When the Secretary of Defense climbed into an F/A-18 at Naval Air Station Fallon and shouted “Turn and Burn,” it wasn’t a publicity stunt — it was a statement. Pete Hegseth’s flight with TOPGUN instructors put him shoulder-to-shoulder with the warriors who actually fly and fight, and Americans should welcome a defense chief who knows the smell of jet fuel and the feel of G-forces. The footage rolling out of Fallon showed a leader willing to be where the action is, not hiding behind talking points or focus groups.
He didn’t go alone. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine was on the scene, underscoring a new era of military leadership that values experienced aviators and operational credibility. Caine, who assumed the chairmanship in April 2025, is a decorated pilot himself and his presence at Fallon made clear that this administration’s top military advisers are back in the cockpit, literally and figuratively. Americans tired of bureaucrats will take comfort in leaders who train and fly with the men and women they command.
This moment did not come out of nowhere; Secretary Hegseth earned his office in a controversial but decisive confirmation process earlier in 2025. The Senate narrowly confirmed him amid fierce opposition from coastal elites and partisan critics, but the result was a victory for voters who demanded a Pentagon focused on warfighting, not woke distractions. Hegseth’s critics tried to make his past the story, but the country needed someone to restore lethality and accountability, and that’s exactly what he’s trying to do.
The symbolic rebranding of the Pentagon to the Department of War has stirred debate, and that’s exactly the point: words matter. An executive order earlier this fall sought to restore the language of victory and purpose to the nation’s military institutions, signaling a return to seriousness in an era of grave threats. Call it symbolism if you like, but symbols reflect priorities, and a warrior-first posture is what will deter our adversaries and reassure our allies.
The cockpit footage and candid snaps from Fallon are more than viral moments; they’re recruiting posters for seriousness and service. The demonstration coincided with Navy milestones and showcased TOPGUN’s intense training — a reminder that America’s edge depends on skill, discipline, and leaders who respect that reality. Seeing the Secretary of Defense strapped into a Super Hornet and grinning after hard turns reassures the troops and the public that our leadership isn’t afraid to share the harness.
Of course, the usual coastal media chorus tried to sneer and spin, painting a proud show of support for the troops as some kind of stunt. Those same outlets spent months smearing Hegseth during his confirmation while ignoring the operational rot that leadership turnover and woke initiatives inflicted on readiness. If the press wants to mock a defense secretary who chooses to stand with pilots rather than virtue-signal from a studio couch, the public will judge who is serving America and who is serving narratives.
Patriots should cheer what happened at Fallon: a fighting secretary, a fighting chairman, and a message that America will not apologize for preparing to win. Congress and conservative leaders should double down on funding readiness, back commanders who put weapon systems and training first, and stop letting cultural experiments sap our fighting edge. The men and women in uniform deserve leaders who will fly with them, fight with them, and never forget that our first duty is to preserve peace through strength.
