Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Commander Jerry 'Ribit' Merritt. In the first episode about his military career, Ribit takes us through his time as a pilot in the F-8 Crusader during the Vietnam War before discussing a USAF exchange tour and his transition to the F-14 Tomcat.About 'Ribit'Jerry Darious Merritt attended North Carolina Wesleyan University from 1964 to 1968, graduating with a BA in Mathematics. Jerry was on the ‘67 and ‘68 Bishops basketball team and was President Class of ‘68.Jerry joined the Navy in October 1968 and reported for pilot training in January 1969. After earning his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold, he reported to Meridian, MS for Instructor duty until July 1972 when he was assigned F-8 Fighter training in San Diego, CA. He reported to VF-194, deploying on USS Oriskany in October 1973 to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of post-Vietnam Combat operations. Jerry completed the last F-8 deployment on the USS Oriskany in 1975-1976.He continued his Naval career and flew and instructed in fighter jets almost his entire career. The highlight of his career was his selection to Command Fighter Squadron 43 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach. Like Top Gun, flying A-4’s and F-16’s, their mission was to train F-14 crews in air combat maneuvering tactics.Jerry’s next assignment was Operations Officer aboard USS Eisenhower, CVN-69. He retired as Commander from active duty Navy in June 1990 after 21 years of service. He accumulated over 5000 flight hours and 350 carrier landings.After retiring from the Navy, Jerry was hired by American Airlines and reported to Dallas, TX for training. He flew Boeing 727’s, 777’s and MD-80’s, retiring as Captain in August 2006 after 16 years of service.Jerry was employed for 15 years by defense contractors as a consultant on the Fifth Generation Fighters, F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.Jerry has been a volunteer with the National Park Service for 15 years, volunteering at the Wright Brothers National Monument in Kitty Hawk, NC, giving briefs on the history and operation of the Wright Flyer.Jerry and his wife DeDe Sens, NCWC Class of 1971, live in Currituck, NC.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Lieutenant Commander Jon 'Hooter' Schreiber. In the fifth and final episode about his military career, Hooter talks about his transition into the civilian world and the fighter culture that is so much a part of aviation. Does anyone else think the carrier smells like bean soup?About 'Hooter'Jon 'Hooter' Schreiber commissioned from AOCS and received his wings in July 1979. He first flew the F-4 Phantom in VF-121 out of Fightertown, USA before becoming an instructor pilot in the TA-4J as an LSO. Hooter transitioned to the F-14 in 1986 and retired from the Navy in 1994.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.

Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Lieutenant Commander Jon 'Hooter' Schreiber. In the fourth episode about his military career, Hooter tells stories about his time in the F-14 Tomcat. About 'Hooter'Jon 'Hooter' Schreiber commissioned from AOCS and received his wings in July 1979. He first flew the F-4 Phantom in VF-121 out of Fightertown, USA before becoming an instructor pilot in the TA-4J as an LSO. Hooter transitioned to the F-14 in 1986 and retired from the Navy in 1994.About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.