The Blue Angels

Here is the dream job, folks. While the military offers a lot of cool flying jobs, it just doesn't get any better than landing a pilot position with the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels.

Sure, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are very cool, and the Canadian Snowbirds are impressive. But the Blue Angels are downright awesome! Maybe it's the slick Navy blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets these pilots fly. Or those crisp uniforms. It could be the ceremony between the flight team and the ground crew as the pilots approach their jets for the big show.

How does an aspiring Angel get there? First, join the Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. For enlisted military personnel already serving in other capacities, there are opportunities to make the transition to officer and then flight status thanks to programs known as BOOST or "Seaman to Admiral." For most pilot aspirants, however, the launch point for a career as either a Naval or Marine aviator begins in college.

A degree and good grades are essential. For candidates who have not been a part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), a visit to a recruiter is the initial step. There, the recruit will eventually take the aviation selection test battery and pass a physical from a military entrance processing station. All of this should be completed while still in school.

The most efficient route to the Navy for a young future officer is through the U.S. Naval Academy or a college affiliated with the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). Graduates of the NROTC are selected for flight training during their final year of school.

After years of training and experience the military aviator could be in a position to consider a slot with the Blue Angels. Of note are the diverse backgrounds of current team members who have come to the service and ultimately the Blue Angels through the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marines.

Piloting skills are obviously important. All applicants must be carrier qualified, active-duty Navy or Marine Corps tactical jet pilots with a minimum of 1,250 flight hours. The Hornet can reach a speed of about 1,400 mph and sports a maximum climb rate of 30,000 feet per minute! Personal attributes are equally as important. These characteristics are detailed in an open letter to all interested applicants: "In general, we are looking for outstanding Navy and Marine Corp officers who can speak publicly, handle difficult situations, and receive constructive criticism in a team environment. It is paramount we represent the Navy, Marine Corps, and our country in the best light."

Look at the r�sum� of Lt. Cmdr. John Allison, lead solo. A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, he attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology with highest honors. He received his commission upon graduation through the NROTC in December 1995.

He completed primary flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, and transferred to NAS Kingsville, Texas, for intermediate and advanced jet training in the T-45 Goshawk. Allison earned his wings of gold in June 1998, and then reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California, for training in the F/A-18 Hornet. As a student assigned to VFA-125, he received several awards for air combat, precision bombing, and carrier landing performance.

In February 2000, Allison reported to the VFA-192 World Famous Golden Dragons at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan, where he served as Naval Air Training and Operation Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) officer, aircraft division officer, air-to-air training officer, and head landing signals officer. While there, he earned 2002 VFA-192 Pilot of the Year honors, and deployed seven times aboard USS Kitty Hawk. He also deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and flew combat missions supporting Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom.

In April 2003, Allison reported to the VFA-122 Flying Eagles, based at NAS Lemoore, as an F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet instructor pilot. While at VFA-122, he served as the electronic briefing officer, assistant syllabus officer, plans officer, landing signals officer, and Tailhook Legacy demonstration pilot. He joined the Blue Angels in November 2004. He has accumulated more than 2,600 flight hours and 325 carrier landings.

All Blue Angels have similarly impressive credentials and achievements. Aspirants must submit a handful of required forms, reports, approvals, and recommendations as well as undergo an interview process. Once selected, the work really begins.

This year, the Blue Angels celebrate 20 years flying the F/A-18 Hornet. By the end of 2007, they will have flown more than 60 air shows. It's estimated that the Blue Angels have performed before more than 427 million fans since that first show at Craig Field in Jacksonville on June 1, 1946. But the Blue Angels' public relations efforts go far beyond the airshow circuit. Each year between March and November, the team will visit more than 50,000 people at schools and hospitals.

Blue Angels earn the same pay as a fellow colleague out of the limelight but serving the country as a pilot or ground support. And speaking of ground support, each Blue Angel readily acknowledges the important contributions of the Fat Albert group--its C-130T Hercules carries maintenance and support personnel, gear, and communication equipment. The "Bert" pilots, loadmasters, mechanics, logistics personnel, and other support officers are vital to the team's success. These other duties point to some of the other career tracks in the Navy or Marines.

To date there have been 232 demonstration pilots since the Blue Angels debuted in 1946. It is an elite group of military aviators. Remember, though, that each started as a squadron pilot, performing the same maneuvers repeated countless times by fighter pilots in all branches of the armed forces. Those airmen possess those same flight skills as the Blue Angels, and their work is equally if not more important.

Wayne Phillips is an airline transport pilot with a Boeing 737 type rating. He is a B-737 instructor and operates the Airline Training Orientation Program in association with Continental Airlines. He is an aviation safety consultant in Michigan and speaker for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.