EMB Guy
Re. your post 12/05/2002 in thread “US rejects United Bid for Loan Guarantee Post.”
In reference to your not-so-subtle dig towards military pilots (“Actually a fairly large percentage have little or no civilian flying experience which becomes rather evident during IOE. I of course refer to the grads of the taxpayer funded flight schools of USN and USAF”):
One reason you have the freedom and liberty to have a job is because of military pilots. And yes, you also have the right to free speech which in our society gives you the right to make ignorant comments about things you know little about. Why do you have a chip on your shoulder? Why do you feel it necessary to generalize and in fact make a generalization with no merit in truth?
There are good civilian pilots and good military pilots. What do you know about military aviation?
Here are a few things for you to think about what it takes to be a military aviator:
Every pilot in my squadron had a four-year degree. The vast majority had Master’s degrees. We had an ivy-league grad, an MIT grad, and 10 Annapolis grads. To get to the boat you had to go through incredibly rigorous flying training with high pressure stakes; it was tough and many did not make it through training.
What’s my point? Darwin. Lots of people were weeded out in the process of winning their wings. The ones who made it were probably:
a) High school scholar-athletes who finished at the top of their class
b) Graduates of prestigious 4-year universities
c) Selected for flight school through competitive screening
d) Over-achievers in demanding flying training
e) Combat vets who served this great nation under hostile enemy fire (those who didn’t serve in combat still did the Lord’s work in a dangerous environment so you could be free)
My former squadron mates were all high-caliber people who would have been successful in any profession. But more than just their intrinsic talent is the integrity and grit they possess. It should not be a surprise to you or anyone else when a Major airline (or any other smart corporation) harvests this talent first. Yes, they are first (not with all but with many including hiring now). I am making no comparisons to any other gene pools here. Just let the facts speak for themselves. What company wouldn’t want to hire folks who have been through the experiences and training found in a typical military pilot?
Our training was paid for by Uncle Sam, and yes you the taxpayer. It was great training too. It’s the best. In return we were obligated to serve (a minimum of 7 years pay back) for flight training. It was well worth it and personally there are no regrets but the cost of service was six month cruises to exotic far away places. After a few of those you start to yearn for mama and the kids. You realize the “cost” of the training was pretty expensive (even though it looks “free” to the uninformed layperson). You decide to make life decisions and changes.
When we military guys and gals make the decision to trade in our military uniforms for new civilian ones most of us realize we still have a lot to learn about flying. There are probably a few “know-it-alls” or bad attitudes but I doubt this is the norm. I doubt it because from day one in an American squadron it’s not tolerated; you learn that even the high-time guys need to treat every flight as a learning experience and we debrief to a high standard of constructive criticism on every flight (to everyone in the flight including the flight lead). Don’t judge a group based on an experience you may have had with one person. This type of prejudicial thinking will get you in trouble. Or, maybe it’s just jealousy (an ugly emotion indeed)?
Those of us who took the plunge to transition from military to civilian life did so for a variety of reasons. Most of us just want a better family lifestyle more than anything. To that end we are willing to work hard and excel for our new employers because doing well and succeeding in what we do is part of our fabric. Sloth isn’t something you find in a boat squadron. Neither is failure. A few of us don’t suffer fools very well either.
Former Military Pilots who’ve done all right:
President George Herbert Walker Bush
President George Walker Bush
Senator John McCain
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
Let the flames begin.
Re. your post 12/05/2002 in thread “US rejects United Bid for Loan Guarantee Post.”
In reference to your not-so-subtle dig towards military pilots (“Actually a fairly large percentage have little or no civilian flying experience which becomes rather evident during IOE. I of course refer to the grads of the taxpayer funded flight schools of USN and USAF”):
One reason you have the freedom and liberty to have a job is because of military pilots. And yes, you also have the right to free speech which in our society gives you the right to make ignorant comments about things you know little about. Why do you have a chip on your shoulder? Why do you feel it necessary to generalize and in fact make a generalization with no merit in truth?
There are good civilian pilots and good military pilots. What do you know about military aviation?
Here are a few things for you to think about what it takes to be a military aviator:
Every pilot in my squadron had a four-year degree. The vast majority had Master’s degrees. We had an ivy-league grad, an MIT grad, and 10 Annapolis grads. To get to the boat you had to go through incredibly rigorous flying training with high pressure stakes; it was tough and many did not make it through training.
What’s my point? Darwin. Lots of people were weeded out in the process of winning their wings. The ones who made it were probably:
a) High school scholar-athletes who finished at the top of their class
b) Graduates of prestigious 4-year universities
c) Selected for flight school through competitive screening
d) Over-achievers in demanding flying training
e) Combat vets who served this great nation under hostile enemy fire (those who didn’t serve in combat still did the Lord’s work in a dangerous environment so you could be free)
My former squadron mates were all high-caliber people who would have been successful in any profession. But more than just their intrinsic talent is the integrity and grit they possess. It should not be a surprise to you or anyone else when a Major airline (or any other smart corporation) harvests this talent first. Yes, they are first (not with all but with many including hiring now). I am making no comparisons to any other gene pools here. Just let the facts speak for themselves. What company wouldn’t want to hire folks who have been through the experiences and training found in a typical military pilot?
Our training was paid for by Uncle Sam, and yes you the taxpayer. It was great training too. It’s the best. In return we were obligated to serve (a minimum of 7 years pay back) for flight training. It was well worth it and personally there are no regrets but the cost of service was six month cruises to exotic far away places. After a few of those you start to yearn for mama and the kids. You realize the “cost” of the training was pretty expensive (even though it looks “free” to the uninformed layperson). You decide to make life decisions and changes.
When we military guys and gals make the decision to trade in our military uniforms for new civilian ones most of us realize we still have a lot to learn about flying. There are probably a few “know-it-alls” or bad attitudes but I doubt this is the norm. I doubt it because from day one in an American squadron it’s not tolerated; you learn that even the high-time guys need to treat every flight as a learning experience and we debrief to a high standard of constructive criticism on every flight (to everyone in the flight including the flight lead). Don’t judge a group based on an experience you may have had with one person. This type of prejudicial thinking will get you in trouble. Or, maybe it’s just jealousy (an ugly emotion indeed)?
Those of us who took the plunge to transition from military to civilian life did so for a variety of reasons. Most of us just want a better family lifestyle more than anything. To that end we are willing to work hard and excel for our new employers because doing well and succeeding in what we do is part of our fabric. Sloth isn’t something you find in a boat squadron. Neither is failure. A few of us don’t suffer fools very well either.
Former Military Pilots who’ve done all right:
President George Herbert Walker Bush
President George Walker Bush
Senator John McCain
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
Let the flames begin.
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