Page 39 - Appendix A

In your opinion, or based on your experience, is there a difference for a black person going
through pilot training compared to a white person? If so, do you feel that the difference

positively or negatively impacts the success of black student pilots?

That depends on the instructor[s]. If the instructor has a negative or condescending view of
your race, it will become apparent. Unfortunately, the image of the Air Force is not tolerant of
an outright bigot, so the instructor’s behavior might be subtle. If you feel that you are failing
for the same thing that other pilots are passing on, it might be to your advantage [regardless of
how scared you are] to request to fly with another instructor.

Describe/detail the flight training you had (if any) before Air Force flight training (ACE camps,
Young Eagles incentive flights, ground school, etc. and describe how it may have impacted
your success in Air Force flight training.

None

Sharing your experiences/thoughts. Please use this section to share any experiences or
thoughts on this topic from your experiences, the experiences of others, etc. that you feel are
relevant to the of the experience of black student pilots in Air Force pilot training.

Be an effective communicator

Expect there to be some cultural differences.

Expect that as the UPT year goes by, your classmates will get comfortable and to some degree
complacent with you. Something might pop out in conversation that might be sensitive.
Address it. Let them know it offensive and why. All too often, it could be driven by what
Hollywood shows our culture to be vs. what it actually is. For example, coming from the
Caribbean, it was perceived I had to be from Jamaica. I had to have had dreads and smoked

marijuana. I had to explain that it not the story. Even today, one of my copilots was blown
away that my music selection was not solely rap music. Every time he asked he was blown
away by the genre. For me, music is mental, not just rap and R&B.

Some will instantly expect you to be the best dancer.

Always be on time

Be careful with the local police. A friend of mine got a ticket for doing 56 in a 55-mile zone ☺

Expect some unnecessary degree of envy if you appear successful by myopic classmates.

If you are from an urban environment, consider that your understanding of visual landmarks
might be different that the instructor and an airbase that probably is not near an urban

environment. My instructor was asking me to turn at the river for entry into the T-37 MOA.