The solar rises over Nevada. A rumble rolls throughout the desert, however it’s not the sound of a uncommon rainstorm. It’s two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets engaged in a close-range fight coaching train. One is the haze-grey coloration of fleet squadrons. The opposite sports activities desert camo with a pink star on its tail, one of many paint schemes utilized by the Navy Reserve’s adversary plane squadrons to imitate these utilized by America’s adversaries.
From a great distance off, the jets appear serene, like birds of prey gliding the updrafts. However up shut, it’s a hell storm. The jets pump out swirling vortices of scorched gases. The sound can actually be felt, and the acrid odor of jet gasoline permeates the air. The 2 plane maneuver furiously, each trying to ascertain positional benefit in opposition to the opposite. Lastly, one will get the higher hand. “Copy Kill”—a profitable engagement.
Capt. Brian “Ferg” Ferguson has spent a good portion of his profession concerned with air-to-air fight coaching workouts just like the one described above. Ferguson attended the Adversary Teacher Course on the Navy Fighter Weapons College, also called TOPGUN. He additionally commanded the Preventing Saints of Fighter Squadron Composite 13 (VFC-13), based mostly at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, the identical set up as TOPGUN. VFC -13 is among the Navy Reserve’s adversary plane squadrons devoted particularly to offering the best high quality adversary coaching for Navy fleet squadrons and different items, a Navy function supplied solely by the Navy Reserve. These and quite a few different profession experiences [see note below for more*] helped make Ferguson a super candidate to function the Navy’s technical advisor for TOP GUN: Maverick, Paramount Footage’ new sequel to its 1986 blockbuster-hit function movie, Prime Gun. Ferguson described how he got here by the job.
“Towards the tip of my tour of responsibility because the Deputy Commander, Naval Air Pressure Reserve, the Chief of Employees for Commander, Naval Air Forces contacted me,” mentioned Ferguson. “He mentioned he thought I is perhaps the fitting individual for the function of advisor for TOP GUN: Maverick. At first, I declined as a result of I had been centered on so many different issues professionally, and I knew there could be many different individuals well-qualified for the job. Nonetheless, the Chief of Employees saved pinging me, and ultimately my spouse, Susan, was the one who modified my thoughts. She advised me, “In the event that they get it mistaken and also you had an opportunity to make it higher that you just didn’t take, you’ll be complaining about it for the remainder of your life, and in the event that they get it proper, you’ll remorse that you just weren’t part of it.””
Ferguson served on active-duty orders for simply over a 12 months whereas filling the function of the Navy’s technical advisor for TOP GUN: Maverick, throughout which he additionally carried out the crucial function of aerial coordinator for the Naval Aviators and plane concerned within the movie.
“I wore many hats,” mentioned Ferguson. “Main was security. The issues we did within the jets weren’t essentially any extra dangerous, sophisticated, or tough than any given fleet coaching mission or fight responsibility, however they had been totally different and required an excessive amount of cautious and deliberate threat administration. It was clear to me that any advantages the Navy hoped to realize from the movie showcasing our career to the nation and the world could be greater than erased by a mishap. I additionally coordinated the aerial sequences, understanding the capabilities and limitations of the F/A-18 and aircrew. Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer or Joseph Kosinski would need one thing, and maybe it was not attainable safely inside our consolation margins. I’d work with them and the civilian aerial cinematographer to discover a method to make it work safely and nonetheless be spectacular. I used to be additionally accountable for helping with realism within the script, storyline, and uniform accuracy, minus a couple of scenes that had been filmed previous to my arrival.”
Though Ferguson stipulates that not each a part of the movie is 100% correct to the realities of Naval Aviation, he says that general, it offers an especially life like imaginative and prescient of what being a Naval Aviator is like.
“The movie makes very restricted use of CGI—it’s nearly all real-life Navy pilots in actual Navy jets doing actual maneuvers,” Ferguson mentioned. “We’re taking the viewers into the jets with us, onto the ship, and into fight. Varied individuals who noticed the movie with me all mentioned the very same factor: “I felt like I used to be within the jet!””
Engaged on TOP GUN: Maverick was coming full circle for Ferguson. Like many others, he was impressed in a serious method when he noticed the unique movie, Prime Gun, in theaters when it was first launched in 1986, his senior 12 months of highschool. He attributes watching the movie, in addition to seeing the Navy’s Blue Angels and different Navy plane at airshows, to his resolution to enter Naval Aviation. Now, 36 years later, he’s engaged on movie tasks that can assist to encourage a brand new technology of Naval Aviators, together with one other Hollywood movie named Devotion, the famend story of Naval Aviators and brothers-in-arms Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner through the Korean Conflict, scheduled to be launched within the fall of 2022. Ferguson defined the lasting legacy that movies in regards to the Navy can have.
“I feel that movies can have a dramatic influence.” Ferguson described. “For instance, the unique Prime Gun movie did three issues. First, it helped increase Navy recruiting an incredible quantity. It allowed the Navy to take pleasure in an enormous inflow of purposes from a number of the greatest and brightest younger women and men in America. Second, it helped remind the Naval Aviation neighborhood that we actually have the best job on the planet! Like each job, there are elements of it which are mundane, however the movie celebrated probably the most thrilling elements of it and reminded those who after they look again on their time within the service, these are the elements they will keep in mind, not the lengthy hours or paperwork. Third, it helped join a lot of the American public to the Navy in a method wherein they hadn’t been earlier than—in a up to date method that provides them some familiarity with what the Navy does right this moment. I’m assured that TOP GUN: Maverick may have the identical impact, which is why the Navy and the Division of Protection supported the mission on the highest ranges.”
Ferguson described extra in regards to the influence he thinks the brand new movie may have.
“I’m assured this movie goes to assist reenergize pleasure within the Naval Aviation neighborhood and the navy at giant. It might probably actually pull individuals in and join them to a Navy that they could not notice has been repeatedly concerned in fight operations all over the world for a lot of the final 30 years. This movie will deliver Naval Aviation to screens in entrance of tons of of thousands and thousands of individuals and permit them to expertise the way it seems from the cockpit, and extra importantly, what it feels prefer to be an aviator within the U.S. Navy.”
Ferguson additionally mentioned the crucial function the Navy Reserve performs in supporting Naval Aviation and the Navy at giant.
“The Navy Reserve offers a strategic depth for warfighting readiness throughout these occasions after we are challenged by near-peer adversaries. We stand able to surge combat-capable finish energy…whether or not the demand sign is tactical airpower, strategic elevate, unmanned programs, watch-floor manning, seapower, medical help, Seabees, logistics, Naval Particular Warfare, or any variety of different specialties, the Navy Reserve maintains a readiness to mobilize, to struggle and win anyplace on the earth.”
Ferguson provided the next recommendation to Navy Reserve Sailors within the early elements of their careers:
“Be pleased with what you do! The Navy can not do its job with out the Navy Reserve. Maintain the individual on both facet of you and the individual within the center, and lean on one another. Additionally, hearken to your Chiefs, whether or not you’re junior enlisted or an officer.”
*Be aware: Listed below are a couple of extra highlights from Capt. Ferguson’s profession:
Ferguson earned a bachelor’s diploma in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical College and commissioned within the Navy via the Aviation Officer Candidate College in 1993. After finishing flight college, he was assigned to fly F/A-18s. Amongst quite a few different excursions, Ferguson served as Assistant Air Operations Officer aboard USS Constellation (CV-64), wherein he flew with the Vigilantes of Strike Fighter Squadron One 5 One (VFA-151) and led quite a few night time fight missions into Iraq in F/A-18s in help of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He additionally attended the Navy Fighter Weapons College (TOPGUN) Adversary Teacher Course. Throughout his tour as Commanding Officer of the Preventing Saints of Fighter Squadron Composite 13 (VFC-13), Ferguson transitioned from energetic responsibility to the Navy Reserve, wherein he has continued to serve the Navy in lots of roles. Ferguson presently serves as Commanding Officer of U.S. sixth Fleet’s N5/N7 unit in Naples, Italy and can be Director of the Aviation Mentoring Community for Commander, Naval Air Pressure Reserve. In his civilian life, Ferguson has labored as a federal agent with the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) the place he served as a pilot, tactical crew member, weapons and techniques teacher, and airborne sniper cowl officer, and is now a captain for a serious U.S. airline.
