The Gimbal UFO event stands as a significant pillar in the UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) disclosure, introducing US military whistleblowers who claim to have witnessed the phenomena they describe as “non-human.” In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense released three pivotal UAP videos that triggered widespread discussions within the UFO community, prompting inquiries into the information held by the US government regarding these phenomena.
These videos capture UFO encounters from November 2004 and two separate incidents from January 2015, each identified by distinctive nicknames: Flir (2004), Go Fast (2015), and Gimbal (2015). They depict pilots tracking unidentified objects in the sky. Among these, the renowned 2015 UFO “Gimbal” footage was recorded by US fighter pilots near the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, as an unidentified object appeared on their radar. Despite the pilots mentioning, “There’s a whole fleet of them, look on the SA,” the footage only displays a single mysterious object at the center of the frame.
Apart from Ryan Graves, a former Lt. U.S. Navy and F/A-18F pilot, there is another least discussed whistleblower who experienced the famous Gimbal UFO event. Matthew Roberts, a former cryptologist in the US Navy with 16 years of service, shared his experience and encounters with non-human entity during a Netflix series “Encounters.” He was present on the USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2015 during an event involving the now-famous “Gimbal footage.”
After going on several military missions and teaching other code experts while working on land, Matthew Roberts moved to the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) for three years. His time at ONI ended in March 2020, and that is when he chose to quit the military, even though he was close to retiring in four years. The reason for leaving was the intense and personal experiences he had with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) while at ONI, which he writes about in his book named “Initiated.”
Roberts described his initial reaction to the gimbal footage: “I was watching this footage, and I could see no kind of aviation surfaces that you would expect to see — wings, tail, rudders. There’s none of that.” He struggled to comprehend the unconventional movement of the object, stating, “I couldn’t really make sense of why this thing was kind of up in the air like it was.”
As he looked more closely at the video, Roberts realized something important: “I knew it didn’t belong to us or anyone else. So, the only other possibility, I think, is that it’s technology from non-human intelligence.”
Given his classified role and access to sensitive information, Roberts was aware that such encounters were not isolated incidents for the Navy: “I was kind of aware this was not a one-off event for the Navy. These things happen frequently, all the time, going against the wind.” Roberts confessed to being captivated by the footage, watching it obsessively. Despite his access to classified information, he had no awareness of the actions taken by the upper chain of command concerning these encounters.
In 2017, after transferring to the Office of Naval Intelligence, Roberts claimed to have had follow-on experiences with what he described as nonhuman entities. He recounted unsettling encounters where he would wake up feeling his body being moved across the bed and experiencing a hand grabbing his arm. Roberts believed these encounters were evidence of non-human intelligence.
“In 2017, I moved to the Office of Naval Intelligence, where I was going to work as an analyst. Shortly after I got there, I began having experiences related to the phenomenon. It was like the start of seeing nonhuman entities in my room at night. I would wake up several times a week, feeling my body sliding across the bed, and I knew they were taking me. One time, I woke up because I felt a hand grab my arm. I tried to raise my hands to my face, but I couldn’t move. I could see the outline of a shadowy figure with a torso, two arms, and a head standing over me.
Back when I was in the Navy and saw the footage, I already knew there was something nonhuman out there. So, when these entities started appearing in my room, I knew all of this was real. I had the comfort of knowing I wasn’t going crazy; I understood what it was. There’s a lot of sensor and radar evidence. I believe that if they just release all the footage and say, “Hey, this is what we have, we don’t even have to explain it, we don’t know,” there would be no doubt about whether the phenomenon is real. Everyone would know it.”
Thinking about all the sensor and radar evidence, Roberts said that if they share all the available videos, people would not doubt if the UFO phenomenon is real. He said, “Everyone would know it.” Roberts’ account provides a unique perspective on the UFO phenomenon, combining his military background, access to classified information, and personal experiences with what he believes to be non-human entities.
Mick West, known for debunking UAPs, provided his explanation for the objects: arguing that mundane things – tech glitches, camera glare, balloons, and birds – are more likely than aliens. However, Journalist Daniel Lavelle asked Matthew Roberts about West’s theory to which Roberts politely replied “All aircraft – nationally, internationally – have to broadcast who they are. If they’re not broadcasting that, that’s very unusual. Mick West, bless his soul, he has never been in the military.”
In his book “Initiated: UAP, Dreams, Depression, Delusions, Shadow People, Psychosis, Sleep Paralysis, and Pandemics,” Roberts wrote about his personal interactions with UFOs, aliens (whom he now calls “The Progenitors”), and his intense psychological battle to cope with extraordinary paranormal experiences.
The book describes how Roberts went through strange experiences: encountering UFO aliens, other bizarre entities along with a series of other happenings forced him to question his sanity. “Initiated” tells the story of how Roberts went through tough times but came out on the other side as a changed person. He can now say he is truly “initiated.”
During his AMA on Reddit, Roberts described the non-human entities: “I saw ones that had blue skin and were tall. I saw very tall white ones that resembled Jack Skellington. I saw one that looked like a yard gnome. I saw some that appeared to radiate white light. I don’t know where they were from they never revealed that.”
Matthew Roberts explains that he never tried to film any of the encounters with non-human entities in his bedroom. When asked if he considered setting up a recording device, he mentions that these encounters often happen when individuals are in an altered state or when the entities appear in the sky with a craft, conveniently when the person does not have his cell phone.
He considered recording the experiences but decided against it. He reasons that it would not convince everyone, as some might think he faked it. Roberts believes the argument over the authenticity of any images would overshadow the main point, which is encouraging people to seek and have their own experiences with consciousness. He emphasizes that he does not need people to believe him; instead, he wants others to explore consciousness firsthand.
Roberts asserts that the truth of these experiences has been documented for thousands of years by various individuals, citing such authors as William Walker Atkinson, Mabel Collins, Joseph Campbell, Dr. John Mack, and Dr. Robert Moore. He challenges the notion that he could have orchestrated the biggest hoax in human history, suggesting that there may be something genuinely significant in these experiences.
He points to the wealth of evidence available for those willing to examine it, citing a podcast by Mark Gober called “Where is My Mind,” where accomplished scientists discuss their work on consciousness. Roberts believes that understanding consciousness surviving death is a crucial aspect of our existence, mentioning the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) and the substantial prizes offered for evidence of consciousness after death.
He suggested that these entities seem to have a significant level of control over the experiences people have, which contributes to why some individuals perceive these encounters as malevolent or evil. He acknowledged that many people who invest time and money into gathering evidence of these phenomena often end up without conclusive results.
In highlighting the rarity of tangible evidence, Roberts mentioned a particular case involving Peter Khoury, where there was reportedly some DNA evidence. However, he does not go into detail about the specifics of that case.
Roberts shared that his conscious experiences with these entities began in late 2017 and continued until the spring of 2018. During this period, he claimed to have been taken several times a week. He recounts instances of sleep paralysis as a child, where he felt a heavy presence and heard whispers. He mentioned a specific incident when he was a small boy, wrapping himself up tightly in a blanket to prevent the entities from whispering in his ear, a practice he later remembered and replicated as an adult.
In his book, Roberts takes a “mythopoetic approach to alien intrusion,” drawing parallels between his experiences and myths, religious texts, and the Hero’s Journey described by Joseph Campbell. He believes that within these encounters, individuals undergo a transformative process, akin to the cycle of death and resurrection, ultimately leading to a change in oneself.
Because of the intense experiences he had, Matthew Roberts decided to quit his military job. He then went to study psychology to learn more about the mind and emotions related to UFO phenomena. He is also working on another book that explains how his way of thinking influenced the unusual experiences he went through.
