Cleared Hot Episode 229 - Kegan Gill
Ejection from an F-18
- Kegan Gill ejected from an F-18 near the speed of sound.
- The ejection caused catastrophic injuries, almost ripping him apart.
Early Life and Navy OCS
- Kegan grew up in Northern Michigan, interested in aviation.
- He attended a local flight school before joining the Navy OCS.
OCS Class Composition
- Kegan's OCS class included diverse officer candidates.
- He was guaranteed a pilot spot but didn't know the aircraft type.
Kegan Gill was a US Navy Fighter Pilot (F-18 Super Hornet) and was forced to eject into the sound barrier as his plane was going down during a training exercise over the Atlantic Ocean. In the process of ejecting, Kegan sustained catastrophic injuries that literally ripped his limbs apart along with a severe traumatic brain injury.
His body landed in the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic with a protective wet suit that had been ripped to pieces. With his parachute still attached, and unable to move his arms, Kegan was continuously dunked into the freezing water for two hours before his rescue. Luckily, his hypothermic condition kept him from bleeding to death.
Kegan spent the following months focusing on his recovery, and despite his catastrophic injuries, was eventually able to score a perfect PFT and was able to return to flight duty.
Due to his traumatic brain injury, Kegan began to experience severe, but temporary, psychosis. After being rushed to the emergency room during a psychotic episode, Kegan was admitted to a VA Mental Health Facility. Kegan did not react well to pharmaceutical treatments, and in many ways, they made him feel worse. After explaining this to his caregivers, they treated him as a troublemaker and began doing things like keeping him up all night long by flashing a flashlight in his eyes every 15 minutes.
Kegan has since been seeking alternative treatments for his brain health. He found the Warrior Angels Foundation several months ago and is on the path to recovery through nutraceutical and hormonal interventions.