For this assignment, I traveled through rural Punjab to document the human impact of India’s controversial "Agniveer" military recruitment scheme. Historically, joining the armed forces offered young men from low-income, agricultural communities a guaranteed path to lifelong financial security, pensions, and esteemed community status. However, a 2022 policy shift designed to cut defense costs dictates that three-quarters of new recruits will be decommissioned after just four years, abruptly returned to civilian life without traditional veteran benefits, pensions, or long-term healthcare.