The moon rises over a COOP silo in Conway Springs, KS.

Field Notes: “What Right Looks Like”

I frequently watch a video on YouTube, a production by the Department of the Army, which showcases the globally renowned 82nd Airborne Division, often referred to as “America’s Guard of Honor.” This video was created sometime in the 1990s, following the 82nd Airborne’s successful involvement in Operations “Just Cause,” “Desert Shield,” and “Desert Storm.” An individual, presumably with a connection to the division, posted the video under the title, “What Right Looked Like.”

I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne during Operations “Desert Shield” and “Desert Storm,” so the video has a special meaning for me too.

The Army has undergone significant changes since the 1990s, and the official title of the video is not, “What Right Looked Like.” I think that the individual who posted the video served in the 82nd and, upon reflecting on their time in the division, remembered the 82nd in the 1990s as a well-trained and battle-tested unit. In their view, this video represents “What Right Looked Like” before the Army initiated substantial changes in the early 2000s to adapt its organization and training to meet the demands of conducting the Global War on Terrorism.

As of this writing, I have conducted six weeks of nighttime excursions, specifically visiting locations where UFO/UAP sightings are documented in the National UFO Reporting Center’s database. My work has always been driven by data, and my analysis of nearly 1,200 locations where UFO/UAP sightings have been reported revealed that the peak times for these sightings are between 9 PM and 11 PM during the months of June, July, and August.

With this knowledge, I decided to temporarily halt my weekly updates on UAP site visits. Instead, I have been spending my time in the field during these peak sighting hours. My objective was to travel the highways and visit towns where UAPs were reported during these peak hours to see what I could observe.

Despite investing countless hours and covering thousands of miles on the road, I have not encountered anything anomalous. No triangular craft, no unusual lights, no lost time, and no unexplained phenomena whatsoever. While many strange incidents occurred during these trips, which I plan to detail in future writings, I have yet to witness anything that could potentially qualify as a UFO/UAP.

However, what I have observed can be described as, “what right looks like.” I have familiarized myself with the locations of water towers, wind farms, cell towers, and radio masts, along with their nighttime navigation warning lights, and can recognize them from any direction and under any weather conditions. I am aware of the airports and airfields in the area and can identify conventional aircraft at all altitudes. I can distinguish the moon, planets, and stars. I can identify a conventional satellite as it traverses the night sky. I recognize the appearance of vehicle lights, both near and far. I know the sight of a farmer burning his fields at night, and how the fire and smoke can resemble an eerie glow from a distance.

After spending weeks on the road and taking photos along the way, I have come to understand, “what right looks like.” My experience in the army made me a well-trained observer, capable of identifying a wide range of objects, vehicles and aircraft under different conditions. Although I have not encountered a UFO/UAP during my travels, I have established a baseline for what constitutes “normal” under a wide range of conditions. I now know “what right looks like,” during the day and now at night.

This knowledge enables me to better analyze reports of UFO/UAP sightings and determine whether the reported object or event is a misidentified “normal” occurrence or something truly anomalous. With this understanding, I can assert with confidence that many of the reports I’ve read in the National UFO Reporting Center’s database do not describe “normal” events. Many are indeed anomalous and warrant serious investigation and consideration.