News

Childhood dream of flying helicopters lands Reservist in C-17 pilot seat

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Drawing inspiration from his childhood hero GI Joe, a Reservist is living the dream.

Enthralled with GI Joe and the helicopter flown by Commander Cobra in the 1980s-era cartoon, Capt. Colby Harrell knew that simply being a pilot wasn't his goal - being a helicopter pilot was the goal.

So how did this 37-year-old Lakewood, Wash., native end up as a pilot for the C-17 Globemaster? Did he ever get to fly his beloved helicopters? Well, it all started with his infantry service in the Marine Corps.

"I loved the Marine Corps," said Harrell, chief of tactics with the 97th Airlift Squadron, McChord Field, Wash. "When I got out of high school, I wanted to do the hardest thing I could think of at the time. It definitely gives you a path, like 'This is awesome and I want to keep doing this and I love the Marine Corps for this' or the path of 'This is great, this has done a lot for me, but I know this isn't what I want to do,' and gives you the drive to go somewhere else."

As much as Harrell loved being a Marine, he knew his path was to fly helicopters, but credits the Marine Corps with setting him up nicely in his life, real quickly.

"I left the Marines to join the Army and fly helicopters. I checked into the (Army's) warrant officer program and with the warrant officer program, you don't have to have a bachelor's degree. I only had my two-year degree, which I earned in the Marine Corps. So I joined the Army's warrant officer aviation program," said Harrell, a graduate of Lakes High School, Lakewood, Wash.

Joining the Washington Army National Guard, Harrell graduated with honors from both Warrant Officer Candidate School and Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training. Although he didn't get to fly the Cobra gunship that GI Joe flew, he began living his dream of flying helicopters with the OH 58 and Chinook CH47.

From 2000 to 2004, Harrell flew helicopters and never once thought about flying anything else. That is until he had a chance meeting with a pilot from the 446th Airlift Wing.

"My best friend's dad was a sim (simulator) instructor for Boeing here for the C-17s and he offered for me to come over for some Air Force time. I happened to be flying (in the simulator) with Murray Peterman," explains Harrell.

Peterman, now retired, is a former vice wing commander for the 446th AW.

"I commented (during the simulator flight) that this is kind of fun, how do you do this? And he said bring your resume over. So I brought my resume over and low and behold, I ended up interviewing and (Col.) Peggy Philips (former 97th AS commander) hired me. I got a conditional release from the Army and I came over here for fixed wing qualification."

At the time the Air Force Reserve offered him a C-17 pilot position, Harrell's helicopter unit was activated for deployment.

"The state aviation officer was a one-star general who gave me my conditional release and told me Air Force aviation is the epitome of aviation, go do that. They'll be okay on the deployment without you," said Harrell.

Harrell's shift from helicopters to fixed wing piloting was a case of seizing the moment.

"I've never flown a plane. I was just making a query, and hadn't really put any thought into it," he said.

Comparing his experiences with helicopters and the C-17, Harrell finds something to love about each.

"Helicopters are more flying, lower to the ground, no automation, no long flights, just a lot of flying and a lot of attention to detail all the time; always 100 percent engaged on the controls," he said. "That part's fun.

"The mission of the C-17 and what we support globally every day, or the potential of what we could do, that's what I enjoy. It's amazing the stuff we can bring somewhere.

Although he has not officially deployed, Harrell has flown the C-17 downrange in Southwest Asia, and on some Operation Deep Freeze missions, including a medical evacuation. He is airdrop qualified, an instructor pilot, and along with his chief of tactics duties, serves as the wing's electronic communications officer.

With activations and regular flying opportunities keeping him busy with the Air Force Reserve, Harrell has been "unemployed" for the past 10 years in his civilian life.

"Since I've been in the Reserve, I haven't had a job," said Harrell, who received a direct commission in 2004. "The money's just been there. But, I just got hired by American Airlines as a first officer. All my military experience got me the job. I have no civilian flight time."

Although now employed in his civilian life, Harrell believes he could go another 13 years in the Air Force Reserve.

"I'm in no hurry to get out. It's been fun, but now it's going to be fun on the Reserve side to be a Reservist and incorporate that little pyramid of your personal, professional and military life. So I'm looking forward to all three of those things coming together for the first time since I've been in the Reserve," said Harrell.

Harrell says the needs of his squadron and the needs of the 446th AW will determine his future.

"I don't have an agenda; whatever I can keep doing to contribute to make it better for them makes my life better personally," he said. "My favorite thing in this plane is when you bring troops home and you land and you can see the family members waiting for their loved ones. That's the best feeling I get from this job."