long period of  orientation with the students of Valley Forge Military Academy. They  were given uniforms, borrowed from their real life counterparts at  the school and given authentic military haircuts. They slept in  campus barracks and were subjected to the same rigors and hardship  that all Valley Forge cadets went through. While most of the actors  enjoyed and excelled at their orientation, Cruise opted to leave the  training for the comforts of a nearby hotel until filming began.