Tom Cruise has been awarded the highest civilian honor of the United States Navy for the “exceptional contribution” given to the armed forces with his roles on the big screen. Cruise’s starring role in 1986’s ‘Top Gun’ made him famous and the film’s record-breaking success sent military enlistments soaring.

The Distinguished Public Service Award, the BBC reports, was presented to Cruise during a ceremony held at the Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, Surrey, about 25 miles from London, where the 62-year-old actor is busy filming the upcoming ‘Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning’, out in May 2025.

The Hollywood star expressed his gratitude for the “extraordinary recognition”. “I admire all the servicemen and women in the military,” Cruise said, standing next to US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who presented him with a certificate and medal. “In life I know one thing that is very true for me, and that is that to command is to serve. And I know that well. And I see that in the servicemen and women.”

The Navy thanked Cruise, who said he “raised public awareness and appreciation for our highly trained personnel and for the sacrifices they make when they are in uniform”.

Tom Cruise played pilot Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in ‘Top Gun’, a Cold War flying ace film that was so influential that the Navy even set up recruiting tables in theaters. The Oscar-nominated star reprized the role of Lt. Mitchell in the sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022), which the Navy said “reinvigorated” interest in the armed forces among younger audiences.

Undersecretary Carlos Del Toro said: “Tom Cruise has spent nearly four decades as a staunch supporter of the men, women and families of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

Cruise has also been celebrated for his roles in action films ‘Born on the Fourth of July’, ‘A Few Good Men’ and the ‘Mission: Impossible’ series. The prestigious civilian honor was previously awarded to Oscar winners Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks for their work on the World War II film ‘Saving Private Ryan’.

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