[Hard-Deck]

Very cool Glen. When I was a Captain, I taught Army ROTC at San Diego State. Having been a USMC pilot, the Army Cadets who wanted to be pilots came to me for advice and mentorship. I instilled in them that pilots had one job, to support the warriors on the ground; that they are in a supporting role to them. Each one of them graduated from flight school and decided to fly Kiowa scout aircraft. Good bunch of dudes.

The comment in the letter discussing how pilots make more money than they can spend, touched my funny-bone. In the mid-90’s, I was working as the Air planning officer for 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. I was an aviator Captain, and the C.O. was an infantry Lieutenant Colonel. As a good, caring leader, who looked after his troops, one thing he did monthly was audit 10% of the unit’s LES (pay slip). (As a primer: as an aviator, I was drawing special flight pays). One month, the C.O. called me into his office and said, “Snapper, do you know that you make more damned money than I do!?” I replied, “Yes sir, and I get to wear this cool leather jacket as well”. His response was the USMC fitting, “Get the FCKU out of my office!”.