By Jayson Henderson

The Kansas City Chiefs honored Lt. Col. Mike “Vago” Hilkert as their Tribute to the Troops honoree during their recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Hilkert, currently stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, joined the military in 1998 after graduating high school, inspired by a strong desire to serve his country. His journey in the Air Force has taken him from early assignments at Andrews Air Force Base to South Korea. He was commissioned in 2005 and trained to pilot the A-10 “Warthog” Thunderbolt II as part of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program.

With over 1,300 combat flying hours and 308 combat missions in Afghanistan, Hilkert has been at the controls of the A-10 since 2007. He now serves as an instructor pilot, passing on his knowledge to the next generation of aviators.

During the game, fans at Arrowhead Stadium took a moment to recognize his service and sacrifice. Hilkert watched from the GEHA Deck, receiving the well-deserved appreciation of the Chiefs Kingdom for his dedication to protecting the nation.