Dean Norris credited as playing...
Commanding Officer
- [as Rico is strung up to be lashed]
- Commanding Officer: For incompetence of command, for failure to abide by safety regulations during a live fire exercise, for negligence which contributed to the death of a teammate, recruit trainee John Rico is sentenced to administrative punishment. Ten lashes. You may carry out the sentence.
- Career Sergeant Zim: I'm serious. I'll go anywhere.
- Commanding Officer: Forget it, Zim. We need you here.
- Career Sergeant Zim: I want combat, sir!
- Commanding Officer: The only way you're gonna see combat is if you bust yourself to Private. Get me?
- Career Sergeant Zim: Yes, sir, I get you.
- Johnny Rico: Sir!
- Commanding Officer: What do you want, Rico?
- Johnny Rico: I wish to reconsider my request to drop out, sir.
- Commanding Officer: You already signed your 1240/A. It wouldn't be legal.
- Johnny Rico: Major, I know it was wrong. I didn't learn from one mistake and I made another, sir.
- Commanding Officer: You made your decision, son.
- Johnny Rico: Sir, my family... my whole family was in Buenos Aires, sir.
- [Zim picks up Rico's 1240/A off the C.O.'s desk]
- Career Sergeant Zim: Is this your signature, Rico?
- Johnny Rico: Sir, yes it is, sir.
- [Zim gives the C.O. a look. The C.O. turns away]
- Career Sergeant Zim: Doesn't look like it to me.
- [he tears up the 1240/A]
- Career Sergeant Zim: Carry on, private.
- Johnny Rico: Yes, sir!
- Commanding Officer: Rico, did you give the recruit permission to remove his helmet?
- Johnny Rico: Sir, yes, sir. Breckinridge reported a helmet malfunction, and I asked him to show me, sir.
- Commanding Officer: Are you rated to repair the M-3 Tactical Helmet, Rico?
- Johnny Rico: Sir, no, sir.
- Commanding Officer: Then why did you order your man to remove his helmet during a live fire exercise?
- Johnny Rico: Sir, I needed everyone in my squad operational, sir... . I wanted to win, sir.
- [He looks out the window. Djana'd, dressed for travel, in civilian clothes, crying as she heads off down Washout Lane]
- Commanding Officer: Sergeant, we've already lost two recruits over this incident. Think there's any possibility of salvaging this man?
- Career Sergeant Zim: Yes, sir, I do.
- Commanding Officer: Alright. We'll try administrative punishment.