EPISODE EIGHTEEN
Welcome to “Safe on Deck”. My name is Antonio Gemma More'. In the fleet I flew the MH-53E “Sea Dragon” helicopter, and these days I instruct the next generation of Naval Flight Officers in the T-6A “Texan II”. Throughout my incredibly short time in aviation I have been fortunate to meet a wide cross-section of aviators. Along the way I have done my best to document each and every flying memory, but eventually I came to realize that even the sharpest photo or the highest-quality video can only really capture so much.. Everyone I have met has a unique story to tell, and “Safe on Deck” is my humble attempt to capture as many of those exciting and inspiring aviation stories as possible.
For episode eighteen I sat down with CAPT Dan “Mili” Milicevic aboard NAS Pensacola. Mili graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in December of 1995 and earned his commission into the Navy via Officer Candidate School. After winning his Wings of Gold in December of 1997, Mili was selected to serve as a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) flying aboard the legendary F-14 “Tomcat” fleet defense interceptor. As a newly-qualified replacement RIO, Mili flew combat missions over Kosovo in support of “Operation Allied Force” and over Iraq in support of “Operation Southern Watch”. Next, Mili went on to serve as an instructor NFO at VT-86 “Sabrehawks” and as an overseas NATO staff officer before transitioning into the Navy Reserve where he continued his career of instruction. He was recalled to active duty to deploy with a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) unit in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom” and was then selected to command the VT-86 Squadron Augment Unit (SAU). More recently, Mili instructs the next-generation of Weapon System Officers (WSO) and Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO) as a contract simulator instructor utilizing the Navy’s next-generation Virtual Mission Training System (VMTS). Additionally, as a Captain serving in the Navy Reserves he continues to train fleet aviators as a senior Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) Adversary Tactics Instructor “Red Air” controller, and is the NAWDC reserve unit prospective Commanding Officer (PCO).
Thank you for taking the time to listen. In the future, I plan to continue to share similar interviews with both current and retired military aviators. If you have a question or a suggestion for a future interview please leave it as a comment below. “Safe on Deck” episode eighteen, with CAPT Dan “Mili” Milicevic. Enjoy!
Podcast timestamps:
25:42 - Advanced NFO training with the US Air Force in the AT-38C "Talon"
55:33 - Fighting the F-14 "Tomcat" as a team - roles and responsibilities of a Radar Intercept Officer
1:20:54 - "Contact, fifty-four thousand feet, Mach 1.8 and accelerating.."
1:37:21 - Buddy-lazing over Kosovo with the AN/AAQ-13 "LANTIRN"
1:53:23 - Working with the allies: NATO Greece
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** The views and opinions presented on “Safe on Deck” are my own and those of my guests and do not represent the official policy or position of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or its components. **
6 сен 2024