• 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

  • Local family brings Black Indian heritage to Enid community

    November is celebrated as Native American Heritage Month, and many people in the local area are aware of American Indian presence in Oklahoma. Some people know about the Trail of Tears and some Indian battles and traditions. Few, however, are familiar with the contributions made by Black Indians or

  • November honors Native Americans

    November is celebrated across the country as Native American Heritage Month. Many towns offer festivals and military bases are having ceremonies and luncheons. With the large number of Native Americans in Oklahoma, there is certainly some celebrating around the town. There are 395,000 Native

  • 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

  • NCOs, good fitness helped deployed captain

    As an officer deployed for the first time, I learned, relearned or simply verified many lessons in "The Desert." The very first lesson began as soon as I landed in Kuwait around 1 a.m. local with my Team Vance comrades MSgt Mike Jimenez, SSgt Todd Martin and SrA Bryan Williams. It had just dropped

  • Team Vance skies in good hands with RSUs

    In the pre-dawn darkness while much of Oklahoma still sleeps, instructors and students alike from the Team Vance flying training squadrons are already hard at work preparing for another day of training. Students prepare the morning's briefs while instructors see to administrative duties. On the

  • One person's blood, another's lifesaver

    Oklahoma Blood Institute has conducted base blood drives here since 1977. The last drive was Aug. 27 with a turn out of 93 people, 74 whom were able to donate a total of 122 units of blood, according to A1C Jeffery Wheeler, 71st Medical Group and base blood drive coordinator. The blood collected on