Portraying You in Television and Film

By Kurt Yaeger — Actor, Speaker, Co-Founder of #MissionMindset

If you’ve ever watched a military or veteran character on screen and thought, “That’s not how that works…” - yeah, I get it.

Hi, I’m Kurt Yaeger. And on behalf of actors like me… my bad.

Not for the effort, but for the stuff that misses the mark. The uniform details. The grooming standards. The salutes that make you shake your head. And those scenarios that would never fly in the real world.

Here’s the truth: I'm not writing the script. I'm not designing a wardrobe. I'm stepping into a role and doing everything I can to get it right with the tools I'm given. 

And I take that seriously.

Getting It Right – Or At Least Closer

When I read something that feels off, I don’t just roll with it.

I pick up the phone.

Call one of my buddies like Chris Cousins (Master Sergeant, USA, Retired) and Tim Volking (Corporal, USMC, Retired), the people who’ve actually lived it, I call them and ask straight up:

“This is shit, right?”

They’ll tell me what works, what doesn’t, and how to tighten it up so it at least respects the reality behind the role.

Because even if the story is fiction, the people it represents aren’t.

The Details Matter

Look, not every storyline is going to be 100% realistic. That’s Hollywood.

But the details? The gear? The way someone carries themselves?

That stuff matters.

That’s why I go out of my way to work with legit brands like Altama® and Original S.W.A.T.® because if I can’t control the script, I can at least control what’s on my feet.

👉 Kurts Favorite - Altama
👉 Kurts Favorite - Original SWAT

The Altama Maritime Mid and Alpha Freedom 6" are go-to choices for me—because they’re built for the real world, not just a costume department.

If you’re going to portray operators, at least get the gear right.

"That’s why I go out of my way to work with legit brands like Altama® and Original S.W.A.T.® because if I can’t control the script, I can at least control what’s on my feet."

Playing the Role

I’ve had the chance to play veterans in a few different roles.

On Tell Me A Story, I played a vet  who came to the aid of another and took out bad guys

On NCIS: LA, I played an injured vet… but underneath that, a pissed-off operator with a revenge mission.

Would those exact situations happen in real life?

Probably not.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to get the parts that matter right; the mindset, the presence, the respect for the people who’ve actually lived it. 

I may be the guy playing the role but you’re the ones who lived it.

So I’ll keep doing my homework.
Keep making the calls.
Keep pushing for accuracy where I can.

And at the very least, I’ll make sure the boots are right.

Let’s Hear It

I know you’ve seen some bad ones.

The details that were way off. The moments that made you laugh for the wrong reasons.

Drop them.

Worst portrayals. Biggest misses. The ones that made you say, “No chance.”

Was War Machine catching heat for facial hair at RASP legit? You tell me.

I’m always trying to get better. And the more input we get from people who’ve actually been there, the closer we get to doing it right.