How many times do you see an intelligent, level-headed graduate of West Point, the Naval Academy or the Air Force Academy in a serious Hollywood film, in either a central or supporting role?
In the less serious films since the `60s, U.S. military personnel are the idiotic villains (WarGames, Blue Thunder) and in some of the better films about the most they can expect to come off as are the tragically flawed neurotics (The Great Santini).
Then, of course, in scores of TV movies and detective series, there is the Vietnam veteran who has a flashback, goes nuts and mows down everybody near him.