AO: Three Rivers
When: 06/24/2022
Number of Pax: 32
DR Names:
Number of FNGS: 3
FNG Names:
QIC: Squidward
Introduction
32 PAX enrolled in Top Gun Academy (TGA) this morning to compete with the “best of the best” and to sharpen their flight skills. Flight conditions were perfect with temps hovering in the mid-60’s with a “clear blue 22” sky!
Several hand selected men from F3 Southsid3 were in attendance as well and proudly represented their region at the TGA. We took the highway to the danger zone, learned the importance of never leaving your wingman, worked on our dogfighting skills as we took a flight around the AO, and wrapped up with some catapult carrier deck launches putting a bow on my VQ BC.
Warm-O-Rama
- Good mornings/nights (10)
- Daisy pickers (10)
- Cross-body arm stretches (12 count)
- OH arm pulls (12 count)
- Willy Mays Hayes (10)
- Motivators (from 6) <– this tied into the entire theme for the BC
- Allowed PAX 2 mins of OYO stretching (while my 6 and I prepped for the Thangs)
The Thang
After WoR, moseyed the flight formation over to designated location for Thang 1 and Thang 2.
Thang 1 (Top Gun school induction)
While playing the song “Highway to the Danger Zone” PAX held plank until the chorus, then executed Frog SUs (hat tip to Navy SEALs) during the “Highway to the DZ” chorus. Mixed in high/low planks and shoulder taps for variety. Repeated these moves until the song ended.
Thang 2 (Sortie flights – Theme: NEVER LEAVE YOUR WINGMAN!)
PAX divided up into groups of 4 aircraft. While playing the songs “Playing with the Boys” & “Through the Fire” flight of two (from the group of 4) ran from point A (home base), through the sand, to point B (engagement area) where they then completed 5 burpees. The other two aircraft remaind at home base doing SSH. Once flight of two returned, the teams swapped. As the thang progressed, increased the egagement area exercise to 10 burpees, then 20 big boys. Continued until the completion of the two songs.
Thang 3 (formation flight and engagement maneuvers)
Assembled flight into two columns of 16 aircraft each. Instructed PAX that during the engagement maneuver (last man up run), they should fly (run) 5ft behind the aircraft in front of them. Launched each set of aircraft individually (carrier launch style with salutes and all) instructing the lead aircraft to maintain a nice easy mosey until the formation was completely formed. Once in flight, the last PAX in each column dropped out of formation and completed 5 merkins. Once complete, those last aircraft flew their way to the front of the formation flight, ensuring that he maneuvered his aircraft by buzzing the tower of each PAX in the last man up formation (weaving in and out). Due to the size of the formation flight, we were only able to get one iteration of last man exercises in before returning to the carrier. Played the song “Mighty Wings” while we were in flight to add some excitement to the thang!
Thang 4 (carrier launches) aka sprints
Launched PAX in teams of two from point A to point B. The team that won got to choose the other teams “punishment” exercise, which was 20 merkins.
6MoM (Top Gun graduation)
While playing the song “Take My Breath Away” PAX laid on their backs doing six-inch leg holds. During the “take my breath away” chorus, PAX executed hello dolly’s. Eventually changed the six-inch leg holds to flutter kicks. Repeated these moves until the song ended.
Circle of Trust
Through Positive Habit Transfer (PHT) we stand on the shoulders of giants
Since this was my VQ, I chose to share/relate my experience from my time flying in the military with the men in attendance. The ingrained standard from day one of flight school was that we always followed the PHT mantra when transferring the flight controls to your fellow pilot.
Pilot 1 (to pilot 2): “you have the controls”
Pilot 2 (to pilot 1): “roger, I have the controls”
Pilot 1 (to pilot 2): “you have the controls”
This simple three step act ensured that there was, without a doubt, no confusion as to who was flying the aircraft! Unfortunately, shortly following my return home from Korea in 2004, a fellow commander I had served with was killed during a training accident because him and his fellow pilot did not follow this standard.
During a conversation that Blue Gill and I were having recently, he mentioned that he was listening to a podcast that discussed PHT and it immediately intrigued me. So I did my homework and knew that this was a topic I wanted to share more on during CoT. Although a bit lengthy, I read the story from Dancing Idiot (Q2.4) with the men this morning and I can only hope that this inspired some of them to look inside themselves and see what elements of PHT they are following.
What are you doing to Live Right and transfer positive habits to your fellow brothers, 2.0s, co-workers, etc? Who are your giants? Rhetorical questions, but definitely worthy of pondering!
Naked Man Moleskin
No matter how prepared you are for something, chaos always finds its way. Keep calm and carry on! Have contingency plans/actions and, worse case scenario, ask your six for ideas! You’re not in this alone, we’re all in this together! As Pi says quite often… #StrongerTogether