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  • Vance security forces: Guarding 71st FTW begins at gate

    Anyone desiring access onto an Air Force base has seen them -- the ambassadors in blue. Civilian gate guards now monitor and restrict people coming onto and driving around bases, where once active-duty officers stood. "Civilian gate guards began working on bases after the war in Iraq started and the Air Force needed a cost-effective way to free up

  • Warrior of the Week: Tech Sgt. David Martin

    Tech Sgt. David Martin, 71st Flying Training Wing command section information manager, "brings a wealth of IM experience to the front office," said Lt. Col. Bob Brumley, 71st FTW director of staff. "In the short time I've been here, Sergeant Martin has given nothing short of 100 percent to ensure the proper staffing of a vast amount of wing tasking

  • Vance security forces: K-9 unit 'force multipliers' for squadron

    Although physically one of the smallest security forces sections on Vance Air Force Base, this unit's force equals about 10 times its size. "Security forces squadrons have dog teams because we consider them 'force multipliers,'" said Staff Sgt. Andrew Odell, 71st Security Forces Squadron kennel master. "This means we can do more with less. We don't

  • Warrior of the week: Staff Sgt. Kimberly Damron

    Staff Sgt. Kimberly Damron, 71st Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, "is an outstanding individual and NCO; she is always there for her troops both on and off duty," according to Master Sgt. Collette Olson, 71st OSS ATC chief controller. "She uses every available means at her disposal to encourage her troops to better

  • Warrior of the week: Capt. Brandon Shade

    Capt. Brandon Shade, 71st Security Forces Squadron operations officer, "displays all the characteristics of a warrior-leader," said Maj. Robert Rossi, 71st SFS commander. "He personifies 'Service Before Self' and 'Excellence In All We Do' and is an appropriate selection for Warrior of the Week." For Captain Shade, an Eads, Colo., native, a true

  • A day in the life of a Vance squadron commander: Colonel commands 25th FTS 'Shooters'

    The culmination for many Air Force officers is getting the opportunity to become a squadron commander, and for Lt. Col. Nathan Hill it truly is a milestone. Colonel Hill, a 17-year Air Force veteran, arrived at Vance in October 2004 to work first as the operations officer and then commander of the 25th Flying Training Squadron to train pilots for

  • A day in the life of a Vance flight commander: Flight commander leads JSUPT classes

    "I don't know if there is one." That was the answer Capt. Eric Westby, L-Flight commander in the 32nd Flying Training Squadron, gave to what a typical day is like for a flight commander at Vance Air Force Base. "Some days it's mass chaos with fires cropping up all over the place, and I'm running around with my fireman's hat on putting out all of

  • Learn about Asian Pacific culture throughout May

    "He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger." Not bad advice from Confucius, a man who lived more than 2,000 years ago. Although the sage advice is old, his words ring as true today as they did then -- people who think, but don't learn are truly in great danger ... in great danger of not enriching

  • A day in the life of an instructor pilot: Vance IP teaches fledgling pilots how to fly

    For the past 10 years or so, all 1st Lt. Philip McClure could think of was flying jet airplanes. Today, he lives that dream and is helping others achieve it as well. For Lieutenant McClure, a first assignment instructor pilot with Q-Flight of the 33rd Flying Training Squadron, a desire to fly that was cultivated in high school and stoked in his

  • Nurses, technicians serve patients with 'strength, commitment, compassion'

    "Strength, commitment and compassion" is the theme to this year's Nurse and Technician Appreciation Week. These three qualities epitomize what the 71st Medical Group nurses and medical technicians stand for on a daily basis. The Vance clinic has seven nurses and 15 medical technicians responsible for ensuring the medical and education needs of more
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