I read it since it was a requirement for my college Writing & Literature I class, but I said to everyone when we were talking about it that I didn't see why it was any "required" reading. Some guy writes a war book and markets it right, and everyone makes out like it is so great. I said the horrors of war described in books like "All Quiet On the Western Front" and "Chickenhawk" (a Vietnam-War book by a Huey pilot, very good read) were much, much more emotional and disturbing; I guess I mean those books, which are classics, get the point across a lot better. If anything, they should be required reading I'd think. It's not like they make out that war is great or anything either, but Swofford's book seems more like a "I want to complain about my military experience" - type of memoir. He should have written on the first page, "By the way, if you don't want to hear me b**** and complain for the next (whatever number) of pages, close the book."
Just my opinion though.