Jarhead (book)

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Jarhead is a Gulf War memoir by author Anthony Swofford.

This book recounts Swofford's enlistment and service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the First Gulf War, in which he served as a Scout Sniper with the STA (Surveillance and Target Acquisition) Platoon of 2nd Battalion 7th Marines. After leaving military service, the author went on to college and earned a Masters Degree in Writing at the University of Iowa.

Having seen very little actual combat during the war (like most of the half million troops stationed there), Swofford's narrative tends to focus on the emotional and psychological struggles of the young troops, especially sexual frustration and violence among themselves. Swofford also recounts the profound disappointment of having trained so long and so hard, only to never have the chance to engage the enemy, due to the brevity of the war. The book thus runs counter to most autobiographical military chronicles, sidestepping the stereotypes of slaughtering civilians or a soldier's best friend dying in his arms. Critical reaction was generally positive; Marines who actually served in the Gulf War are sharply divided on the book's merits and accuracy. For example, this post at Blackfive.net

It was adapted into a screenplay by William Broyles Jr.. The 2005 film Jarhead, directed by Sam Mendes, stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Peter Sarsgaard. Reviews were generally positive.