Military cadets take extreme measures to ensure the future of their academy when its existence is threatened by local condo developers.

George C. Scott
as General Harlan Bache

Timothy Hutton
as Cadet Major Brian Moreland

Ronny Cox
as Colonel Kerby

Sean Penn
as Cadet Captain Alex Dwyer

Tom Cruise
as Cadet Captain David Shawn

John P. Navin, Jr.
as Derek Mellott

Billy Van Zandt
as Bug

Evan Handler
as Edward West

Giancarlo Esposito
as Cadet Captain J.C. Pierce

Brendan Ward
as Charlie Auden