The Wednesday crash of a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet in California on a “routine training mission” that left the pilot dead and seven injured on the ground has already faded from the public consciousness. It should not have because this incident should serve as a reminder. While this crash in under investigation, there is one thing that must be said: This pilot is a fallen hero.

People often focus on troops killed in combat, but they forget all too easily that being deployed in the United States on a base during a time of peace is no guarantee that the troops will be safe: Troops are often training to be ready to carry out the missions that they will be performing in a time of war. The best training will come as close as possible to replicating conditions that these troops will see in combat.