Biography

Her position in the Warriors Inc is S-1/3/4. This designation refers to the staff officer responsible for three areas: Human Resources and Administration; Planning, Training, and Operations; and Logistics. In practical terms, current duties with Warriors, Inc. include staff planning, personnel readiness and management, preparing training guidance for the CO's approval, identifying training requirements, compiling training records and reports, organizing and equipping units, integration of supply and transportation, administration, bookkeeping, publicity, and creating and maintaining this website. On occasion, as the project warrants, she also acts as a unit commander. She took an unusual and twisted path to arrive at this position. After a convoluted series of employment and educational posts, Rupkalvis ended up with a Ph.D. in Theatrical Hoplology, a field which combines anthropology, sociology, economics, and more to the study of military history and performance. At the time, Rupkalvis worked as a teacher, director, and choreographer of stage combat, specializing in the creation of historical fights. Her knowledge of armor, weapons, and fighting styles throughout the ages allowed her to bring history to life in a dynamic and exciting way. This unique background caught the attention of Gregg Goldstone, 1st Assistant Director of Starship Troopers, who placed her in its core group of Mobile Infantry. As such, she participated in Captain Dye's first co-ed extended boot camp in Hell's Half Acre, Wyoming. Before the end of the production, she had been promoted to Staff Sergeant and commanded her own platoon. After Troopers, circumstances had Julie working near Warriors, if not yet for Warriors. Tom Berenger asked Julie part way into the production of Rough Riders if she would consider joining the crew as Military Assistant. She asked him if he had cleared it with Captain Dye, and he responded, "No, do you think we should?" They did, and he agreed to Rupkalvis lending a hand. Rupkalvis's first official duties with Warriors involved the more esoteric of our projects, including theme park attractions such as Terminator 2:3D and Star Trek: The Adventure, along with the Medal of Honor series for Electronic Arts. Over time, she moved into some of the larger film productions such as Wag the Dog. In the mean time, she kept her hand in historical fights and weaponry through the Los Angeles Fight Academy, and as Executive Director of the Society of American Fight Directors. All of this came together in their last project, Alexander with Oliver Stone.

Her background with historical conflict and bladed weapons made Rupkalvis the natural choice to train Colin Farrell prior to the unit training in Morocco. Freddie Joe Farnsworth and Rupkalvis worked with Colin for six weeks prior to the shoot, Freddie Joe Farnsworth teaching horsemanship and Julie teaching weapons. Rupkalvis loved working with both Colin and Freddie Joe Farnsworth, and it was a terrific start to an amazing film. Once the production began in earnest, Rupkalvis joined the rest of the cadre in the 21-day 24/7 training in the desert of Morocco. In addition to her S-3 duties as weapons master, Rupkalvis commanded Task Force Apple which consisted of the Persian troops and their Ethiopian allies. It was a thrill to be teaching ancient Persian weapons and tactics, especially with a multi-lingual unit, using gestures and bad French and Arabic to convey complicated instructions. She continued as cadre and weapons master throughout the shoot in Morocco and Thailand. Currently, Rupkalvis dedicate most of her time to all things Warriors, and answer to the names Rucksack, Rip, and Da Chief.
- IMDb mini biography by: Adela Munro

Julia Dye holds a Ph.D. in Hoplology which combines anthropology and military history. She has served as Executive Director of the Society of American Fight Directors and President of the Los Angeles Fight Academy. She has an extensive list of theatrical acting credits, and has appeared in numerous commercials, films, and television productions.

Dr. Dye is Vice President and CFO of Warriors Global, Inc., the entertainment business's premiere military advising company. She is also the Publisher of Warriors Publishing Group. On occasion, as the project warrants, she also acts as a unit commander.

She began with Warriors on the film Starship Troopers, participating in Captain Dye's first co-ed extended boot camp in Hell's Half Acre, Wyoming, eventually commanding own platoon. She's now involved in all the Warriors projects, including its Academy Award-winning films and many award-winning television projects. Among her favorite projects was her time on Galaxy Quest.

Some of her credits include Weapons Master on Alexander directed by Oliver Stone, Adjutant on the maxi-series The Pacific for HBO, and she is directing a documentary about Marine Corps Combat Correspondents. She also co-directed a stunt show for the Wanda Movie Park in Wuhan, China.

Her award-winning book, Backbone: History, Traditions, and Leadership Lessons of Marine Corps NCOs, was published by Osprey in November 2011, and she has also written a young-adult novel, Through My Daughter's Eyes.

In his review of Backbone, GySgt R. Lee Ermey, wrote "Outstanding! A great capture of the Marine NCO. This should be required reading for all Devil Dogs. A big 'atta boy' goes to the author."
- IMDb mini biography by: Julia Dye