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Team Vance delivers pilots -- one graduation at a time

71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs / Published July 30, 2019

Graduation
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Members of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Classes 19-19 and 19-20 during their graduation ceremony held July 26 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Team Vance has graduated more than 34,000 pilots since the gates opened in 1941. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Smith)

Graduation
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Pinning on pilot wings by a friend or family member is the pinnacle of every Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class graduation at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Smith)

Graduation
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Col. Richard Tanner, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, greets members of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Classes 19-19 and 19-20 before their graduation ceremony, July 26, at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Tanner was the graduation guest speaker. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Smith)

Graduation
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Every graduate of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Classes 19-19 and 19-20 received a diploma and their first set of wings during the ceremony held July 26 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Sarah Smith)

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VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Team Vance has graduated more than 34,000 pilots since the gates opened in 1941.

Another 28 aviators were added to the total when members of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Classes 19-19 and 19-20 received their wings during a ceremony held July 26 in the Vance Air Force Base auditorium.

Col. Richard Tanner, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, was graduation speaker for the ceremony. In attendance were friends and family of the graduates and members of the base and local community.

The graduates will continue their flying careers with upgrade training in a variety of aircraft, from cargo and refuelers like the C-5M Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender and C-130H Hercules to fighters and bombers like the B-52 Stratofortress, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-15E Strike Eagle.

With the July 26 graduation, Team Vance has delivered 296 Air Force pilots this year.