Potential Spoiler Alert, though I tried to keep it clean.
I served nearly a decade in the Army. I connected with this show from the first five minutes of watching it. It is wonderful to relive things that occurred from my own days in the Big Green Machine. I recommend this hilarious show to all of my former military friends, and even to those who have never served. It is in no way disrespectful to the military, it plays upon the monotony that is the military, or at least as it was when I served.
I am horrified at the reviews given by former military members, and family members of those who served. You were missing out in your time of service if you have never found one moment in any of the episodes thus far, that you could relate to. The comments about not wearing covers, or open tops, overweight soldiers all being so very far fetched and inexcusable? The only place that military standards were held to such high expectations was Basic and AIT.
The entire concept of the show as explained in multiple posts, is that this high-speed/low-drag soldier got in trouble, he was spared the boot because of his father's reputation and connections, and sent to Rear-D. He is just as upset at the soldiers in his platoon as the rest of you are. However, he is often overcome with the idea of "if you cannot beat them, join them", mentality.
I think it is brilliant to show a softer, less, stringent side of the military. Especially, when everyone sees our men and women as cold blooded killers. Not everyone is hardcore. Not everyone is super soldier. There are lots of soldiers, who still want to be normal people while serving. They want to socialize, have fun, and make friends, improve themselves, get the college money, get away from bad lives, and see the world. If one cannot see the satirical humor in this show, I am truly astonished. Just think of the days doing details, or conducting training that you had done a hundred times before, or having to spend a day off performing CQ, or something else to that extent, the sensitivity training, and mandatory fun days, which were anything, and everything except fun.
Loosen up, stop the HOOAH-attitude, and appreciate a funny take on a serious job. If I, as a disabled veteran, can watch this show and laugh until I cry, with a husband who is still serving, who laughs the same as me, and both of us can say we knew someone just like that or there was this time...surely it is no coincidence. It's humor, it is meant to show mistakes in uniform, in behaviors, and attitudes. I love the cast, they are all awesome, and I hope the show is on for years to come.
Let me ask you nay-Sayers this? Did Gomer Pyle, look at all like the Korean or Vietnam Wars? NO! Was Hogan's Hero's at all like WWII and Hitler's Germany? NO! Would Judy Benjamin be allowed to wear makeup and earrings in Basic? NO! Would the platoon in Stripes have been allowed to perform without an NCO at their graduation? And would all of them have been sent to the very same post? Would they have been allowed to go into West Germany? NO, NO, and NO! Oh and let us not forget John Candy as Ox! He was an overweight soldier. as was PVT. Pyle in Full Metal Jacket. Must be some truth there. However, these were great shows.
Service members do have personalities, lives, quirks, and we are all different in our wits, our humor, intelligence, and even their own belt size. Great program,and I look forward to it every week,and I laugh away the week's stress.