Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Dave Berke served for over 23 years as a USMC fighter pilot, TOPGUN graduate and instructor, and combat veteran.
Berke became the first operational pilot qualified in the F-35B Lightning II. He flew the F/A-18 Hornet, as well as several other fighter jets, served as a forward air controller on the ground in Iraq, and later became an instructor at TOPGUN.
Berke speaks with Business Insider about the realities of operating as a pilot aboard an aircraft carrier, including the demands of carrier life and combat deployments following 9/11.
In 2026 alone, US aircraft carriers participated in combat missions in Venezuela, Iran, and Yemen.
Since retiring as lieutenant colonel from the Marine Corps in 2017, Berke has worked as an instructor and executive at Echelon Front, where he teaches leadership, accountability, and decision-making under pressure.
For more:
The Need to Lead: A TOPGUN Instructor's Lessons on How Leadership Solves Every Challenge
By Dave Berke
https://a.co/d/07wiGKaz
echelonfront.com
Read "A Marine who flew the F/A-18, F-16, F-22, and F-35 says one jet stood apart": bit.ly/4ezwKg7
00:00 - Introduction
00:33 - The Danger
04:25 - Top Gun
08:50 - Call Signs
10:33 - The First Mission
13:21 - The Mentality
16:41 - The Aircraft
20:55 - 9/11
24:29 - Instructor
27:26 - Career Change
34:33 - The Reality
38:42 - The Return
44:44 - The Future
47:39 - The Aftermath
50:17 - Credits
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#fighterpilots #topgun #marinecorps #authorizedaccount
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How Top Gun Fighter Pilots Actually Work | Authorized Account | Insider
Dave Berke served for over 23 years as a USMC fighter pilot, TOPGUN graduate and instructor, and combat veteran.
Berke became the first operational pilot qualified in the F-35B Lightning II. He flew the F/A-18 Hornet, as well as several other fighter jets, served as a forward air controller on the ground in Iraq, and later became an instructor at TOPGUN.
Berke speaks with Business Insider about the realities of operating as a pilot aboard an aircraft carrier, including the demands of carrier life and combat deployments following 9/11.
In 2026 alone, US aircraft carriers participated in combat missions in Venezuela, Iran, and Yemen.
Since retiring as lieutenant colonel from the Marine Corps in 2017, Berke has worked as an instructor and executive at Echelon Front, where he teaches leadership, accountability, and decision-making under pressure.
For more:
The Need to Lead: A TOPGUN Instructor's Lessons on How Leadership Solves Every Challenge
By Dave Berke
https://a.co/d/07wiGKaz
echelonfront.com
Read "A Marine who flew the F/A-18, F-16, F-22, and F-35 says one jet stood apart": bit.ly/4ezwKg7
00:00 - Introduction
00:33 - The Danger
04:25 - Top Gun
08:50 - Call Signs
10:33 - The First Mission
13:21 - The Mentality
16:41 - The Aircraft
20:55 - 9/11
24:29 - Instructor
27:26 - Career Change
34:33 - The Reality
38:42 - The Return
44:44 - The Future
47:39 - The Aftermath
50:17 - Credits
------------------------------------------------------
#fighterpilots #topgun #marinecorps #authorizedaccount
MORE AUTHORIZED ACCOUNT VIDEOS:
How Psychopaths Actually Work
youtu.be/bLO_hjZ9IKM
How NASA Astronauts Actually Work
youtu.be/gv7SKKN5G6U
How Bounty Hunters Actually Work
youtu.be/Y9a6fu4PFd4
Insider is brought to you by Business Insider is a global newsroom covering business, technology, innovation, and the economy.
Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: businessinsider.com/?utm_source=youtube
Sign up for our newsletters: businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter?utm_source=youtube
Find Business Insider on Facebook: facebook.com/businessinsider
... on Instagram: instagram.com/businessinsider
... on X: https://x.com/BusinessInsider
... on TikTok: tiktok.com/@businessinsider
... on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3VMNsySxP4XDSnEWqkrCGU?si=4da270e9c0174a20
How Top Gun Fighter Pilots Actually Work | Authorized Account | Insider
