I recorded this in Oct.2021. I dive into an interview done by 60 Minutes of an Air Force fighter pilot who left the military due to the "uphill struggle" of racial bias.
Cecil, this is why I don't watch 60 Minutes. They go into every story with an agenda and then pick the interview subjects to support that agenda. Chapter James was a mountain of a black man with a deep voice and made 4 stars at a time when discrimination was very real. Did 60 minutes mention that? Major Walker was a highly successful officer in a very competitive environment. Not sure what the uphill struggle was. Dave
Cecil, is it possible that the current construct of the military is why Major Walker is feeling the way he is? Meaning... my background is medical and I remember vividly feeling kind of like a fraud early in my clinical practice. The goal of the surgeons I worked with was almost to make you feel inadequate or poorly educated. Mind you this was 25 years ago and the work place in a surgery setting at that time was known to be very aggressive towards "newbies". Over time that type of initiation, bordering on hazing, which was once commonplace has subsided significantly. I'm not so sure that the "softening" of that setting is always a good thing. The fear of getting embarrassed during an operation in front of your colleagues was a hell of motivator for me to keep my skills sharp. That type of atmosphere has tempered over time but I would imagine in a "fighter pilot" program that dynamic is alive and well, and it be very hard to differentiate the broader career related discrimination vs. targeted or systemic racism. It seems like Major Walker made a good choice for himself regardless. Whenever you are feeling a certain type of structural or institutional pressure that you believe is limiting your upward mobility, its usually good for your psyche to consider a change.
Dan I hear you but I disagree. We're about the same age I'd imagine. I graduated from the academy in 1983. Would be fighter pilots were full of themselves as were fighter pilots. It's who they are. The academy was very aggressive towards 1st year cadets and the challenges didn't end after that. Fighter pilots can't afford to fly with folks who make mistakes so they will rattle you so you stay motivated to keep your skills sharp. Walker was not rattled. Graduated at the top of his pilot training class and according to classmates who were fighter pilots, new grads don't get new aircraft right out of pilot training, so he was the best of the best. I need someone to tell me how he was discriminated against. As I said in the podcast, there were examples given of people who may have been discriminated against, but I didn't see it in the examples he ascribed to himself. I did a follow up podcast on him. Maybe I'll release that soon. His academy and AF career were stellar. I believe he saw an opportunity and ran with it. Through folks I know, I found him on LinkedIn. I wanted to talk to him about some of the things he said. He never responded. Nothing he said in that 5 minute interview reflected any structural or institutional pressure that would limit his upward mobility. The other point is, again information provided by a person who was a commander, is that when pilots reach the rank of major that's when they all start getting out of the AF. They grow tired of being away from family all the time, etc. Many commanders have worked tirelessly to figure out what they need to do to keep pilots after they reach that rank. His relative who was a Tuskegee experienced the uphill battle of racial bias. I do not believe Major Walker experienced what his relative did. Major Walker has taken advantage of every opportunity presented to him and is doing very well.
I didn't serve, that's why I asked. I've always kind of regretted that decision. Contemplated reserves for a big portion of my early career. Thanks for the response.
Cecil, this is why I don't watch 60 Minutes. They go into every story with an agenda and then pick the interview subjects to support that agenda. Chapter James was a mountain of a black man with a deep voice and made 4 stars at a time when discrimination was very real. Did 60 minutes mention that? Major Walker was a highly successful officer in a very competitive environment. Not sure what the uphill struggle was. Dave
I forgot about Chappie James. He was a big man. I’m sure he was intimidating and had a deep voice…This made up being offended is total nonsense.
Cecil, is it possible that the current construct of the military is why Major Walker is feeling the way he is? Meaning... my background is medical and I remember vividly feeling kind of like a fraud early in my clinical practice. The goal of the surgeons I worked with was almost to make you feel inadequate or poorly educated. Mind you this was 25 years ago and the work place in a surgery setting at that time was known to be very aggressive towards "newbies". Over time that type of initiation, bordering on hazing, which was once commonplace has subsided significantly. I'm not so sure that the "softening" of that setting is always a good thing. The fear of getting embarrassed during an operation in front of your colleagues was a hell of motivator for me to keep my skills sharp. That type of atmosphere has tempered over time but I would imagine in a "fighter pilot" program that dynamic is alive and well, and it be very hard to differentiate the broader career related discrimination vs. targeted or systemic racism. It seems like Major Walker made a good choice for himself regardless. Whenever you are feeling a certain type of structural or institutional pressure that you believe is limiting your upward mobility, its usually good for your psyche to consider a change.
Dan I hear you but I disagree. We're about the same age I'd imagine. I graduated from the academy in 1983. Would be fighter pilots were full of themselves as were fighter pilots. It's who they are. The academy was very aggressive towards 1st year cadets and the challenges didn't end after that. Fighter pilots can't afford to fly with folks who make mistakes so they will rattle you so you stay motivated to keep your skills sharp. Walker was not rattled. Graduated at the top of his pilot training class and according to classmates who were fighter pilots, new grads don't get new aircraft right out of pilot training, so he was the best of the best. I need someone to tell me how he was discriminated against. As I said in the podcast, there were examples given of people who may have been discriminated against, but I didn't see it in the examples he ascribed to himself. I did a follow up podcast on him. Maybe I'll release that soon. His academy and AF career were stellar. I believe he saw an opportunity and ran with it. Through folks I know, I found him on LinkedIn. I wanted to talk to him about some of the things he said. He never responded. Nothing he said in that 5 minute interview reflected any structural or institutional pressure that would limit his upward mobility. The other point is, again information provided by a person who was a commander, is that when pilots reach the rank of major that's when they all start getting out of the AF. They grow tired of being away from family all the time, etc. Many commanders have worked tirelessly to figure out what they need to do to keep pilots after they reach that rank. His relative who was a Tuskegee experienced the uphill battle of racial bias. I do not believe Major Walker experienced what his relative did. Major Walker has taken advantage of every opportunity presented to him and is doing very well.
I didn't serve, that's why I asked. I've always kind of regretted that decision. Contemplated reserves for a big portion of my early career. Thanks for the response.
Oh the hypocrisy!