MUMBAI: Actor Tom Cruise has been nominated for the annual Cadet Choice Award by the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for his role in his latest film, the WWII thriller Valkyrie.

The awards recognize movie characters that exemplify the leadership of West Point cadets.

Cruise’s nomination comes from his role as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in the film Valkyrie. The movie portrays the true story of a group of high-ranking German officers, lead by Stauffenberg, who set in motion the last known plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

This year’s nominees, apart from Cruise, include Christian Bale, Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Will Smith and Daniel Craig.

All members of the Corps of Cadets will vote and announce their choice mid-February. The winner will receive an invitation to West Point for a formal awards presentation of the Tarbucket, or the tall black-and-gold hat that cadets wear during their parades.