NBC has announced a few more details about its competition reality show Stars Earn Stripes. Set to premiere August 13th, the show will be hosted by Ret. General Wesley Clark and will gather nine celebrities at a secret training facility where they will be “challenged to execute complicated missions inspired by real military exercises.”
The “celebrities” include former Alaska First Husband Todd Palin, former Jessica Simpson husband Nick Lachey, former Superman Dean Cain, former Olympic skier Picabo Street and a few more folks you might recognize if you watch more TV than we do. The big news this week is the announcement of the veterans who have been hired to train the celebs and compete alongside them to win the big prize.
Here’s the details on the operatives:
Dale Comstock — A retired Master Sergeant who spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, Comstock was twice decorated for valor and spent half his tenure as a Delta Force Operator and five years as a Green Beret. After his retirement, he spent nine years as a freelance soldier in support of the global war on terror. Comstock currently resides in Panama City Beach, Fla., and is a vice president for a security consulting company, a university professor, martial arts instructor and competitive body builder.
J.W. Cortes — Cortes served in the U.S. Marines Corps for 13 years, rising to the level of Gunnery Sergeant. He is an Iraq war veteran, having served in the beginning phases of the war in 2003. Also during his time in the Marines Corps, he served at U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and in Canberra, Australia. He is currently an officer with the New York MTA Police Department and lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Brent Gleeson — A former U.S. Navy SEAL stationed at SEAL Team Five, Gleeson currently lives in San Diego, Calif., with his 6-year-old son. He has completed his enlistment in the service and is now a busy entrepreneur, public speaker, and co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Internet Marketing, Inc.
Chris Kyle — Kyle is a decorated former U.S. Navy SEAL and author of The New York Times best-selling book American Sniper, which details his experiences in Iraq. Kyle’s expert marksmanship during his four tours of duty earned him the nickname “The Devil of Ramadi” from the Iraqi insurgent forces. Kyle currently lives in Texas and runs a military training company, Craft International.
Andrew McLaren — McLaren, whose father was also a Marine and former Vietnam veteran, is a former U.S. Marine Sergeant. During his time in the Marines, he was with the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team and served in Iraq and Liberia. He is currently a contractor for various governmental and security agencies. He resides in Staten Island, N.Y.
Grady Powell — During his time as a Green Beret, Powell served as a Senior Detachment Weapons Sergeant in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Powell followed in the footsteps of both his father, a Vietnam-era Green Beret, and his grandfather, a decorated World War II combat veteran. Powell recently completed his five-year enlistment in the Army and has since returned to his hometown of St. Louis, Mo., spending his free time traveling the world in search of his next adrenaline fix.
Tom Stroup — A current member of the Orange County (Florida) Sheriff’s Department and a SWAT Commander, Stroup is a five-time world champion of international SWAT competitions. He is a fitness trainer and he is also a Gold Medalist in the “Toughest Cop Alive” competition, a national competition held annually in Florida.
Talon Smith — Smith, whose father served in the U.S. Air Force, is currently a U.S. Navy Corpsman 1st Reconnaissance, stationed in Camp Pendleton. He just returned from deployment in Afghanistan in April. Smith has nearly completed his enlistment in the Navy and is currently attending college and awaiting the birth of his first child.
It’s kind of weird that the success of American Sniper has made Chris Kyle more genuinely famous than most of the Hollywood types who’ve agreed to be on the show.
We’d like to find someone to recap the show each week for UTR, sort of like what other sites do for Dancing With the Stars, Mad Men or Survivor. Ideally, you’re funny (or at least have a sense of how absurd a show like this might be) and have some experience with some kind of elite forces training (or at least boot camp). The show will air Monday nights at 8 Eastern/Pacific and most likely run about six weeks. We want to post recaps by noon the next day. Send us a message by clicking on the Tip the Patrol box on the right side of this page and convince us that you’re the man or woman for the job.
Tags: featured stars earn stripes Survivor
![Der Gro?mufti von Jerusalem [Amin al Husseini] bei den bosnischen Freiwilligen der Waffen-SS. Der Gro?mufti ist auf dem Truppenubungsplatz ein[getroffen] und schreitet die Front der angetretenen Freiwilligen mit erhobenem Arm ab.](http://images-undertheradar.military.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/nazicollaborators300.jpg)
Under the Radar is commentary. We don’t report the news; we offer our take on what happened.
16 Comments
Are you kidding me? How many celebrities have you seen playing soldier and taking home fat paychecks and then protesting everything to do with the military? I also think that if you “operatives” did your home work, you wouldn’t be working for NBC. This so called reality show will just be another liberal mockery of the brave men and women who have died or lost limbs in the protective service of the liberal media and protesters. Real soldiers would have nothing to do with this and would tell NBC to put it where the sun don’t shine.
Leonard Parker — I could not have said it better! We don’t watch a lot of television or movies anymore. Scallywags.
Having been a part of the show I wanted to shed some light on this issue. I understand your opinion but being a Navy SEAL combat vet myself and spending a lot of time raising money for charities like the Navy SEAL Foundation, you need to understand that the operatives who participated in the show are outstanding patriots who have sarificed much for this country. We raised a ton of money for the charities that were supported, such as Wounded Warrior Project and the US Chamber of Commerce Hire a Hreo Program. There is no silly reality show nonesense on this show. The executive producers did a great job choosing only celebrities who truly care about our fighting men and women and their families. Check out the show and your opinion might change. — Brent Gleeson
Brent,
Thisis very well put. No one should judge this show until they have had the opportunity to see it for themselves. Glad you were able to be part of the show. I am anxious to see who you are paired with and how you did.
the most important things about you are your Navy Seal experience and your big success in your business.
I am very proud of you.
Love you. Your Aunt Kathleen
Could you be any more harsh??????????
You haven’t even seen the show, so how can you judge it?
Liberal mockery??????
Money goes to a charity NOT the “operatife”, as you call them. OR can’t you read??????
And what have you done for YOUR country??????
OOPS
the above comment sent at 8:36 was to go to Leonard Parker NOT Brent. sorry Brent
This pretty much sucks but what do we expect from tv/Hollywood/NY/ et al? ‘Spose ‘Lt Dan’ will stick his mug in here, too!
Pandering is portayed w/in entertainment/news/politics and Nascar!
Say, ‘When?‘
’WHEN!!!’
Why doesn’t hollywood spend the millions they have for the vet men and women that were wounded or who have no jobs now, losing their homes ‚etc . Sick of it all
Also having been part of the show I would like to suggest that you actually read and try to comprehend what the show is about. FYI — Hollywood did spend millions so that Military charities can benefit from hundreds of thousands in donations. Because of the charitable cause all of the operatives participated without expecting compensation. As far as the comment from Leonard parker suggesting that we are not real soldiers — I beg to differ. I am as real as it gets! I have sacrificed a lot of blood and sweat for my country having fought in every campaign from grenada to the present conflicts in the middle east. Together with Chris Kyle (“American Sniper”) and myself we have sent at least a battalion of our enemies to their early grave; We have also buried many of our own. Shame on you for being so narrow-minded and hateful. Not all of us are evil people out for ourselves — stop hating and get a life! — Dale Comstock
Dale Comstock was my Team Sergeant for two years. He was the best TS I had over 14 years in 3rd SFG(A). I can’t remember how long Dale was in Delta before he came to us, but the knowledge Dale brought to each one on the Detachment was immense. While deployed to Kuwait for 6 months, Dale had us doing combatives 3–4 times a week. Come to think of it, he always had us doing combatives. Anyway, I remember on more than one occasion, Dale got in the ring and fought all 11 members of the Detachment in consecutive 5 min rounds. He gave us what we gave him. I can remember getting kicked in the back of the head and never saw it coming! Dale, thanks for the excellent times and your professional and constantly calm execution of your task as our mentor.
What else could one expect from NBC? Ever looked at their programing schedule? Outside of reality and shows loosely based on real events they call news shows and news magazines they have relatively little imagination, little of interest and little to offer.
Whatever, political views aside if Kyle needs some R&R this should relax him for awhile. Then again, his PTSD could kick in and make the show very intersting. And any contact with veterans would help our cause for help and employment. Sort of FREE publicity, but if you don’t think so. Everybody has an opinion.
this is another load of tv crap to feed america.…realty showbiz money mougels/mongrels feeding on the lives of people that make this country watt it is.anything to make a buck.more arm chair,cigar chompimg,parasites,feeding,“real life” dump so u can sit in ur safe secure etopia an “feel the realism of our people in da military”.GAG,GAG,PUKE,SPIT.
just get up off ur shower shoe wearin,cottage cheese fat *** an dig in ur pockets with those latte,moca ‚muffin grabbing hands an give/talk to ur dont take **** veteran neighbor an drive to the V.A. hospital with him/her.AND DONT GO AROUND THUMPING UR CHEST TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT YOU DID. those people u visited dont say shout/brag about how they answered the call.they went ‚served,sacrificed,returned and prepare for the next deploy when called.thats how you say thanks.
Chris Kyle is a Patriot, a fine warrior, and a first class gentleman. My Son Ryan knew Chris while he was deployed to Ramadi Iraq. Ryan looked up to few men. Chris Kyle was one of them. Chris has chosen to do this show for a good reason , and I suspect it has more to do with recognizing the great Warriors he fought with than anything else. Good On Him.
Eric .
Have read all of these reponses, some good and some not so good.….but the one[s] that stuck me the most were the ones that make note of NBC. The old saying is {Money talks **** **** walks}. I’ve read all the bio’s of all the “actors”, with that said, those of us who also serve and have so served, do wonder just who is using who, I spend 22yrs in the U.S.Marine Corps, in nothing but Reconnaissance Bn’s and Force Companies, and all of the associated schools, and combat wounds to prove it, but to show case what I have done for this country on a TV show, and knowing full well who those people are and why they want to use me.…..sorry people, no thanks
.…I pride my service more than that!
All of the Operators on the show have been there and done that in spades so I am finding it hard to understand the ill will directed towards them. I guess it could be jealousy or just cynicism run amuck. Fact is they raised money and awareness for some very worthy charities that benefit US service members. As a former SF Soldier as well as currently serving Guardsman who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan I salute these awesome warriors for their participation on the show. To the haters grow up and quit your whining it’s unbecoming. The show was hands down better than 90% of the junk programming coming out of the networks and it finally demonstrated military and Law Enforcement professionals in a favorable light. Good job Grady D.O.L.