Carrier

Worth the watch. I'm currently an Air Traffic Controller in the USN, but also still a newbie trying to sum up my mixed feelings for my career choice. Since I haven't been on a deployment yet, I thought I'd take a look at this documentary due to the mostly positive reviews it's received. Can't say that it has influenced my decision to re-enlist or not and go on deployment, but it did give me a decent perspective and understanding of "Carrier" life. I recommend watching it, Navy sailor or not, and enjoy the unbelievable spectacle that is defined as "ship life." I've read quite a few negative comments about this documentary involving retired sailors from the 60's,70's,80's etc. And I just have to say that I'm disappointed in their, well, complaints. It seems that sailors today aren't aloud to complain about hard ships while being underway. Life is much better in the Navy than it was in the past, but that shouldn't discredit the devotion and stress it can have on sailors today. Give it a rest retirees, we know you had it rough, but don't hate us for having it slightly better.

PBS really surprised me with this one. I didn't think they could put out a program with so little anti-military sentiment. Another reviewer pointed out how pleasant it was to see something that didn't just focus on the Officers, and or pilots. And I'd have to agree. As a former medic (66-68) I enjoyed seeing the current military from an enlisted point of view. Being a cynic when it comes to the media's motives when it comes to hanging around the military I can't help but wonder if they weren't hoping for my negative responses and actions if they stayed around long enough. Soldiers (sailors or marines) complain a lot, it way of life in the military, and there was some complaining, but it was really interesting to see how well these kids do their jobs day after day. And some of those jobs are not that exciting. But you get to see that the military tries to do something that society as a whole should do, remind people that all jobs are important and without anyone of them the ship wouldn't work. The military understands that it's important for people to know they're doing something worth while. One thing that left me a little concerned was the mixing of genders about ship. During the first Persian Gulf War a cruiser had to be taken off line due to, to many pregnant sailors to remain combat effect. A lot of time was spent talking about male and females "hooking up" aboard ship. It's a shame that from a country of 300+million people we can't get enough volunteers to fill all the billets aboard ship. The volunteers we get a fantastic, and a credit to this country. But problems do come up with men in women thrown together for long periods of time. Stuff happens! Lastly this a very interesting series. And thank you to the men and women of the the Nimitz, and all units in all branches of the military for doing your part for our great country. It's our home.

As a current active duty Chief Petty Officer and having done my time on a carrier, the honesty was refreshing. Not a recruiting tool, not propaganda, just honest life.

It portrays the real Navy, good and bad, positive and negative. Some people love it, some people hate it... what an eye opener to the civilians who enjoyed this! Yes some of us don't like our job, some of us love it, just like the rest of the world. But when we do our job right, bad people get dead! I loved it!

Sit down with this documentary and pay attention to the real people who just happen to wear a uniform for your country. We do what we do because we love our country. You will see the places we do it, and the conditions we live under. If I can ask one thing from everyone who has never been there, whether you agree with what we do or not, thank a person in uniform if you have the opportunity, it means more to us than a paycheck!

Just sat through all 10 episodes. Easily one of the best military documentaries I've ever seen. Being a US Marine, this really took me back to when I was on active duty and around my Brothers 24/7. I miss those times so much it hurts. Although the navy is totally different than the Marine Corps, this show will really put it in perspective on what being deployed is all about. Sucks to be away from home but the bond you make with others while deployed will last a lifetime. Great show and well worth the ten hours of my time to watch. If you are military, this will certainly bring back both good and bad memories of your time spent abroad. Director and producers nailed it on top shelf quality production. Semper Fi

I thought that by watching this i would gain some insight into the lives of young men and women in the Navy and I was not disappointed. It was a wonderfully candid look into the lives of these people aboard what truly is a city at sea. This documentary was a perfect example of what a sincere desire to tell as accurate a story possible can achieve. There were no subjects off limits and no agenda imposed onto the story. Just the people dealing with the situation they found themselves in at the moment. I am a unabashed liberal in my daily life and I found this just as compelling as an ex-Navy republican friend did. Whats more, the series got him to talk about HIS experience in Iraq; something I've been trying to get him to do for years. There were some serious discussions that came from our watching this, some new understandings and of course, some new disagreements. If you have a chance to watch this please do.