<P> An Officer and a Gentleman is a 1982 American romantic drama film starring Richard Gere , Debra Winger and Louis Gossett Jr. , who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film , making him the first African American to do so . It tells the story of Zack ( Gere ) , a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate who is beginning his training at Aviation Officer Candidate School . While Zack meets his first true girlfriend during his training , a local young woman named Paula ( Winger ) , he also comes into conflict with the hard - driving Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant ( Gossett Jr . ) , the drill instructor training his class . Also starring Phillip J. Salmon in his first role . </P>
who starred in an officer and a gentleman
Richard Gere Debra Winger Louis Gossett Jr. Phillip J. Salmon