Kegan Gill - F/A-18E Super Hornet Pilot Survives a 695 MPH Ejection | SRS #326

The Crash and Immediate Aftermath [00:00:00]

• Kagan Smirth Gill, an F/A-18E Super Hornet pilot, ejected from his aircraft at nearly 700 mph during a training exercise.
• The ejection resulted in catastrophic injuries, including multiple surgeries, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a long battle with PTSD and addiction.
• He describes the extreme physical trauma, including broken bones, internal bleeding, and nerve damage, and the near-fatal hypothermia from the icy ocean water.

  "...it was like an explosive force 100 times the force of a category one hurricane impacting my body instantaneously for anybody's ever you know stuck your arm out a window going like 70 miles per hour down the highway you felt that parasitic drag acting on you but at 700 miles per hour that force is exponentially stronger and it just i mean it ripped my helmet off my head traumatic brain injury from my head just smashing – "

The Long Road to Recovery [00:00:00]

• Gill details his extensive rehabilitation, including numerous surgeries, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
• He faced significant challenges with paralysis, reliance on others for basic needs, and the frustration of the medical system's limitations and over-reliance on pharmaceuticals.
• The experience of waking up in the hospital after two weeks, disoriented and facing the prognosis of never walking or using his arms again, was devastating.

  "...the medical staff came in to kind of explain like you've been in a high speed ejection you're lucky to be alive but you're not ever going to be able to walk again you're never going to be able to use your arms again and your military flying career is over and that was a pretty devastating moment to just be stuck there trapped in my own body confused and be told like everything that i'd worked for for so long was now gone and it was a pretty dark a dark time for me internally..."

Psychedelic Therapy and a New Path [00:00:00]

• Psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly ibogaine, proved transformational, leading to a spiritual awakening and a deep sense of inner love.
• This therapy helped him address repressed childhood memories and the root causes of his anger and depression.
• He began to wean himself off numerous medications, finding relief through holistic approaches like nutrition, exercise, and connection with nature.

  "It was a transformational experience – a spiritual awakening – yeah and just a connection to something greater than myself and a deep love that i found within and dude it's changed everything in my life for the better."

Critiquing the Medical System [00:00:00]

• Gill criticizes the VA and conventional medical system for its disregard of TBI, over-reliance on pharmaceuticals, and profit-driven model.
• He highlights the frustration of being prescribed numerous medications, including gabapentin and opioids, which led to addiction and further health issues.
• He shares disturbing accounts of medical experimentation on veterans and the systemic issues within the VA, including poor nutrition and sleep deprivation.

  "There's almost a disregard for the TBI and through my my experience it was almost unacknowledged that that I could even possibly have a TBI or what that was – so just acknowledging that it exists and how delicate the brain actually is is really critical."

Returning to the Cockpit and Advocacy [00:00:00]

• Despite his injuries and prognosis, Gill fought to regain his physical capabilities and medical waivers to return to flying.
• He experienced a profound sense of accomplishment and relief upon returning to the cockpit, though initial anxieties lingered.
• He became an advocate for veteran mental health, sharing his story to raise awareness and promote holistic healing approaches.

  "...if you can get your body working again we're going to get you back in a Super Hornet and it was just like the biggest relief and just massive motivation to keep going..."

UAP Encounters and Beliefs [00:00:00]

• Gill recounts personal experiences with unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) during his time as a pilot.
• He discusses the growing awareness and declassification of UAP information within military circles.
• He believes these phenomena are real, potentially involving advanced human technology or extraterrestrial craft, and that the defense industry may be withholding information.

  "...we've got interlopers and I remember getting that contact on my radar and then training my FLIR to it my forward-looking infrared it's like a long-range infrared camera to look at that thing..."

Personal Growth and Family [00:00:00]

• Gill emphasizes the importance of community, connection, and self-reliance in his recovery.
• He speaks about the profound impact of his wife's unwavering support and her own healing journey.
• His experiences have led to a deep sense of purpose, love, and gratitude, transforming him into a coach and speaker.

  "...we get to thrive together we have the two most beautiful little children we have everything and now it's her turn to get to enjoy what she what she earned by pulling me through that darkness..."

The Path Forward [00:00:00]

• Gill advocates for holistic health, including nutrition, meditation, and psychedelic-assisted therapy, as crucial for healing.
• He criticizes the VA's continued reliance on medication and bureaucratic hurdles, while acknowledging efforts for change.
• He shares his current work as a coach and speaker, aiming to help others find their path to healing and purpose.

  "...the only way to heal is to acknowledge that the wound is festering man and to clean it out and yeah it's a wild time to be alive but I'm so glad the truth is coming out man."