National J.O. President Message

Training Perspective

LT Alden "CaSPR" Marton, USN

If you haven’t had a chance to see Top Gun 2: Maverick, I’d recommend stopping right now and watching it. The movie is a high-production example of this issue's theme in action: "Lethality through Learning." While I don’t condone throwing NATOPS into the trash can on your first day, the bedrock of the movie is how training adapts to the warfighting landscape. How do we train to the limit of human ability? What can we do to get the edge? What are we doing as the rotary wing community to push our human advantage?

I’ve had an opportunity to see some of the dramatic changes across the aviator pipeline, and I can’t express how different it is as compared to when I was going through a mere 8 years ago. VT Primary is testing Project Avenger where individual ability determines the number of training events. Once a pilot demonstrates mastery of a skill or event, they move onto the next unit, tailoring training syllabi pilot-to-pilot to expedite training pipelines. HT Advanced is revolutionizing the training simulators by connecting with live ATC members in their sims and by implementing augmented reality simulators for student walk-ins. They’ve even got an allglass cockpit replacement for the TH-57, the TH-73. Everywhere you look, the Naval Aviation Enterprise is finding unique ways to change our training pipeline for the better. While we still focus on the content of training and readiness, it’s refreshing to see such a focus on how we learn.

While the importance of tactical training opportunities cannot be stressed enough, my naivety made me believe that onthe-job training was the building block of strong naval leaders. That being “in the thick of it” was, pound for pound, the most important developmental leadership trait the Navy had to offer. At this recent Symposium, I found myself in company with the Commander of Naval Personnel Command, RADM Alvin Holsey. As I waxed philosophical on these thoughts of leadership, RADM Holsey stopped me short and provided perspective which resonated. He countered that higher education and continued academic learning is not only helpful, but it is critical for quality leadership. Rigorous academics through our War Colleges, NPS, and civilian institutions can open the apertures for problem solving. Exposure to different ideas transform into the sharpest weapons the military can offer – critical thought and adaptability. We have historically looked at higher education as a “good deal” instead of treating it with the importance it has on our personal development and combat prowess. Over the last decade, the U.S. Navy and DoD have had a mindset shift where education opportunities in the form of education grants, remote learning, tours with industry, etc. come together to create a new model Naval Officer – taking from all aspects of experience to innovate, adapt and overcome. Our upper echelons have recognized this return on investment and the Fleet is more lethal because of it.

All of this is cause for reflection. Take one step back and look at the last two paragraphs from the perspective of the first Rotary Wing Aviators. Simulators, Masters Degrees, Augmented Reality… we are a completely different group of pilots and aircrew than when we started in 1948. The geo-political landscape has changed drastically and while we still have tail pedals and rotor blades, the advancement of technology, training, and education create a flying cadre more resilient than it has ever been. Our rotary wing legends fought the toughest enemies of their day, but our enemy is changing. We’ve needed to change accordingly, exposing our aircraft and our people to some of the toughest challenges our creativity can invent. These developments in how we learn are how we become the toughest and most lethal pilots and aircrew in the world.

Cue “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siwpn14IE7E.

NHA events are a hotbed for these reflective moments. The planning for the 2022 Gulf Coast Fleet Fly-in and the 2023 NHA Symposium in San Diego is underway and I can’t express how excited we are to see more of these conversations in-action!

Fly Navy, Alden “CaSPR” Marton