You already know that hard work is par for the course in your road to becoming a fighter pilot, but when you finally do make it into the cockpit of your dream jet (and armed with the right information with implementation, it’s only a matter of time before you do), you’ll find that the real work is just beginning!

Beginning your training to become a fighter pilot is challenging. There’s no doubt about it. But even more crazy is the training to become a really good and proficient one after you’ve made it into that cockpit. Regardless of what the public thinks, we don’t just fly for one or two hours out of the day and then play volleyball, go to a bar, or chase girls.

Being a fighter pilot is work! We’re talking about a 10-hour day minimum! And that’s just preparation, briefing, flying and debriefing. If you already play sports, particularly if you play football, you’re already getting a good idea of what it’s like. You play once a week during the season and spend the rest of the week preparing, practicing, and watching your team’s play to figure out what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong.

It’s the same in a fighter squadron. For every hour you fly, there’s going to be 10 to 15 hours getting ready for that flight and then analyzing it to figure out what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong. Fortunately, just like in football, you’re not in it alone. You’ll be surrounded by some truly exceptional and talented people; your fellow pilots, support personnel, superior officers, and the troops you are supporting on the ground. You all have a mission to accomplish together, and you owe it to know role and do your job.

You also owe it to many other people too: your fellow citizens of the United States of America. The taxpayers who paid for your airplane, entrusted you to do the right thing with it, pay your salary, and to whom you will have sworn an oath to protect.

Start doing it now for them as well as yourself. Invest in yourself with the Afterburner Club today and begin to learn your mission, figure out what your role will be, and how to do the best job you can in that cockpit! Do it now!