When you’re thinking back on the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis military service might not be the first thing on your mind. But did you know that military service was a big part of the life of Elvis? Army service impacted his life and that of his family, and some of this can be seen in the new Elvis movie, which some military members may be able to watch free at select military installations.

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How You Can Watch the New Elvis Movie for Free

The Army Exchange and Air Force Exchange have both teamed up with the head honchos at Warner Bros. to provide military members with exclusive screenings to Elvis (2022). As a military member, you can catch advance screenings of the movie for free at one of nearly two-dozen bases across the nation and a handful of overseas spots, if you’re stuck at an OCONUS installation. Locations offering the free military-exclusive screenings are Exchange Reel Time Theaters that can be found in the following posts, bases, and other military installations ahead of the June 24th release date:

• Fort Rucker,

  Alabama

• Fort Huachuca,

  Arizona

• Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe,

  Belgium

• Fort Irwin,

  California

• Kaiserslautern Military Community,

  Germany

• Rose Barracks,

  Germany

• U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden,

  Germany

• Aviano Air Base,

  Italy

• Kadena Air Base, Okinawa,

  Japan

• Fort Knox,

  Kentucky

• Ali Al Salem Air Base,

  Kuwait

• Fort Polk,

  Louisiana

• Fort Leonard Wood,

  Missouri

• Malmstrom Air Force Base,

  Montana

• West Point U.S. Military Academy,

  New York

• Grand Forks Air Force Base,

  North Dakota

• Al Udeid Air Base,

  Qatar

• Fort Jackson,

  South Carolina

• U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys Family and Troop locations,

  South Korea

• Goodfellow Air Force Base,

  Texas

• Lackland Air Force Base,

  Texas

• F.E. Warren Air Force Base,

  Wyoming

If you’re near a participating theater/base, give them a call to see what times they’re hosting free screenings, as each location will vary.

Elvis’s Army Service

If you’ve seen the trailer for Elvis (2022), you might have noticed a brief moment in which he has on an Army uniform. For people who don’t know the history of Elvis outside of his discography, that might prompt the question, “Was Elvis in the Army?” Yes! Elvis served in the U.S. Army for two years, from March 1958 to March 1960. At the point of his enlistment, he had already made a name for himself, though not in the most positive way. Many saw his rock ‘n roll music as disrespectful due to the heavy influence that the Black community had on his songs. Some believed he was using Black culture to make money. As such, many people were actually happy that he was drafted into the Army. Though he was widely recognized during his time in the Army, and is still one of the most famous celebrities to have served, he still did his duty to the country like any other service member during his training in Fort Hood, Texas, and subsequent posting in Friedberg, Germany. Elvis served in the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32nd Armor, 3rd Armored Division, having been shipped off to Germany on September 22nd, 1958. During his service, he put on shows for his comrades with the help of fellow Soldier and entertainer Charlie Hodge, making an even bigger name for himself thanks to the positive impact he had on troops during his time in the military. Elvis was promoted to sergeant on January 20th, 1960, so why was Elvis discharged from the Army? Simple: He had served his two-year term, and his time was up. Many people mistakenly believe that his discharge came as a result of his heavy drug use, which first developed and became rampant during his service. However, this is simply not the case, as he was honorably discharged at the end of his two-year commitment.

All About the New Elvis Movie

Do you know who’s playing Elvis in the new movie? His name is Austin Butler. Known for his roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Switched at Birth, and The Shannara Chronicles, 30-year-old Butler is becoming a regular Hollywood heartthrob. Butler, who plays Elvis in the new movie, has gained a lot of respect during his promotional interviews for Elvis for his recognition of Black influence on Elvis’s music and overall popularity. In an interview with GRAZIA Magazine, he even stated, “We don’t have Elvis without Black music and Black culture.” Butler has repeatedly expressed his excitement for the role, regardless of the fact that his Elvis knowledge was only “peripheral” before his accepting of the titular role. Other notable cast members include Tom Hanks, who plays Elvis’s talent manager, Tom Parker, Olivia DeJonge (from The Visit), who plays Priscilla Presley, and Dacre Montgomery (of Stranger Things fame), who plays Steve Binder. When does the Elvis movie come out? Well, military members can see it early. If you aren’t able to catch an advanced screening courtesy of the military, however, the movie premiers worldwide on June 24th for audiences everywhere. The 2022 Elvis movie promises to be a spectacular showing and one you don’t want to miss, no matter when you’re able to see it.

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