Last Marine completes undergraduate pilot training at Vance

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The last Marine Corps student pilot to train at Vance Air Force Base completed his undergraduate pilot training here Aug. 27.

Marines, Airmen and Sailors have trained alongside each other at Vance since 1996, but to save taxpayer dollars, the Marines will now learn to fly in Texas and Florida.

"The bottom line is financial," said Marine Lt. Col. Brad Borman, the senior Marine at Vance and an instructor pilot with the 8th Flying Training Squadron. "By not having to move a number of folks out here each year will save the Marine Corps approximately $3 million annually."

The 25 to 30 Marine Corps students that normally would train at Vance each year will be divided between Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., said Borman.

"In today's fiscal environment, any place we can save money is going to be helpful," said Borman.

"It was good for the Marines, both students and instructors, to see how the Air Force trains," said Borman. "There were things the Marines learned from the Air Force and things the Marines taught the Air Force -- it has been mutually beneficial."

"It's a privilege to be the last Marine that will train here," said Marine 1st Lt. Daniel Ouellette, with the 33rd Flying Training Squadron. "It's been good training. The Air Force obviously knows what they are doing. Being the last Marine to get this training is pretty significant."

The six Marine instructor pilots will remain at Vance until they receive permanent change of station orders, they leave active service or they retire, said Borman.