Alan C. Mack

And a good story here about never quitting is that one of the guys I was competing with, if you will, when the assignments came out, they did not give us choice. And, you know, we all got shoved off in Huey's, all those top guys. And he got mad and he, I wouldn't say he quit, but he stopped trying, right? So he studied enough. He did what he had to do, but he quit.

And a good story here about never quitting is that one of the guys I was competing with, if you will, when the assignments came out, they did not give us choice. And, you know, we all got shoved off in Huey's, all those top guys. And he got mad and he, I wouldn't say he quit, but he stopped trying, right? So he studied enough. He did what he had to do, but he quit.

And a good story here about never quitting is that one of the guys I was competing with, if you will, when the assignments came out, they did not give us choice. And, you know, we all got shoved off in Huey's, all those top guys. And he got mad and he, I wouldn't say he quit, but he stopped trying, right? So he studied enough. He did what he had to do, but he quit.

He dropped from being in 98 point something to, you know, 88 point something, right? So instead of going from an A, he went to a B kind of thing. And then toward the end, what I just talked about, the Chinook thing, the Army said, okay, we're going to do two slots from your class, get Chinooks, right? So two pilots will get Chinooks, and we're going to take the number one and two guy.

He dropped from being in 98 point something to, you know, 88 point something, right? So instead of going from an A, he went to a B kind of thing. And then toward the end, what I just talked about, the Chinook thing, the Army said, okay, we're going to do two slots from your class, get Chinooks, right? So two pilots will get Chinooks, and we're going to take the number one and two guy.

He dropped from being in 98 point something to, you know, 88 point something, right? So instead of going from an A, he went to a B kind of thing. And then toward the end, what I just talked about, the Chinook thing, the Army said, okay, we're going to do two slots from your class, get Chinooks, right? So two pilots will get Chinooks, and we're going to take the number one and two guy.

And I happened to be number one, and my stick buddy was number two, and this guy probably would have been one or two had he kept going, but he gave up. And now he's like throwing stuff around the classroom. He's like, damn it, I shouldn't have quit, you know, and it's like, Good point, buddy.

And I happened to be number one, and my stick buddy was number two, and this guy probably would have been one or two had he kept going, but he gave up. And now he's like throwing stuff around the classroom. He's like, damn it, I shouldn't have quit, you know, and it's like, Good point, buddy.

And I happened to be number one, and my stick buddy was number two, and this guy probably would have been one or two had he kept going, but he gave up. And now he's like throwing stuff around the classroom. He's like, damn it, I shouldn't have quit, you know, and it's like, Good point, buddy.

And I remember to this day, I use that lesson on my kids and tell them, it's like, don't get mad you didn't get the job you wanted. Don't get mad that you didn't get this or that. Things always work out. They just do. Don't give up. So you wanted a Chinook. I didn't. I was actually mad that I got it. Really? Yeah, because remember I said I wanted to be salt work, right? And I'm like, a Chinook?

And I remember to this day, I use that lesson on my kids and tell them, it's like, don't get mad you didn't get the job you wanted. Don't get mad that you didn't get this or that. Things always work out. They just do. Don't give up. So you wanted a Chinook. I didn't. I was actually mad that I got it. Really? Yeah, because remember I said I wanted to be salt work, right? And I'm like, a Chinook?

And I remember to this day, I use that lesson on my kids and tell them, it's like, don't get mad you didn't get the job you wanted. Don't get mad that you didn't get this or that. Things always work out. They just do. Don't give up. So you wanted a Chinook. I didn't. I was actually mad that I got it. Really? Yeah, because remember I said I wanted to be salt work, right? And I'm like, a Chinook?

That's bull. It's going to be like flying from airport to airport. That's going to suck. And the instructors, all retired warrant officers, all older guys, they slapped me in the back of the head, right? They're like, you idiot. Shut your mouth and take the slot, right? And I'm like, but I want to fly Hueys. And they're like... Hueys are going away. Trust me. Take the Chinook, right?

That's bull. It's going to be like flying from airport to airport. That's going to suck. And the instructors, all retired warrant officers, all older guys, they slapped me in the back of the head, right? They're like, you idiot. Shut your mouth and take the slot, right? And I'm like, but I want to fly Hueys. And they're like... Hueys are going away. Trust me. Take the Chinook, right?

That's bull. It's going to be like flying from airport to airport. That's going to suck. And the instructors, all retired warrant officers, all older guys, they slapped me in the back of the head, right? They're like, you idiot. Shut your mouth and take the slot, right? And I'm like, but I want to fly Hueys. And they're like... Hueys are going away. Trust me. Take the Chinook, right?

So I did, you know, grudgingly. And as soon as I flew that thing, I was like, this is amazing. It's one of the fastest helicopters on the planet, let alone the U.S. Army. It's very powerful, and it's no harder to fly than a Huey. But there's a whole now conversation on that. But that's how I ended up flying Chinooks. Learned on Hueys, transitioned into CH-47 Deltas just before Desert Shield.

So I did, you know, grudgingly. And as soon as I flew that thing, I was like, this is amazing. It's one of the fastest helicopters on the planet, let alone the U.S. Army. It's very powerful, and it's no harder to fly than a Huey. But there's a whole now conversation on that. But that's how I ended up flying Chinooks. Learned on Hueys, transitioned into CH-47 Deltas just before Desert Shield.

So I did, you know, grudgingly. And as soon as I flew that thing, I was like, this is amazing. It's one of the fastest helicopters on the planet, let alone the U.S. Army. It's very powerful, and it's no harder to fly than a Huey. But there's a whole now conversation on that. But that's how I ended up flying Chinooks. Learned on Hueys, transitioned into CH-47 Deltas just before Desert Shield.

And then I flew them there. And then I ended up instructing in those, and then we get into the 160th later.

And then I flew them there. And then I ended up instructing in those, and then we get into the 160th later.