Major Payne screams at Cadet Williams that "I am not your damned brother." Damon Wayans (Payne) is the uncle of Damien Dante Wayans (Williams).
To research his character, Damon Wayans endured several weeks of DI qualification training, learning the requirements of a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, as well as other aspects of Marine Corps training. Viewers can see several small things he does like the cadence of his walk, almost unconsciously correcting his cover after berating & getting in the face of each cadet, and the list goes on. A common sentiment among former DI's, not only in the Marines, but in all other branches, is their statement that one most be akin to an improvisational or stand-up comedian as a DI, since they constantly have to improvise on the spot, break down the cadets, come up with statements on the fly, and Wayans' prior experience as one was a huge asset.
In an interview Damon Wayans said that at the beginning of filming he was advised by technical advisor Dale Dye to method act and distance himself from the kids in his ROTC group when the camera wasn't rolling similar to what Louis Gossett Jr. had done in Ein Offizier und Gentleman (1982) and R. Lee Ermey had done on Full Metal Jacket (1987). However, eventually the kids wanted to see Wayans re-enact his Homie the Clown sketch from In Living Color (1990) so Wayans stopped his method acting and befriended each child actor several weeks into the shoot.
Damon Wayans said in an interview that the kid actors in Payne's JROTC program could only do the movie if they signed an agreement to director Nick Castle that they would allow their heads to be shaved completely bald for the role as this was a key joke in the film. According to Wayans one child actor whose name he never revealed almost signed on to do the movie but then complained about having to shave his head. When Castle told him it was required and non-negotiable to be in the film, that particular actor dropped out of the film and was replaced.
While it was originally a little seen straight-to-video release in Germany, it soon became a beloved cult classic over there, thanks to constant TV reruns.