I love Gonky's earnestness and positivity. Even talking about permanent outcomes, he still sounds hopeful. Thanks for sharing your faith and wisdom with us, sir.

What uncanny timing, guys! My heart was shattered just yesterday - my long-term relationship came to a sad and unwanted end 💔 To top it off, it happened a day before my birthday (today.) I woke up this morning trying to blink away the tears and make myself get up, to be strong and carry on. As I looked at my phone to see the time, I saw the notification for this video. Wow! I've been praying for my "runway" to be cleared so that I may resume flying, but I sure didn't expect to lose who I thought was my wingman in life. I am a solid believer in God, and I just have to trust that what and who I need will come at the right time. What felt like a punch to the gut yesterday might turn out to be the best birthday gift ever, we'll see! It looks like my path to flying has taken an unexpected turn, yet again. "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." -- Henry Ford. Thanks guys - for reminding a fellow aviation nut to stick to the fundamentals of flight: aviate, navigate, communicate. I'll keep the blue side up! 😉💛

Thanks for sharing Christian faith Gonky 🙏🏻💪🏼💯

My career ended abruptly too. After being in the Army for 27 years at the time, a back and neck injury ended my flying and my career. To make matters worse, I felt like the command came after me because I couldn’t fly anymore. Funny how you’re an integral part of the unit and then when you can’t help them anymore they discard you and are treated like crap. I loved being in the Army and flying and I had spent my entire adult life in uniform. Suddenly it is over and no one wants to give you the time of day. I finally came to grips with it and moved on. All you can do is move forward and not look back. Thanks for this video.

@bullseye8509

Ай бұрын

Thank you for your service.

@discofishing

24 күн бұрын

​@@bullseye8509Shuddup with that stuff! Unless you're also a vet, it means very little.

@bullseye8509

24 күн бұрын

@@discofishing Um...so...yeah I served 22 years active duty, along with an additional 17 years with the DoD directly involved with training Warfighters. My military service does not define me but when someone is kind enough to thank me for my service I usually just say "thank you" and carry on. I have met many people in my life who have wanted to serve but for whatever reason they were unable. I try to have grace for these people. Also, I was not directly thanking you, but thanks for weighing in.

I’m not sure how, but you guys keep posting a video on exactly what I need to hear that day. Thank you guys and keep it up.

@UnderTheGreydar

Ай бұрын

Uncanny, isn't it?! This video couldn't have dropped at a more perfect time for me, I was in shock. It felt like a wink and a hug from above, an answer to prayers. Really awesome! Wishing you well in whatever you're enduring 💛

This is the quote I see every time I look at my phone “God will reveal the Big picture at the right time. Trust Him and focus on your next step”. Thanks you guys for your mental health segments.

To add a little levity. When I face extreme challenges I think to myself " It would of killed a lesser man." 🤣

Rick Allen of Def Leppard- the drummer lost his left arm in a car accident. He said if it weren't for the support of his friends and family, but especially his bandmates who stood beside him, he could not have recovered and decided to learn how to drum again with his leg instead of his arm. The power of the support of the people around you is huge.

"When one door closes, another opens -- but we often spend so long looking regretfully back at the closed door, that we don't see the one that just opened for us." This is often attributed to Alexander Graham Bell; whoever first said it, it's good to keep in mind.

Not going to lie, been taking a lot of frustrating punches lately. Needed this. Thank you.

For some people, like myself, there is no victory. There may only ever be another step. Until there isn't. Sometimes the enemy, the battle, is with oneself. People and medication can help, and often only temporarily. The best I may ever be able to do is try, even if it only makes things worse.

Thanks Mover and Gonky for this episode. It particularly resonated with me. I had a failed flying career, was impacted by mental health issues and then became a Psychologist. The mental coaching aspects of your shows are inspiring and spot on and as a Psychologist I’m really impressed in your insights and personal disclosures. Also really enjoy the spirituality component introduced now too. I’m also keen DCS pilot. Would love to connect or contribute. Stephen

I'm reminded of The Proof of Worth by Edgar Guest: "Though victory is proof of the skill you possess, Defeat is the proof of your grit..."

The best advice I have ever received is: “Never give-up long-term goals for short-term gains.”

The old statement, “It doesn’t matter how you get knocked down but how you get up” goes a long way.

Thank you. Just, thank you.

Honestly, Mover has helped me with my profoundly Autistic son. He dedicated a video to Grant regarding helicopter flight. Grant is approaching 17 and now has a feeding tube. I try and try, but it’s hard. I have to keep vigilant and a good Dad. Sometimes I feel if I was not around it would be better and I am a retired Army officer (retired in 2004). Life is tough. I just did not realize how tough it would be. I’m a good man. It’s just so tough to be what I feel I need to be.

@UnderTheGreydar

Ай бұрын

Hang in there, Paul 💛 I can relate a bit. I shelved my flying ambitions to raise my son who has special health care needs (including a life-threatening condition and a congenital deformity which required numerous surgeries.) However, I do not share the same enduring heartbreak you have, since my son is neurotypical. He's an adult now and doing well. My heart goes out to you, and all others who are parents of special needs children, caregivers and those dealing with their own infirmity. You're a good dad! I know you share a special bond with your son, and that's so awesome that you look for ways to connect with him, such as with Mover + helicopters! As the years passed while my son was growing, I'd occasionally have pangs of longing for "missing out" on my dream to fly. But you know what? It didn't take long for me to realize that flight school (only ever got through my 1st rating as a teen) prepared me for flying through stormy skies in life. I may not have made it to the cockpit I'd originally envisioned, but I was indeed "flying" an important mission. Being a pilot gave me the problem-solving tools and cool head necessary to be a good mom and caregiver, not only to my son, but later my elderly mom whom I cared for as she suffered dementia (and eventually passed last year.) I'd remind myself of flight maneuvers and how sometimes we have to do the opposite of what reflexes would have us think. Stall spin recovery means pulling the power back, letting go of the ailerons and applying full opposite rudder. In caring for my son and mom, so many times I remembered that spin recovery lesson: stop forcing full speed ahead, stop the climb, pull the power, let go of trying to maintain control, and accept that opposite rudder (direction in life) is my best shot at regaining level flight and a hopeful recovery. I feel like I've found my tribe here, and it's wonderful that we can all connect and encourage one another. Warm wishes to you and your dear son, may you both have blue skies ahead and joyful days of watching helicopters together!

@paulweatherford5544

Ай бұрын

@@UnderTheGreydarThanks. It’s a tough job with a special needs child.

I really enjoy your videos! Went through AOCS at Pensacola 45 years ago. Flew the F-4J. Like you, took-up RW at age 50 and have ATP, CFI, CFII in those too. My Second-grade teacher, Mrs. McCarthy once said: “Class, the three rules of flying a helicopter are: (1) Always maintain rotor RPM. (2) Never forget Rule number one. (3) Never fly a Robinson. She was right!

Gronkey, I love that you shared your faith on this one Quick story about me, I was in ROTC in 1984, headed for a pilot slot, but I ended up breaking up my neck in a water skiing accident my junior year. I recovered to almost 100% and now I am a patient safety advocate. It took me decades to fully understand the plan, but I knew that it was there all along. My experience as patient feeds my passion and allows me be 10,000 times more effective as a speaker on the subject than I could be without it. I HIGHLY recommend reading "Don't Give Up" by Kyle Idleman. Keep sharing! PS - I ultimately did become a private pilot. Best episode so far!!!

I was saddened to hear about your parents, Mover. So glad you’re moving fwd. “Mover” sounds appropriate. 👍 Gonky: It was rough to hear about such an abrupt change in a trajectory that you clearly enjoyed. Glad you adapted and were able to move on. 👍

Hey Mover, I just wanted to commend you on what excellent content you’ve been putting out with Gonky lately. After your time in the T-38 ended and you had those issues with helicopter training I wasn’t sure if your content would continue to be aviation centric anymore. I’m sorry to say that was the main reason I followed you from the beginning. But you’ve found a way to once again bring your aviation experience and enthusiasm to your subscribers and I’m loving it, this podcast with guests format really suits you!

I definitely resonate with this: I was in the selection pipleine to join the RAF as a pilot and then Covid killed off the dream. Im left seeing my friends and old course mates start Fast jet training and fly the typhoon on social media. It feels like my stomach is made of stone when I see them living the dream and that I will never be there. I do tell myself that others have it worse so I cannot complain.

@jj4791

Ай бұрын

Civilian world offers many more unique opportunities. If you want to bank and yank around the skies like a maniac, maybe become an airshow performer. Or instruct aerobatics/upset recovery training. If You own your own plane, such ad an Extra or Pitts, you can do very well. (I've personally paid $360/hr plane and $70/hr pilot for aerobatic instruction, spin training, etc).

@RedFail1-1

Ай бұрын

You must have missed Mover's story about making them tell you no. There is always a way you just can't give up the first time someone says you can't do something.

@rfalt6695

Ай бұрын

@@jj4791 yeah I do have new civilian pilot aspirations now, it will never be Fast jet but hey ho, the future still looks good 👍

@rfalt6695

Ай бұрын

@@RedFail1-1 yeah I did see it. Unfortunately the RAF lowered the age limit over night from 26 to 23, meaning that I was too old. I really would if I could mate ✋

We all need shop maintenance on our inner self and mental health: exercise, have good friends and family, think positive, server others. Keep up on your shop maintenance. My watch later feed fed right into the next video which was on cleaning and maintaining the table saw. I didn't notice at first and started to read the comments about shop maintenance thinking shop maintenance in mental health. It relates. Remember Grace is accepting what we can't control as well as accepting we are not perfect but, we can have that greater power clean our soul and accept us into his arms.

Wife passed away 4 days ago. I ha ve been trying to do these things but, very reassuring and encouraging. Tha k you

@-Cece

Ай бұрын

Sending hugs and my condolences

@wscrivner

27 күн бұрын

So sorry to hear this.😢

@UnderTheGreydar

27 күн бұрын

Sending you condolences for the loss of your dear wife. Wishing you peace and comfort. Take care 💛

I recall, many years ago, a guy who lost an arm in a car accident coming to our school to give a talk about coping with disability. He gave an interesting perspective that we all, even while healthy, are 'disabled' in comparison to other living things or even each other. We can't hear or smell what a dog can. We can't see like an eagle (or fly, of course). Most can't come close to the athletic feats of world class athletes etc. etc. We take those things in stride and have invented things to get around it. It would obviously still be a mental and emotional hurdle to lose something that you already had, but hopefully it can be put into perspective after acceptance.

I watch your channel all the time, but rarely comment. I had to break that stance on this video. My hero’s, or mentors are those who face challenges and move on to bigger and better things. Great video.

To pass along to the guy that was paralyzed, I know of a gentleman I deal with regularly that has owned his own electrical company for many years, but he rolled an atv and ended up paralyzed - he kept going and is still successful, it has been at least 8 years since he had that accident and he's still going. I also think of other folks that are differently abled and are successful, so there is always hope, and that doesn’t mean you have to be overly successful, even if you can just get by or survive, - you're still here with us, and if that’s all you can manage that's more than enough.

Thanks, great content. How we react to life’s problems is key.

Great advice guys help to know we all have chalenges to overcome i found when you look and focus on good things you have in life and be thinkfull helps abit

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius This is a quote I like to consider when things are not going according to my plan.

This helps me. It has opened my eyes to how I have been reacting to issues and that I need to changing how I react instead of depending on how others react and stuff like that.

Mover, feel ya bro. Spine injury while flying the Rhino, had it ‘repaired’, blew out two discs in my neck compensating for it after I got back in the jet. I was pushed by PERS to get back in the saddle due to career timing and LIMDU limitations. Stupid. Flew my last flight in the jet and never knew it. Medical separation process took almost three years, month after month of ‘your separation orders are coming next month’. Depression and alcoholism wrecked me. I came out the other side stronger, but there are few things I wouldn’t do for just one last ride in the old girl…

Wow guys. Love this!

Needed this today! ❤

I got my 3rd class Special back after 10 month fight to get it back, Never give up and Fly every day you can. The FAA Air Med is not an easy task.

i just broke my knee in a weird accident while I was being discharged for another thing from a hospital. Immediately I became angry with the situation, not at a person but at the situation. I'm lying here in the hospital now cracking jokes with the nurses because I know no matter how I might fume and roar, it's not going to change what happened. SHIT HAPPENS and nothing is going to change it. My dream has always been to be a fighter pilot (Vipers, sorry Gonky) I would give anything for the chance, but I was born with arthritis and developed two more forms as a kid. It took it lot of therapy over the years, but I went from being angry about it to realizing SHIT HAPPENS and I must live with that fact. If I could have had the chance you two have had I would be in Hog Heaven. I envy you for it and Mover, you author books I love to read, I'm a real fan. My advice to anyone is if life throws you lemons... make lemonade.

Hang in there! I’ve gone through personal experiences that’s not related to the military and it’s all I obsess about 😢

I wish Movers videos like this were around 20 or so years ago. That said, there is a big difference between a human caused hardship and circumstances caused issues and how it feels.

Mover, nice to hear your dad was your best friend! My son is very close to me too! He just received PACAF flight lead of the year award, flying F-16, and doing programs at Misawa. No doubt your dad was insanely proud of you Mover! I'm proud of both of you boys! Love your program and blogs!

I'm new to your site, I've watched a few. This installment has hit the core for me and my /problems/. It shows that your (both) insights are deep and worthy. I'm spiritually (good), just not religious per say.

This video is all the more reason why this is my favorite channel.

A few tricks have gotten me through tremendous loss, beating cancer, and all that bad crap that life throws at us - the Big Guy, GOD (prayer is meditation - mindfulness is amazing!) HOPE - I find it impossible NOT to have hope, always have. I also cannot stay mad at anything/anyone (I've tried SO hard 😂.) And two words: BRACE UP! No pity. Any medical issue is like a war - and I WILL SURVIVE. I've imagined, when lying motionless so the radiation went in the exact right spots, that I was in an old war, and a cough or sneeze would give my position away. It worked! ☮

I had a massive car crash & nearly died twice, the results shut the door on everything I wanted to do. How do you deal? with difficulty, but you can't do anything until you accept that it actually happened. It's ok to be angry, rage about it and it's ok to be upset, but in the end there still has to be some acceptance. Years & years later I still have moments of rage, but it's fine. There's probably more people out there who want to help you than you than you realise, too. How you make the most of your life afterwards is harder - when everything you wanted to do is now completely out of reach, where does the motivation come from to go after something new? that's what I struggle with - if there's something I want to do and it's remotely possible I'll just do it, but I've yet to find something I'm both that level of interested in, and capable of. No victimhood, no herodom, just... no idea. These days that's about the only thing I get jealous of, people who know what they want. But, people who know what they want are an inspiration too, they just remind me I just haven't found that thing yet.

Thanks guys, this is applicable to many of life's situations.❤ God bless you both. redbaron Chattanooga

Great conversation and perspective.

Well done.

Thanks, I needed to hear this.

What great content today guys you did a great job everything came off very authentic. Nice to get to know some of the things that has happened to you in the past thanks for sharing. My son's 13 he's dying to become a pilot he doesn't want to go in the military and I'm broke LOL got any solutions or direction to go in to feed his desire for aviation.

@UnderTheGreydar

Ай бұрын

Look into Alaska Airlines program, their Ascend Academy based in Hillsboro, OR. My 14 year old daughter wants to be a professional pilot and she's strongly considering this path! You'll need to research, but from memory: I believe they offer a stipend of something close to $30k towards training (I'm sure that comes with an obligation to fulfill a flying contract.) Pilots are interviewed and hired right from the school, then they go to work for Alaska's regional airline, Horizon. I'm seriously considering their pilot development program for pilots with some experience (smaller stipend, but it helps!) A friend's son is gearing up to enroll this summer after graduation. I was told they like students fresh with little to no flying experience (beyond an introductory flight to see if they like it.) I do know that it's hard to break bad learned habits, so that's probably why they want them green! I would also look into training grants and scholarships. A modular (piecemeal) program of flight training can work with a limited budget, but it's important to not get rusty and let endorsements lapse (expensive to pick back up again.) Best wishes to your son! Keep encouraging him!

@UnderTheGreydar

Ай бұрын

I tried to reply, but it got lost or deleted. I think I may have inadvertently mentioned an airline (no affiliation) and that probably seemed like an advertisement, oops. Well, I'll try again with a generic response: many airlines have student academies that offer a generous stipend towards total flight training costs. Many organizations offer grants and scholarships, too. My daughter is interested in an academy that would hire right from the school into a regional airline. The best thing you can do is continue to offer encouragement to your son! My daughter is often faced with naysayers and opposition when she mentions her goal. I tell her headwinds are favorable for takeoff 😉

This one really hit home for me. Thank you both.

Great video about a serious subject.

"I'm a good person, why did this happen to me?" That's the same logical rabbit hole people go down to deal with trauma which so often leads to mental heath crises. Every single friend I knew who got PTSD in the GWOT (those who I got to talk through their issues with anyway) all did the same thing: They tried to make sense of what happened, in terms of fairness. Like "Why did he die and not me?" or "Why did I deserve to live and not him?" It's that kind of thinking that gets you into trouble, because you're desperately searching for answers where you are none, and that leads to mental breakage. You will drive yourself crazy looking for a satisfactory answer to the question "Why?" where there is no such satisfactory answer Conversely, those of us who took the fatalistic view of it all just being up to chance, luck or whatever you want to call it, we all seemed to have no issues comprehending and processing the same experiences that broke the guys who took the "Why?" mindset. The answer to why is "Because we walked into a country that had bombs buried all over the place, dumbass. Someone was bound to step on one. WTF did you think was going to happen?" Its hard for people to accept that something as momentous as the untimely death of a friend can come down to something as fickle as mere chance, but that's reality. Those who understand that have an easy time coping. It was his turn. He drew the short straw. There's nothing else to understand. Those who can't wrap their heads around that will inevitably go looking for meaning and better answers, and that's how they lose their minds. I think that goes equally for war and for life in general. Sh*t happens. Now ruck up and carry on.

My childhood dream of being a USAF pilot never happened because of a couple of medical issues.... I was devastated to the point it caused me some mental health problems. I've given serious thought about joining Civil Air Patrol to work with the young people who want to go to the military in the future. I would council them to pursue their dreams but, don't fall in love with it because careers come to an end or sometimes never happen at all. You need a plan B.

@CheifJay

Ай бұрын

Hey Fella, I was in your boat. (Plane?) I joined CAP and never looked back. I’m coming up on 300 flight hrs in crew positions in the plane, including “real world” hours doing aerial photography after Hurricanes, Floods, and Tornados. Go find a squadron in your area!

❤

Listen, I'm an atheist but I won't debate or belabor the "god's plan" thing. Regardless, I think how both of you raising the issue of mental health and working through adversity is essential. Everyone deal with trauma in their own way but there is help if they want it. It might not be what they ever imagined it but with grit they have a chance to overcome it. Keep up the good work.

Things don't happen *to* you, they are happening *around* you.

4/23/24 - That was the day my wife asked me for a divorce, talk about an unwanted permanent outcome

@-Cece

Ай бұрын

The death of a marriage is hard. Work through the grieving process and keep moving forward.

Algorithmic engagement comment.

I too refused a mandate. Mine had to do with a certain highly safe and highly effective medical thing a couple years ago. Luckily I could retire, now all the Generals are running around with surprised pikachu faces trying to solve the brain drain problem within the fighter community because many of us left rather than comply with a force medical procedure.

👽👽👽👽🌎👽👽👽👽

If you come across a person who has become paralyzed and lost all their bodily autonomy and you feel the need to tell them that a higher power has a plan and them no longer being able to do anything for themselves is part of that plan... Please, please, please, shut your mouth and stay silent. You are not helping anyone by saying such crud, you are harming everyone in earshot.

You are good til you're not, and then discarded and replaced. Shitty deal.

Sorry, but the christian perspective... A kid with bone cancer is treated like that by the divine (and benevolent) creator because of some purpose we cannot understand. That's just BS.

@RedFail1-1

Ай бұрын

Some people just need to have a reason behind why things happen. They can't cope with the fact that things just happen for no reason and you can't control everything. So they turn to a higher power to explain why bad things happen and give themselves hope that in the end it's all worth it. It's the reason for religion in the first place. Just a coping mechanism.

@perspicator5779

Ай бұрын

Martin, Read the story of Job in the Old Testament. God allowed Satan to test Job's faith by tragedies Satan bestowed on Job. When found faithful, his outcomes were fulfilled beyond what he had before the trials. The principle here is what Gonky was explaining.

@martin_bbg

Ай бұрын

@@perspicator5779 And only a monster would behave that way. Luckily it's just a silly iron age story.