Page 11 - Appendix A

2002 Black Male SUPT student
(Laughlin)

How would you characterize your childhood community?
It would be considered a predominately minority community

How would you characterize your high school?

White students made up the majority of the student population

How many blacks were in your pilot training class including yourself?
2

Total number of student pilots who initially entered pilot training with you?
42

Do you feel that having the other minority pilot helped you during training? Please explain.
Yes. Kevin Brathwaite was a NY National Guard C-5 pilot candidate, so him not being active duty
kept the stress off of him, and he was able to keep me updated on when students and IPs
would be setting traps for me to fall into (as much as he could). It was also good having the
support of somebody who wanted to see me succeed and was not competing with me, so we
would study together and he would grill me and ensure I was squared away, because we both
knew that I had to be 20 times better than all of our classmates just to be considered in the top
10 to have a chance at fighters. We had to be 10 times better just to not wash out of training
(Every black student pilot at Laughlin AFB in 2001-2005 knew this).

Did you ever fly with a black instructor in your flight, guest help, or check pilot?
Guest Pilot

Was there black leadership at your wing?
There was no black leadership at my base.

How was your pilot training experience impacted by the presence of black instructors or black
leadership? Please explain.
Positive impact. When my IPs were clearly trying to wash me out even though I was doing well,
there was an IP on base who was a Major. Although he wasn't in my flight/squadron, he kept

himself updated on my situation. When things got really tough with my IPs, he stepped in and