Episode 1
The NZ army’s ethos is based on courage, commitment, loyalty, and integrity – and over the next 13 weeks 130 new recruits from around Aotearoa will face the Army’s grueling basic training camp at Waiouru – hoping to forge a career in the NZ Army and adhere to this ethos, the army that is Ngati Tumatauenga. We follow the trials and tribulations of these recruits to see who can make it through.

Episode 2
Some of the recruits get a reality and fitness check as the dreaded army RFL assessment is put to them. They get their first taste of the excitement of live firing. And for one of the recruits could the dream of joining the NZ Defence Force be almost over.

Episode 3
The recruits get into some serious PT training which results into some harsh realities. They spend a lot of time on the rifle range perfecting their skills. And for some the going is getting just a little too tough.

Episode 4
The recruits get an introduction to living in the field and sample the infamous ration pack. And they learn the lesson when it comes to putting up a HOOCHIE (individual tent), it pays to watch for flood prone areas.

Episode 5
This week there are lectures and field navigation work a plenty. There’s more marching and more marching. And one recruit is up in front of the Platoon Sergeant with serious charges that could see him expelled.

Episode 6
This week gets of to a shaky start for the recruits as its inspection time and some of them are not up to the task. The intensity of training lifts and a lack of sleep see half of Nicholas platoon struggling through a rather important lesson.

Episode 7
The recruits head into the forest for a week at the base of Mount Ruapehu. It’s an exercise where all hell breaks lose and they get a realization of what a war could be like.

Episode 8
The recruits have been struggling and although they have made a slight improvement, Cpl Perkins is still not happy and things don’t change as their first field exercise ends in dramatic fashion.

Episode 9
The recruits get no let up as there are more live firing tests and they face the infamous Concourse – physical assault course.

Episode10
The recruits are soundly tested in open country for a week on their final field exercise aptly named Final Chance. We see them digging and digging and digging for their accommodation. And it quickly gets serious as the Waiouru weather shows who is boss and a lot of the recruits are ill prepared.

Episode 11
After completing their final Field exercise a planned withdrawal sees all hell break out. Once back at camp it is straight back into lessons with lots to learn including Close Quarter Battling man to man.

Episode 12
It’s a big week with the Skill at Arms - a competition between sections to find out once and for all who is the best, and no one wants to lose. And it’s amazing what a small tussock fire can build into and the recruits get involved in the clean up.

Episode 13
It has been 3 months of hard training for the recruits but its not quiet over as this week they compete in the drill competition which will also determine who will be best platoon. It all culminates towards their March Out parade signifying the start of their army career.