"Generation Kill" (2008) More at IMDb Pro »TV mini-series

The USMC recon environment seems a lot like pretty much any organization: Understaffed, with the most complex decisions being dropped on the shoulders of unknown middle managers who can have their career terminated by a single error. Upper management has to juggle with the demands of hands-off managers with little understanding of the "battlefield" and the unpleasant task of making calls that are going to earn them no friends. Toss in with that the unavoidable reality of some commanders who might even just have one bad day - or make a snap judgment based on incomplete information, only to realize with horror what they wish they had known.

After watching this and remembering that these are not unlike what we've come to expect from our real troops, I'm a little humbled at my own gripes about the crummy food at my last business meeting.

Reality aside, this is a wonderfully rich production. The heat of the days and cold of the nights really comes through, and you can't help but flinch as a stray round whistles past. The characters often exhibit more depth than you expect - but also, sometimes less - allowing us the privilege of an occasional chuckle.

After three episodes, I find my political views little changed, but my admiration and empathy for the 20-somethings who live this reality every day, greatly increased. The show is about the characters in it, not the politics or policies which put them in any particular place.