This is one of the most accurate depictions of USMC Recruit Training ever put out by Hollywood. Other than "Full Metal Jacket" (which put a out an accurate portrayal of Boot Camp from the late sixties) you will not find a more accurate portrayal.
I went to Boot Camp in 1990. This portrayal depicted training during the turn of the Millenium, but it still brought back a lot of good and bad memories. The Crucible which was accurately portrayed in this teleplay was the only thing that I did not experience--the Crucible did not come into recruit training until after October 1996. In my platoon we had someone who tried to kill himself, and we had another who decided he couldn't take it anymore and ran--both depicted real well in this TV movie.
As for the Drill Instructors, I second some of the comments that they were too fake. A DI cannot be faked accurately, no matter how good an actor is, (unless of course they were a DI before like R. Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket fame). But I credit them for carrying themselves well (i.e. Mannerisms. One of the actors portraying the DI's, Buddy Joe Farnsworth was a former Sergeant of Marines, but obviously was not a DI).
This was scheduled to be a regular series on NBC. It's a shame they canceled this series before it even got off the ground because it would've been stories about enlisted personnel (instead of officers which shows like JAG is about), which is seriously rare both in the movies and TV. The majority of shows and movies which the officers are the main characters are great, but they (Hollywood) needs to do more work about the men and women that officers lead---the enlisted force! Semper Fi could've done that.
EDIT (05/24/2021): while I still have a lot of praise for this movie, looking back, it would not have lasted long as a series. Why do I say that? Only Marines would be able to understand the plight of the characters. While I appreciated the accuracy of the movie, a little artistic license wouldn't hurt it too much. Think the military drama JAG; many liberties were taking in that program that it lasted ten seasons, both military members and the general public at large enjoyed it. Semper Fi would have a larger audience if a little artistic liberties were taken.
