Soldier Andrew Briggman (Nat Wolff) is an ambitious infantry member who has just arrived in Afghanistan. He struggles daily to stand out within a squad full of wild and somewhat reckless soldiers. When the group's leader is replaced by a new commanding officer (Alexander Skarsgård), Briggman is inspired by his determination and tries to emulate his reckless behavior, quickly rising to the position of second-in-command in his unit. However, when Briggman witnesses the platoon starting to kill innocent civilians, he is forced to decide between reporting it (putting his life in immediate danger) or staying silent to participate in what he believes are human rights violations.