Page 35 - Appendix A

The 1980s

1989 Black Male SUPT Student

What would you say was the percentage of blacks was in your training class?
8%

Describe how the number of minorities in your pilot training environment compared to your
high school, college and home environment (growing up).

I went to a private high school and college……so the percentages were significantly higher than
my high school and slightly less than my college class. In my home environment, it was a
predominantly black.

If there was a significant difference describe what impact it had (if any) on your success in
training and why?
I felt had the weight of my community on my shoulders. At that time, the washout rate of
blacks had skyrocketed, and the Air Force was very concerned about what to do. I had spoken
to one candidate who I knew only through friends and another (an Air Force Academy grad…a
member of the “fraternity”) who I worked with who felt he’d been discriminated against
because he was dating a white woman and his instructors found out...I went off to pilot training

proud and scared. My nurturing along the way, I believe, was the biggest factor. I was young,
and as a young black man, I was a little “bullet-proof.” My mindset at the time was one of “if
they can do it, so could I”. These mentalities are easily manifested in some youth...I must have
gone through the “silly mentality line” twice because it was strong in me!...But as I‘ve said that
sometimes comes with youth. I’d also had a very encouraging base of support later in my life
that allowed me to succeed. Ultimately though it was God and my faith in him. I say this
because I was selected under very improbable circumstances.

In your opinion, does make a difference, regarding your success, how many other black pilots
are going through training at the same time as you? Why or why not?
After reading the next question, I assume the word missing was “it”. Based on that
assumption here is my answer: ….Yes it does make a difference in some cases…and in others it
will not. Working together as a team means a great deal in Air Force Pilot training. Later, in my
career, I was a Flight Commander in UPT….the lead flight instructor in pilot training….and I saw
some students wash out because they did not work together or had somehow placed
themselves out of the circle of study; which is very much needed. I played and worked in that
circle when I was going through as needed. But I typically went home to San Antonio (my
training base was in Del Rio, TX some 140 miles from Sam Antonio) on the weekends and did