Training for naval aviators involves continuous adjustments and keen observation. Participants must monitor a variety of indicators, including airspeed, to assess their aircraft’s performance. Waiting for airspeed to dip may be too late to recognize power issues. Instead, trainees are encouraged to utilize multiple cues, relying on sensors, systems, and data. Instructors emphasize the importance of interpreting various metrics to comprehend their energy status and aircraft positioning.
Ars Technica: The candidates showcased different backgrounds and traits, which is beneficial. As one instructor highlights, they can’t all embody the “Maverick” archetype. Are there specific characteristics that commonly appear among the most successful candidates?
Juston Kuch: Each candidate brings a unique personality, ranging from extroverts to introverts and varying degrees of quietness. However, a shared commitment to the mission stands out. The successful candidates display hard work and the ability to handle failures and setbacks constructively. I consistently observe that those who encounter difficulties do not simply give up; they strive to improve with each challenge. While their personalities differ, their core motivations and attributes as naval aviators remain consistent.
Achieving Their Wings
Ars Technica: I was particularly struck by the emphasis on resilience seen in the successful candidates.
Juston Kuch: Resilience is indeed a critical component of our training program. We intentionally create a stressful environment for the students and impose certain demands on them, recognizing that failures are part of the learning process. Our training is conducted under strict safety protocols to ensure no one gets hurt, but it is essential for students to learn from their mistakes. The idea is that if you stumble eight times, you should rise eight times as well.
Achieving success requires persistence and dedication; it’s not about getting everything right on the first attempt, but about the relentless effort to reach the correct solution or the desired performance level. This principle of resilience mirrors that faced in combat situations, where unpredictability is a constant factor. The focus is on how to recover and adapt in the face of challenges or damage encountered along the way.
