Manly native helps train the Navy’s best pilots at TOPGUN

By Lt. Bridget Mitchell
Navy Office of Community Outreach
In Nevada’s high desert is the Navy’s premiere tactical air warfare training center, home to the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and it’s Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, known to the world as TOPGUN.
A 2004 North Central High School graduate and Manly, Iowa, native is part of the Navy’s finest aviation fighter training facility in the world.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin Reuter is an aviation ordnanceman working with the Naval Munitions Command CONUS West Division Detachment Fallon stationed aboard Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.
A Navy aviation ordnanceman is responsible for issuing, receiving, storing and distributing munitions to the fleet.
Reuter said that experiences growing up helped forge a successful Navy career.
“My mom worked full-time and I helped take care of my family. At the age 13 I stared to work in the corn fields. That taught me responsibility, discipline, value of hard work. That’s helped me in my Navy career,” said Reuter.
TOPGUN began 48 years ago with the determination of nine pilots, the skepticism of the government and almost no budget as history would recall. In the early years it turned the tide of a losing air war in Vietnam, revolutionized military doctrine, inspired a Hollywood blockbuster and attracted and trained the best allied pilots and air crew from all over the world.
Reuter plays a crucial role in the overall mission that flies over 5,000 adversary sorties per year in support of the Navy and Marine Corp Active and Reserve fleet and replacement squadrons, carrier air wings and marine aircraft groups including the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National guard and Canadian Forces.  
“Nowhere in the world does the Navy have the ability to train as we do in NAS Fallon.  The Navy specifically chose NAS Fallon as the location for Top Gun and the Naval Special Warfare Tactical Ground Mobility Training Center because of the desert climate, mountainous terrain, and sophisticated ranges available in northern Nevada.  Every Carrier Air Wing and Navy Seal Team is required to receive the essential training provided here prior to being deployed in theater,” said NAS Fallon Commanding Officer, Capt. David Halloran.
According to Navy officials, TOPGUN is highly competitive and exposes Navy and Marine Corp pilots to the most demanding training scenarios in fighter aviation lead by some of the most talented pilots in the world. Each pilot is hand-selected for air-to-air and air-to-ground training and subsequently, as a TOPGUN instructor.
“My grandmother and grandfather served in the Army. I’m the first in my immediate family to serve in the Navy,” said Reuter explaining he was proud to carry on the tradition.
“I’m proud to have earned my associates degree in criminal justice as well as being awarded several Navy Achievement Medals,” said Reuter.
Reuter also said they are proud to serve at the center of excellence for naval aviation, training and tactics development.
The future of U.S. aviation depends on the Navy’s ability to achieve their vision for defeating tomorrow’s air threats with the support of the ground crews and pilots.
“I’m proud to serve my country and provide for my family,” added Reuter.