Advertise on podcast: The Fighter Pilots' Guide to Living

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Col. Kim 'Killer Chick' Campbell.Kim talks about how the Challenger disaster motivated her to join the USAF, her drive to make it to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and training on the A-10. We also talk about the CAS mission that led her to become one of very few A-10 pilots to land in manual reversion after she lost hydraulics due to extensive damage from enemy fire. About KC: Kim “KC” Campbell is a retired Colonel who served in the Air Force for over 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, Kim was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission.As a senior military leader, Kim has led hundreds of Airmen both at home and in deployed environments, enabling them to succeed in complex, high-pressure missions. She has experience leading large organizations and driving cultural change. In 2023, Kim was awarded the Leadership Achievement Award from the Air Force Academy, recognizing graduates who demonstrate exceptional professional accomplishment, integrity, and character in service to others.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guests are four outstanding veterans who took part in Task Force 20, the set of daring missions that comprised the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Keith 'Grumpy' Kimberly, Michael 'Tung' Peterson, and Jim 'Puck' Howe were among the U.S. Navy F-14 aviators hand-picked by Dan 'Darth' Cain for a series of close air support missions in 2003 Iraq to augment special operations forces personnel on the ground working to secure important targets.In the second segment of our series, we talk about Task Force 20's final mission at Lake Tharhar, and the longstanding impact of Darth's work in the aviation community.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guests are four outstanding veterans who took part in Task Force 20, the set of daring missions that comprised the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Keith 'Grumpy' Kimberly, Michael 'Tung' Peterson, and Jim 'Puck' Howe were among the U.S. Navy F-14 aviators hand-picked by Dan 'Darth' Cain for a series of close air support missions in 2003 Iraq to augment special operations forces personnel on the ground working to secure important targets.In the first segment of our series, we talk about how Task Force 20 was assembled and dive into two of the initial missions that took place prior to the final mission at Lake Tharhar, which we'll discuss in our second episode.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John 'Coach' Bradley.In the third and final episode about his military career, John talks about his transition to the F-16, the impact of 9/11 on his career, the development of his Afghanistan nonprofit, and the lessons of leadership that his career imparted About Lt. Gen. Bradley:General Bradley retired from the United States Air Force in August 2008, with 41 years of service. He was the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia, and the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the largest Major Command in the U.S. AirForce, responsible for over 76,000 Airmen, around the world. Prior to this he was the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for Reserve Matters, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. He is a Vietnam veteran, with 337 combat missions as a fighter pilot. He has over 7,000 flying hours in the A-37, A-10, F-4, and F-16 fighter aircraft. He is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John 'Coach' Bradley.In the second episode about his military career, John talks about his T-38 training years and the wide expanse of aircraft he flew in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, including the A-37, A-10, F-4, and F-16. About Lt. Gen. Bradley:General Bradley retired from the United States Air Force in August 2008, with 41 years of service. He was the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia, and the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the largest Major Command in the U.S. AirForce, responsible for over 76,000 Airmen, around the world. Prior to this he was the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for Reserve Matters, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. He is a Vietnam veteran, with 337 combat missions as a fighter pilot. He has over 7,000 flying hours in the A-37, A-10, F-4, and F-16 fighter aircraft. He is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. John 'Coach' Bradley.In the first episode about his military career, John talks about the experience of losing his brother during a flying accident, and his own journey into aviation, including his year flying the A-37 doing CAS missions in the Vietnam War. About Lt. Gen. Bradley:General Bradley retired from the United States Air Force in August 2008, with 41 years of service. He was the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, District of Columbia, and the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, the largest Major Command in the U.S. AirForce, responsible for over 76,000 Airmen, around the world. Prior to this he was the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for Reserve Matters, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia. He is a Vietnam veteran, with 337 combat missions as a fighter pilot. He has over 7,000 flying hours in the A-37, A-10, F-4, and F-16 fighter aircraft. He is a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark 'Sluggo' Hasara. In the fifth and final episode about his military career, Sluggo talks about standing up the Tanker Weapons School, and how the school took off after an alarming setback early in the process.About 'Sluggo'Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hasara is a veteran of four wars and a KC-135 air refueling expert whose tactical and strategic knowledge have shaped the way air mobility operations are executed around the globe to this day.Mark was chosen as the Deputy Commander of the team creating the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 Weapons School—a PhD-level course on global air refueling operations that trains the best and brightest aircrew to think, fight, and win in the skies. Just eight days after 9/11, Mark deployed to the Middle East and began orchestrating air refueling missions for coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. His ability to plan and execute complex operations earned him the prestigious Air Mobility Command’s Tanker Tactician of the Year award in 2002.Mark’s expertise wasn’t confined to the cockpit. In 2003, he was handpicked to join the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighter School, where he taught U.S. and international military leaders the art of campaign and crisis action planning at the highest levels of command.In 2017, Mark published his acclaimed book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, giving readers a front-row seat to some of the most critical moments in modern air warfare. He also hosts the popular Lessons from the Cockpit podcast, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of military and civilian aviation’s most extraordinary events. Mark and his wife Valerie call the Salt Lake City area home.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark 'Sluggo' Hasara. In the fourth episode about his military career, Sluggo talks in detail about operating during Desert Storm in Iraq, including supporting the F-117 strikes on Baghdad. He also discusses the unique aspects of being LDS as an aviator. About 'Sluggo' Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hasara is a veteran of four wars and a KC-135 air refueling expert whose tactical and strategic knowledge have shaped the way air mobility operations are executed around the globe to this day. Mark was chosen as the Deputy Commander of the team creating the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 Weapons School—a PhD-level course on global air refueling operations that trains the best and brightest aircrew to think, fight, and win in the skies. Just eight days after 9/11, Mark deployed to the Middle East and began orchestrating air refueling missions for coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. His ability to plan and execute complex operations earned him the prestigious Air Mobility Command’s Tanker Tactician of the Year award in 2002. Mark’s expertise wasn’t confined to the cockpit. In 2003, he was handpicked to join the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighter School, where he taught U.S. and international military leaders the art of campaign and crisis action planning at the highest levels of command. In 2017, Mark published his acclaimed book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, giving readers a front-row seat to some of the most critical moments in modern air warfare. He also hosts the popular Lessons from the Cockpit podcast, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of military and civilian aviation’s most extraordinary events. Mark and his wife Valerie call the Salt Lake City area home. About the hosts: Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast. Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark 'Sluggo' Hasara. In the third episode about his military career, Sluggo talks in detail about operating during the Cold War to fuel possible nuclear missions.About 'Sluggo'Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hasara is a veteran of four wars and a KC-135 air refueling expert whose tactical and strategic knowledge have shaped the way air mobility operations are executed around the globe to this day.Mark was chosen as the Deputy Commander of the team creating the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 Weapons School—a PhD-level course on global air refueling operations that trains the best and brightest aircrew to think, fight, and win in the skies. Just eight days after 9/11, Mark deployed to the Middle East and began orchestrating air refueling missions for coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. His ability to plan and execute complex operations earned him the prestigious Air Mobility Command’s Tanker Tactician of the Year award in 2002.Mark’s expertise wasn’t confined to the cockpit. In 2003, he was handpicked to join the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighter School, where he taught U.S. and international military leaders the art of campaign and crisis action planning at the highest levels of command.In 2017, Mark published his acclaimed book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, giving readers a front-row seat to some of the most critical moments in modern air warfare. He also hosts the popular Lessons from the Cockpit podcast, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of military and civilian aviation’s most extraordinary events. Mark and his wife Valerie call the Salt Lake City area home.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark 'Sluggo' Hasara. In the second episode about his military career, Sluggo talks about how systems had to be revised to suit the warfighting of Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror. About 'Sluggo'Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hasara is a veteran of four wars and a KC-135 air refueling expert whose tactical and strategic knowledge have shaped the way air mobility operations are executed around the globe to this day.Mark was chosen as the Deputy Commander of the team creating the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 Weapons School—a PhD-level course on global air refueling operations that trains the best and brightest aircrew to think, fight, and win in the skies. Just eight days after 9/11, Mark deployed to the Middle East and began orchestrating air refueling missions for coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. His ability to plan and execute complex operations earned him the prestigious Air Mobility Command’s Tanker Tactician of the Year award in 2002.Mark’s expertise wasn’t confined to the cockpit. In 2003, he was handpicked to join the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighter School, where he taught U.S. and international military leaders the art of campaign and crisis action planning at the highest levels of command.In 2017, Mark published his acclaimed book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, giving readers a front-row seat to some of the most critical moments in modern air warfare. He also hosts the popular Lessons from the Cockpit podcast, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of military and civilian aviation’s most extraordinary events. Mark and his wife Valerie call the Salt Lake City area home.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark 'Sluggo' Hasara. In the first episode about his military career, Sluggo talks about training to be a KC-135 pilot and training other tanker pilots how to work with the U.S. Navy and his work amending tanker operations to support post-Cold-War operations. About 'Sluggo'Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hasara is a veteran of four wars and a KC-135 air refueling expert whose tactical and strategic knowledge have shaped the way air mobility operations are executed around the globe to this day.Mark was chosen as the Deputy Commander of the team creating the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 Weapons School—a PhD-level course on global air refueling operations that trains the best and brightest aircrew to think, fight, and win in the skies. Just eight days after 9/11, Mark deployed to the Middle East and began orchestrating air refueling missions for coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. His ability to plan and execute complex operations earned him the prestigious Air Mobility Command’s Tanker Tactician of the Year award in 2002.Mark’s expertise wasn’t confined to the cockpit. In 2003, he was handpicked to join the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighter School, where he taught U.S. and international military leaders the art of campaign and crisis action planning at the highest levels of command.In 2017, Mark published his acclaimed book Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit, giving readers a front-row seat to some of the most critical moments in modern air warfare. He also hosts the popular Lessons from the Cockpit podcast, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of military and civilian aviation’s most extraordinary events. Mark and his wife Valerie call the Salt Lake City area home.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Commander Jerry 'Ribit' Merritt. In the third and final episode about his military career, Ribit takes us through his time in the adversary squadron flying all manner of fighters, his final tour on the Ike, and transitioning to the airlinesAbout 'Ribit'Jerry Darious Merritt attended North Carolina Wesleyan University from 1964 to 1968, graduating with a BA in Mathematics. Jerry was on the ‘67 and ‘68 Bishops basketball team and was President Class of ‘68.Jerry joined the Navy in October 1968 and reported for pilot training in January 1969. After earning his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold, he reported to Meridian, MS for Instructor duty until July 1972 when he was assigned F-8 Fighter training in San Diego, CA. He reported to VF-194, deploying on USS Oriskany in October 1973 to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of post-Vietnam Combat operations. Jerry completed the last F-8 deployment on the USS Oriskany in 1975-1976.He continued his Naval career and flew and instructed in fighter jets almost his entire career. The highlight of his career was his selection to Command Fighter Squadron 43 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach. Like Top Gun, flying A-4’s and F-16’s, their mission was to train F-14 crews in air combat maneuvering tactics.Jerry’s next assignment was Operations Officer aboard USS Eisenhower, CVN-69. He retired as Commander from active duty Navy in June 1990 after 21 years of service. He accumulated over 5000 flight hours and 350 carrier landings.After retiring from the Navy, Jerry was hired by American Airlines and reported to Dallas, TX for training. He flew Boeing 727’s, 777’s and MD-80’s, retiring as Captain in August 2006 after 16 years of service.Jerry was employed for 15 years by defense contractors as a consultant on the Fifth Generation Fighters, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.Jerry has been a volunteer with the National Park Service for 15 years, volunteering at the Wright Brothers National Monument in Kitty Hawk, NC, giving briefs on the history and operation of the Wright Flyer.Jerry and his wife DeDe Sens, NCWC Class of 1971, live in Currituck, NC.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Commander Jerry 'Ribit' Merritt. In the second episode about his military career, Ribit takes us through his time in the F-14 Tomcat, flying in airshows, making sure he had great RIOs, and never, ever going low (except that one time...)About 'Ribit'Jerry Darious Merritt attended North Carolina Wesleyan University from 1964 to 1968, graduating with a BA in Mathematics. Jerry was on the ‘67 and ‘68 Bishops basketball team and was President Class of ‘68.Jerry joined the Navy in October 1968 and reported for pilot training in January 1969. After earning his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold, he reported to Meridian, MS for Instructor duty until July 1972 when he was assigned F-8 Fighter training in San Diego, CA. He reported to VF-194, deploying on USS Oriskany in October 1973 to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of post-Vietnam Combat operations. Jerry completed the last F-8 deployment on the USS Oriskany in 1975-1976.He continued his Naval career and flew and instructed in fighter jets almost his entire career. The highlight of his career was his selection to Command Fighter Squadron 43 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach. Like Top Gun, flying A-4’s and F-16’s, their mission was to train F-14 crews in air combat maneuvering tactics.Jerry’s next assignment was Operations Officer aboard USS Eisenhower, CVN-69. He retired as Commander from active duty Navy in June 1990 after 21 years of service. He accumulated over 5000 flight hours and 350 carrier landings.After retiring from the Navy, Jerry was hired by American Airlines and reported to Dallas, TX for training. He flew Boeing 727’s, 777’s and MD-80’s, retiring as Captain in August 2006 after 16 years of service.Jerry was employed for 15 years by defense contractors as a consultant on the Fifth Generation Fighters, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.Jerry has been a volunteer with the National Park Service for 15 years, volunteering at the Wright Brothers National Monument in Kitty Hawk, NC, giving briefs on the history and operation of the Wright Flyer.Jerry and his wife DeDe Sens, NCWC Class of 1971, live in Currituck, NC.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Commander Jerry 'Ribit' Merritt. In the first episode about his military career, Ribit takes us through his time as a pilot in the F-8 Crusader during the Vietnam War before discussing a USAF exchange tour and his transition to the F-14 Tomcat.About 'Ribit'Jerry Darious Merritt attended North Carolina Wesleyan University from 1964 to 1968, graduating with a BA in Mathematics. Jerry was on the ‘67 and ‘68 Bishops basketball team and was President Class of ‘68.Jerry joined the Navy in October 1968 and reported for pilot training in January 1969. After earning his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold, he reported to Meridian, MS for Instructor duty until July 1972 when he was assigned F-8 Fighter training in San Diego, CA. He reported to VF-194, deploying on USS Oriskany in October 1973 to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of post-Vietnam Combat operations. Jerry completed the last F-8 deployment on the USS Oriskany in 1975-1976.He continued his Naval career and flew and instructed in fighter jets almost his entire career. The highlight of his career was his selection to Command Fighter Squadron 43 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach. Like Top Gun, flying A-4’s and F-16’s, their mission was to train F-14 crews in air combat maneuvering tactics.Jerry’s next assignment was Operations Officer aboard USS Eisenhower, CVN-69. He retired as Commander from active duty Navy in June 1990 after 21 years of service. He accumulated over 5000 flight hours and 350 carrier landings.After retiring from the Navy, Jerry was hired by American Airlines and reported to Dallas, TX for training. He flew Boeing 727’s, 777’s and MD-80’s, retiring as Captain in August 2006 after 16 years of service.Jerry was employed for 15 years by defense contractors as a consultant on the Fifth Generation Fighters, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.Jerry has been a volunteer with the National Park Service for 15 years, volunteering at the Wright Brothers National Monument in Kitty Hawk, NC, giving briefs on the history and operation of the Wright Flyer.Jerry and his wife DeDe Sens, NCWC Class of 1971, live in Currituck, NC.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Lieutenant Commander Jon 'Hooter' Schreiber. In the fifth and final episode about his military career, Hooter talks about his transition into the civilian world and the fighter culture that is so much a part of aviation. Does anyone else think the carrier smells like bean soup?About 'Hooter'Jon 'Hooter' Schreiber commissioned from AOCS and received his wings in July 1979. He first flew the F-4 Phantom in VF-121 out of Fightertown, USA before becoming an instructor pilot in the TA-4J as an LSO. Hooter transitioned to the F-14 in 1986 and retired from the Navy in 1994.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.