• Unfamilar role - from deployment to retirement

    Most Team Vance members returning from deployment are soon back to the familiar jobs they had before leaving. Lt. Col. Jeff Hilton's return meant assuming a very unfamiliar role - Air Force retiree. Colonel Hilton already had his March retirement date set when he volunteered for deployment. The

  • Vance Air Force Base, Okla.

    "Why do we exercise for real world contingencies? Vance (Air Force Base) is just a training base." What does "real world" actually mean? If a house was on fire with a family inside, how comforting to the family would it be to have the fire department show up and use the home as a place to practice

  • Functional check flight pilots prepare aircraft for students

    The instructor pilot pair ran the T-1 through a rigorous ground checklist. Aircraft balanced? Check. Wheels working? Check. Instruments operational? Check. The pilots then used more experience and expertise to complete additional tests while the aircraft was airborne. Shut down. Restart. Still

  • OG secretary retires after 29 commanders, 41 years

    In 1963 a postage stamp was four cents, John F. Kennedy was president and Donna Golliver began working for the Air Force. Mrs. Golliver ended her 41-year career with the Air Force Thursday during a retirement ceremony at the Vance Club. Mrs. Golliver has worked most of her 41 years as secretary to

  • 1940's training base assists in Pearl Harbor counterattack

    If Dec. 7 doesn't ring a bell in your head, chances are you snoozed through history class in junior high, so allow me to assist: it was on this date in 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. This is a pivotal date in the history of our nation, as well as that of the rest of the world. Although war

  • Education office helps quench thirst for knowledge

    There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but for Team Vance blue-suiters, there is such a thing as a free education. For those hungry for a higher education, the base education office has the menu to help quench that appetite. Readers may be wondering, "How do I get started?" The education office

  • Brother completes legacy

    An Air Force family's legacy is finally complete. Within Class 05-01 is 2nd Lt Ryan Reed, the third and final brother to graduate Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base. He graduates today. 1st Lt Jonathan Reed, the oldest of the three brothers, graduated UPT in Class

  • Auxiliary airfield fulfills vital Vance flying role

    They gassed up the truck, headed out the gate and followed the highway northwest out of Enid, looking forward to their trek to a town named 'Jet' and their 'home away from home' on the Oklahoma plains. Their target destination; Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field, 45 miles northwest of Vance Air

  • Color enemy's clothing at VAFB paintball field

    Vance Air Force Base has a new addition on the base. The OK Corral Paintball Field has been open since September, but kicks off its official grand opening Saturday. "The paintball field has been open for a few weeks with a good turn out," said SSgt Kevin Hurley, 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron. He

  • Best practice made perfect for worldwide use

    The Vance AFB Motorcycle Rider Database was first developed by Maj Steve Karis and 1st Lt Chad Shaver during the summer of 2003 while both worked in the T-37 programming office. Major Karis was the 8th Flying Training Squadron's unit motorcycle safety representative, while Lieutenant Shaver was a