I don't give many films, of any sort, a 10 out of 10. For this I will make an exception. This movie is a real inside look at what our leaders today ask of men, in this case a unit from the OK National Guard.I can attest from first-hand experience that Iraq, the vast majority of burden was put on National Guard units from all over the country. These are not professional soldiers, these are men who volunteered to do what most others would not: Be both a member of society and a warrior. This duality does make for a different type of military unit; Different, but not necessarily less competent. So seeing this Oklahoma Guard unit fighting in the hills of Afghanistan, suffering and losing men on the pointy end of the "GWOT" spear did not shock to me. I know this is what these folks do, I've seen them do it.What is shocking is how this film was made - it appears that several soldiers had cameras (GoPros?) mounted to their helmets, so very nearly every facet of the "soldier experience" is captured. This includes horseplay, boredom, stress, fear, pain and horror. Seeing young, hard men sobbing with grief over fallen comrades isn't easy, but we, the American voter, sent them there and put them in harms way. We owe it to them to see what the cost of our choices are.Considering the equipment used, the film quality is amazing and the editing is, to my eye, top notch; The intelligent use of subtitles for dialogue that is hard to comprehend (particularly radio traffic) and the very subtle use of music is well executed. Whoever was involved with this really knew what they were doing.I'm shocked that I had not heard of this film until it appeared on Amazon, as I am shocked that it isn't reviewed higher on IMDb. I suspect that might be due to how hard this movie is to watch. Seeing a mother bend over the flag-draped casket of her son broke me, and I've seen this stuff first hand. Not everyone likes to cry at the movies, I suppose.So see this, if you can. It is not an easy thing to watch but I think we owe it these men to at least get a glimpse of what we ask of them.

The film Citizen Soldier is a great, war documentary that follows a brigade in the Oklahoma National Guard while deployed overseas for 96 days in Afghanistan. My favorite aspect of this film and what I think makes it different from most documentaries of it's kind, is the unique way it was shot. With only the use of GoPros and cell phones, the soldiers film themselves as they journey through one of the most dangerous battlefields in Afghanistan. I thought that the directors, David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud, took an interesting approach by choosing to have the soldier's film it from their point of view allowing me to feel fully immersed in the film. Through the personal interviews and intense footage I was able to not only see what it is like to be on the front lines but what it really means to have a band of brothers willing to sacrifice their lives for you. Although they may go home to somewhat normal civilian lives, these men and women are forever changed. This is a touching tribute to our troops that everyone should see if they haven't already.

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.

My favorite thing about "Citizen Soldier" is its originality and honesty. This documentary film was not about politics or promoting any kind of agenda and I really appreciated the raw honesty with which the movie unfolded. The incredible directors, David Salzberg and Christian Tureaud, really let the story be told by the men and women who were serving our country as part of the National Guard. The story the soldiers told was filled with a strong sense of brotherhood and connection with each other. Made me feel proud of our National Guard and the people who had to unexpectedly serve our country with bravery and valor in its time of need.