The making of an American soldier

7 June 2007: Ian Fisher at the armed forces enlistment centre. 'I love my country to death, and that’s why I’m here … and that’s why I’m fighting for my country,' Ian says. 'That’s why I’m going to Fort Benning during wartime. I love my country and want to fight for it.' Because of the Future Soldier training programme, Ian will join the army as a private first class, two ranks above basic enlistment Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

12 June 2007: Taking in one last day at Elitch Gardens amusement park before joining the army, Ian rides the big wheel with his girlfriend, Ashley Hibbs, and friends Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

19 June 2007: Tom Abner, who says he has shaved millions of heads in his 42 years on the job, adds Ian to that list with a shave that takes under a minute and a half Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

19 June 2007: After securing gear in the barracks, Ian descends the stairs to join the rest of Bravo company in formation. When the soldiers aren’t filling out paperwork, getting their teeth checked or learning how to wear their uniforms properly they must stand in formation reciting the Soldier’s Creed Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

20 June 2007, 12.41 pm: 'I want to go home. It makes me feel like I have an excuse. I’ve been thinking about everyone,' Ian says. He waits to speak with Sergeant 1st Class Robert Russell, the recruiting command liaison, to outline his injury and make a new claim: a drill sergeant mistreated him for not seeking permission when he got an X-ray the night before Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

23 June 2007: Ian checks his stance and the position of his hand as the platoon learns how to salute properly. The first weeks of basic training are intended to break the recruits down to nothing so they can be built back up over time in the army mould Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

13 August 2007: Moving up from his PTs and fatigues, Ian is fitted for his class A dress uniform Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

15 August 2007: As his team prepares to clear and secure a room during a training drill, Ian (right) is the first man in a four-man stack. His teammates are (from left) Patrick Adams of Philadelphia, Richard Stotts of Newark, Ohio, and Shadraq McBride of Florence, Alabama Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

10 October 2007: Eric Fisher talks with his son as Ian prepares to report to Fort Carson, just south of Colorado Springs, for five days of in-processing Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

3 September 2008, 12.55pm: Ian makes his way to the plane and, ultimately, Iraq, as the troops depart for their year-long deployment. Ian calls his mother that night. The next morning she says: 'When I spoke with Ian last night he sounded excited and happy to be finally doing something. It lifted my heart' Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

28 November 2008: Ian slowly tears up a picture of Kirsten while sitting in his room. 'If I was back home I would probably be raising hell' Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine

14 December 2008: Ian and colleague Robinson (in mirror) get geared up for an unexpected escort mission Photograph: Craig F Walker/Denver Post /Polaris/eyevine