Army drill sergeant rates 11 more boot camp scenes in movies and TV

Retired US Army drill sergeant Lamont Christian rates more boot-camp scenes in movies and TV shows.

Christian looks at US Marine Corps boot camp scenes across history, including mortar and machine gun training during World War II in “The Pacific” E4 + E8 (2010), the Cold War era in “The D.I.,” starring Jack Webb; the Vietnam War period in another scene from “Full Metal Jacket,” with R. Lee Ermey; and “The Inspection” taking place in 2005 in Parris Island. He breaks down the realism of training outside basic combat training, such as the Navy SEALs’ training in “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper; the live fire training method used in “Heartbreak Ridge,” starring Clint Eastwood; and the US Army Airborne School scene in “Band of Brothers” E1 (2001). He additionally looks at US Army basic training scenes in “In the Army Now” and “Biloxi Blues,” starring Christopher Walken and Matthew Broderick. Christian also looks at more training scenes beyond the US military branches, such as the fictional military training in space in “Starship Troopers,” as well as the depiction of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps training in “Major Payne,” starring Damon Wayans.

Christian served in the US Army for 33 years as a combat infantryman with a cumulative experience of 11 years working in various positions within the basic training environment. He retired in 2018 as the command sergeant major of Fort Jackson, the Army’s main training center for basic combat training. He is now the director of the Warrior PATHH program at the Big Red Barn Retreat, where he helps veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress.

You can follow Lamont on LinkedIn.