Watch Full Battle Rattle

Full Battle Rattle is a 2008 documentary film that takes us straight into the heart of the US Army's National Training Center, situated in the Mojave desert. Here, the soldiers are developed and trained to become combat-ready through an intense 14-day simulation of what they would experience on a battlefield in Iraq. But this isn't just a simple military training exercise but rather an exquisitely crafted war game, with highly realistic and immersive features that are created to make everything appear as authentic as possible. Every detail from the village, the people in it, the terrain to even the climate, is painstakingly recreated to give these young soldiers, men and women alike, an intense and authentic battlefield experience.

The movie follows a group of soldiers, primarily the Apache Company, as they navigate through this grueling training activity. The film, directed by Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss, presents a series of interviews with the soldiers, giving us an opportunity to understand their perspective and experiences. The soldiers all come from different walks of life and have different reasons for joining the army. Some are motivated by patriotism and a sense of duty; others are looking for an adventure, or are merely in search of a way to pay for their education. Yet, all of them have one thing in common, and that is the arduous nature of the task they are about to undertake.

Once the soldiers arrive at the National Training Center, all of their identities and personal attributes are stripped away, and they are reduced to blank slates, waiting to be entirely remolded into perfect soldiers. They are given a 14-day training session that aims to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge for effective combat in Iraq. During the training session, the soldiers are assigned a specific role to play in the war game, and they transform themselves into soldiers charged with missions such as navigating through minefields, avoiding insurgent ambushes, and carrying out raids.

The film portrays the intense heat, exhaustion, and dehydration that the soldiers must endure as they train for war. Combat is not only about being physically fit, but it requires the ability to make quick decisions under extreme pressure. The soldiers must learn how to trust each other and work as a team. Furthermore, the villagers assigned to play the natives provide support, training, and distractors to make the experience as authentic as possible.

One of the strengths of this documentary is that it allows the soldiers to take center stage, and we see the inner workings of what it means to be a soldier. We witness their camaraderie, first-person point of view, and what they must sacrifice as individuals to become a part of a larger collective. These diverse soldiers from varied ethnic, social and economic backgrounds provide insight into what it means to become a "team of brothers." They discuss how hard it is to stay connected with loved ones, the impact of harsh living conditions, and the human side of war.

The movie does more than provide a snapshot of combat training; it immerses us fully in the experience of being in battle simulations. The audience gets a first-hand perspective of the behind-the-scenes work and how soldiers prepare themselves for their ultimate goal of deployment. Besides the soldiers, we witness the other professionals who support the training, such as the role players who engage with the soldiers during the simulation.

The film's content does not only resonate with current soldiers but also with those who are seeking to understand the complexities and nuances of military training. The realism shared in the documentary is admirable and gives an accurate portrayal of military life in training. The heart of the documentary lies in how it is clear that the soldiers take their mission and training seriously, and they understand the importance of their role.

To conclude, Full Battle Rattle is an exceptional documentary that offers insight into what soldiers must endure to be ready for action. It is an immersive and honest portray of the intensity and rigor of military training and how it forms soldiers to become combat-ready. The film leaves one with a sense of admiration for the courage and commitment displayed by the soldiers who are dedicated to serving their country.

Full Battle Rattle is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 72.