Original subtitles

According to my map, safety area extends as far as that wash on the other side

of that bridge.

Position your team in the wash.

We'll target the tank.

And we'll knock down the bad guys with close air support.

Aye, sir.

We've got a target to paint from the other side of the bridge.

Move out!

Reaper, Red Dog One, I've got a fire mission for you.

We've got a tank and a laser designated.

Take it out with a Maverick and sanitize the area.

Roger, Red Dog. You paint it, we'll hit it.

Are you sure we're supposed to get this close to the tank, Gunny? We can paint

it from here. No, we paint it from where the captain says we paint it. This side

of the bridge.

Red Dog 1, Red Dog 5, we're in position.

Ain't it, Gunny?

Roger that, sir.

Let's do it.

Following in his father's footsteps as a naval aviator, Lieutenant Commander

Harmon Rabb, Jr. suffered a crash while landing his Tomcat on a storm -tossed

carrier at sea.

Diagnosed with night blindness, Harm transferred to the Navy's Judge Advocate

General Corps, which investigates, defends, and prosecutes the law of the

There, with fellow JAG lawyer Major Sarah McKenzie, he now fights in and out

the courtroom with the same daring and tenacity that made him a top gun in the

air.

Major, the file you're looking for is... I know where it is, Bud.

Yes, ma 'am, but it's already... It's 0939, and the flight doesn't leave till

1100. We have plenty of time, so relax.

We're so nervous.

Yes, ma 'am. It's just that I'm trying to point out the file... There it is.

For heaven's sake, Bud, it was right in front of you.

Yes, ma 'am.

How about that?

It's 0940. We've got plenty of time. Can I say anything?

It's the thought that counts. You were about to tell me that I'm late for my

flight. Now, you and Bud call if you need any help with your case.

And you call if you need help with yours.

Oh, I've got mine eighth.

You guys have your work cut out for you. Why is that, sir?

Recon Marines are trained to be a tight group.

They won't like the idea of talking about one of their own, and this Captain

Coonan's got quite a reputation.

For what, ma 'am?

For eating JAG officers for lunch.

Seriously, Coonan is one tough, old -fashioned Marine.

His nickname is the Duke, as in John Wayne.

You're kidding.

You know what bothers me, Harm?

Captain Coonan is a legend.

He came up through the ranks, more medals than his chest can hold, spent

his entire career with recon units. I mean, he designed the recon training

program. Well, actually, he designed the close -quarter battle section.

So how does an officer with that much experience put his men's lives at risk

a training exercise?

That's a good question.

Thanks for the help.

You miss me already, don't you?

Yes, sir.

Sergeant Major South!

Sergeant Major!

You will address me as sir, recruit.

Do you understand?

I'm coming in. Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

Because you are one of the most miserable specimens I have ever seen.

no way in hell I'm going to be able to square away what God has so badly

up. There is not enough time unless you pay attention to every word I say.

Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

Good. Then repeat back what I have just told you.

Every word?

Are you making a joke, recruit?

No, sir.

It's a pleasure to have you here, Major.

You too, Lieutenant.

I asked for a Marine to head up this investigation, and by God, the Admiral

through. And a lady to boot.

Outstanding. Admiral Shagwooden didn't tell me you'd requested a Marine, sir.

It's the only way to do this investigation properly.

The Marine Corps has to discipline itself.

Not that we don't appreciate the help from the Navy, Lieutenant.

It's a new Marine Corps, Major.

We have new equipment, new demographic, new methods.

Our training requirements have to reflect these changes.

Can't think like dinosaurs in an old John Wayne movie. Those days are gone.

It's fine to be tough.

It's not fine to get your men hurt in training.

No, sir, it is not.

Captain Coonan's map.

He says the safety line was smudged. That's why his men were outside the

area. You don't believe him, Colonel? I didn't say that, Major.

Captain Coonan is a friend of mine.

Now, it would hurt to learn that he was responsible for what happened, but it

would hurt more if his leadership reflected badly on the Corps.

Find out what happened to my Marines, Major.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant.

Well, the target quadrant's smudged all right.

Obliterated is more like it.

Well, isn't this the danger -close boundary here, ma 'am?

It doesn't look like it includes that little road there.

Could be.

Or this could be a line here, and that does include the road.

Well, if that is the safety area, then Captain Coonan was within his rights.

If not, he put his men at risk.

Putting your men unnecessarily at risk during a training exercise or at any

is unacceptable.

You have made no progress, recruit.

But luck is with you.

Because I am going to give you another opportunity to prove to me that you are

not going to get the rest of your team killed because of your ineptitude or

incompetence.

Assume the position, recruit.

Begin.

Not bad.

For the Navy.

Tell her, Adler.

Come on.

Very impressive, Captain.

An ordinary Marine is impressive, Major.

A recon Marine must be exceptional.

or he will die.

They are expected to implant sensors in beacons, capture prisoners, call and

adjust supporting arms, conduct raids, and rescue hostages.

Isn't that right, First Sergeant?

You just told him the easy part, Skipper.

Sergeant Tesla!

Sergeant Tesla reporting as ordered, sir.

Curve your hand, Sergeant.

The object is to incapacitate your enemy.

By digging your fingers into the pressure points on his neck.

Here.

Grab. Pull.

Chop.

Well, he knows his close combat.

If you need more than two blows to kill your enemy, your chances of dying

increase 60%. Get it right, son.

I will, sir.

Back to it.

Aye, aye, sir!

Everything I had to say about the accident is down in black and white in

statement. We've read your statement, Captain.

How can I help you, Major?

How many times have you been on the training range where the accident took

place?

Once.

Just once?

I was not familiar with the terrain, if that is your question.

It was a new exercise.

Will that be all, ma 'am?

We'd like permission to interview the recon members who were involved.

My men are participating in a live -fire graduation exercise.

If they do not receive a high grade, they will not become forced recon.

Reveille is at 0430.

First class 0600.

Can you conduct your interviews by then?

If it's not too early, ma 'am.

I usually have lunch by then, Captain.

You can use my office in the squad bay for your interviews.

Will that be all, Major?

Because if it is... How are the injured men doing?

For the record, Major, I visit Gunny Cry Chuck and Corporal Bell daily.

Also for the record, I'm very sorry that Corporal Bell was wounded.

But I am damn glad that it happened now.

Recon Marines cannot afford to give in to fear the way that Corporal Bell did.

The fate of an entire division depends on how well these men react under fire.

Exercises like this are designed to weed people like Bell out.

Then you succeeded, Captain.

If you'll excuse me, Major, Lieutenant, my Marines need some hot chow and a trip

to the rain room.

You're damned right you are.

Dismissed! All right, sir!

Enter.

Major McKenzie, Lieutenant Robert.

Sergeant Krychek's replacement.

Entering Sergeant Post.

See you again, Gunny Post.

Yes, ma 'am.

You two serve together?

Yes, sir. Bosnia. 2 -9, right, Gunny?

2 -9, ma 'am. That's a good outfit.

Let's see. The CO was, uh...

Captain Wall,

sir. Wall.

Of course.

Who could forget Gonzo Walls?

Well... You two probably have some catching up to do. Yes, sir, we

No one is to be treated with kid gloves, Gunn.

But the days of breaking down a man and building him back up into a Marine are

gone.

Understood, sir.

Dismissed.

Hiya.

One more thing, Gunny.

Sir.

If anyone, enlisted or commissioned, doesn't conform to the way that I want

things done, I expect you to tell me about it.

That's an order.

Sir.

That was not very smart, Major.

As smart as not telling your partner you're undercover on the same case she's

working on, Commander.

Sir, ma 'am, I don't think this is a great spot to discuss these, but how the

hell was I supposed to know who the seal of Force Recon was?

How the hell was I supposed to know you were coming?

The Admiral thought it would be best if we had someone working from the inside,

too. Getting information from a recon marine is like getting blood from a

Harm, I'm your partner.

Well, maybe the Admiral is developing a sense of humor. I don't know.

Don't blame it on the Admiral. You did it on purpose.

Sir, ma 'am. Bud. What? With all due respect, I think you're both wrong.

You're mostly right.

I'd say 95 % right.

And 5 % wrong.

Captain Coonan is the finest officer I've ever served under, ma 'am.

I'd follow him to hell and back.

Seems to be a case for movies.

Ma 'am?

Audie Murphy, To Hell and Back, was a movie with... Forget it, Sergeant.

At ease, relax.

You don't need to sit at attention.

Yes, ma 'am.

You didn't see the captain's map.

You had no idea you were within the impact area, even though you knew you

only about 100 meters from the target.

And you'd follow Captain Coonan to hell.

And back, ma 'am.

He'd get us back.

And back.

May I speak freely, ma 'am?

The Skipper.

I mean Captain Coonan.

Well...

He'd never deliberately put us in a position where anyone could get hurt.

Then how did two Marines end up in sickbay, Sergeant? That was Bell's own

If he'd have kept his head down like the gun he said, he'd have been okay. If

Bell had been in the safety area, he would have been okay.

Affirmative, ma 'am, but... But?

I was scared to death out there, ma 'am.

I've never been in combat, and those bombs, they... Man, they sounded like I

don't know what.

The thing is, I'll probably be scared that bad again someday. Worse, maybe.

But I know something now.

What's that, Sergeant?

I know I can handle being that scared.

I won't freeze.

I'll get the job done.

May I go now, ma 'am?

The new gunny comes on board today. I'd like to see that my gear squared away.

Thank you, Sergeant Tesla. Dismissed.

Aye, aye, ma 'am.

Who's next?

That was the last of them.

That's it?

Four interviews, and what do we have? I didn't know we were beyond the safety

area. He's the finest officer I've ever served under, and I'd follow him to hell

and back.

In other words, it was Bell's fault?

How could it be a trainee's fault?

I've really got to talk to Corporal Bell.

I've been calling the hospital. He's still unconscious.

You are not a wet nurse, Gunnery Sergeant Post.

You are not a camp counselor.

You are not a therapist.

You are an instructor for recon marines.

I do not want them stroked. I do not want them coddled.

I want them tempered.

I want them hardened so they are absolutely confident that they can do

and come back alive.

I ask you.

Well, Sibley, you are one of the most miserable specimens I have ever seen.

are one day for graduation, and you cannot defeat a simple obstacle.

But you will, Sibley, because I am going to correct what God has screwed up if

it is the last thing that I do. Yes, Gunnery Sergeant.

Now, we will do this again tomorrow, and when we do, you will use your right

foot to boost yourself to the top of the wall. Do you understand?

Yes, Gunnery Sergeant.

Now, get some.

Guns. Sir.

There is no tomorrow in combat.

Sir Sibley is exhausted.

You been in combat, Gunny? Yes, sir.

Were you ever not scared?

Not tired?

Corporal Sibley! You will defeat this obstacle today!

Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!

Then why aren't you using your foot, Sibley? No excuse, Gunnery Sergeant!

Get your ass over the wall or I swear to God I'll kick it back wherever the hell

it came from!

Yes, Gunnery Sergeant Post!

The rest of you! What the hell are you doing? You are a team!

One man fails, you all fail!

Gunny Krychek, why were your men outside the safety area?

According to the map, we were inside the safety area, ma 'am.

Corporal Bell had kept us cool. We'd all be having a cold one at the NCO club.

Do you need to nearly die to have a cold beard?

That's what we do, ma 'am.

We kill or we die.

There's lots of people who don't like to think of it that way.

But you can bet they're the ones who scream the loudest if we don't do our

Especially when they start doing the dying because of it.

Corporal Bell?

I'm Major McKenzie, Judge Advocate, General Corps.

This is Lieutenant Roberts.

The doctor gave us five minutes.

Yes, ma 'am.

How are you feeling?

Like I was run over by a tank.

We're trying to determine the cause of the accident.

Can you remember anything that might be helpful?

Just before the exercise started, I saw Captain

Coonan doing something with his map.

What was he doing?

I don't know.

Rubbing it.

Like with dirt.

And then he took out a pencil and drew a line on it.

Are you sure, Corporal?

It was dark, remember?

It wasn't but a bout from me to you.

And the moon was shining enough, ma 'am.

Oh, Sibley, what's the word on Gunny Krychek?

Gunny Krychek ought to get a medal. He saved Bell's ass.

That's what I heard.

How the hell did you guys wind up in the target area anyway?

Well, that's simple. Captain Toonan is the finest officer in the Marine Corps.

Captain Toonan.

Recon! Hoorah!

Recon?

Hoorah.

Take your covers off. We don't wear them inside in the Corps.

We're Rangers.

Not jar head.

Ed, you weren't that one.

These doggies are our guests. They're here to learn from us.

The only thing we're learning from you guys is how to use the head.

Ed, you were... funny.

Fitting down.

I held off decking that jerk for a good two, maybe three seconds.

Man, I don't remember it hurting that much.

Don't tell me you're out of practice, Gunny.

You know, it's getting harder and harder to find a good bar fight.

You got that right.

A lot of guys, they just want to talk things out.

We're recon.

We don't talk.

We do.

A lot of things getting screwed up in this new Marine Corps.

Yeah, this whole thing with Bell and the gunny.

So what do you think about Captain Coonan?

I think he's a hell of an officer.

Think he's too hard on the men?

Do you?

Reckless with their safety?

You'd have to tell me, Sergeant Tesla. I'm the new guy here.

You've been in combat, right?

Yep. In war, things don't always go as planned.

More often than not.

Captain Coonan is famous for interjecting problems into the mission.

That way we got to solve it right then and there.

It's for our own good.

He wants to give us the confidence to know we can get the job done and

I'd heard a lot about the captain before I was assigned to this unit, and that

was the word on him.

His men come back alive.

I think Gunny Krychek ought to get a medal.

Captain's put the Gunny up for a Navy Marine Corps medal for his heroism.

It's in Colonel Malcolm's hands now.

Colonel Malcolm?

If it were up to him, we'd all hold hands and chant before a mission.

Attention on deck!

As you were.

You are one sorry -looking bunch of Marines.

Sir! Yes, sir!

Menaces to society.

Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!

Brawlers. Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!

These men are involved in a battalion -wide live -fire exercise today.

Without them, the exercise cannot go forward.

Sir, I have no authorization to release them.

What do these look like to you, Marine?

Captain's bar, sir.

And they are all the authorization you need.

All in on the captain.

Recon recruit team, Red Dog 5, present North Canada for us, sir.

There's only one thing I want to know.

Sir.

How did the men perform?

Out. Outstanding, sir.

How can that be, Gunnery Sergeant Post?

My men ended up in the brig.

Did you see any rangers in the brig, First Sergeant Creed?

Not one ranger, sir.

Rangers are in sickbay, sir.

I see.

How do you feel about that, First Sergeant?

I'm appalled by their conduct, sir.

First Sergeant and I are appalled, Gunny.

Yes, sir, I thought you would be, sir.

It will not happen again.

No, sir.

Close quarter battle exercise today will be your last.

Screw it up.

You will not become recon marines.

So there is only one possible outcome, gentlemen.

Success.

Sir! Yes, sir!

Gunny briefings at 1 ,300.

Aye, aye, sir.

Outstanding.

You men get some Z's. It's going to be a long day.

Fall out!

Aye, sir!

Major?

Uncustomed to salute an officer, Gunny.

Yes, ma 'am. You are loving this new relationship, aren't you?

Not as much as you're loving your new infantry career.

Well, it has hit the cake, yes.

Corporal Bell regained consciousness last night.

You get a statement?

I did.

Corporal Bell claims he saw Captain Coonan deliberately alter his math.

What have you learned?

Coonan is famous for interjecting problems into his training exercises.

Looks like you went too far this time.

We don't know that, Mac. All we have is a statement from a corporal who couldn't

hack it.

You like Coonan, don't you? I respect him.

He may be hard on his men. He may push the envelope or bend the rules a little

bit.

Yeah, or break the rules.

I don't know that for sure, Mac. But I do know that his Marines are some of the

best trained I've seen.

Men come back alive and in one piece.

Not Bell.

Not Krychek.

Colonel Malcolm wants a preliminary report from me by 1200.

You don't have anything to give him yet. I have a damaging statement.

And there appears to be a pattern of conduct involved.

All you have is hearsay. If interjecting problems jeopardizes their safety, then

he's a bad officer.

It's as simple as that.

How do you train men for war, Mac?

You can't have a war if your Marines are dead before the damn thing starts.

You cannot ruin a man's career without proof.

Based on what you know, do you believe Captain Coonan should be relieved of

command?

Sir, it's my duty to investigate.

It's also my duty to keep the results of that investigation confidential until

I've completed it.

Under the circumstances, that's not an option, Major.

Can't let Captain Coonan be made a scapegoat, sir.

Is that what you think I'm doing?

Yes, sir.

But inadvertent things happen when the controls are removed.

Well, damn it, Major, I didn't remove the control.

If Captain Coonan placed his men outside the safety area, then he's responsible

for putting two of them in sickbay.

If someone is injured on this exercise because of Captain Coonan, I will have

your oak leaf.

Take on Team Red Dog Five, present our channel force, sir.

Post.

Petty.

There is an enemy force in and around the target village.

Intel tells us there are two or three Marine POWs being held in that village.

The Italian will attack at 1600.

The attack will be preceded by an artillery barrage.

We will be inserted by a helo on the roof of a building.

We'll move down an outside stairway into an alley.

We'll proceed through that alley to our objective.

Remember, live fire.

Five minutes after you evac, the area will be leveled by artillery.

That means you could get hurt or killed.

You are not well clear.

Who are you?

Will there be anything else, sir?

Did you find my briefing inadequate, Gunny?

Sir, I was wondering if there was something you might have skipped over or

out, sir.

If I have, then you will deal with it, Gunny.

Sir, I'm not worried about me dealing with it.

I train my men the best way I know how to become warriors.

Recon Marines are not as other men, Gunnery Sergeant Post.

Do it!

Ah!

Listen up!

Your success today will prove you are a recon Marine.

Captain's made it perfectly clear that this mission is dangerous.

You've heard of Murphy's Law, gentlemen?

Well, you can count on one thing.

On this mission, Murphy will make an appearance.

All right, pay attention, gentlemen.

Intel says there were two or three POWs in the building across the street from

our insertion point.

If intelligence is wrong, we will proceed building by building until we

each and every POW. Understood?

This is where we're hearing that recon title, gentlemen.

Rock.

well that's up

This is Big Bird.

Red Dog team has been inserted.

Ready your weapons, Staff Sergeant.

B .O .W .s. Take it, Johnny.

Take it, Johnny. Take it. Regroup.

Next target, go.

Cover.

That is one

squared away team, First Sergeant.

Damn sure are, sir.

Are you up for promotion, First Sergeant?

P .O .W .s.

Alex, help simply free the P .O .W .s. Check for injuries.

Tesla, radio.

Red Dog 1, Red Dog 5.

P .O .W .s are secure.

Red Dog 1, this is Red Dog 5. Do you read?

Do you read?

Their radio is supposed to be inoperable. Do you read? Not ours.

Captain Coonan's radio is in off.

I knew it.

I caught him, Gunny. I saw the captain switching my radio with his.

So I switched him back.

Both the POWs appear to have leg wounds from the shackles, Gunny. Some of them

can't walk.

Got it, Gunny.

Angel 1, Red Dog 5.

POWs are secure.

We'll call when we've cleared the area.

Stand by for artillery coordinates, Staff Sergeant.

Clear!

You got 10 miles... before an insurgent fell into a nightmare.

Go!

Stand by, weapon.

They're clear.

Cancel radio!

Angel 1, Red Dog 5.

Angel 1, Red Dog 5. We are clear of the objective. Repeat.

We are clear of the objective.

Go!

Fire mission grid alpha bravo 3 -2 -3 -4 -4 -1.

Direction 6 -1 -3 -9.

Tesla! POW gunny!

David, Tesla, clear out. That's an order.

Get out of there.

Get the hell out of there!

Damn it.

Rad.

Damn.

Tesla!

Sergeant Tesla!

Continue with the mission, Sibley. You got it.

Damn it.

First Sergeant, get the field to the battalion. We have five minutes to stop

that artillery.

Aye, Skipper.

We don't have one, sir. But battalion's just up the road. I know where battalion

is, Marine.

Let's get this damn thing out of this hole!

Yes, sir!

Sorry, Gunny.

I thought this ride through a piano job and if we left him behind, we wouldn't

graduate. Don't worry. Let's get you out of here.

How's that, Lake?

Not too good.

That thing's broke.

So's this radio.

Hell, a piece of retrograde steel is going to defeat a bunch of able -bodied

marines! Now put your shoulders to the damn thing!

Go! What?

Get out of here, Goody. Our killer's going to turn this place to dust.

I'll leave him without you, Tesla.

What are you doing back here?

We're at the team, aren't we, Gunny?

Fire for effect on Mike the Man.

Rocket!

Now you get this piece of junk out of my way, Private!

Keep fire. My men haven't cleared the village. Big fire!

Big fire!

They stopped!

They radioed that they were in the clear. What the hell happened?

They went back into the village, sir. Why the hell didn't they get on the

I don't know. Why didn't you?

I disabled my team's comm gear.

Somehow the radios got switched.

You disabled your team's comm gear?

I took out a transmitter and put it in my office.

Just like I smudged out the safety perimeter on my map.

I wanted my men to taste the cordite, sir.

To know the fear of a close barrage.

I have created problems like that since I've been with this command.

It is the method I use to train my men.

Did you hear that, Major McKenzie?

Lieutenant Roberts?

Colonel Malcolm did not know.

Hey, Gunny.

Thanks.

This is terrific.

Outstanding.

This kind of publicity will go a long way towards letting people know what

recon's all about.

Excellent job, Major.

Lieutenant? Well, I don't know that we deserve thanks, sir.

Nonsense! You helped to expose a training method that was putting my

at risk.

An official letter of reprimand will become part of Captain Coonan's

record, and he will be leaving the Corps.

John Wayne is dead.

I liked you better in camis.

I enjoyed wearing them.

You were a credit to the uniform.

Thank you for bringing my men out, Denny.

Well, hell, Captain, I teach you a few things in the Navy, too.

I just saw Corporal Bell. He's going to be fine.

I know.

I visited him early this morning.

I hate to see the Corps lose an officer like you, sir.

Just as well.

I don't understand this new Corps.

And I don't think it's right for the country.

I hope you're wrong about that, Cab.

Time will tell, Commander.

Time will tell.