Generation Kill

Generation Kill debuted on HBO last night.  I've not watched the entire episode yet, but what I have seen so far...  wow.  I don't think I've seen a show involving or depicting Marines that has resonated with me so much.  Ever.

Full Metal Jacket had its moments, but depicted a different time and different attitudes.

Heartbreak Ridge was really good.  The dialogue was excellent as well as other specific parts.  Yet, other parts were clearly "Hollywood-ized".

Generation Kill captured the attitude, dialogue, and overall aura of what it is to be a Marine.  Right here, right now.  Cocky?  Check.  Vulgar?  Check.  Ready to fight? Check.  Irreverant?  Check.  I could go on and on, and it feels like the show got almost everything right.

I read the book by Evan Wright, and a lot of the dialogue in the book was used directly in the show.

The show follows the Marines of the First Recon Battalion through the first 40 days of war.  First off.  DO NOT confuse Recon Battalion with Force Recon.  Recon Battalions do receive extra training, but in no way are they on par with Force Recon who is considered the Special Forces of the Marine Corps.

Don't mistake the protrayal of various characters to be "over-the-top" acting.  Case in point.  The Sgt. Major of the Battalion.  Holy shit.  What a little fucking hitler.  The Sgt. Major is fixated with the "Grooming Standard".  Mustaches must be a certain length (not to exceed the ends of your mouth, nor cover your actual upper lip.)  In fact, they have a standing order that all mustaches will be shaved off when they reach the Euphrates river.

Honestly, WTF?  Y'all are about to go to war, and you are fixated on mustaches?  But, there are Marines like that.  They get to certain ranks, and their strange idiosyncrasies really emerge.

I can recall a specific Master Sergeant at my last command.  What a nut.  I was assigned to a FAP Battalion (Fleet Assistance Program) because I had less then 6 months left in the Corps.  As such, I was assigned as the Senior NCO in Charge of the base gym.  I oversaw 6 other Marines, and took instruction from the Civilian who ran the gym.  A former Gunnery Sgt.

Anyways, Thursdays were designated field days.  On field days, we cleaned our barrack rooms and common areas.  The Master Sgt. (I'll call him "Top") expected the entire Battalion to be in formation on Thursday evening after chow to commence field day.  One small problem.  The Gym was open from 6am until 10pm.  That meant I had to have 2-3 Marines on duty there.

Well, Top and I butted heads regarding my inability to have all my Marines at the formation.  He told me that I should have told the Civilians to watch the gym so my Marines could make formation and do their cleaning.  Ummm...  It's 5pm Top, the Civs are off work.  Top:  "I don't care.  You order them to watch the Gym while the Marines do their cleaning."

WTF?  He expects me, to order a Civilian to pull duty.  Not only that, but the Civilian boss of the Gym.  Not only that, a Civilian who was a former Gunny.  I don't think so.  But, I told him what he wanted to hear, and the next day went to the Civilian and explained what happened the night before.  Boy was he ticked.  So ticked, that he went to the Battalion Commander and complained.

The next field day, my Marines on Duty were excused from formation and cleaning.

I later found out why that Mst. Sgt was in the FAP Battalion.  He had reported to duty to a Company in a Infantry Battalion.  That Battalion was out in the field when he showed up.  For some reason, he felt he out ranked the XO (a Major) of the Battalion, and proceeded to move the XO's stuff out of the XO's Office and moved his stuff into the XO's Office.

Needless to say, when the Battalion returned from the field, the XO wasn't too happy, and the Top was immediately re-assigned to the FAP Battalion.

Anyways.  Generation Kill.  I give it a score of 94% out of 100%  Nothing is ever perfect in Hollywood, and that's why nothing I ever watch or read receives a perfect score.

But, I highly, highly recommend it.  :)