Vance lieutenant shares first-week experiences at Initial Flight Screening Published Dec. 1, 2010 By 2nd Lt. Tyler Gross 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- (Lieutenant Gross is currently attending Doss Initial Flight Screening at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Colo., prior to beginning his Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB.) From the moment I arrived at Doss Aviation and in-processed life has been on the move. The eight-hour days I was used to while working at the Vance Public Affairs Office are gone. The first day here consisted of two tests. The first was the Air Force fitness test and the second was my first bold-face and ops-limits test, which required me to know all of the emergency procedures and operating limits of the Diamond 20 aircraft. I passed both easily. However, it highlighted the importance of study prior to arrival. The following days consisted of heavy 10-hour academic days and mandatory PT. Despite the stress and long hours I discovered I really enjoy learning about flight and its applications. Working 12-hour days and studying another four hours is easy and actually enjoyable when it is a topic you find interesting. We have studied everything from airfield operations, communications, aircraft performance and weather to the smallest aspects of the fuel system. I can't wait to step to the airplane for the first time. If learning about flying is this exciting, I can only imagine what it is like to actually get in the aircraft.