The US Navy has presented a special award to actor Tom Cruise for "increasing pilot recruitment" for his role as Lt. Pete Maverick Mitchell in the 1986 film "Top Gun."
The Distinguished Public Service Award is given to civilians for acts of heroism or support of the Navy.
Cruise, 62, received the award this week from US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in Chertsey, southwest of London.
The actor, who is a licensed pilot, is reprising his role as Lt. Col. Pete Mitchell in the 2022 sequel to Top Gun: Maverick.
Del Toro said Cruise's role as Maverick in the action film about a young naval aviator training at the US Navy's Combat Weapons School "significantly increased" the number of recruits.
While Cruise called it a special honor to receive this award, for his "extraordinary and extensive contributions to the Department of the Navy from 1986-2023"
“For me, there is one truth in life - to lead is to serve. I feel it in my core and I see it in the members of the armed forces. I appreciate everyone's dedication and it's a real honor to represent them," Cruise said after receiving the award.