<P> Many of the supporting actors in The Guardian, including ASTC instructors, helicopter pilots, and support personnel, are actual U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmers, pilots, and ground personnel . Several characters, including Kutcher's, identify themselves as airman . An airman is the enlisted rating of a Coast Guardsman who is undesignated and / or currently undergoing training in an aviation related field . Similar ratings within the Coast Guard are those of seaman and fireman . </P> <P> One of the students was Mark Gangloff, an Olympic swimmer who received a gold medal in the Athens Olympic Games . The production company hired local contractors to build a massive indoor wave pool for production . </P> <P> The mishap in The Guardian where Randall loses his crew is loosely based on an actual U.S. Coast Guard aviation mishap in Alaska . The aircraft was an HH - 3F Pelican (USCG variant of the Jolly Green Giant) instead of the HH - 60J Jayhawk (USCG variant of the Blackhawk / Seahawk) pictured in the movie . </P> <P> In an alternate ending to The Guardian, found on the DVD, Randall survives . As he unhooks and tries to fall, Jake again grabs him and vows not to let go . Instead of unstrapping his glove, Randall lets the cable pull them up and it breaks just as they get into the helicopter . This ending was added because some of the writers were worried that the original ending was too strong for viewers . Nonetheless, it was scrapped when Disney chairman, Dick Cook, applauded the original ending . </P>

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