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

Donald Kimmel as Billy Harris

Timothy Wahrer as Cadet Major John Cooper

Tim Riley as Hulk

Jeff Rochlin as Shovel

Rusty Jacobs as Rusty

Jess Osuna as Dean Ferris

David Reed as Townnie

Earl Hindman as Lieutenant Hanson

Ed Spinelli as Townie (uncredited)