Citizen Soldier

Whether you are a bleeding liberal or a conservative, this documentary will provide more education about war, about troops serving overseas, about what happens after war, and the bond forged by our men and women who serve than any history book or newscast. This should be added to curriculum taught in schools so students and people in general see an unbiased version of what war is - not the politics, but the day-to-day events. I will watch any documentary I can find to get an unfiltered understanding of war so I better appreciate the freedoms I have because of the volunteers (full time and civilian troops). I gave this documentary 8 stars because I feel like some things might be missing (possible op sec), but I really enjoyed the honesty the film makers demonstrated.

In the documentary Citizen Soldier, Directors David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud deliver an astonishing film about the Oklahoma National Guard's deployment in one of the harshest regions of Afghanistan. This film transcends the boundaries of a typical military film by using footage from helmet cameras to provide audiences with an immersive look at life and war overseas. As I watched from their perspectives, I couldn't help but feel like I was a part of their fight. Audiences get to see seemingly ordinary citizens transform themselves from strangers into a family of brave men and women known as "Citizen Soldiers". It amazed me to see what these men and women experience while deployed. They're thrown into hostile environments and must deal with adversity as a team. The most moving part of this film was watching these real people, in real combat, willing to put their lives on the line for their fellow soldiers. Through all of the victories and losses, they form an unbreakable bond that lasts long after they return home to their civilian lives. Not only is Citizen Soldier a moving documentary, but I think it's also an outstanding way to show appreciation to these soldiers, and all citizen soldiers. It's a fantastic film and I highly recommend it.

Current war narrative focuses almost exclusively on the plight of the armed forces juxtaposed with the plight of the civilians trapped in the war zones we in the West vote for.

As far as I know, this is the only film that focuses on the ever growing Civil defense force, those people who used to be "Weekend Warriors", but who are now thrown into the hell holes of the world for months at a time.

These are people who used to spend their Saturday nights doing pointless drills and occasional firing range sessions, now suddenly finding themselves sent to the far end of a horrifying firefights for half a year at a time.

This film had me in tears so many times I cant count. It's the single most powerful and moving documentary I have ever watched. These are real civilians, driven by selfless need to provide service, suddenly thrown into the meat grinder for months at a time with a 10th of the training professional soldiers receive, yet thrown into the same grinder as our professional soldiers.

If every Trump Tastic war mongering armchair General around the world was shown this, we'd have world peace by the weekend.

These are "normal" relateable people like you and I, facing a hell we should pray each night we never have to see, and facing it with the kind of courage we should be thankful we don't have to find.

This is the only film I will ever give 10/10 and I do that with the utmost respect to the people I have watched die tonight. Don't watch this film - BUY this film as many times as you can afford and donate to the charities supporting veterans with PTSD.

Review written by a UK Pacifist who hopes for the day Afghan and Western can join together and stop being killed for the benefit of Wall Street. I'm not some jingoistic Trump wallah, this film is important and should be required viewing.

It was a very intimate view into the guard in a war.

It is a scary land. I know IEDs were a major killing thorn to soldiers in Afghanistan.

One comment that stuck a nerve was about how the local villagers are self serving as you can't trust them.

Imagine this scenario flipped. Would you not be self serving, especially as a 14 year old.

In reality, we're over over there for self serving reasons, along with some aid, etc etc.

They are just trying to defend their close knit families. Who are prob under threat by the Taliban or insurgents to aid them in their mission.

We have never have an armored tank and soldiers meandering in our backyard at 3am demanding ID while living in the US. While I know it's necessary for safety, expects the other side to just continue to allow this to their homes is hard to imagine.

A revealing insight into the experience of this undoubtedly brave group of men. What I found to be the most surprising insight was that of the level of experience and competency of these part time soldiers. No one can doubt their dedication or committment. However, to be put in these situations without the necessary skill sets is desperately worrying. I don't know if this is the norm on terms of standard and I absolutely mean no disrespect to them or their fallen comrades. The way they operate, the speed they do it, their drills & tactical awareness, their comms and cohesiveness are below a standard required to execute what is being asked of them...I enjoyed this documentary but my heart goes out to them.