While in San Diego I stopped at an old watering hole (accompanied by the Mrs.) . I'm glad I did. The "I Bar" is the old officers pub on base at NAS North Island. It's the site of many stories within Naval Aviation. It was also directly in line between the S-3 Viking training building and my BOQ room. So, seeing it again after 41 years brought back some memories - and a welcome enlightenment.
You see, Naval Aviation is a tough business and functions as a meritocracy when it functions best. The best pilot, the best guy at bombing, or in the arcane arts of airborne EW and ASW, are identified by delivering results. Those folks may not reflect a desired race quota, or even be media suitable PC spokespersons. Decades of senior Naval 'leadership', more attuned to pleasing leftist Congress members with budget authority than cultivating warriors, killed Naval Aviation - starting with the Patsy Schroeder "Tail Hook" persecution trials. These Marxist show trials were followed with decades of DEI selection board decisions and awards for career conscious PC promoters within. "O Clubs", particularly those on Naval Air Stations, were shuttered, 'consolidated' with enlisted, anything to eliminate the showcase of toxic masculinity and belligerent alpha male comraderie that they provided.
In the intervening decades I've had numerous visits to Naval Air Station 'O Clubs', or what functioned as such. I found them dead zones with young men acting like they were aware of the Soviet era Zampolit PC police among them, ready to spring on any non PC comment, or behavior inconsistent with a neutered, well behaved, and environmentally friendly Navy.
And, on the larger scale, how'd that work out? Major ships burning down pier side, an Academy grad surrendering boats, crews, the works, to Iranians sans court martial, collisions at sea, especially the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) debacle, the disgraceful retreat from Afghanistan - which should have cost careers as well as the lives of our Marines and a good Navy Corpsman.
Given the above, imagine my surprise to find Naval Aviators in the I Bar! Here were young folks clearly lovin' the job and as ready to kill, as help, some miscreants, depending on ROE and the plan of the day.
Don't know who to credit, Trump? Hegseth? But clearly these folks are ready to take on what may come.
Perhaps, just in time.
May God bless our Naval Aviators, pilots and crews.
Probably both, and good to hear.
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