The cornerstone of character is integrity, Navy flying ace tells cadets

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  A retired Navy commander who flew 170 combat missions and more than 5,200 jet dogfights, invited cadets inside the mentality and cockpit of a real fighter jet dogfight Feb. 28 during the 21st annual National Character and Leadership Symposium.

Bill Driscoll, one of the most decorated Naval flight officers of the past 50 years, spoke on approaches ace fighter pilots take amid the tension, anxiety and stress of air combat and how Academy cadets can live a more balanced life.

"Although I have a Navy background, the way I look at it is that we're all on the same team and salute the same flag," he said. "You may be wondering, 'What is the connection between someone who has flown jet fighters in combat and what cadets are doing at the Academy?' It's the problems and challenges we face under pressure."

Driscoll said one of his favorite quotes is from former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who said 'Reputation is what people think you are and character is what you really are.'"

"The cornerstone of building character is integrity," he said. "Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, 'Do my teammates trust me? Am I trustworthy? Am I doing the right thing when nobody is looking? Am I willing to live by and be judged by a higher set of standards than anybody else?' That's what the honor code at the Academy is all about."

Driscoll told cadets to keep a good attitude and push through the challenges while at the Academy.

"Cadets, keep working what you're doing here every day," he said. "When you're tired, frustrated or don't feel like doing it, keep working because nothing is more certain than the defeat of those who let up."

Driscoll said during his 40 years as a jet fighter pilot, he has flown with and against some of the finest pilots in the world from the Navy and Air Force, as well as Israel, Germany, Australia and France.

"It's not a sport, there are no rules, there are no referees - and if you lose, you lose your life," he said. "Everybody knows that whether the plane is taking off from a land base area or from a ship."

A jet fighter travels from zero-to-160 mph in less than two seconds when catapulted from a ship, Driscoll said.

"During a dogfight, you're trying to get your nose on the enemy as quickly as possible," he said. "You're the hunter and 'huntee' at the same moment. If the enemy is in range, so are you."

Tension, anxiety, stress and fear of everyday combat can take a toll on a pilot, Driscoll said.

"There has to be some system in place to navigate through that," he said. "Fear left unchecked in combat turns to panic. Once panic sets in, your chances of success are severely reduced."

Driscoll said the will to succeed is of little value without the will to prepare.

"I didn't prepare for my first flight in a fighter jet and it was absolute disaster," he said. "I had no one to blame but myself. It was a life-changing moment for me, and from then on I vowed I would always over-prepare before entering an aircraft. I needed to know what was going on inside and outside of the cockpit."

After being a part of the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, also known as Topgun, for 43 years, Driscoll said he's learned that hard work works.

He said the day you stop wanting to be better, is the day you stop being good.

"The pilots at Topgun work hard to get there but have to get better if they want to graduate," Driscoll said. "We expect them to be able to fly their airplanes, one inch from out of control at all times in a purposeful way, whether they're traveling 650 mph at 30,000 feet or at 30 feet. If they can do that in 10 and-a-half weeks, they get awarded the Topgun badge. Not everyone gets a badge."

Driscoll's service awards include the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, Purple Heart, 10 Air Medals and a nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor.