Nuggets for Nuggets
Young Naval Aviators on their first tour are often called “nuggets.” The most commonly shared origin story traces the term to the Wings of Gold proudly worn by Naval Aviators. According to tradition, newly winged aviators at some squadrons during World War II received brass wings and a small piece of gold—a “nugget”—that would eventually be worked into their insignia. As they gained experience, they were expected to gradually shape and mold the gold into their wings during their spare time. By the time the gold wings were fully formed, they had typically earned enough experience to leave the “nugget” label behind.
Whether the story is entirely true or not, I have always appreciated the symbolism.
I’ve often said that “some things just glitter and shine.” It is a reminder that outward appearance is not always indicative of true value. Many things that look impressive accomplish very little, while some of the highest-performing machines and people are unconcerned with appearances.
Perhaps that’s why I have always preferred the old, muted brass wings to the highly polished gold ones. The brass wings remind me that there is always a gap between the aviator I am and the aviator I can become. If I had been an aviator in World War II, I think I would have left my gold wings on the shelf and continued wearing brass wings as a daily reminder that mastery is never complete and growth is never finished.
The truth is that the best aviators never stop being nuggets.
No matter how many hours we fly, qualifications we earn, or leadership positions we hold, there is always another lesson to learn, another skill to refine, and another opportunity to better serve. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to relentlessly pursue improvement while operating from a position of integrity.
With that in mind, I am starting a new series in the OPI (Operating from a Position of Integrity) category called Nuggets for Nuggets. These short posts are intended for anyone who is upgrading—whether to a new aircraft, a new position, a new responsibility, or simply a better version of themselves. They are reminders, lessons, and observations gathered from mentors, peers, successes, failures, and decades of upgrading in service to others.
Because if we’re approaching life the way we were created to, we’re all still working our nuggets into wings.