City of Riverside’s Post

The Marine Corps has officially released the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor to resume flying. All Osprey’s (Marines, Air Force, Navy, and Japan Defense Force) have been grounded for almost 3 months after an Air Force V-22 crashed off the coast of Japan, killing 8.   Once it was announced that the Ospreys were resuming flight operations, I started getting messages, asking about my feelings. My son is a V-22 Osprey Crew Chief, so it is very personal to me. The multiple responses to well-meaning friends got me to thinking, because there was a time when I was doing the dangerous stuff, and now my son (and my son in-law) are doing them. This has little to do with specific events, and more to do with how I deal with fear.   For those who have not experienced it, thinking you may die is unique and memorable. For me, when that happened, my life flashed before me, for sure. But afterwards, I realized that the overriding feeling while it was happening was that I had regrets.  Not a single regret was about what I tried and failed at; they were all about things I didn’t have the guts to do, and the fact that in every single instance, the thing that stopped me was fear.   To be sure, the fear has multiple reasons, but in the end it was still all about being afraid; believing that “staying the course” was risk-averse.   What I concluded a long time ago was that fear erodes my emotional and spiritual well-being; every failure to act made me less happy.   A long time ago, I promised myself I would never let fear determine my decisions. I would go hard at my dreams and wants, and the results would be what they were. Being fearless does not mean living without fear. I am scared more than I will ever admit. But fear will not factor into my decisions.   So, my son does a dangerous job. Yes, he may die doing it. But I love that kid with all my heart, and watching him live a fearless life at 21, something I didn’t do until my late 30s, is what I focus on, think about, and inspires my life and happiness.

A career from fighter pilot to life saving transplant pilot at Transmedics. You never forget your first fighter squadron. Over 44 years ago I met a fine bunch of Naval Aviators when I joined VF-11 The Red Rippers. After flying fighters as a Naval Aviator and Airliners for 30 years at Delta, I found a most rewarding new career flying transplant organs at Transmedics. Successfully landing on an aircraft carrier is satisfying, if not stressful at times. However, each successful flight at Transmedics gives someone a second chance at living. Saving a life is the most rewarding part of a long aviation career.

Sean Mahoney joined WIN Waste in March 2024 as a Performance Engineer and is a member of the WIN Military Community. In addition to his role at WIN, Sean serves as a Strategic Sealift Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, using his experience as a licensed Merchant Marine Officer to serve as an Engineering Officer aboard Combat Logistics Fleet ships. He also serves as a Tactical Advisor aboard merchant ships carrying military cargo, advising crews in contested maritime environments. With 7 years of service and 3 deployments, Sean’s military career has shaped his understanding of commitment, sacrifice, and resilience. ⭐Branch: U.S. Navy ⭐Rank: O-3 Lieutenant ⭐Years of service: 7 ⭐Deployments: Operation Karat 2018, Native Fury 2020, Defender Europe 2021, and multiple Joint Logistics Over the Shore exercises ❤️ What Sean wants those without military experience or connections to know: “Serving goes beyond just a career. It’s a life-defining commitment, and that commitment comes along with demands that are mental and emotional. Many veterans carry experiences that are challenging to explain, and adjusting to civilian life is an ongoing process. So, recognizing the sacrifices made by service members and their families is important and a willingness to listen can make a real difference.” 🤍 How the military has affected Sean’s personal life: “You spend a lot of time away from home, missing out on events and holidays. As a sailor, I spent a significant amount of time at sea and that can be extremely isolating. You often don’t have any kind of communication back home and are just no contact for long periods of time, which can be difficult for everybody. You may expect to return on a certain date, but it usually ends up being a lot longer than you planned. You kind of end up putting your life on hold until you get back, which can take a toll over time.” 💙 Sean’s perspective on transitioning back to civilian life: “It’s a big change going from that regimented lifestyle where everything is planned out and executed at a certain time to going to civilian work where there is more freedom and you’re more on your own. That took me awhile to get used to. As far as advice, don’t be afraid to ask questions as you learn how to adjust to that.” Thank you for your service, Sean. #VeteransDay #employeespotlight

Outstanding is the standard.

I was watching a fantastic show on Prime about the legendary Blue Angels. And I was struck with a powerful truth. Yes. The pilots are outstanding. They are, after all, American Naval Combat Fighter Pilots. That alone makes them the best at what they do. The fighter pilots selected for the Blue Angels represent less than 1% of the Navy's combat pilots. That truly makes them the best of the best. The pilots, however, do not make the Blue Angels' performance consistently stand out. How could they? The pilots serve only a 2-3 year term. If the pilots were the sole reason for the Blue Angels' success, the quality of the program would vary. It does not. Watch any show over any period and witness the same excellent results. That Diamond Formation in this picture is scary good. And it is every single flippin' time. To be clear, the pilots are outstanding. They are US naval combat pilots. Those men and women are badass. But a team like this is great because of the system that turns badass fighter pilots into a seamless team. There are approximately 25 supportive members for every one of the six Blue Angel pilots. The team has a robust training program for every position. Performance metrics are clearly documented, measured, and reviewed consistently. Every member of the team is confident in their role in the greater success of the team. They are confident in their personal authority. The team is highly psychologically safe. Strong open internal communication exists. A deep bench of recruits with a solid "apprenticeship" program also exists. When the newly selected pilot joins the program, they enter a system of excellence. "The people change. The suits stay the same." And it is this SYSTEM OF EXCELLENCE that makes the US military the best in the world. If an organization desires consistent results over the long term, the focus needs to shift from creating great leaders to creating systems of excellence. #leadershipisnotenough #putyourcultureontrac #blueangels #military

After a year as the combat engineer platoon commander CLB-23 Engineer Services Company, it is time to pass the baton to another lieutenant. It has been a whirlwind these past 12 months, and I couldn't be more grateful to lead some of the finest engineers in the United States Marine Corps. Looking back on the experience, I think my marines have taught me more than I managed to teach them 👇 1️⃣ Whatever you do, do it with 100% - Whether it was blowing things up, bivouacing in a thunderstorm, or running rehearsals for hours at a time, they executed every task with motivation, creativity, and vigor. It is all too easy to give less than your best when the task at hand is mundane or down right uncomfortable, but these marines never do. 2️⃣ Selflessness leads to trust which leads to teamwork - These marines embody selfless service in everything they do. Because they show up for one another, time and time again, they have built a foundation of trust within the platoon. This trust enables each individual marine to surrender to the good of the team without question. 3️⃣ Showing you care is 90% of the battle - Every leader has their own style, but investing in the relationships with your marines should be non-negotiable. This rang true whether it was building a cohesive team between my platoon staff or getting to know the new PFC who is at his first drill. In an organization that demands the highest of standards, its beating heart is not proficiency, it is people.  I'll keep these lessons in my toolbox as I take on my next billet as the Company Executive Officer. Here we go!

Written post by David goggins Naval Special Warfare Command - Navy SEAL & SWCC Teams Naval Special Warfare Center repost: Never Own a Bell! Winning and losing. I talk about it all the time. When I speak to people I rarely mention the times I have won. Truth be told, I don’t talk about winning because it owns very little space in my head and yet the memories of the many times I have lost or failed at something are clear as can be. It is good to set your standards so high that you have to work your entire life to achieve the mark. Winning has never caused someone to lose sleep. Those who quit in Navy SEAL training walk over to a bell and ring it three times. Then they put their helmet on the ground. If a bell was by my bed, I would ring it every single morning. That is why I don’t own a bell. If your max for push-ups is 100 reps, those last 20 reps fucking suck bad. There is very little growth in the first 80 reps, the growth comes in the last 20 reps when all you want to do is put your knees on the ground and stop. What keeps you going when all you want to do is stop?! I can’t speak for everybody but what keeps me going is knowing the feeling I will have if I put my knees down before I get to 100. Losing and failing are big parts of life. Let it haunt you to be better. Stop using it as a crutch to give up! Some of the best moments in my life are when I have failed over and over again and then finally win/succeed. The thing about winning is once you go to bed after the big win, the win is already forgotten. The world moves too fast to celebrate you longer than that. Being great today doesn’t make it permanent. Don’t relish yesterday’s win for too long. You have to earn greatness every single day of your life!

I have to concur with Avanulas "Vann" Smiley - the article succinctly summarizes how the experiences of the Ranger add to any organization and our society at large. RLTW! https://lnkd.in/g7VaC6ZJ

All military, including the United States Space Force, US Army, United States Air Force, US Navy, United States Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard, are very, very good at #operations. As an example, I will share something about the deck of a carrier: Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch an aircraft from an aircraft carrier? The iconic movie Top Gun may have given us a glimpse, but it only scratches the surface of the intricate coordination and teamwork required to launch an aircraft at sea successfully. As someone underway on a CVN, I can attest to the awe-inspiring spectacle of aircraft launches. From the roar of the engines to the precision of the flight deck crew, it is truly a marvel to behold. But for most people, the chance to witness this firsthand is a rare and unique experience. That's why I'm excited to share a video that offers a unique opportunity to see the complexity and skill involved in launching an aircraft from an aircraft carrier. It's an inside look at the many moving parts and the dedicated personnel that make it all possible. Each person plays a critical role in ensuring a safe and successful launch, from the aircraft handlers to the catapult officers and the air traffic controllers. Infrastructure Masons Compass Datacenters US Navy Navy League of the United States Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific #veterans #veteransupport #veteranshelpingveterans

Medal of Honor Monday. Elmer Charles Bigelow was a United States Navy sailor whose heroic actions during World War II remain a testament to selflessness and bravery. On February 14, 1945, while aboard the USS Fletcher near Corregidor in the Philippines, a Japanese shell hit the ship, causing a devastating fire that threatened to detonate the ship’s ammunition magazine. Without concern for his own safety, Bigelow rushed into the flames armed only with a fire extinguisher. He fought the fire with determination, preventing a catastrophe that could have claimed the lives of many sailors. Bigelow’s injuries were severe, and despite his valiant efforts, he succumbed to them the next day. For his incredible courage and sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 🔹Lesson for Our Lives Elmer Bigelow’s story serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership often requires immediate, decisive action. He didn’t wait for others to solve the problem—he stepped up, understanding that lives were at risk. In our personal and professional lives, we can all take a page from Bigelow’s book. Whether it’s in the workplace or in our communities, being proactive and stepping into difficult situations can make all the difference. This week, think about how you can embody courage and leadership in your own life. When challenges arise, are you willing to take the necessary steps, even if they come with personal risk? Sometimes, leadership is about choosing to act when others might hesitate. Hashtags: #Leadership #Courage #Heroism #Selflessness #MedalOfHonor #NavyHeroes #WW2Veterans #Inspiration #ProactiveMindset #StepUp