Sign on?

As a kid, my favorite movie was Top Gun (still is one of my favorites). Not because of Tom Cruise, but because of Tomcat. No you moron, not TomKat, but rather, the F-14. Although that fighter was phased out by the USN three years back, it was also immortalized by that movie. Anyway, from then on, I would always dream of how awesome it would be if I could fly.

My dad would also frequently take me air shows and just watch in awe as the fighter jets streaked across. There was even one airshow where the Red Arrows performed here. It was nothing short of inspiring with their dazzling maneuvers, coupled with the blue, red and white smoke, the colors of the Union Jack. In short, i always wanted to become a pilot.

While other kids were reading Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl at that age, I was reading aviation photo journals and stuff like that, even to the extent of memorizing the specifications of several aircraft. I also have an uncle who served with both the RSAF and SIA and would explain a lot of aviation stuff to me when I asked him.

Lately, while I was sick I was also watching lots of videos on aerobatic teams. Not only the Red Arrows (though I believe they are the best), but the USN Blue Angels, the USAF Thunderbirds, the Russian Knights and Strizhi and even our homegrown Black Knights. A-freakin-mazing

I've also realized one more thing: My time has come to serve the nation and this might be my only chance to become what I've always dreamed of becoming. I still have 20/20 vision. However, as much as I want to fly on wings of Strike Eagles (F-15E), a big part of me is saying no. Why? Maybe it's because I'm an unpatriotic bastard and maybe because I always though of signing on as selling my soul away... especially if the bond is ten years and I'm thinking of relocating.

Maybe in the next life. No, I don't believe in reincarnation, but I mean when I settle down in Australia. A pilot's license there is about $10k. Yippie Ki Yay. It's a shame that doesn't certify you to fly at Mach 2...