In the episode “Screwby” of Generation Kill series, the many shortcomings of Bravo Platoon’s command and operation are unsettlingly exposed. Many standard plans and operating procedures (SOPs) are ignored, and the rules of engagement (R.O.E) are constantly adjusted vaguely to achieve results just to impress the superior commanders.

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First of all, the order of "The Godfather" Ferrando (Chance Kelly) – Battalion Commander to take the Iraqi airport by force is completely reckless and not based on any thorough analysis. A platoon with a reconnaissance function, a handful of poorly-armed troops and no heavy weapons are assigned to attack an enemy airfield, without tankers or air support. Even earlier intelligence said there are 6,000 Republican Guards and Iraqi tankers stationed there.

Perhaps the above decision was motivated solely with the desire not to disappoint Ferrando's superiors. Fortunately, it ends up being an empty airport; otherwise it could be a cold and stupid decision to bake his troops into ashes.

Ferrando's second command in this episode is to set R.O.E. "sees all Iraqis as hostile". This leads to Trombley happily shooting two moving Iraqi boys and their camels by the road. And when the local people brings the injured victim to seek treatment, the commanders decide to leave the injured alone, and ask to report on his "wrongdoing". The ultimate blame will fall on Iceman Brad because he is the team leader and the one who gave orders to Trombley.

Ferrando's third troublesome order is to abandon a truck with a blown tire, which is carrying much-needed supplies for the Battalion, including food, weapons, and C4 explosives. The truck later falls into enemy's hands. This will certainly have consequences for the upcoming combat days of the Battalion.

We also witness the reservists firing at Bravo Company in the dark in the typical "we shoot our own" style. This results in the truck having a tire blowout as mentioned above, but fortunately no one was injured.

Not only that, the obscure company commander "Encino Man" Schwetje (Brian Patrick Wade) once again makes a hazy decision: to order a "dangerously close" artillery attack on an RPG team of enemies who basically doesn't exist at all. For some reason, some scout group, when observing the light trails, reported that an enemy group was approaching; while Iceman Brad observed it and he was certain these were just light effects and no enemies to come.

Sometimes another mistake saves the other one or ones. Fortunately, the obscure Encino Man gives the wrong coordinates to attack, so the cannon ends up hitting the empty spot. If he provided the correct coordinates, an entire village of civilians may have been destroyed.

You may or may not believe it, but in the end Encino Man was highly praised by Godfather for his actions!? Witness such a thing, your head will explode!

And also in this episode, you'll have to continue to visually endure the 3rd Platoon Commander (thankfully he's not Iceman's commander) Dave "Captain America" McGraw. He still occasionally shoots miscellaneous, innocuous AKs at empty trucks. He also picks up loot from enemy corpses.

Generation Kill gives us the impression that the Marines are in some respects like any other organization, public or private: sometimes the most incompetent are promoted to the highest positions. The most disqualified become those who are making decisions.

Jon Huertas...Sergeant Antonio "Poke" Espera, V-02, 2nd Platoon, Bravo

Stark Sands...First Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick, 2nd Platoon Commander

Brian Wade...Captain Craig "Encino Man" Schwetje, Bravo Company Commander

Alexander Skarsgard...Staff Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert, 2nd Platoon, Bravo

Sergeant Rodolfo "Rudy" Reyes...Himself, V-03, 2nd Platoon, Bravo

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GENERATION KILL CAST AND CREW

Alexander Skarsgard...Staff Sergeant Brad "Iceman" Colbert, V-01, 2nd Platoon, Bravo
James Ransone...Corporal Josh Ray Person, V-01, 2nd Platoon, Bravo
Billy Lush...Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley, V-02, 2nd Platoon, Bravo
Pawel Szajda...Corporal Walt Hasser, Turret Position, V-01, 2nd Platoon, Bravo
Lee Tergesen...Evan "Rolling Stone" Wright
Chance Kelly...Lieutenant Colonel Stephen "Godfather" Ferrando, 1st Recon Battalion Commander
Stark Sands...First Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick, 2nd Platoon Commander
Brian Wade...Captain Craig "Encino Man" Schwetje, Bravo Company Commander
Eric Nenninger ... Dave "Captain America" McGraw, 3rd Platoon Commander, Bravo
Owain Yeoman ... Sergeant Eric Kocher, 3rd Platoon
Marc Menchaca...Gunnery Sergeant Mike "Gunny" Wynn
Jon Huertas...Sergeant Antonio "Poke" Espera, V-02, 2nd Platoon, Bravo
Mike Figueroa...Sergeant Leandro "Shady B" Baptista
Josh Barrett...Sergeant Larry Shawn "Pappy" Patrick
Sergeant Rodolfo "Rudy" Reyes...Himself, V-03, 2nd Platoon, Bravo
Jonah Lotan...Hospital Corpsman Second Class Robert Timothy "Doc" Bryan
Wilson Bethel...Corporal Evan "Q-Tip" Stafford
Pawel Szajda...Corporal Walt Hasser
Rey Valentin...Corporal Gabriel "Gabe" Garza
Sean Brosnan...Corporal Daniel Redman
Kellan Lutz...Corporal Jason Lilley
Rich McDonald...Corporal Anthony "Manimal" Jacks
Eric Ladin...Corporal James Chaffin
Daniel Fox...Private First Class John Christeson
Stefan Otto ... Cpl. Nathan Christopher