Ellis French, a young Black man who is gay, faces rejection from his mother and limited prospects for his future. In search of a new path, he chooses to enlist in the Marines, determined to overcome the challenges of a system that might otherwise marginalize him. Despite confronting entrenched biases and the demanding nature of basic training, he discovers surprising friendship, resilience, and encouragement within this new environment. This experience provides him with a hard-won feeling of acceptance, profoundly influencing his sense of self and altering the course of his life.