The People You Meet Along the Way
Nothing better than fast-ish jets on a Friday. Really cool walkaround video of the A-10 from Trippin at Nellis.
An intangible benefit of military service is the incredible people you meet along the way. They accomplish amazing things, and then you part ways. Always cool to see what old acquaintances are up to.
I met Trippin in Korea around 2022. During an exercise and in really bad weather, we had a young wingman eject from an F-16 in central Korea. Trippin was airborne and on the RTB in an A-10, and overheard there was an ejection. Dude went straight into SAR mode. He flew an approach into the nearest airfield to get below the already low ceiling of clouds, then started his search of the countryside at undeniably questionable altitudes to find the downed Viper driver. He coordinated the rescue effort while low on gas, got him picked up, and returned to base. He landed, debriefed, and never mentioned it again! These dudes are the epitome of quiet professionals in the SAR world, and I am grateful to my military career that I got to know Trippin a bit.
