Originally Posted by
XHooker
My sampling is probably smaller, but I'd add that those I've known are very down to earth and humble as well. Unlike some high profile jobs in Naval Aviation, the guys on the team get to pick who they want in. It's actually referred to as "rushing" just like it's a fraternity. While I'm sure there have been some "tools" who make it through the process, I've never met any. The flying is intense and the debriefs can be brutal. There are no weak sticks and they're not afraid to "fire" someone mid-season if there's a safety concern. Those who have been "fired" are probably better pilots than I ever thought about being.
Topgun is very similar in selection (instructors are chosen from previous students) and the flying and lecture preparation is just as intense. Let's put it this way... "Maverick" wouldn't have made the cut.
If I was hiring in the civilian world, Topgun IPs and Blue Angels would be almost auto-hires... ahead of test pilots and astronauts.
If you can't tell yet, there's no resentment, only respect.
How times have changed.
There are times when NSAWC/TopGun now makes recruiting trips to the different bases to try and lure some people to Fallon. They talk up the hunting, fishing, and camping opportunities. I sat behind one such future TopGun IP and asked him when he went through the course (I thought he might know some of my buddies), and found out that he had not yet even been through the course!
I had a chance to fly with the Blues when I was an RAG IP and we were det'ing at their winter practice home. It is something that I could do for a month or three, but like Hacker said - I joined the Corps to fly gray jets, not Blue ones. I even like formation - for coming into the break - but not all day, every day; plus they shake hands too much and I don't like the attention/public affairs aspect that comes with the job. I rather sit at my static and watch the world go by. Btw - I think some of the best flying that I saw during the ride-along was away from show center. Rejoins happen in a whole other dimension!
navigatro - you could have lined up every Blue on that team and he would have been the last one I would have picked for the guy who would have gotten into trouble like that. Former RP and squadronmate of mine. If you know where he has ended up - drop me a PM.
USMCFLYR