Good series, and SO much less creepy than “Return to Oz” (that one scarred me for a few years).
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Well, Navy Personnel Command heard your complaints and has answered! They gave a statement to USNI News:
The most straightforward answer to have a captain with 35-plus years of service is for the captain to have previous enlisted experience. In the case of Maverick, this scenario doesn’t fit with the movie’s timeline – Maverick was a lieutenant in 1986.
Another possible scenario occurs if there’s a break in service. For instance, perhaps at some point after the famous incident involving MiGs of uncertain origin over the Indian Ocean, as depicted in the first “Top Gun,” Maverick left active duty and did some time in the Navy Reserve. Then later, he returned to active duty. With more than five years in the reserves, Maverick could be pushing 37 years in uniform.
The final scenario for Maverick would be if he were retired but retained in service, a scenario that keeps individuals in uniform after reaching their statutory retirement. Generally speaking, cases of individuals being retired but retained are rare, but not unheard of, according to Naval Personnel Command.
The 2nd one is what immediately came to my mind. That after 20+ years he left, maybe was a civilian pilot for several years, and then just like Jim Kirk he decided to go back in.
Funny how no one questions why Kirk was still a captain (despite having been an admiral and knocked down, to then spend another decade plus as a captain…) when he died.
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Excellent! I love this
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I am a bit irritated over the whole “You are still a Captain…” thing. It strongly implies that Maverick has somehow not reached his full potential by not making Admiral.
In the Navy I was in, Maverick would have been lucky to have made CDR…if he had, it would have only been because he had shot down those Migs and enough folks on the promotion board remembered that. He would likely have not selected for command (those buzzing the tower incidents would have killed his chances) and thus would never had made CAPT (holding command of a squadron is a prerequisite).
That said, in my Navy, retiring as a CDR was considered respectable. Retiring as a CAPT is considered very respectable.
That Maverick made CAPT, should have amazed the Ed Harris character, not have him berating Maverick for not being a “…two star Admiral by now.”
I have a fitness report written by a 4-star Admiral that states I was “already working at the two-star level”, so that line has a bit of irony for me. 
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That actually has come up in one of the Navy Nuke FB groups in meme form. Especially since to make Flag, it seems from the enlisted point of view to be more about who you know and where you were at the right or wrong time.
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That seems to be the case with just about anything in life. Even though it should be it’s almost never just about merit.
Wheels
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I had a 2-star say that making Admiral was like getting hit by lightening–you’ve got to be “standing an open field” when the thunderstorm hits, after that… He then went on to tell me that indeed I had been in the field…which was a nice complement.
I was actually relieved that I didn’t make it - for the first few years as a Flag Officer, your life is not your own…it’s like being an Ensign all over again.
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When I was flying the King Air, one of our senior pilots was a retired Colonel who flew combat sorties over Kosovo in the F16 at the age of 50. He flew fast jets for his entire military career starting with the Marines in the F4 before moving over to the Air Force Reserve to fly the F100, A7 and finally the F16. I really enjoyed flying with him, and he taught me a lot, but you certainly had to bring your ‘A game’ or he would let you know in no uncertain terms.
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OK, you all argue about ranks but did anyone noticed that:
• Maverick was/is a test pilot
• he probably test-flew the F-117 (see that photo on the right)
• and has VX-31 patch on his jacket
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Not many USN pilots flew the 117, that is certain.
I can’t imagine they would’ve let him, though, because of the TS nature of the 117.
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Hey, the man speed passed over five air control towers and one admiral’s daughter. No one would stop him riding the Nighhawk.
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Let’s see how many US Navy Motorcycle Program violations we can see in this photo…
…and one big Uniform Regulations violation for wearing an official uniform green flight jacket with civilian cloths.
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You took the rivet counter trait to a new level there.
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I’m betting that’s why he couldn’t make Admiral. Too many run-ins with Base Security. And it’s hard to lead a Safety Standdown when you’re coming from the “do as I say, not as I do” angle.
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LOL!
Actually, as a former CO I can tell you with some certainty that a command’s motorcycle safety program is vitally important. Not because it really impacts safety our anything…more of a CYA if something does happen…
…like when a hapless sailor of mine (who had evidently never ridden before) happened to have a minor motorcycle upset while at home in Texas during his Christmas leave–taking a spin on his high school friend’s new bike–that landed him in the ER. I had to personally defend my motor cycle safety program to my immediate superior in the chain of command (ISIC), assuring her I had a robust and vigorously implemented program in line with all pertinent and applicable instructions and regulations…that despite a motor cycle safety program of such a high caliber, “You can’t fix stupid.”
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As a former rider myself and LPO, I’m very aware. Had a Honda CBR, but knew I was going to sell it within an hour of driving in San Diego when I was out there for househunting, because I didn’t want to die.
So did said young Texan get sent up when he finally came back?
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No, that’s Club Fed/DOD in a nutshell. Flag officer is caught in a inappropriate situation with his secretary, everybody gets a free ticket to the mandatory SHARP training class that afternoon. Everybody. Pvt. Chucklenuts has a car accident and goes to the ER, everybody gets a safety stand down, they put the entire post through the theatre where a quadriplegic car crash survivor tells their story, warns everyone to drive safe. GS-09 Numbnuts is 350lbs, gets on a ladder rated for 200lbs, ladder collapses, everybody suddenly finds an email dictating mandatory “ladder safety class” and you will be there at X time.
All of the above are true stories.
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You know, I never asked…well, he never saw me…that would have been too much. He was a seaman (E3)…one of my problem children…I let the Chiefs take care of it…better that way…never heard a bad thing about him again…that’s what (good) Chiefs (and good LPOs) do…just say’n.
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That guy is such a Maverick…
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Groan
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