RSSAn Interview With USMC Commandant General James F. Amos
Semper Fi Parents | February 26, 2011
Leatherneck Magazine does an exclusive interview with Marine Corps commanding General James F. Amos.
As the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps settled into his new assignment, between visits to various climes where Marines are assigned or deployed, he sat down with Leatherneck to talk about the state of the Corps and his direction of march.
Leatherneck: Shortly after becoming Commandant, you landed in an F/A-18 on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) to celebrate the 235th Birthday with Marines. You were in the back seat on that flight. Can you still fly the aircraft?
Gen Amos: I commanded an F/A-18 squadron aboard a carrier. That was an exciting time. You have to work very hard at those skills to be good at it. And, it is very unforgiving.
A few years later, I came back to Beaufort [Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.] to command a fighter group. I went back and carrier-qualified again. I really enjoyed it and it was a personal challenge. I asked myself, “OK, Amos, do you still have it?” Over the two years as group commander, I always flew out with my squadrons to the carriers.
On that flight to Ronald Reagan, I wasn’t used to being in the back seat. But the airplane is so technical, that you don’t want to fly it unless you’re current. This is past the manhood thing. I could do it, but I just don’t have the time to go through the qualifying process. I was in the back seat, but when we approached the ship, it was like I did it yesterday. There is no doubt that I could do it again. It was an exciting time.
Leatherneck: What do your superiors think about you flying around in an F/A-18D and landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier?
Gen Amos: They probably aren’t even aware of it, but Marines are aware of it. That’s the most important audience for me.
Leatherneck: How do you handle being the first non-ground officer Commandant?
Gen Amos: I try to downplay the fact that I’m the aviator Commandant. I never bring it up unless somebody asks. While I don’t set the flying and aviation pieces of my job aside, I don’t try to emphasize them either.
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