Everyone Has a Callsign

Training overview

Fighter pilot callsigns tend to sound at least kind of cool. However, they don’t get to choose them. They are given based on a mistake that was made as a young pilot. From that point on, they are worn on their nametags as a badge of honor.

The tradition of callsigns is based on humility, in celebrating the obstacles overcome to earn that name and to shape a productive view of failure. They help create a culture where mistakes are viewed as opportunities to learn and improve and where people feel safe to fess up when they misstep.  

In this workshop, combat veteran Michelle Curran, callsign Mace, draws from her experiences as an F-16 fighter pilot and Lead Solo Pilot for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. She takes participants into the world of a fighter squadron, where admitting errors and using them as learning opportunities is the norm.