academy to learn to drill properly as cadets. While most of the actors enjoyed and excelled at their orientation, Cruise opted to leave the training for the comforts of a nearby hotel until filming began, reportedly to isolate himself and "get into the mindset" of his psychopathic character, Cadet Captain David Shawn. Although Taps was presented as depicting core values in a positive light, including honor and loyalty, after the filming, LTG Pearson felt that there was an anti-military tone within the plot of the film. A note in the end credits says the events in the film are not meant to reflect "the educational philosophy or teachings" of then-Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College. Notable alumni Athletics Aaron Beasley – professional football player, NFL (Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons) George Deiderich – consensus All-American, professional football player, CFL (Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Rough Riders) Chris Doleman – retired professional football player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald – professional football player, NFL (Arizona Cardinals) Karl Hankton – professional football player, NFL (Carolina Panthers) Rasheed Marshall – professional football player, 5th round draft pick (West Virginia) NFL (San Francisco 49ers) Jeff Otah – professional football player, NFL (Carolina Panthers) Julian Peterson – professional football player, NFL (Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions) Gary Stills – professional football player, NFL (Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens) Larry Smith – professional football player, 2nd round draft pick (Florida State) NFL Jacksonville-Green Bay Business William R. ("Bill") Tiefel – chairman of the board of CarMax, Inc.; retired chairman of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, vice chairman of Marriott International, and director of Bulgari hotels and resorts. Moritz Hunzinger, CEO Cashcloud SA (Luxemburg), Executive Board Member Gemballa SE (Leonberg), CEO Emeritus (1979–2004) of infas Holding AG – previously Hunzinger Information AG, Media Entrepreneur, Professor of Public Relations and Communication, graduated 1977 from VFMA. Entertainment Steve Agee – actor/comedian/writer: The Suicide Squad, Superstore, The Sarah Silverman Program Jimmy Sturr – musician: 14-time Grammy winner Barry Sandrew, Ph.D. – neuroscientist, inventor, serial entrepreneur, and pioneering filmmaker who invented colorization and 3-D conversion of feature films Kristian Bruun – actor: Notable Canadian actor known for roles in Orphan Black, Carter, The Handmaid's Tale and Madea Takes Manhattan. Military Paul E. Galanti – Commander, United States Navy (Retired); veterans' advocate Walter T. Lord – Major General, United States Army Herbert Raymond "H.R." McMaster – former