Were your buddies and comrades and bosses aware that you had this fear going into every mission?

So they didn't.

It was kind of like my little hidden secret.

And mind you, I want everybody to know that if it impacted my ability to correctly, effectively, efficiently, and safely do my job, then it would be my ultimate responsibility to let them know, hey, man, I can't do this.

However, I was still able to fly, did very well, got many awards, was in combat and all that good stuff.

And it underscores the fact that many people have these fears and phobias and doubts.

That's the key is, can you fly through them? Can you still perform despite the fear? Because the fear is a reality.

How did you manage developing that skill to put that fear aside and still continue the commitment?

You've written multiple books, sales professional, obviously an F-16 fighter pilot filing dozens of missions.

so so you know i flew 65 combat missions iraq serbia did a lot of crazy things that didn't make the news and i was afraid on most of them i overcame claustrophobia due to a ptsd i developed in a scuba diving accident just a year or two into my flying career and so every time i flew i had to face not just the missiles but this sense of uncertainty picture being in a cockpit for six or seven hours at night over iraq right you're going to have these panic attacks so i wrote this book and particularly became passionate about commitment on how to deal with fear and subjugating it to your preparation, to your team, the fact that it's not just having wingmen to fly with you who will help you, who you can come to for help and have your back, which is why we never fly solo, but it's also flying for your wingmen.

realizing that somebody needs you to execute, that somebody's depending on you.

And once again, that subjugates passion and fear to responsibility and courage.

And that's what I really learned facing my fears in the cockpit.

And it just helped me really overcome so much and maybe a better father, a better business leader, and a better citizen of this amazing country.

What would you say is the state of courage today? I mean, it's hard to summarize.

I think it's pretty pathetic in one word.

Yeah

... by more pilots, the more I said, "You know, this is something I really wanna do." Now, one of the things that I was always challenged with was a massive fear of heights that I eventually overcame, obviously, to fly.

And part of my journey is, you know, facing fear, dealing with uncertainty and anxiety, how to take that leap of faith to step out of your comfort zone.

But the other biggest factor is that around a year and a half into my flying career, Joe, I almost died in a scuba diving accident, uh, 30 feet under the water.

I, I'd never been scuba diving before.

Long story short, mask separated, malfunctioned.

I inhaled a whole lung full of water, had a massive panic attack, and, uh, I didn't have one before.

Oh, yeah

Would you agree? I mean, it feels countercultural to me.

It is.

It is.

But here's another thing.

And there's another point that forces me to step out of my comfort zone and help me accomplish my missions in fear.

I talked about having that compelling goal, that vision of what you want to become, but also the feeling that you get when you're done going through the trial, when you're done lifting the weight.

When you're done going through the diet and you look at your body and you're like, I lost the six pounds and my body fat's leaner.

So that's my bucket.

But there's so much more, isn't there?

Freedom isn't free.

We wake up every single day and I tell this to my 15 year old son, you know, we go out and play and we eat at great restaurants and you walk around this amazing country where we're not getting shot at, where we're blessed with so many opportunities in business and life and vacations and fuel and barbecues, all the amazing things that we often take for granted.

Well, I have a saying, and I didn't make this up.

It's an old quote, and it says, when you sip from the fountain, don't forget who dug the well.

And we have amazing folks who sacrificed and dug the well for our country.

They continuously do it today.

Incredibly important, Waldo, incredibly important.

What is this pilot trained to do right now?

And first and foremost, my condolences go out to the downed aircrew and their families.

We know that this is a tough time for everyone.

And I'll tell you, the confidence that you have before you strap in and fly these amazing aircraft for the greatest country in the world is really what gives you that fortitude, the resilience and discipline needed to survive.

As we say in the military, no fighter pilot flies solo.

That downed air crew that was rescued is going to be able to provide a serious amount of intel to the search and rescue operations, as well as other aircraft that were airborne.

This F-15E, which is a dual role air-to-air and air-to-ground fighter, is extremely capable, but you're not infallible to the enemy.

And when those folks are looking for you, that's got to bring a bit of optimism to the families and to that pilot on the ground.