‘American Sniper,’ ‘Modern Family’ Honored for Accurate Portrayal of Military Veterans On Screen

Clint Eastwood’s patriotic war biopic American Sniper and an episode of Modern Family have both been honored by the nonprofit Got Your 6 for their accurate portrayal of military veterans on screen.

The special recognition is part of the “6 Certified”  initiative, launched by Got Your 6, which aims to encourage Hollywood studios and executives to put an end to the notion in American society that paints veterans as either “broken” or “charity cases.”

“Through this ‘6 Certified’ we can battle the stereotypes and misconceptions about veterans that so often dominate popular culture, while drawing attention to projects that portray veterans reasonably and accurately,” said Chris Marvin, executive director of Got Your 6. “Each of the selected projects helps to craft a new cultural narrative with an asset-focused view of veterans.”

To qualify for the “6 Certified” recognition a program must meet at least one of the following criteria:

1.) Research or consult with real veterans, family members, or subject matter experts in an effort to create accurate representations
2.) Hire a veteran actor to play a substantial role
3.) Employ a veteran writer to contribute to the narrative
4.) Develop a multi-dimensional veteran character
5.) Develop a narrative with meaningful and accurate veteran themes
6.) Have veterans present for consultation throughout the filmmaking process

“Amira and Sam,” the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars, and episodes of “Hawaii Five-0” and NBC’s “The Night Shift” are among the list of other programs to be honored.