How Do Fighter Pilots Brief Before a Mission?

Deuce (F-35/F-16 IP) joins us to explain how fighter pilots brief before a sortie and why it's so important to the success of a mission. This is part 1 of 2. The next video will discuss the Debrief.
All B-Roll footage from the DVIDS Database - www.dvidshub.net
"The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."
Views presented are my own or my guest's and do not represent the views of DoD or its Components.

[@alanreynolds2287]

As a bomber guy (Nav type), the first time I sat in a flight brief done by a fighter pilot, I felt like Clark Griswold in 'European Vacation'; at first I thought the briefer was talking gibberish, then MAYBE this guy had reverted to his 'native' language and English was his second language. THEN I realized that he was just speaking incredibly fast (Auctioneers would be out of business if fighter pilots decided to become auctioneers). I still marvel at how SLOWLY CW has to talk on these videos.....

[@CHARLIET93]

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Deuce while assigned as a crew chief to the WIC. He’s very clear and thorough in lesson planning that our crew hardly ever had questions so we could ready the aircraft in a timely manner.

[@DoradoFever]

I sat in an upgrade flight briefing with our squadron commander and was absolutely blown away by the level of depth that everything they went over for a simple flight with only about 30 minutes being over the range. While the briefing was longer than their total flight time.

[@oxringoxo]

measure twice, cut once

[@reboundrides8132]

@@oxringoxo 👍 👏

[@CAGonRiv]

True. Lmfao

[@harryparsons2750]

Don’t sound very brief

[@Wolvri23]

I have never been in the Armed Forces, but I have watched so many of your videos. I watch them because I want to hear from a professional about these things and therefor learn the way it is truly done and not the way Hollywood tells us it is. Thank you for not only doing this for future/current pilots but for those of us who are just fascinated about this. God Bless!

[@mattcallaway7164]

Deuce mentioned Northern Lightning; I live close by to the base where that happens and I had a blast this summer watching them take off and land. Thinking about taking PTO time off from work next year when it happens again and plane watching the whole two weeks.

[@katelittlewolfwelshrosesan3630]

I would too!

[@falcon3268]

@C.W. Lemoine, I want to thank you and Deuce for giving all of us insight on things that a lot of us probably will never know in our life time unless we join the military. These videos are amazing so thank you again for your videos as it has given me a lot of insight.

[@shawn2443]

Thank you Mover for shedding some reality on THE JOB 🇺🇸

[@katelittlewolfwelshrosesan3630]

Just a fantastic , smooth, engaging production, Mover, and Deuce is an excellent guest! I liked his low key sort of humility about things! Cut ins are stellar

[@katelittlewolfwelshrosesan3630]

I'm flying through a sort of converging timeline mystery old west/ new west novel I am writing...! Started It for Nanowrimo and now it's got me lol. Because of Maverick and then finding you and also Ward Carroll, and my renewed fixation on military aviation, somehow a fighter pilot and his WSO found their way into my metaphysical western lol! Watching your amazing videos is teaching me and helping me create context ..I may need to ask you for a review on some points one day! (They are based at Mountain Home, in a fictional Squadron, of course.)

[@michaelkiehn9254]

I've seen Top Gun. I know how it works. You brief in the hanger or flight-line whilst wearing cowboy hats and or Hawaiian shirts. You flirt with the female civilian instructor, when she is impressed with you it's time to go to the aircraft and kind of make it up as you go along.

[@AnkitKumar-ph6zm]

Yeah man These guys are dumb,I have done many missions using many different jets,its quite easy in AC7

[@doughudgens9275]

I like the Army’s 5 paragraph field order: situation, mission, concept of operation, communication, supply. The middle one took up 80% of the time, and the last two got a sentence ( use SOP) because the commander realized he had taken too much time and I needed to plan and brief my people.

[@medicalopsgirl]

Loved it. Sounds like surgery. A team of talented people plan and execute an operation. All are situationally aware, ready for every contingency, and have to trust each other completely. And there's coffee.. and good music.

[@catastrophic82]

Interesting point about questions: as a school teacher I used to invite questions as they came up. But now I require students to wait until designated question times. Classes flow better, there is less distraction and trying to come back to the required curriculum.

[@kevinm6510]

Would love to hear you interview Duce on the F-35!

[@alanhirayama4592]

Plan the flight and fly the plan! Failure to plan is a plan to fail! Thanks for bringing to light the keys to a successful mission!

[@yurinator4411]

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face." - Mike Tyson

[@skipker]

How nice of you to release this video on my birthday😃. I enjoy all your videos. More entertaining than what's on network channels and streaming services these days. Thanks

[@verticalflyingb737]

Will use this knowledge in my next DCS larping session. Thanks, Mover!

[@CWLemoine]

Oh man! I can't wait to see that. Mass brief 2+15 prior to step. Don't forget to include time to poop. Good luck. 😂

[@Go_Coup]

1-hour briefing, 15-minute mission, 40-minute debriefing

[@CWLemoine]

40 minutes? That's it? Must've been good deal CT. 😂

[@fjb5894]

@@CWLemoine Is there a DCS Fighter Weapons School? I’d pay big bucks to be attend some sort of online DCS Flight training. Best to have actual pilots leading those that never qualified but want that opportunity. USAF Ret. David Mc.

[@6XENO9]

@@CWLemoine Thanks a lot for this one vid, it os very informative. AFAIK some virtual squadrons do briefs/debriefs at least to some degree, That's why many of the BMS videos are +2h long where flying itself took maybe 1h20, max. Also that was the procedure on major slight-sim events. Obviously they are not as detailed as in rl, but such videos make people learn and improve.

[@jameskaye4847]

Great video mover! I’m hoping to go to Civil Air Patrol SUPT where we get the opportunity to shadow UPT Pilots at Columbus AFB, I’m sure this will help me do better!

[@LouT1501]

Fantastic episode, Mover! Thank you, sir

[@usanswiss]

Nice to see Duce again

[@BobSmith-mu5kg]

Great video. Love interspersing all of the other videos and the cuts between you guys rather than side by side. You're getting good at this. Side note: I'm imagining 1000 underwear jokes, being briefs and debriefs. :)

[@roderickcampbell2105]

Hi Bob. I've never done a debrief. I always leave mine on.

[@bhollingsworth]

Great content as always.

[@baghdaddymike6669]

Absolutely love this kind of content.

[@TruthAlways59]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing!

[@jasontanner9755]

Sent my 16yo child to Glider school one summer. Child really wanted to be a pilot. After glider school they decided that they would rather be an Architect. There was just so much to be aware of/ work in the cockpit they decided they preferred being a passenger flying.

[@robstanton9215]

Awww man that’s too bad. That’s exactly where my flight training began. I loved flying sailplanes then and still love it. I firmly believe that it really helps one to be a better conventional aircraft pilot. The world needs architects too though! 😉

[@JBSmoke1]

I discovered this went I for my PPL. It's a mental exercise from the time you decide you want to fly until the airplane is safely shut down in chocks. I stuck to it and I loved it!

[@Geomanb]

wow this was excellent! can't wait for the next part!

[@usauk3605]

Awesome video Mover, your channel is by far the best aviation channel on KZbin. I love these more “behind the scenes” videos explaining what goes into a mission before it even takes off the ground. I have a question, as a young person who enjoys military aviation, but does not fly, is it still okay to write fictional stories about combat flying, even if I am not a pilot?

[@CWLemoine]

Absolutely. Just do your homework.

[@usauk3605]

I will, your videos are a big assist with that, not to mention really funny. Thanks for the quick reply!

[@robstanton9215]

I agree! The Corsair was a wicked machine!

[@sgtborg1]

I sat in on a airdrop brief and step to the globemaster did a little brief on how the skids needed to be loaded and what level to come in at and had to debrief. Was lucky to be apart of those airdrops being army

[@Leo___________]

Navy guys are all about the briefs. Can't beat the classics.

[@BajaMarine24]

Great video, appreciate the insight. Looking forward to part 2.

[@mikel3188]

Great topic and video Mover thanks.

[@dougstitt1652]

Good stuff . Thank both

[@holeshot2809]

Love the B roll. Where did you go to obtain the source? DVIDS? For the type of content you are providing, you need to transfer to the Public Affairs. Finish up your last few years there if you can't get into a new squadron. Though, I prefer to see you in a new air squadron.

[@CWLemoine]

Yeah. Dvids hub. Link is in the description.

[@rayF4rio]

Going through Marine ACTI certification was just as much about the brief & debrief as it was about execution in the air. Maybe with a little more focus on debriefing the tactical aspects of the flight and being out the learnings.

[@shannono6051]

Mover makes documentaries! way to step up the production value with cut scenes

[@garlandxx3400]

You should critique this opening Jet and missle chase scene from James Bond Octopusy.

[@AlbaAdventures]

Excellent episode and footage to match the dialogue/interview. The sex panther crack was brilliant. Shut up and listen, don't ask until asked and don't be a douche. LOL. I would have had a hard time then. Thanks for this convo guys.

[@poch195]

So…when is the beach volleyball part of the brief?

[@AtlantiXYL]

Speaking skills are definitely required!

[@thedigitalscribe9621]

I’ve worked in a boring office for 30 years, I’ve always imagined the coolest jobs come back to a boring office meeting like mine no matter what you do in the field

[@robertschultz6922]

What about alert missions? Are the briefs different than planned missions?

[@CWLemoine]

You brief before you start your alert tour. Everything else is relayed via the tasking.

[@billvs6505]

Love the video inserts!

[@fluffybunnyslippers2505]

I think this is true for ANY professional Military force be it Air, land OR Navy. I spent many years in the Army and they LOVE to brief and de brief as well and they are never ..er.. brief. AND, the higher up the "food chain" you are, the more time you spend either briefing or being briefed.

[@Santiago_956]

Sorry for the out-of-context question, but from your experience, do you think someone suffering from gastroesophageal reflux can become an air force pilot?

[@-Cece]

Must be Deuce's favorite shirt....

[@dvergar1]

On the Viper shots, from wingtip inboard looks like AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and then there is what looks like a missile with two little antennae at the seeker head. What is that?

[@FirstDagger]

Electronic Attack Training Pod, AN/ALQ-188, nicknamed "Dead Gecko" for its appearance. Supposedly can simulate a lot of different emitters which is why you see them here on Aggressor Vipers.

[@dvergar1]

@@FirstDagger Thank you, sir!

[@acdcdave1387]

It might be outside the scope of your channel but would you be willing or interested to do a video like this specific to world war 2 pilots?

[@Pons-GG]

I used the same picture in your thumbnail for a presentation the other day lol

[@CWLemoine]

Wiki commons for the win.

[@leihtory7423]

yeah i kind a think, every job has brief. follow the brief. so that when something does go wrong, your head aint on the chopping block. and shiz goes wrong everytime.

[@beckmaxman6466]

nice!

[@hawlikd]

So, how do you conduct a brief on an alien invasion? Per 4th of July?

[@TheBabins]

What is the best type of major in college to help you become a fixed wing Air Force pilot? (Aerospace/Electrical/Mechanical Engineer or Metrology) Thanks!

[@CWLemoine]

Doesn't really matter. Do something you're passionate about and can do well in. If you want to be a test pilot later, you'll need a STEM degree.

[@TheBabins]

@@CWLemoine Thank you so much! My son and I are trying to plan his college for next year at Texas A&M Cadet Corps/Air Force ROTC.

[@carlvincent12]

You know…. a game where you utilize the other rolls (ie maintainer, ATC, etc) in an airbase doesn’t sound too bad

[@DJWeapon8]

Its basically a real time timed puzzle game.

[@Keemochi420]

Fighters in Top Gun are cool wish you guys were

[@earnhar768]

Whats time hack mean?

[@NeonGhostin]

Mover - when are you going to write your F16 Top Gun movie Red Flag?

[@katelittlewolfwelshrosesan3630]

I would love to see that too!

[@andrew6978]

No no no no, NO, Tom Cruise gives a briefing in a massive hangar with a 50ft American flag and smokes a cigar. Then a B-2 flies past with the pilot waving from the window drinking a beer.

[@ronmoore5827]

Just like Cop shows show the 10 minutes on the street. Never the 2 hours of reports and processing in the station.

[@CWLemoine]

Ain't that the truth. If there's a crime, you're going to be typing.

[@davidjames7382]

That I agree upon. Being a former Law Enforcement Officer with over 18+ years of experience, report writing and documentation plus evidence entry forms and submission of articles of evidence...it was never ending ( even though laptops were used) every report submitted and reviewed by supervisor then resubmit of reports...it was never ending. The paper trail and mountains of paperwork. And it took time to "learn" the proper way to write a report...jeez...things I don't miss! Lol

[@CWLemoine]

@@davidjames7382 nothing better than solving something NAT (Necessary Action Taken) vs RTF (Report To Follow)

[@c1ph3rpunk]

I’m certainly not anti brief, but definitely more pro boxer. Why does that sound like a story CNN would do: “which underwear do fighter pilots prefer”. Nothing like some hard hitting journalism.

[@greyhoundgirl9726]

So it’s not five minutes in a hanger wearing your flight suit like in the movies? Lol!

[@kevinmadore1794]

It's called "Brief 'til ya barf." LOL!

[@MasterCarguy44-pk2dq]

Tom Cruise actually is a real pilot now for over 28 yrs, has and flies his own fighter trainer jet. I don't recall what it is exactly, slavic or romanian but its a 550 mph machine, 2 hrs of fuel 65 gals per hr burn rate. Generally with turbines we use pounds per hour. Top gun basically does everything incorrectly or not even close to how its really done and that's on purpose for various reasons. The selection is also very difficult. And being very intelligent has little to do with it. Multi task 10 different things at once and work quickly, efficiently, safely and communicate effectively.

[@officecultureseries3932]

How twin seater pilots communicate with each with each other in a mission while radio silence was maintained

[@cooltwins98]

do you is AI/unpitol can schedule/fly? i am aphasia (not words/not numbers) but stroke. schedule brief a mission: AI/un-pitols (not pitol) fly the mission: AI/not pilot

[@CWLemoine]

What?

[@muskokarinkrat]

@@CWLemoine "Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. Aphasia leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others. Many people have aphasia as a result of stroke." Probably trying hard to ask something but the disorder makes it really hard.

[@CWLemoine]

@@muskokarinkrat the original post didn't say anything about aphasia. I'm very sorry to hear that. I wish I could make it out a little better to help.

[@Chinfo32]

How do you ever remember everything?

[@thomashimstreet3019]

When I was a JO, and helmets were cheap, I saw grown men throwing tantrums in the RR after flights. They would throw, kick, or bang it on a chair or the popcorn machine. The they would tell paddles that they're blind. Who needs a debrief after that? Go Navy. R, Z

[@JBSmoke1]

I take it the pilots have a general idea of the mission and aren't walking into the brief cold? That seems like a TON of information to record and absorb on the spot prior to stepping.

[@CWLemoine]

It would not be advisable to do so. It happens though.

[@drdkenobi6531]

@@CWLemoine Mover, I admire your stories and videos. They truly make me wish I would have taken the opportunity offered to me all those years ago at 18. I thank you but admit a tad bit of jealousy. Rock on dude.

[@NavySturmGewehr]

The penguin... it does really look like one doesn't it?

[@blankname6629]

I’m surprised they let you keep those briefing notes

[@CWLemoine]

Why? It's unclassified.

[@derykian6029]

@@CWLemoine gotta show them to us sometime

[@blankname6629]

@@CWLemoine that makes sense if they are unclassified.

[@CWLemoine]

Anything classified stays in the vault.

[@billygames689]

whats with the red star on the pilots helmet @22:49? lol

[@CWLemoine]

Adversary Air

[@garlandxx3400]

Hair looking very Tom Cruisey 👍🏾

[@hawlikd]

Where is Maverick?

[@PeliRami]

What, no open hangar with US flag?

[@thomashimstreet3019]

Dudes...I had everything from a totally safe "brief Alpha....go!", to .... Like, can we talk just a little bit more...I don't like it...ish? And then, one time at Navy Camp, I went to the cat and I couldn't see the end of the boat. Totally safe. 55 knots head wind. No probs. Pitching deck off the Australia Bite....I was the MOVLAS Guinea Pig. Took me ten times to get back. Steal Beach cancelled. R, Z

[@DiscipleCJ2391]

My Intellectual Self: Awesome video! Very informative! 🤩 My Degenerate Self: -giggling- 🤭 "A sortie can fall apart with a bad brief..."

[@thomashimstreet3019]

Answer. It depends. R, Z

[@bbt305]

Thought they were fonna show the brief :/

[@CWLemoine]

That’s silly.

[@bbt305]

@@CWLemoine Not a real one but reenact a briefing. Maybe I assumed. Im new to your channel. (Going to or gonna* lol) I should probably delete my original comment anyways.

[@derykian6029]

The laugh 👌

[@justinjones972]

F35 pilot ejects from plane while in vtol mode. 20ft from ground

[@Nighthawkaviator]

R.I.P. Headphone users 😂

[@CWLemoine]

Get better headphones. 😂

[@henrikryan1606]

TTP is key!😂

[@navinrjohnson5047]

Whiskey and cigarettes.

[@MasterCarguy44-pk2dq]

People "think" there's a pilot shortage for airlines well that is a temporary thing due to retirements but reality is that public aviation>> airlines, are going to continue to shrink and the need for pilots will drop rapidly after 2026-27. Automation and AI is taking over and soon flight decks will be down to 1 person upfront, that job will be a computer and controls monitor. FedEx has test flown 4 planes without a pilot, 100% AI & automation. I told people in 2009 there would be 4 major airlines in US by 2019 and that basically is the where we're at. It will be down to 2 major airlines in US by 2026-2028. Fighter jets will be pilotless soon too (2027-2029)... . Drones are the test bed for that.

[@CWLemoine]

Fighters will not be autonomous this decade.

[@Rob_F8F]

Seems like all jobs are more boring than they appear.

[@CWLemoine]

Such is life.

[@Rob_F8F]

@@CWLemoine As an IT professional, I can tell you that it's not as exciting, glamorous, or sexy as people think it is!

[@CapnT87]

Isn’t debrief so to speak?

[@CWLemoine]

No.

[@CapnT87]

@@CWLemoine Harsh...but I accept it.

[@MasterCarguy44-pk2dq]

Its all about control and depop.

[@hansadler6716]

What? Are you saying that fighter pilots don't act like punk middle school kids that sit in the back of class with their feet up, with mirror sunglasses, and smacking gum? Are you sure about that? Because certain movies paint a different picture.

[@matthewhall6288]

No one's wearing a cowboy hat 😔

[@captaincobra4578]

Mover can you ruin my favorite video game, WarThunder, with the new F16 gameplay?

[@reboundrides8132]

Your attitude towards the f-35 disappoints me 😂 I see it as trendy to hate on “fat Amy” and just about every single 4th gen legacy pilot that has made the switch says they would never even dream of going back.

[@noahway13]

OMG... It sounds so tedious and boring. I'm so glad I never tried out for that. At one point in time I was considering...( hey, they're calling me. I got to go deliver some pizza.)

[@kdavidsmith1]

What!? No! This all lies! If Hollywood taught me anything about being a fighter pilot, all briefs are a minute long, take place in a hanger with a giant American flag. ' ' ' ' ' ' (This is a joke)

[@MrWhipple42]

A very hot hanger, and everyone is sweating and wearing aviator sunglasses.

[@_volder]

I know why "Fat Amy" is fat, but why is she "Amy"?

[@INOD-2]

"Fat Amy" was a character in the Pitch Perfect movies who was played by Rebel Wilson. The character was fat, so... Since the F-35 looks a bit "chunky" compared to an F-16, somebody dubbed it Fat Amy, and it stuck, I guess. I believe the F-35's official name is the "Lightning II" but some USAF pilots call it the Panther, like Deuce said. Just like the F-16 is officially the "Fighting Falcon," but all the pilots (including Mover) call it a Viper.

[@hr1meg]

10:24 These scenes are all fake. TV and movies have shown us that there needs to be more women, blacks, Asians, and gays to truly show the real world we live in. 😜