Michelle 'Mace' Curran

It wasn't always as smooth as it probably seemed to an outsider. There were moments when, even when I had gotten there, where... I hate to say this now because I talk to people about not doing this, but I guess that comes from my personal experience and the lessons I learned. But there was a point early on in my career where I was fully qualified as a fighter pilot.

So I'd gone through all the formal training pipelines, which... Those are so... They're very demanding, but they also show you exactly the way. You know, here's your syllabus. Here is your next test. Here is your next simulator. Here's your next checkride, your flight, whatever. This is how we rank people in the class. This is where you have to be in your class to have...

So I'd gone through all the formal training pipelines, which... Those are so... They're very demanding, but they also show you exactly the way. You know, here's your syllabus. Here is your next test. Here is your next simulator. Here's your next checkride, your flight, whatever. This is how we rank people in the class. This is where you have to be in your class to have...

So I'd gone through all the formal training pipelines, which... Those are so... They're very demanding, but they also show you exactly the way. You know, here's your syllabus. Here is your next test. Here is your next simulator. Here's your next checkride, your flight, whatever. This is how we rank people in the class. This is where you have to be in your class to have...

a chance to get a fighter aircraft because it's very competitive. We had two in my class of 25 students. So it's difficult, but the path to success is laid out in front of you. And you're with all these people that are your peers that are struggling with the same thing. So while I found that difficult and stressful, I also did well in that environment where it was like, here's clear cut.

a chance to get a fighter aircraft because it's very competitive. We had two in my class of 25 students. So it's difficult, but the path to success is laid out in front of you. And you're with all these people that are your peers that are struggling with the same thing. So while I found that difficult and stressful, I also did well in that environment where it was like, here's clear cut.

a chance to get a fighter aircraft because it's very competitive. We had two in my class of 25 students. So it's difficult, but the path to success is laid out in front of you. And you're with all these people that are your peers that are struggling with the same thing. So while I found that difficult and stressful, I also did well in that environment where it was like, here's clear cut.

This is how I compete. This is how I do well. It was more when I got to my first combat squadron where I suddenly felt in way over my head. And yes, I was with this squadron of other fighter pilots who are supposed to be my peers, my mentors, but I was the youngest. I was brand new. I just stepped into this environment and I felt very alone. And there were points then when if I hadn't

This is how I compete. This is how I do well. It was more when I got to my first combat squadron where I suddenly felt in way over my head. And yes, I was with this squadron of other fighter pilots who are supposed to be my peers, my mentors, but I was the youngest. I was brand new. I just stepped into this environment and I felt very alone. And there were points then when if I hadn't

This is how I compete. This is how I do well. It was more when I got to my first combat squadron where I suddenly felt in way over my head. And yes, I was with this squadron of other fighter pilots who are supposed to be my peers, my mentors, but I was the youngest. I was brand new. I just stepped into this environment and I felt very alone. And there were points then when if I hadn't

owed the Air Force a big long contract after they just spent millions of dollars to train me, I would have left. When the going got tough, like really tough and all that self-doubt crept in and I really felt like an imposter, when I was at the worst part of that, I would have left if it was an option.

owed the Air Force a big long contract after they just spent millions of dollars to train me, I would have left. When the going got tough, like really tough and all that self-doubt crept in and I really felt like an imposter, when I was at the worst part of that, I would have left if it was an option.

owed the Air Force a big long contract after they just spent millions of dollars to train me, I would have left. When the going got tough, like really tough and all that self-doubt crept in and I really felt like an imposter, when I was at the worst part of that, I would have left if it was an option.

But it just legitimately was not an option.

But it just legitimately was not an option.

But it just legitimately was not an option.

It's not an option. I mean, you're in the military, you have a service commitment that you're signed to. And I'm sure there was an option to switch career fields and stay in the military. But the idea of letting other people down after I had just, I mean, cause from an outside perspective, people were very impressed with what I was doing or like, you know, she worked so hard.

It's not an option. I mean, you're in the military, you have a service commitment that you're signed to. And I'm sure there was an option to switch career fields and stay in the military. But the idea of letting other people down after I had just, I mean, cause from an outside perspective, people were very impressed with what I was doing or like, you know, she worked so hard.

It's not an option. I mean, you're in the military, you have a service commitment that you're signed to. And I'm sure there was an option to switch career fields and stay in the military. But the idea of letting other people down after I had just, I mean, cause from an outside perspective, people were very impressed with what I was doing or like, you know, she worked so hard.

She went on a full ride to college. She decided she wanted to be a fighter pilot and boom, she made it happen, which is all true. But from the perspective that I was at, at that point, I was in a place I shouldn't be. And I didn't deserve to be there.