There is no question that when you assume control of a fighter jet, you have got some serious power in your hands. And as has been spoken before in at least one superhero movie in recent years, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

You might have heard about an incident not too long ago where one of our own F/A-18 Super Hornets shot down a Russian-made Su-22 Flanker after it had bombed U.S. allies in the Raqqa province in Syria. There were also some serious concerns about how this action might escalate the already-tense situation brewing with Russia.

But you can bet your rent that the command pilot of the F/A-18 did not take his actions lightly. He had orders and also had to practice good judgement on the best way to eliminate the threat to allied troops in the most efficient and economical way possible.

Eliminating a threat doesn’t always mean shooting the sucker down. In fact, that is a last resort! Pilots are trained in power projection to warn potential hostiles that they had better not mess with us before we press that red button. The reason: because we know that if we act in “the heat of the moment” and don’t reel our emotions back in before they get the better of us, then it could lead to an even further escalation of conflict.

This is one of the reasons why officers are chosen to fly America’s jet fighters. They have to be trained not only in the area of physical fitness to deal with the high g-forces and in tactics of combat, they also have to be trained in leadership and judgement. These are not qualities that just magically come to you just because you are now in the position of great power, you have educate yourself and your mind to see a bigger picture.

Leadership is a horn often tooted here on the Afterburner Club for that very reason. We want to make sure that you present yourself to the selection board as the best candidate for the job, and there is no better way to do that than to actually be the best candidate for the job. If you join the service already having a good understanding of leadership and knowing where disciple and teamwork fit into the role of being an officer and fighter pilot, then they will see you as the kind of person who won’t rush in at Mach 2 to blow somebody away and take names and get the U.S. into hot political water without thinking the matter through. You will be the type of person that they know that they can count on to use great power responsibly and with good judgement.

There is no better feeling in the world than flying over the world in a powerful armed jet knowing that you can make the real difference in the world. Show the board that you can make the positive and responsible difference. Show them that you’ve got what it takes. Train with us on the Afterburner Club and having what it takes will simply be part of your nature!

Semper Fi!