Welcome to the Fighter Pilots’ Guide to Living. Today’s guest is retired Commander Jim 'Puck' Howe, whose distinguished aviation career included over 3,800 flying hours in the F-14 Tomcat and F-18 Hornet.In one of four episodes about his time flying for the Navy, Puck talks about his lengthy training process to become a fighter pilot, his time at the RAG, and his assignment to VF-32. About Puck:Commander Howe was born in Grove City, PA. He graduatedfrom the United States Naval Academy in 1989, earning his B.S. in General Engineering. After selecting Tomcats following flight school, CDR Howe flew with VF-32, VF-101, VF-2, SFWSL, and VF/A-31. He is a graduate of the Strike Fighters Tactics Instructor (TOPGUN) course taught at the Naval Strike and Aviation Warfare Center (NSAWC), as well as the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course taught at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron ONE (MAWTS-1).About the hosts:Mitch 'TACO' Parmentier has 16 years of experience with the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a Weapons System Operator (WSO). He has a longstanding love of aviation and history that he brings to the podcast.Beth Bailey was raised by F-14 Radar Intercept Officer Glen 'Wheels' Wheless and grew up around aviators and their unique brand of storytelling for most of her childhood. Beth worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner, and host of The Afghanistan Project Podcast.