PBS’s “Carrier”: Life In The Fleet At Sea April 27, 2008
Posted by EB in Uncategorized.Tags: Carrier, Navy, Public Relations, USS Nimitz
trackback
(apparently if you’re like me and don’t watch TV, let alone have cable, you can watch the episodes online starting tomorrow).
Kudos to the Navy for greenlighting this PBS project which is airing this week April 27-May 1.
The creators had near-total editorial freedom and present crew members on the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-6 
for an entire six month deployment to the Persian Gulf. They interviewed hundreds of the 5,000 sailors and Marines onboard while focusing largely on more than a dozen individuals, ranging from a fighter pilot to a ship’s cook.
Everything from sex on the boat to disillusionment with the mission is captured, as well as daily living conditions, challenges and the mission each crew member plays a part in achieving.
Above all else, the series profiles a unique band of individuals who the American people have perhaps never seen before, except for split second viewings in a movie like “Top Gun” or a TV show like “JAG”. The human growth (and failure) that occurs when pushed to your physical and emotional limits is eloquently profiled. Truly a must see if you have any interest in the Navy or the youth that join the Navy and serve their country.
I have been watching the Carrier series with much interest. I served aboard the USS Constellation CV 64 for seven months in 1979. It was my second ship. Watching this film has reminded me how I d “Carrier Life.” The film has depicted life aboard a carrier accurately, has far as I am concerned.
Indeed, they have done an excellent job thus far. I was impressed when the CO went off on the 1MC after the man overboard… my supervisor on the Lincoln was on that Nimitz deployment and had told me that story last spring during GQ and I thought he was pulling my leg but he quoted the CO verbatium. Apparently the crew was quite fond of the CMC & CO, especially their creation of various mentorship programs on the ship for the lower enlisted.
Starting things off in the mess was a good idea too, its something Robert Kaplan was careful to do when he wrote about being on several ships and subs in his book “Hog Pilots, Blue Water Grunts”.
Thanks for commenting!
Been DVR’ing the series. Extremely good.
Dan,
Definitely, they capture so much… I’m just floored a documentary about the Navy could be so good and so detailed. Just a few medium issues that I haven’t seen yet but hopefully will before its over.
It was a good cross section of what it’s like being in the service; all people, all the time.
Hard work, long hours, teamwork, dangerous, one or two bad eggs, doubts about how useful it is, constant thoughts of back home, wonderful depiction and well done.