Troops-turned-stars talk about their stints on the small screen

Reality TV’s Special Forces: Troops-turned-stars talk about their stints on the small screen
By Jon R. Anderson - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 1, 2011 19:46:25 EST
Employing strategy, tactics, skill and leadership under pressure while living and working with a diverse group of people, all with the nation’s eyes upon you: It’s the stuff of everyday life for anyone who’s ever been in the military. It’s also much of what makes reality TV so compelling.

So it’s no surprise that military people past and present have performed so successfully in the unscripted dramas and competitions of the small screen. Army veteran J.R. Martinez is just the latest to capture reality TV fans’ attention. With burns from a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq covering much of his body, Martinez’s fancy footwork and emotionally charged performances helped him clinch the Mirror Ball Trophy on “Dancing with the Stars” on Nov. 22. He joins a growing cast of former and even current military people who’ve left a very real mark on the sometimes unreal world of reality TV.
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