Markus Case, Elkhorn South High School Class of 2018
Interview conducted by Ann Huddleston, Alumni Relations
2018 Elkhorn South graduate Markus Case found himself on an unexpected trajectory to becoming a fighter pilot. Read on to see how the First Lieutenant got to where he is now!
What does Elkhorn mean to you?
Elkhorn is where I grew up and went from being a kid to a bigger kid. Whenever people ask me where I’m from, I say Elkhorn, Nebraska, then I say Omaha because they don’t know where Elkhorn is.
You played soccer at South and were a team captain your senior year – what memories stand out from that time and what did being a team captain mean to you?
Making it to three state championships definitely stood out along with quality time with my teammates on and off the field. Being a team captain provided me with the building blocks of what being a leader meant and has translated well to being an officer in the military.
Did you participate in other activities while in high school and college?
High school: I ran cross country freshman and sophomore year and I was the kicker on the football team my senior year. College: Mainly consisted of ROTC where I had the opportunity to be the Cadet Wing Commander and the Booster Club President. I also ran a deck staining business during the summer and participated in several intramural sports.
What made you choose mechanical engineering and ROTC at UNL?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life when I graduated from high school so I applied for an AFROTC scholarship. My dad did Army ROTC and encouraged that path for me as the military offers the opportunity of getting to be a part of something bigger than you, educational benefits, and unique career fields. The scholarship I received required me to pursue a technical degree so I chose mechanical engineering because I enjoyed playing with Legos when I was a kid and thought it would be similar (it was not).
What sparked your interest in becoming a pilot?
The first spark was when I applied for the You Can Fly Scholarship in my junior year of college. I was awarded a scholarship to fly at a local aviation school and see if flying was for me. I really enjoyed it and made the decision to pursue the career field of aviation.
What’s been the most exciting or memorable moment in your pilot training so far?
I am seven weeks into the program which has consisted of ground school, academics, and flight sims. The most exciting part for me is my commute to work. Every day I drive past the flightline. T38s and T6s taking off and flying overhead in formation 10 feet apart is incredibly exciting. Knowing the everyday work I am putting in is paying dividends for me to be in that position in a few weeks to months is an incredible feeling and extremely motivational.
Currently, you’re training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, which is a multi-national combat pilot training program for NATO. That is exciting! What led you there?
What got me into the program was my academic scores/GPA, physical fitness performance, and class ranking. What led me there was my family, mentors/advisors, and peers. They were the ones who provided me with the tools to be able to put myself into a successful position. Always ask those people for help when you need it. At one point during my junior year I was told my test scores were too low to be a pilot. Instead of giving up, I asked what I could do about it, now I am at ENJJPT (Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program)!
When you get a day off from training, how do you like to spend your free time?
I like to spend my time with my wife, Taylor. The Air Force gets me from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon/evening, she gets me for the rest. We try to go on weekend trips to Dallas/FW or Oklahoma City once or twice a month since we are in a small town.
What advice would you give to current students who dream big but aren’t sure how to get there?
Don’t be afraid to fail, be ready to get up and try again, and ask others for help/advice.
