Filipinos have a long history of serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, dating back to 1901 when former President William McKinley authorized their enlistment in the U.S. Insular Force. The recruitment of Filipinos into the U.S. Navy began in 1947 through the U.S.-Philippine Military Bases Agreement, which allowed them to enlist under the U.S. Navy Philippine Enlistment Program at Naval Station Subic Bay in the Philippines without needing U.S. immigrant credentials. Growing up, he had always felt that Filipino sailors were underrepresented in movies despite their significant role in the Navy.