The Power of Testimony

’TIL WE MEET AGAIN
Wearing the officer’s uniform I’d been given—​ although
one with a star on the sleeve instead of stripes—​ I joined
the fifty other cadets in the mess hall as we listened to the
briefing. A fit-​ looking man in his forties was at the front,
explaining the aviation cadet course and what we’d be
expected to do.
“Landing a fighter plane on a moving aircraft carrier
is one of the most difficult technical tasks anyone in the
forces will be expected to accomplish. Cadets, this is the
V-5 program, and you’re at the start of a long and difficult
twelve months. You will be tested and observed throughout,
and you’re going to need to study like you’ve never
studied before.”
The longer the officer spoke, the smaller the room felt.
Months of fantasizing about being a pilot evaporated in
seconds.
“You’re here for the next three months. We’ll teach you
the theory of flying, but not much else. After that, assuming
you can keep up, you’ll be moved to two more locations
for proper flight training. Pass those, and you’ll be tested at
the new facility in Pensacola, Florida. At the end of all that,
if you’re good enough at flying and you have an A average
in math, we’ll give you your wings.”
The officer kept talking, and I heard him say something
about weekend passes, but I didn’t take in anything else. My
mind was still stuck on the image of trying to land a plane
on an aircraft carrier as it rose and fell on the ocean swell.
I’d never thought about that before. In all my imaginings of
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