The UFO disclosure movement received a significant boost with the emergence of Navy veteran Roderick Castle III, who became the latest military whistleblower to provide an extraordinary testimony regarding the Phoenix Lights. According to recent reports, Castle contacted David Grusch and subsequently met with Congressman Eric Burlison and researcher Steven Greer, preparing to testify before Congress about a remarkable encounter that took place on March 13, 1997 — the very same night as the famous Phoenix Lights incident.
Castle’s decision to break decades of silence reflects the changing landscape surrounding UFO disclosure. In a YouTube interview with the researcher known as “UAP Gerb,” he explained that the reduction of stigma around UFO-related topics in recent years motivated him to speak about something he likely would have taken to the grave if circumstances had not changed.
His testimony places him among a growing list of military witnesses willing to come forward in the current disclosure environment, following the precedent set by David Grusch and others who have already testified before Congress.
The encounter occurred while Castle was serving at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, California, working as an aircraft artillery technician. According to Castle’s detailed account, his team received a radio call reporting unexplained or unauthorized flare activity in the desert, approximately 5 to 6 kilometers from their position.
As they investigated, driving up a hill, all five Marines witnessed what Castle described as a black, equilateral triangular craft, with three white-yellow orbs positioned at each corner. The craft, approximately 90 meters in diameter, hovered silently about 45 to 60 meters above the desert floor.
What makes Castle’s testimony particularly significant is the presence of unidentified personnel accompanying the craft. According to his account, beneath the hovering triangle there were approximately 30 heavily armed agents dressed in black uniforms, operating black tactical vehicles with no identification. These agents bore no insignia or markings indicating affiliation with any known branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Despite Castle’s team being active-duty Marines in uniform on U.S. soil, they were quickly outnumbered, disarmed, and held at gunpoint by approximately 15 of these agents, who approached in a V-shaped formation.
The timing of Castle’s encounter adds a crucial dimension to the Phoenix Lights incident, which remains one of the most documented UFO events in history. While thousands of witnesses across Arizona reported V-shaped formations moving silently through the night sky on March 13, 1997, Castle’s experience suggests what may have been a simultaneous coordinated operation involving advanced aircraft and covert operations teams across multiple states. The official explanation for the Phoenix Lights attributed the sightings to military aircraft and training flares, but Castle’s testimony points to a more complex scenario, involving unidentified personnel operating outside normal military command structures.
After the encounter, Castle reported electromagnetic effects consistent with documented patterns of UFO encounters. According to his testimony, their military Humvee experienced unusual starting issues, taking approximately five minutes to restart — an uncommon occurrence for a typically reliable diesel engine. This detail adds credibility to his account, as electromagnetic interference has been consistently reported in legitimate UFO encounters.
Castle stated that the following day, his team received anthrax vaccine booster shots, which was highly unusual, given that Department of Defense mandates for military anthrax vaccination did not take effect until December 1997. Historical records indicate that prior to this date, anthrax vaccines were administered only voluntarily or to targeted groups, such as at-risk laboratory workers or specific occupational exposures. While approximately 150,000 soldiers received the vaccine during the 1990–1991 Gulf War under combat mobilization conditions, the booster administered to Castle in March 1997, during a domestic training exercise, is particularly suspicious.
The investigation of Castle’s case also reveals intriguing connections to private security companies. According to defense contract records, the Wackenhut Corporation — a private security firm providing security for the Nevada Test Site and Area 51 — attempted to recruit Castle for helicopter operations in 2002. Castle noted that Wackenhut seemed to have detailed knowledge of his military service history, including his helicopter training, which he initially found unusual but now considers potentially significant, given the company’s known connections to classified programs.
Castle’s willingness to testify before Congress represents a potentially pivotal moment in UFO disclosure. The connection of his encounter to the Phoenix Lights timeline, combined with his recent meetings with Congressman Eric Burlison and renowned researchers, positions him as a credible witness in the growing disclosure movement. According to Castle’s account, the agents appeared to be conducting some form of surveillance operation, suggesting these may have been coordinated tests of advanced military technology across multiple states rather than random encounters.
Below, watch Castle’s interview with UAP Gerb.
