The first Transformers Movie got green-lit in large part because of the involvement of the US military. Same with the GI Joe films.

Like its predecessors, the latest “Transformers” movie uses hundreds of military members from all the services and from throughout the country to make the film feel more realistic.

“I enjoyed being able to walk on the set and there are a hundred real soldiers as opposed to walking on and it’s a hundred actors from Orange County or LA in fatigues,” said Megan Fox, the film’s female lead actor. “It was just an overall pleasant experience, and I have an immense amount of respect for the Soldiers and for our troops.”

That realism extends to military equipment as jet fighters roar from the deck of an aircraft carrier to the recoiling sounds of M1-A1 Abrams tanks firing 120mm rounds at their deceptive and, at times, overpowering foes.

“What [the military] bring to it is obviously a sense of reality. But for us what is most interesting about it is our interaction with them,” Mr. di Bonaventura said. “Because you actually get to see these people who have made a life choice and the honesty of that choice comes through each and every time you meet these guys. So, for us, that’s the really exciting thing. We get to hang out at the base and see the joy they get out of being a part of us, and you also see us get affected by their level of commitment.”

This latest “Transformers” film shows an extreme example of what the military does in everyday life.