Montel Williams (Lt. Rivers) served in both the United States Marine Corps and Navy in real life, he was a "mustang", which is an enlisted service member who becomes an officer. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1974, upon being promoted to Lance Corporal his CO recognized he had potential and recommended him for officer candidate training. He was accepted into the four-year officer training program at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975, the first black Marine to be accepted. Williams graduated in 1980 with a degree in engineering and a minor in international security and was commissioned in the Navy as an ensign. He completed Navy cryptology training, was promoted to Lieutenant J.G. and stationed in Guam as a cryptology officer for Naval Intelligence. In 1983 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was made a supervising cryptologic officer with the Naval Security Fleet Support Division and worked with the NSA on Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. invasion of Guam. Following Urgent Fury he worked with Naval Intelligence to secure the release of U.S. citizens, usually military personnel, who were captured on foreign soil. After 17 years of active service he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and transferred to the Naval Reserve where he served for another five years. He retired in 1996 and was honorably discharged from the Navy after 22 years of service, over his career he was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and two Humanitarian Service Medals.