Back to Episodes
MARINES

F-15E Fighter Pilot, Marine & Police Officer | Fighter Weapons School | Tom Moser

Tom MoserFebruary 24, 2024
F-15E Fighter Pilot, Marine & Police Officer | Fighter Weapons School | Tom Moser
WATCH ON YOUTUBE

About This Episode

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear Round 1 of a two part Combat Story from seasoned fighter pilot Tom “Gunny” Moser who flew the F-15E Strike Eagle, served as a Squadron and Wing Weapons Officer, was a Fighter Weapons School graduate (akin to the Navy’s Top Gun), commanded a Squadron, and more.

In this episode, we follow Gunny’s circuitous route into the military first as a Marine 0311 (Infantryman), followed by a stint as a Police Officer, followed by a very decorated career in the Air Force.

Since retirement, Gunny has gone on to a career flying for the commercial airlines which we should all be grateful to know that we’ve got this seasoned combat aviator at the controls on our regular domestic flights!

Special thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel for helping us find Gunny!

And with that, please enjoy this first round discussion with someone who found his way to his dream job.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

Show Notes:

Featured Guest

Tom Moser

Chapters

  • 00:00Introduction
  • 00:59Guest Profile: Tom Moser
  • 01:57Start of Interview
  • 02:26Callsign 'Gunny'
  • 04:02Growing Up
  • 04:55Path to Military
  • 11:26Love of Flying
  • 12:25Choosing Enlistment Route
  • 16:46Exiting the Marines
  • 20:40Law Enforcement Career
  • 23:02Path to Aviation
  • 28:52Law Enforcement to Pilot Experience
  • 31:08Family Life
  • 35:09Close Calls
  • 39:00Mindset during Dangerous Jobs
  • 41:29Flight School
  • 47:25Getting Assigned Strike Eagle
  • 51:52Responsibility as an Aviator
  • 57:40Strike Eagle Mission Set
  • 01:02:05Weapon Loadout for F-15
  • 01:08:53Hazing Stories
  • 01:12:11Schedule for Pilots
  • 01:14:24Weapons Officer
  • 01:21:06Why Not Marine Corps.
  • 01:22:17First Unit
  • 01:26:58First Deployment
  • 01:30:30First Flying Operation
  • 01:38:49Listener Feedback