By now, after the festivities in Reno at The Tailhook Symposium and Reunion 2009, most all of us have returned to our regularly scheduled programming. This was my first Tailhook, and like all of the attendees, I have a few observations.
- Next year, I am opening an “Advil and Gatorade” booth… I’ll make a million dollars by Saturday Morning!
- If these men and women are the ones responsible for our nation’s security… JOs, LCDRs, CDRs, CAPTs, and Admirals alike… WE ARE IN GREAT CARE!!!! and if you’re the enemy… Hide in the brewery!
- These aviators do everything with pride and professionalism, be it retrieving the best geedunk from the tradeshow floor to out-drinking their XO in the admin rooms… there is no quit in ‘em! I know because a certain squadron LCDR and LT were just returning to my hotel at 10:30am from last night’s festivities, their next planned launch? Noon! Attaboys!
- The civilian world has nothing like this… it wouldn’t know how, and there is no culture in the civilian world that matches the world of Naval Aviation. Thank God!
- It is indeed a reunion, I saw men there I had not seen since my youth, and to the man, each was surprised that... one, I was over 5’ tall and two, I’m not in uniform. (Still surprises me too for that matter).
- More than a reunion, it is a great place to make new friends!
- The Admiral’s Briefing is THE place to be! (that is… second after the Admin rooms at 3:00am).
- Folding your wings to avoid hitting “Boss’s” tail as he ground loops his Blue Angel F-4 left and slot is ground looping right… still makes for a really cool story some 35 years later!
- The stories get better with age… beer!… And a witness!
- Adversary Pilots have the coolest gig!
- God the Nuggets are YOUNG!!!! Graduated “Canoe U” 2008… born 1987!!!
- For some, this trade show offers an opportunity to network for your double dips… ahhh the incestual nature of defense contractors… its like going to a family reunion to pick up on chicks!
- “Punchy” Lyons (not Gilchrist) has a second career in the making, selling 3G iPhones at the Apple store!
After this weekend I am convinced I am a life member of the greatest organization on the planet! What makes it great are not the chachkies available on the tradeshow floor (although I have to say… very high quality there!) or the fact that ZoomBags are highly encouraged for the mixer! No, what makes this organization great are the members, active duty, retired, and civilian alike, all bring something to the table. They respect each other and recognize excellence and class when it is before them. The respect in the room for those who have gone before is genuine and contagious! From Admiral Kilcline’s obvious respect and admiration of those fine men and women who comprise his fighting force to the reciprocated respect for their Air Boss from those in the cockpit taking the fight from the decks, the air is thick with the fog of camaraderie! (Or that could just be the fog from the zoombags…)
And one other observation, for a cadre that is not easily impressed… all stopped and recognized a gentleman who won the award for most “Straight Deck Carrier landings”! 417 Straight Deck Carrier Landings!!! WOW! (100+ at night!… 100+ in Jets!) and “ZERO BOLTERS!” This man earned everyone’s unabashed respect as we all gave our standing ovation at that news! None clapping louder than those aviators in our midst having over 1,400 traps!
I am honored to be associated with such fine men and women and I am proud to be called “Tailhooker!”
-John Carmichael
Great post, John. Looking forward to next year.
Posted by: Big Gun | September 15, 2009 at 21:20