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Law student has more exciting life; he's also a Navy jet fighter pilot

—--Courtesy Photo Lt. Cmdr. Steve "Stretch" Armstrong

by AMANDA LaPRELLE
C&J 271

“I love the way the ocean looks from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Sunsets are amazing. You will never see a night so black than when you stand on the deck of a carrier in the middle of the ocean on a night with no moon.”

That’s the kind of fascination Lt. Cmdr. Steve “Stretch” Armstrong has had with aviation since he went on his first airplane ride.

“My father’s friend, Russ Krall, took me flying when I was about 5,” Armstrong said. “He was a Blue Angel pilot and a career Navy flyer. I remember my brother being scared every moment we were in the air that day. I laughed from takeoff to touchdown.”

This experience proved life-changing for Stretch. Under the influence of his father’s friend, Lt. Col. Frank Rider, Stretch started to explore the possibilities of aviation and joining the Navy.

“I couldn’t believe those Navy guys actually landed airplanes at night on aircraft carriers,” Armstrong said. “Further, I saw through Lt. Col. Rider how honorable it was to serve your country. I watched 'Top Gun,' and the rest was history.”

The demands of the Navy became a reality when Armstrong began the application process. The Navy selects pilots typically on a need-based system, so he would have his work cut out for him.

“All in all, my passion for the Navy truly rested with my desire to serve my country. The cutbacks in the military were harsh at the time I was graduating college. It was almost impossible to get a pilot slot.”

Upon this realization, Armstrong decided to enlist in the Navy when he was 25, and viewed becoming an aviator as a privilege. After a great deal of hard work and convincing his family of the idea he would make it through the program, Armstrong was given a pilot slot in the Navy flight program.

“My favorite part of Undergraduate Pilot Training was the reality that I was actually in the Navy flight program,” Armstrong said. “It wasn’t really believable to me until then.”

Although being selected for pilot was an accomplishment in itself, the desire to obtain a jet slot became extremely stressful.

“Jet pipeline selection usually comes after your UPT syllabus and depends on your performance in that program. I put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself during that part of my flight training.”

Armstrong reached his goal and pinned on his Navy pilot wings when he was 27 years old. Soon after, he was deployed on the USS Carl Vinson for a six-month cruise to Thailand, Singapore, and Hawaii.

“Being on a ship was wonderful, exciting, peaceful at times, lonely as hell, and once in a while, tragic,” Armstrong said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie on the ship. The tough working hours, long days and months away from family really brings people together. You learn about yourself. You realize your limits and are often amazed at how far beyond those limits you can go.”

Armstrong flew a variety of aircraft for the Navy including a Pitts Special, T-34, T-35, Prowler, and the F/A-18 Hornet.

Almost 13 years later, Armstrong continues to serve his country as a flight instructor for the Navy. As a landing signals officer, 37-year-old Armstrong teaches pilots how to land Prowlers, a Navy training plane, on aircraft carriers during the day and at night.

Aside from being a pilot in the Navy, Armstrong is pursuing a JD at the University of New Mexico’s Law School.

“I would really like to be involved with disadvantaged youth in New Mexico and education. I’m in my second year of law school now, so one more year after this.”

Armstrong plans to continue flying with the reserves and pursue some of his goals with a law degree, and possibly teach law some day as well.

Armstrong believes that the decision to join the Navy should be an informed one, and he continually tells people of the up and down sides of his own experience.

“Sometimes, you have to deal with loss. It grounds you and makes you grateful for what you have. It reminds you of the realities of what you’re doing. I love my memories of living and flying on the aircraft carrier. Even though it can be difficult being gone, it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

--November 30, 2007

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