An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 3, 2014.The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Staff Sgt. John Bainter)

Commentaries

Retiring Duke Field pilot offers wisdom legacy

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Joe Arthur
  • 919th Special Operations Wing
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Over the course of the years I have heard many of these one-liners. I have to admit, I didn't always follow this sage advice. But now, looking back, I can say with conviction they are all true.
  • Everybody's hero is somebody's jerk.
  • There are always three sides to a story, yours, theirs and what really happened.
  • If you plan on stealing from the government, make sure it is five times your annual income, so you have a little money left over when you get out of jail.
  • If you don't like your current commander, you probably won't like the next one, maybe it is you.
  • Purge malcontents from your organization before they infect the rest of the unit.
  • Floss regularly.
  • Don't buck the system, learn it and use it.
  • Always check to make sure the power is off, twice.
  • Call your Mom often.
  • Save for tomorrow, but make sure you live for today.
  • Try to learn something new every day.
  • You can't beat the low altitude record, you can only tie it.
  • Don't play with snakes.
  • He who asks a question, is a fool for the moment, he who doesn't is a fool forever.
  • Always smile; it makes people wonder what you are up to.
  • The early bird, still only gets a worm.
  • If you shoot at someone, you can wholeheartedly expect them to shoot back.
  • Take care of the young troops; you may be working for them one day.
  • Believe in yourself, you may be the only one who does.
  • If you love what you do, you will never go to work a day in your life.
  • A success at the office and a failure at home does not make you successful.
  • Be good to your children; they may end up spoon feeding you.
  • You only get to make a first impression one time.
  • Two pilots invented copper wire by fighting over a penny.
  • I have never met a pilot that washed out of navigator school.
  • You can't get memories while you are asleep.
  • God hath no wrath like a woman scorned.
  • Live and learn; die and forget it all.
  • Knowledge is power.
  • Never shake a baby.
  • Nothing is constant except for change.
  • Change or die.
  • The beatings will continue until morale improves.
  • Try to be in the right place at the right time.
  • There is no such thing as luck; there is, however, preparation met by opportunity.
  • Life is all about choices.
  • Stop and smell the roses.
  • Take time to talk with small children; you will be amazed at what you can learn.
  • Youth and skill are no match for old age and treachery.
  • Take the extra minute to live.
  • Whenever you get in trouble, lay low for a few days and someone will come along and take the spotlight away from you.
  • Deny, deny, deny, and then beg forgiveness.
(Colonel Arthur retires June 6 after a career spanning more than 35 years.  He is a command pilot with more than 5,000 military flying hours in C-130 E/H, C-130A, AC-130 and MC-130P aircraft.  He has deployed and supported combat operations in the air and on the ground, including Operations Just Cause, Restore Democracy, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.)