAT MARKS THE HEART OF TALIBAN TURF.
[***]
THEY'RE READY TO LAUNCH A SURPRISE SWEEP
INTO A SUSPECTED ENEMY STRONGHOLD,
A VILLAGE WHERE MAJOR OBERWARTH HOPES
TO CATCH INSURGENTS OFF-GUARD.
TURNS OUT, HE'S IN FOR A SURPRISE.
[NARRATOR]: IT APPEARS THAT THE VILLAGE
HAS BEEN TIPPED OFF
THAT THERE'S TROUBLE BREWING.
OBERWARTH ALERTS HIS SOLDIERS BACK AT THE COMMAND POST.
THEY MUST KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE,
AND, AS SUCH,
WE NEED TO BE READY TO DEAL WITH IT.
[NARRATOR]: HEADQUARTERS ORDERS ARMED HELICOPTERS...
AND EVERY AVAILABLE U.A.V.
TO GET EYES ON THE VILLAGE.
[***]
THEY DETECT INSURGENTS MOVING INTO POSITION.
ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN GUYS
MOVING TACTICALLY THROUGH THE GRAPE FIELDS,
AND THEN INTO THE TREELINES.
WE FOLLOWED FOUR GUYS,
AND THEY'RE HOLED UP IN THIS COMPOUND.
[NARRATOR]: OBERWARTH'S PLAN IS RUINED...
BUT HE'S NOT ABOUT TO BACK OFF.
[***]
THE SHOW OF FORCE,
DESIGNED TO RATTLE THE INSURGENTS,
GETS UNDERWAY.
[***]
FROM MIKE COMPANY'S BASE,
THEIR ALLIES IN THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
LAUNCH HOWITZER SHELLS.
[HOWITZERS ROARING]
[SCATTERED SHOUTING]
[***]
[NARRATOR]: THEY POUND THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE.
AS PLANNED,
ANOTHER GROUP OF AFGHAN ARMY SOLDIERS
JOINS CAPTAIN COX AND 1-PLATOON.
THEY MOVE INTO THE VILLAGE TOGETHER.
[CPT. COX]: I'M GOING TO PUT THE ENTIRE PLATOON
ON THE LEFT FLANK WITH THE A.N.A.
SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAD WITH ALPHA.
WE'LL MOVE UP TO THAT WALL, TAKE A LOOK.
ONCE IT'S CLEAR,
WE'LL PUSH UP CHARLIE, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FROM THERE.
[***]
THEY LEAVE THEIR LIGHT ARMOURED VEHICLES
OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE,
ALONG WITH ANOTHER PLATOON FOR BACKUP
IN CASE OF TROUBLE.
COX'S STRATEGY--
ONE SECTION OF THE PLATOON ADVANCES,
SECURING AN AREA AHEAD.
ONCE IT'S COVERED,
ANOTHER SECTION LEAPFROGS PAST
TO SECURE THE NEXT AREA...
SWEEPING THROUGH THE MAZE OF COMPOUNDS
THAT MAKES UP THIS VILLAGE.
[***]
1-1, UH, 1-1 CHARLIE.
THE A.N.A. IS SEARCHING INDIVIDUALS
AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH. OVER.
[NARRATOR]: AS THE AFGHAN ARMY SEARCHES CIVILIANS,
1-PLATOON PROVIDES COVER.
KEEP YOUR SPACING.
SAM! YEAH, THERE'S A WOMAN
IN THAT COMPOUND RIGHT THERE.
[***]
TAKE A LOOK UP ON THE ROOFS,
ALLEYWAYS, DOORWAYS.
KEEP A GOOD EYE OUT.
[NARRATOR]: OVERHEAD,
AERIAL SURVEILLANCE
REVEALS THE INSURGENTS ARE REPOSITIONING.
THERE'S THREE OF 'EM-- I THINK THEY'RE ALL MOVING.
WHERE ARE THEY GOING?
THAT'S GOOD...
GET OUT IN THE OPEN, BOYS.
[NARRATOR]: BUT THE ENEMY HAS ITS OWN PLANS.
[EXPLOSION ROARS]
COMING DOWN!
GET ON THE GROUND!
[NARRATOR]: A MORTAR ATTACK...
AIMED AT THE SOLDIERS' VEHICLES ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE.
THE INSURGENTS MISSED THEIR TARGET.
[NARRATOR]: WITHIN SECONDS, ENEMY GUNFIRE.
[RAPID GUNFIRE BEGINS]
ON THE LEFT!
1-1, ROGER. HAVE YOU GOT EYES ON WHERE YOU BELIEVE
THAT SMALL ARMS FIRE CAME FROM, OVER?
HE'S GOT SIX TO SEVEN HERE...
COPY THAT.
OKAY.
AND ONE OF 'EM'S RUNNIN'...
HAULIN' ASS.
[NARRATOR]: SO FAR, THE ENEMY'S AIM HAS BEEN OFF...
BUT IT'S ABOUT TO GET BETTER.
[ROCKET SCREAMS OVERHEAD]
SHIT!
[EXPLOSION]
CONTACT!
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
[NARRATOR]: THE ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE
SKIMS RIGHT OVER THEIR HEADS.
[***]
[MAJ. OBERWARTH]: JON!
JON!
[CPT. COX]: SIR?
WE'LL NEED STRONG FLANK SECURITY
ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, OKAY?
[CPT. COX]: OKAY, SIR.
[NARRATOR]: HEADQUARTERS ORDERS THE CHOPPERS
TO KEEP THEIR GUNS POINTED RIGHT AT THE VILLAGE.
[***]
SO THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE WITH THE R.P.G. SHOT.
FLEW RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS.
WELL...
THIS IS IT.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: THE CLOSE CALL HAS SPOOKED THE ROOKIES.
THEY HUG THE WALLS
INSTEAD OF PROVIDING COVER FOR THEIR COMRADES.
COX NEEDS HIS PLATOON TO GATHER ITS COURAGE,
AND ORDERS HIS SERGEANTS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
[COX]: WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE'RE GOING TO START PUSHING
THAT WAY, TOWARDS THAT CONTACT, ABOUT 300 METRES.
YEAH?
THEY NEED TO GO IN AND CLEAR THAT WAY.
OKAY, PERFECT.
GILLEY, YOU AND HILLSON, COME HERE!
[NARRATOR]: THE SERGEANTS PASS COX'S ORDERS TO THE ROOKIES--
GO IN THERE AND JUST [BEEP] CLEAR IT OUT, OKAY?
[SGT. DWYER]: J-10. B.M.!
UP!
[***]
COME ON, [BEEP].
POP YOUR HEAD UP SO I CAN SHOOT YOU.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: CONFIDENCE IS UP.
1-PLATOON PUSHES THROUGH THE VILLAGE...
BUT THE INSURGENTS HAVE SLIPPED AWAY.
WE'RE HERE.
WE CAME FOR A FIGHT, AND THEY RAN AWAY.
PFFT.
COWARDS.
[BEEP] COWARDS.
[***]
BRAVO. YOU JUST GO UP THIS WAY TO YOUR VEHICLE.
[NARRATOR]: COX ISN'T HAPPY HIS SOLDIERS HESITATED.
HE REMINDS HIS EXPERIENCED SERGEANTS--
KEEP A GRIP ON THOSE COMBAT ROOKIES.
YOU'RE GETTING LAZY AS COMMANDERS
TO LET THAT HAPPEN.
I KNOW AS SOON AS R.P.G.s STARTED COMING OVER,
THEY GOT A LITTLE SCARED,
AND YOU COULD SEE IT,
'CAUSE EVERYBODY STARTED HUGGING THE WALLS AGAIN.
YOU GOT TO GO FORWARD FROM THAT.
YOU CAN'T SHRINK AWAY.
YOU GOT TO STEP INTO IT AND FACE THE DANGER,
NOT RUN AWAY FROM IT...
AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK TO YOU FOR THAT.
[NARRATOR]: 1-PLATOON WAVERED TODAY,
BUT THEY DID RECOVER QUICKLY.
PLATOON VETERANS FIGURE IT'S A SIGN
THE ROOKIES' TRAINING IS KICKING IN.
WELL, I THINK THIS TODAY KIND OF SET THE TONE
FOR OUR PLATOON
AND IT'S GOT EVERYBODY-- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
...INTO THE GAME NOW.
[NARRATOR]: THEY'D BETTER BE IN THE GAME,
WITH THOSE COMBAT JITTERS CONQUERED...
OKAY, LET'S GO!
GET IN!
...BECAUSE NEXT TIME
THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY--
[EXPLOSION ROARS]
CONTACT!
GO! LET'S GO!
[NARRATOR]: ...IT WILL BE A IN FIREFIGHT...
[BLASTING AND EXPLODING]
[VOLLEY OF GUNFIRE]
...WHERE HESITATION CAN KILL.
[***]
ALL RIGHT. HERE'S OUR TRANSPORT.
ON THE WAY TO ZANGABAD.
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME SERIOUS [BEEP] UP!
YEAH!
[NARRATOR]: THE SOLDIERS OF 1-PLATOON, MIKE COMPANY
HAVE YET TO PROVE THEMSELVES IN A REAL FIREFIGHT.
CHANCES ARE, THIS RIDE WILL CHANGE THAT.
[***]
OFF WE GO, FELLAS.
[NARRATOR]: THEY'RE HEADED FOR ZANGABAD,
IN THE HEART OF AFGHANISTAN'S DEADLY PANJWAII DISTRICT.
[***]
THEY APPROACH BY AIR
BECAUSE THE ROAD BELOW IS RIDDLED WITH BOMBS.
THEIR DESTINATION IS SO DANGEROUS,
IT'S OFF-LIMITS TO THE CAMERA CREW.
THIS VIDEO IS THE SOLDIERS' OWN.
JUST EIGHT KILOMETRES FROM MIKE COMPANY'S BASE,
WAR HAS ISOLATED THIS SMALL, CRUDE OUTPOST.
IT WILL BE HOME TO 1-PLATOON FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.
[NARRATOR]: FOR THE PAST YEAR,
IT'S BEEN A LOSING BATTLE
TRYING TO KEEP THE ENEMY OUT OF THIS AREA.
THE EVIDENCE OF IT
IS JUST METRES OUTSIDE THE WALLS.
[***]
[PTE. VALENTIATE]: THIS HERE'S
REMNANTS OF AN OLD I.E.D. STRIKE.
THAT'S WHAT AN I.E.D. CAN DO TO A VEHICLE.
NOT VERY FORGIVING.
THIS IS THE SECOND-DEADLIEST ROAD IN THE WORLD.
ACCORDING TO WHO, I DON'T KNOW...
BUT, WELL, WE WON'T TRAVEL IT,
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE... MORE OR LESS SUICIDE.
[***]
AND THIS IS GOING TO BE THE GUIDED TOUR OF ZANGABAD.
SO, UH, I'M AT THE FRONT GATE NOW.
HERE'S THE AMMO BUNKER.
THERE'S A LOT OF MUNITIONS IN THERE.
THAT'S THE MORTAR PIT...
AND ALL THE C-CANS THAT WE LIVE IN.
THEY'RE, UH, ARMOURED AGAINST MORTARS,
AND THEY'VE GOT AIR CONDITIONERS AND HEATERS IN THEM,
SO IT'S PRETTY SWEET.
THE PLACE IS PIMPED!
PERSIAN CARPETS...
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ZANGABAD, MAN?
[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]
VACATION.
TALIBAN, THEY'RE [BEEP]... THEY'RE ON VACATION, TOO.
THEY'RE NO THREAT.
[NARRATOR]: USUALLY,
WINTER IS THE TALIBAN'S SLOW SEASON...
[PTE. QUINLAN]: SO, YOU GUYS SEE ANYTHING TODAY?
REALLY? OTHER THAN KIDS?
[NARRATOR]: ...NOT THIS YEAR.
[MORTARS POPPING OFF]
[NARRATOR]: TWO SHOTS WHISTLE OVERHEAD.
[***]
WITHIN SECONDS,
1-PLATOON IS READY TO RETURN FIRE...
BUT HEAVY BRUSH AROUND THE CAMP
MAKES IT TOUGH TO SEE WHO'S FIRING ON THEM.
[***]
HOLD ON!
[***]
[NARRATOR]: CAPTAIN COX CALLS FOR AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE.
OVERHEAD,
AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE TRACKS A MAN ON A BIKE...
[***]
AND OUR FRIEND, THE BICYCLIST, MAKING PRETTY GOOD TIME.
[NARRATOR]: BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE
HE'S THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK.
WELL, THAT WAS A LOT OF...
PREPARATION FOR NOTHING.
[NARRATOR]: THEY'LL LATER LEARN IT WASN'T AN ATTACK.
IT WAS A TEST.
[***]
2008. ZANGABAD.
AFGHANISTAN.
[PTE. QUINLAN]: EVERYONE'S ENJOYING, UH...
THEIR POST-BREAKFAST LOUNGE.
[NARRATOR]: WHEN IT'S QUIET LIKE THIS,
IT'S NOT RELAXING.
IT'S UNNERVING.
[VALENTIATE]: YOU LOOKING AT ANYTHING
IN PARTICULAR THERE, MULLINS?
[EXPLOSION ROARS]
CONTACT!
LET'S GO, BRAVO!
GO!
[NARRATOR]: AN ENEMY MORTAR
SLAMS INTO A FIELD JUST SOUTH OF THE OUTPOST.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: THE INSURGENTS
ARE JUST 300 METRES FROM 1-PLATOON.
[***]
CAPTAIN COX NEEDS TO ZERO IN ON THE ENEMY'S LOCATION
SO HE CAN CONCENTRATE HIS OWN FIREPOWER.
WITHIN SECONDS,
THE PLATOON IDENTIFIES AT LEAST EIGHT INSURGENTS.
STAND BY!
[***]
[TAKES A SHAKY BREATH]
FIRE!
[HEAVY OVERLAPPING GUNFIRE UNLEASHING]
[BEEP] PERFECT.
[NARRATOR]: THE ENEMY'S AK-47s
MAY BE NO MATCH FOR 1-PLATOON'S BIG GUNS...
[ROCKET BLASTS AND EXPLODES]
...BUT THEY'RE NOT BACKING DOWN...
[BARRAGE CONTINUES]
...AND NOW THEY'VE ALSO HOLED UP IN A NEARBY GRAPE HUT.
WHAT COX DOES NEXT
WILL BE A TEST
OF HIS SOLDIERS' ABILITY TO REACT
AND RESPOND AS A UNIT.
THEY'VE DONE IT COUNTLESS TIMES IN TRAINING,
BUT IN THE HEAT OF THEIR FIRST REAL BATTLE,
IT'S SOMETHING ELSE ALTOGETHER.
COX ORDERS THEM TO PIN DOWN THE ENEMY...
[BLASTING]
[EXPLODING]
...AND THEN UNLOAD.
[CONTROLS BEEP]
FIRE FOR EFFECT!
NOW! LET'S GO! GET ANOTHER ONE!
[EXPLOSIONS RIPPLING]
LET'S GO! FIRE!
AND ANOTHER ONE!
[EXPLOSIONS ROARING]
[NARRATOR]: THE BATTLE RAGES FOR HALF AN HOUR.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: THEN, THE ENEMY'S GUNFIRE
SUDDENLY STOPS.
IT'S OVER.
[NARRATOR]: TODAY WAS A MAJOR TURNING POINT
FOR THE SOLDIERS OF 1-PLATOON.
THEY'VE SURVIVED THEIR FIRST FIREFIGHT.
SOLDIERS CALL IT A "TIC"-- "TROOPS IN CONTACT."
[SIGHS]: AHH... GOOD TIMES.
THAT GRAPE HUT OUT IN THE GRAPE FIELD OUT THERE?
THAT THING'S [BEEP] TOAST.
[SOLDIER]: WE NEEDED THAT, THOUGH.
[NARRATOR]: THE ENEMY HAS RETREATED...
BUT JUST FOR NOW.
[CHICK]: RIGHT THERE.
SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE DESERT.
STARIN' AT US.
JUST THAT LITTLE SPECK RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE BEEN WATCHIN' US, TOO.
[NARRATOR]: THE SOLDIERS ARE TRAINED NEVER TO GIVE IN.
THEY NOW KNOW THE ENEMY WON'T, EITHER.
[***]
[NARRATOR]: FOR THE SOLDIERS OF MIKE COMPANY,
IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DEPLOYMENT.
THE TALIBAN HAS LAUNCHED
ITS FIERCEST WINTER OFFENSIVE EVER.
THE SOLDIERS OF 1-PLATOON
HAVE HAD JUST A TASTE
OF THE INSURGENTS' AGGRESSION AND RUTHLESSNESS.
MONTHS OF TRAINING IN NORTH AMERICA
MADE THEM CONFIDENT
THAT THEY COULD TAKE ON ANYONE AND WIN...
[***]
RIGHT SIDE! RIGHT SIDE!
MOVE UP!
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE REGIMENT.
[NARRATOR]: ...BUT THERE'S A LESSON
THAT TRAINING CAN'T TEACH--
HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF
FOR THAT FIRST TIME ON ENEMY TURF
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE BEING WATCHED.
THE FIRST TIME
I STEPPED ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE THE WIRE,
I WAS WALKING ON EGGSHELLS.
I WAS REALLY TENTATIVE ABOUT MY STEPS,
THINKING EVERY STEP'S GOING TO BE "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
BUT I JUST OVERANALYZED IT.
[NARRATOR]: FOR SOME, THE MOMENT OF TRUTH CAME
ON THAT FIRST FOOT PATROL.
WHEN WE LEFT THE GATE THERE, LEAVING THE WIRE,
AND AS SOON AS WE WERE OUT OF RANGE,
I COULDN'T SEE THE HILLTOP ANYMORE.
IT KIND OF CLICKED IN MY HEAD,
"ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OUT HERE, JUST OUR PLATOON.
JUST THE GUYS I TRAINED WITH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF."
I'M, LIKE, "TAKE A SHOT AT ME, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT."
[NARRATOR]: CORPORAL MIRANDA RECALLS HOW HE FELT
AS THE PLATOON GEARED UP FOR ITS FIRST CONFRONTATION.
WHEN WE FIRST GOT OUT OF THE LAV THERE,
RIGHT NEXT TO THE VILLAGE,
"THIS IS IT," YOU KNOW? THE REAL THING.
WE'RE ENTERING TALIBAN TERRITORY.
OF COURSE, MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO GET NERVOUS.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT,
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE DAY IS GOING TO END.
[NARRATOR]: PRIVATE JEREMY HILLSON'S
VIEW OF THE WORLD CHANGED IN AN INSTANT.
[ROCKET WHISTLES OVERHEAD]
SHIT!
[FIRING OPENS]
[NARRATOR]: THAT ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE
WHIZZED RIGHT OVER HIS HEAD.
WE WERE IN POSITION
THEN YOU COULD JUST HEAR THE R.P.G. GET FIRED.
[***]
AT THAT POINT, IT WAS JUST THAT [BEEP]...
LIKE, "WE'RE IN CONTACT NOW!"
[NARRATOR]: THE LIVE ROUND
LANDED IN HILLSON'S COMFORT ZONE...
AND SHATTERED IT FOR GOOD.
[HILLSON]: IT'S CHANGED ME
AS FAR AS MY ATTITUDE TOWARDS SECURITY
AND DOING MY JOB.
BEFORE, IT WAS "DOING MY JOB."
NOW IT'S KIND OF A SURVIVAL THING,
AND YOU KIND OF
HAVE TO TAKE YOUR PREPAREDNESS TO DO THE JOB
AND TURN IT UP A COUPLE OF NOTCHES
SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO GO HOME
AT THE END OF THE TOUR.
[NARRATOR]: IN TRAINING BATTLES BACK HOME,
THEY WERE TESTED AGAINST THE MOST SKILLFUL OPPONENTS--
...BUT ONE THING ROOKIES CAN'T BE SURE OF--
WILL THEY BE ABLE TO PULL THE TRIGGER HERE?
WHAT THEY'VE SEEN SINCE THEY GOT TO AFGHANISTAN
HAS CONVINCED THEM THEY CAN.
THESE GUYS WANT US DEAD SO BADLY
THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DROP MORTAR BOMBS ON US
WHEN THERE ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN KICKING AROUND,
AND THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME.
I HAVE GOT NO PROBLEM WITH GOING AFTER THEM.
I... YOU KNOW, I USED TO THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW,
NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO KILL ANYONE.
WE DON'T WANT TO KILL PEOPLE,
WE'RE JUST PREPARED TO DO IT IF IT HAPPENS,
BUT NOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YEAH, WE ARE LOOKING FOR IT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THESE ARE BAD PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO KILL US,
AND, UH, THEY'RE MESSING UP THEIR OWN CIVILIANS.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.
[NARRATOR]: OF ALL THE SOLDIERS,
IT'S THE PLATOON'S COMMANDER WHO'S CHANGED THE MOST...
FROM A PROMISING BUT INEXPERIENCED YOUNG OFFICER
TO A LEADER HIS SOLDIERS RESPECT.
I THINK THE FIRST DAY I SHOWED UP AT THE PLATOON,
YEAH, I WAS A BIT OF A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS.
LIKE, "OKAY, THIS IS REALLY IT."
[***]
ATTENTION!
"THESE ARE REAL SOLDIERS,
THEY'RE TRAINED,
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY GO OUT AND START DOING STUFF,"
AND IT WAS A GREAT FEELING.
HE WAS REALLY SHY.
[CHUCKLES]: IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY.
OH! SORRY, SIR!
[LAUGHTER]
WE WOULD POKE JOKES AT HIM AND EVERYTHING,
AND HE WOULD, UH, YOU KNOW, TAKE IT...
AND, NOW...
HE'S ONE OF US.
[GRAVEL CRUNCHING]
AND...
[LAUGHING]
HE'S DASHING OUT THE JOKES, AND WE'RE TAKING IT!
[STARTS LAUGHING]
HE'S A GOOD CAPTAIN, HE'S AN AWESOME LEADER.
I TRUST HIM WITH MY LIFE, FOR SURE. YEAH.
[NARRATOR]: WARRANT OFFICER BRUCE RHODENIZER
SPENT MONTHS SHOWING THE ROOKIES THE ROPES.
YOU NEED A HELMET ON YOUR [BEEP] HEADS!
GET IT ON!
[NARRATOR]: IN AFGHANISTAN, RHODIE STEPPED BACK A BIT
TO LET THEM HIT THEIR OWN STRIDE.
IT'LL HELP TOUGHEN THEM FOR THE BATTLES AHEAD.
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OPERATIONAL NOW,
I SAID, YES, THEY COULD GET HIT IN A TIC,
THEY COULD GET AMBUSHED, COULD GET ROCKETED,
THEY COULD GET GRENADE-BLOWN TO [BEEP].
WE COULD LOSE HALF A PATROL.
[NARRATOR]: NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER
THAN THE MAN WHO'S SUCCESSFULLY LED THE ENTIRE COMPANY
THROUGH ITS FIRST WEEKS OF COMBAT.
THIS IS A TRICKY WAR... THIS IS A TRICKY WAR,
BUT I THINK, AGAIN,
IF WE LOOK AT BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES,
AND HONEST WITH THE PUBLIC,
SOLDIERS ARE MEANT TO FIGHT WARS,
AND WARS ARE MEANT TO BE WON,
SO WHILE WE'RE HERE,
THAT'S GOT TO BE OUR FOCUS, IS TO WIN THE WAR.
AND, THESE SOLDIERS, YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR EYES
WHEN WE ROLL OUTSIDE THE WIRE,
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HERE--
THEY WANT TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY, AND THAT'S GREAT.
THAT MEANS THAT OUR TRAINING IS VALIDATED.
[NARRATOR]: THEIR TRAINING
IS QUICKLY TURNING INTO EXPERIENCE.
IN ONE 31-HOUR PERIOD,
THE PLATOON WILL SURVIVE FOUR FIREFIGHTS IN A ROW.
THE ROOKIES' INITIATION IS OVER,
BUT IN THIS DIRTY DESERT WAR,
THE ENEMY WILL CONTINUE TO TEST THEM
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
[***]