The Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, famous for the movie "Top Gun," has received an achievement award from the U.S. Navy.
According to AP News and British BBC Broadcasting on the 17th (local time), Cruise, who is currently working on the sequel to the new film "Mission Impossible" in the United Kingdom, received the U.S. Navy’s top civilian honor from U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro at a studio near London.
The Navy noted the award was given because Cruise "raised public awareness and empathy for highly trained agents and their sacrifices."
AP explained that the movie "Top Gun" (1986), which features a naval fighter pilot as the protagonist, not only catapulted lead actor Cruise to stardom but also led to a surge in enlistment applications to the Navy from Americans.
At the time the film was released, the Navy even set up recruitment tables in theaters.
The 2022 release "Top Gun: Maverick," in which Cruise passionately played the role of a Navy pilot instructor, again increased interest among the youth in Navy pilots, evaluated the U.S. Navy.
After receiving the award, Cruise said, "I respect all soldiers and women."
He said, "What has truly mattered to me in life is serving others, leading in that way," adding, "I deeply know it at heart, and I see it in the soldiers and women."