As an avionics technician in the National Guard in 2021, Nathaniel Moss would watch pilots fly out of the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse and dream of one day being in their shoes.
Moss, a 2019 Hahnville High School graduate, is now well on his way to achieving his dream. Last year, he was selected into the elite Air Force pilot training program, and last month, he moved to Oklahoma to begin training.
“It’s surreal,” Moss said. “I feel very blessed. I don’t take this opportunity lightly. I know that not a lot of people have the chance to do this, so I’m going to try hard not to mess it up. I have to be focused, considering how difficult the program can be.”
After completing the 18-month program, Moss will serve for at least 10 years as an Air Force pilot, a position that only about 4% of Air Force members achieve.
A journey begins
Moss’s journey to the Air Force began at Hahnville High School, when he joined the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps led by Master Sgt. Richard Lochren.
Lochren became a mentor to Moss throughout his high school career. They keep in touch today.
“Sgt. Lochren was really big on developing leadership skills and other soft skills, like working up the courage to talk to people in social environments,” Moss said. “He taught us about integrity and attention to detail. He wanted us to be prepared for life after high school, whether we joined the military or not.”
Moss was also encouraged by his dad, who served in the Army National Guard.
“He was always fond of the idea of his sons in service, but he didn’t push it,” Moss said. “But that was the foundation for me.”
With Sgt. Lochren’s guidance, Moss decided to join the National Guard after high school. He served for six years, while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Orleans. While in college, he also joined the ROTC through Tulane University.
His time with the National Guard solidified his dream of becoming a pilot.
“Being a part of that mission was cool,” Moss said. “But I knew I’d really be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t try and become a pilot. I have always loved aviation. I just didn’t know if I had it in me to go all the way with it. And so, it was always in the back of my mind, I really want to try that out.”
‘A dream come true’
Selection into the Air Force pilot training program requires high rankings in GPA, physical fitness, Commander’s Ranking, and the Air Force Pilot Candidate Selection Method, a predictive tool of a candidate’s success in pilot training.
Last May, Moss gathered with other ROTC members at Tulane University to find out if he was selected for pilot training.
“It was 6 a.m. when I stood up in front of the class and they had a projector up,” Moss said. “It flicked on and there was my name and the next slide was going to be my job. It said 11X Pilot. I freaked out.”
The 11X job code encompasses all prospective pilots before they specialize in specific aircraft. Candidates undergo Initial Flight Screening followed by Undergraduate Pilot Training.
Moss called his mom and dad to tell them the good news.
“It was a dream come true for me,” he said. “There were a lot of tears shed by both my parents. It was such a surreal moment.”
Moss had worried that electrical engineering degree would steer his placement away from pilot training toward an electrical engineering job. But he believes his Commander’s Ranking – he was top third in his class – helped secure his spot in the pilot program.
The Commander’s Ranking is the summation of leadership skills, including the ability to work with others, commitment to the program and general performance.
Flying out
Moss has already completed 52 hours of flying. He received a scholarship through AFROTC’s You Can Fly program to help pay for private pilot lessons out of Lakefront Airport in New Orleans. He used some of his own money, as well.
In the next few months, Moss will complete an initial pilot training, undergraduate pilot training and additional training through the Air Force program. He said his advice to others is to follow your dreams.
“I would say that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or what you look like, if you have a dream, take it seriously,” Moss said. “And if you work toward it, and if you work hard, then you can get there.”
