First Platoon

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This story begins with a platoon of mostly 19-year-old boys sent to Afghanistan, facing an abrupt catastrophe. Their narrative intertwines with the U.S. Department of Defense's effort to create a powerful biometrics database capable of identifying and monitoring individuals globally. The tale unfolds as an American saga, highlighting societal transformation driven by this technology. It encompasses elements of war, legal drama, and the exploration of identity in an age dominated by identification methods that reduce individuals to mere data points—iris scans, fingerprints, voice patterns, and more. The narrative delves into themes of humanity, physical bravery, trauma, PTSD, and the desire to do good within the context of an expanding surveillance state. Drawing from hundreds of previously classified documents, FOIA requests, and exclusive interviews, this investigative exposé uncovers a post-9/11 Pentagon where identification technologies have outpaced human understanding. It reveals a powerful institution capable of concealing its own errors while pursuing endless wars, leaving the populace vulnerable as it approaches a transformative moment that may be irreversible.