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Updated in [July 27th, 2023]
Retired US Army drill sergeant Lamont Christian rates US military boot-camp scenes in movies and TV shows for realism. Christian breaks down the early stages of boot camp in "Full Metal Jacket" (1987), with R. Lee Ermey; and "Cherry" (2021), starring Tom Holland. He looks at weapons and physical training in "Forrest Gump" (1994), starring Tom Hanks; "Jarhead" (2005), with Jake Gyllenhaal; "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016), with Andrew Garfield; and "Band of Brothers" (2001). He explains the plausibility of boot-camp scenarios in "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011), starring Chris Evans; "Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous" (2008), with Jessica Simpson; and "Tribes" (1970). Christian also looks at the drill sergeants and drill instructors in "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982) and "Stripes" (1981), with Bill Murray.
With 33 years of service in the US Army as a combat infantryman and 11 years in the basic training environment, Christian is well-equipped to rate the realism of boot camp scenes in movies and TV shows. He retired in 2018 as the command sergeant major of Fort Jackson, the Army's main training center for basic combat training. Currently, he is the director of the Warrior PATHH program at the Big Red Barn Retreat, where he helps veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress. Follow Christian on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.
