Tactical training in movies: Why you want to see trained actors

by Luke Ryan · October 9, 2017

You’re 16, at the movies with your friends, and the main character swings around a corner wielding a pistol held waist-high. He fires a couple of shots with his other hand sticking out awkwardly like he’s balancing on a tightrope, and yet every shot lands either directly in the center of the forehead or straight in the chest. And of course the victim goes flying back 10 feet. You don’t know any better, the movie is exciting and your tactical training barely goes beyond, “Don’t they hold pistols with both hands?”

After my time in the Army, I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on tactics and movements a trained soldier or police officer would employ while engaging the enemy. I realize that there are different ways of doing things across the board, and that realistically people make mistakes in real life too. Still, it’s refreshing to watch a film where the actors have trained and prepared for their roles.

About Luke Ryan

Luke Ryan is a SOFREP journalist in Tampa, FL. He is a former Team Leader from 3rd Ranger Battalion, having served four deployments to Afghanistan. He grew up overseas, the son of foreign aid workers, and lived in Pakistan for nine years and Thailand for five. He has a degree in English Literature and loves to write on his own as well, working on several personal projects.

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Monroe Kelly
Opus I concur completely. Being the son of an Army aviator and having flown and been inserted many times with the 160th does not do justice to you guys. And it’s premise was poorly researched. A shame Hollywood once again went for sensationalism over realism.
OPUS
@ Monroe: I'm a retired Army Aviator. VALOR is not only "technically" horrible, it sends a message which shames the "real" SOF Aviation Community equally. For those who want a corrected picture of Army Aviation, read Harry Reasoner's "Helicopter Pilots are Different". Magnify Harry's comments several times for SOF Aviators. IT IS NOT boys and their toys!
edb73
Great stuff, Luke! And to think, that Reeves is effing left-handed. Those cats acting in BHD were mentored by their reapective units, well sort of. SF hooked the actors playing Delta up. But the Rangers hung with the regiment.
STripepi
Was that CASCOM Major General doing his pistol quals an actor too? https://thenewsrep.com/88006/army-pistol-training-condition-black-2/
Monroe Kelly
Excellent point Luke. A prime example of Hollywood not getting it right is the new series Valor. I watched the debut episode and it was horrible! Way too cliche and the actors didn’t act like military people in their training or dialogue. Worse than an 80’s flick.