Dangling a Karot

Training Day 1 (TD1)

Today we had an "Welcome to 47OSS" from LTC Whittle. It was a funny experience because everyone is like whoa our bosses boss and a Lt Col. To me he was the officer I used to work for...now just in a different capacity. I will always remember Lt Col Ron Whittle as the most talkative of the bosses. He always would come out and chat with the execs which always made me feel more comfortable in the office full of light birds. I would always see him around town with his boys as well. Usually going off on some hiking or biking trip. So needless to say I hold him in very high regard. So when he came in to talk to my class I took what he said very seriously. One of the hints for success that he gave was to write down the reasons why I am here. My no shit motivation on why I went through the arduous process to become a pilot because now that I am here its only going to get harder. This next year is going to be one of the hardest years of my life. However, one of the most rewarding earned through blood, tears, and sweat. There will be times through this year that I will literally collapse and ask myself why am I here. Why should I continue. And I need to write well enough to convince that future self that is going through that unbearable pressure and stress that this is why I'm here. Be that motivator to quietly come up to me, help me to my feet, and ease that burden off my shoulders telling me, "You know what bucko, see those shiny wings, you're THAT much closer to it. ganbatte! you can do it." So future self, if you find yourself reading this, remember that I am outside of the situation, removed from your current emotions and this is why I want to become a pilot.

I was always a perfect candidate to explore the different elements. Never content to stay on land, I loved the ocean. Everything I could do in it. The three dimensional aspect of it. It seemed only natural that I progressed to the skies. I was first bitten by the flight bug when I was a child. I was given a CAP ride in a helicopter. I raised into the air and I felt the exhilaration that a child experienced when they fell in love with something. It was that same rush that you felt when you saw that girl that took your breath away. That same "make your knees weak and knock you off your feet" feeling when she looked your way. As I rose from the ground my heart started racing faster, my hands grabbed the seat tighter, and I just knew this is what I wanted.

I wasn't able to take any more rides since flight school was quite expensive and coming from a low income family I had other responsibilities to attend to, but in the back of my mind I knew what I wanted and I knew there was a way to do it. So as I grew up I invariably became attracted to the military. They promised me opportunities that I didn't think possible for a boy in my standing. So I took them up on it. I found out that they would pay for my college and I could apply to be an pilot in the elite ranks of the United States Air Force. So of course I took it. It was around junior year that I was given an incentive ride in a T-37 "Might Tweet" at Columbus AFB, MS. For an entire hour or so all I did was loops and rolls and other things that I didn't know the name for pulling Gs left and right. I all I knew was that I was like a fly on crack...and it was amazing. Then the PIC showed me how to play his favorite game, cloud chasing. All you had to do was find a nice fluffy cloud with a nice poof on top. Take the plane straight at it then pull up at the last second hitting the cloud with your underside and look back. POOF goes the cloud. WHOA, at that point I was a little kid set loose in a candy store and told to go for it. That pretty much wrapped it up that I wanted to become a pilot.

Then came IFS(initial flight screening) where even though it was the DA20 it was still a plane and I still went into the skies. This was the first plane that I soloed in. I flew in that plane all by myself. It wasn't like those other times where I had a PIC in the plane making sure I did everything correct and didn't crash. I WAS THE PIC! (pilot in command) I flew the plane and I was the one making sure I didn't crash...and it was a rush. That small little thing left me breathless.


Remember "I" wanted to become a pilot, nobody forced me. This is what "I" wanted. If I succeed I would be one of a select few that was able to rise though the ranks and accomplish something that less than 1% of Americans do. And not just any pilot but an United States Air Force pilot.

I could have been anything I wanted but I wanted to do something I loved to do. Someone my family can be proud of. Be part of a close knit community of fellow aviators. Share in a camaraderie few other professions can boast.

Remember those tough times growing up when I would lay outside and look to the skies and wish I could grow a pair of wings a slip the surly bonds of earth. Remember that and know that you are on your way to getting those pair of wings.

I want to travel and see the world. I want to be able to impact those that need my help. I want to fight for my country. I want to fly.

And hopefully when I meet that girl of my dreams I can go up to her and say, "I may not look like much but I'm a nice guy and I have a decent job". She'll smile and be swept off her feet.

So when SUPT gets tough remember these moments and keep them wrapped up because as Capt Pete Sanchez warned, training was not created to be fun. It was made to stress you out and teach you to perform under pressure so when the real shit goes down I don't freak out and mind dump everything. Flying during SUPT won't be fun, but when all is said and done I will receive my wings and then I can enjoy life again. To all the student pilots Good luck flying. I only wish for clear skies and may you always have a strong tailwind at your back.


A small visual reminder of what my end goal is; for that one day I earn the right to wear them proudly on my chest. Placed so that as I leave each morning I lightly touch them as a reminder that everything I do that day gets me that much closer to them. And when I return I firmly brush past it to remind me that my dreams are still within my reach no matter how hard the day went.