Patriot,
 As I raced through the skies over northern Alaska, two massive planes came into view.
They were Tupolev Tu-95H bombers, known as “the Bear,” and were Russia’s answer to our B-52 bomber.
Before I go any further, my name is Clay Percle and I’m a former F-22 Raptor pilot and Squadron Commander running for Congress, and I hope you’ll see I’m the right person for the job after reading this letter.
Help me return checks and balances to Washington by donating here.
Back to my story . . .
Fifty-two minutes before I intercepted those Russian bombers, the alert siren blared loudly in the ready room.
My Wingman and I slid down the fire pole and ran to the hangar where our fully armed F-22s awaited.
When we arrived, our ground crews were ready to launch, and within six minutes of the alarm we were airborne in full afterburner.
We screamed through the air in our F-22 Raptors, the deadliest combat plane the world has ever seen.
I was comfortable in the machine and had been the first active duty pilot to log 1,000 hours in the Raptor – so when the imposing Russian planes came into view, flying the jet was instinctive.
The decisions I would make over those few minutes in the air had to be PERFECT.
My eyes shifted rapidly between the massive tail guns of the Bears and their bomb bay doors.
If the Russians moved the guns from their stowed positions, I knew we were in for a fight.
But if those bomb bay doors cracked even a hair, America was at risk. My nation was at risk.
Flying my F-22 was like breathing as my full attention was on coordinating with the airborne command and control, making a thousand decisions that weighed American vigilance with international diplomacy.
The wrong move could trigger WWIII and I was at the tip of the spear to execute any decision.
The job of a fighter pilot isn’t just to fly and fight. As I mentioned, that must be second nature.
Our job is to maintain calm and professionalism while being prepared to fight in a split second.
Our job is to play out countless scenarios and outcomes in our minds so we’re steps ahead of any moves made by the enemy.
In Washington today, Congress is filled with lawmakers who don’t think through the unintended consequences of their actions; they are shortsighted and reckless.
They’re unprepared, unknowledgeable, and are putting their party ahead of their constituents.
I’ll give you some examples . . .
When Congress passed the first Coronavirus Relief Package, they didn’t take into account how excessive unemployment benefits would lead to a shortage of workers for businesses.
When they offered billions in PPP loans, they didn’t require companies to show they actually NEEDED the cash.
They looked at pre-COVID family tax filings to determine who got money, rather than determining who was actually suffering during COVID.
And Congress kept doing this again and again, reacting with panic legislation that harmed our economy, and we’ll be feeling the effects of that spending for generations.
They shot from the hip and didn’t even bother to ask questions later.
When hackers hit the Colonial Pipeline a month ago, what did Congress do? They fired wildly, introducing eight bills that were on topic, but lacking in any real solution.
In combat, we call that “firing for effect.”
It’s not good enough and America deserves better from the men and women we pay to legislate in Congress.
WWIII did not start the day I intercepted Russian bombers because my judgement and calm allowed me to make the right decisions. You and your family deserve better and I vow to apply all the discipline and skill I needed in flying America’s most sophisticated warplane to the decisions I will make for you in Congress.
Help me bring calm professionalism and preparedness to Congress by donating today.
For America,
Clay Percle
Lt Col (Ret) USAF
Candidate for Congress
Virginia’s 10th Congressional District
Paid for by Clay for Virginia
Contributions to Clay for Virginia are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions from corporations, labor unions, federal contractors, and foreign nationals are prohibited.
Clay Percle is a retired member of the United States Air Force. The use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or the Department of Defense.
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