As Buthmann and Pvt. Rob-drick Robinson roughhouse, Fisher grabs a smoke. The Iraq of late 2008 is nothing like the Iraq that Ian envisioned upon enlisting. With violence down and U.S. troops giving more control to local forces, Fisher questioned his purpose. Instead of facing off with the enemy they were being asked to provide transportation, react to events long after the fact and undertake mundane chores. But as the time passed, Fisher began to make sense of it: "Maybe it's about learning to soldier up and do your job in life. Maybe that's what a real soldier is."