What film best captures what being in the military is truly like?

The mini series "Generation Kill" from HBO is the best portrayal of military/deployed life, IMO.

Full Metal Jacket by far!

After reading the comments, it's really hard to choose. "Sands of Iwo Jima" made much more sense if seen after "Letters from Iwo Jima". But all in all, I think I joined the Navy in 1963 because of the TV series "Victory at Sea". I Think that says a lot. In 1965, "In Harm's Way" confirmed my decision.

I enjoy most of them. The most believable (in no specific order) American Sniper, Full Metal Jacket, Fury, Saving Private Ryan, Men of Honor, A Few Good Men, Black Hawk Down, Crimson Tide, Courage Under Fire, Good Morning Vietnam.

I'm not even joking about this, down Periscope. This movie, while a complete comedy, shows multiple types of leadership and different types of command challenges. I highly recommended this movie to all the officers under me at any given point.

Platoon portrayed the grittiness and filth of jungle warfare. Even without the enemy the jungle could kill you. Full Metal Jacket combat scenes were too surrealistic. David Hess 11B army paratrooper Vietnam 1967-68-69

My She spent a year in a MASH outfit in Vietnam; said the movie wasn't even close.

I'm kind of partial to 'Catch 22'.

Full Metal Jacket was spot on for the boot camp experience, regardless of what branch of service

Hacksaw ridge, they shall not grow old..

The Fighting Sullivans, originally released as The Sullivans, is a 1944 American biographical war film directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Edward Doherty, Mary C. McCall Jr., and Jules Schermer.