A decorated former Navy SEAL from Dallas is competing on NBC's newest reality show.
Chris Kyle, the author of "American Sniper" and believed to be one of the best snipers in the world, has his sights set on "Stars Earn Stripes."
"I think it's awesome. I had a great time filming it," he said.
On "Stars Earn Stripes," eight celebrities paired with people from a branch of the military or a first-responder agency compete in missions inspired by military exercises. Kyle is teamed up with actor Dean Cain, who is competing for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Kyle said all of the contestants were respectful and happy to help bring attention to the military.
"All of a sudden, the celebrities find out it's a lot different to play an action hero than it is to actually be one," he said.
Kyle, who was born in West Texas and grew up in Dallas, served four combat tours in Iraq between the start of the war and 2008. Producers found out about his superior skills behind the scope and reached out when brainstorming the show.
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He said he at first had second thoughts about participating.
"When they first asked, I didn't want to do it," Kyle said. "I'm not a fan. I don't want to be an actor. It's not my goal at all. Then when I found out that all the money raised was going to charity and this was supposed to highlight the military, then I was all in."
The winning celebrity gets $10,000 for a charity of his or her choice. The last celebrity standing gets an additional $100,000.
"You know, every one of those guys and the girls were great, and we laughed nonstop," Kyle said.
