Trivia

R. Lee Ermey was completely unaware that Stan Shaw had a butterfly knife in his shirt pocket in the recruit receiving area. When Shaw pulls the knife out what you see is Ermey's actual reaction.

R. Lee Ermey used his own experiences as a Marine drill instructor to prepare himself for the role of Sgt. Loyce.

The word "fuck" and all permutations of it are used 112 times. This film, along with Blue Collar (1978), which was released the same year and month, were the first two films to contain more than 100 uses of the word.

The original script was written by Rick Natkin for a film class at Yale University in 1973.

Sgt. Loyce, the Drill Instructor,is played by R. Lee Ermey, who was actually a Marine Corps Drill Instructor from 1965-68.

Rick Natkin: The co-writer as a soldier at Long Khe.