Senator Inhofe tours base, meets Airmen

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A group of Airmen shook hands with U.S. Senator James Inhofe, from Oklahoma, during his stop at the Vance Collocated Club Oct. 14. The senator toured the base, stopping at new facilities.

Senator Inhofe makes regular visits to the Sooner State's military installations. During his stop at the Club, Senator Inhofe discussed the importance of the appropriations that have funded construction at Oklahoma military installations, particularly Vance.

He explained to the Airmen that new construction and community support is very helpful during Base Realignment and Closure deliberations. "You have probably never seen community support (for a base) better than it is right here," Senator Inhofe said.

Appropriations built the new fuel cell test facility, all of Elam Road and will pay for the new control tower, scheduled for ground breaking in December.

Among the Airmen at the club was Tech. Sgt. Carinae Samsel, a dog-handler with the 71st Security Forces Squadron. "This is a great opportunity to meet a member of our senior leadership," she said. Although Sergeant Samsel has worked security details for senators as a dog handler, this was her first time to meet one.

Senator Inhofe is the second ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. "I go to Iraq, Afghanistan or Africa every fifth weekend," he told the Airmen. "The other four weekends I'm back here in my airplane, going around the state visiting all of our military installations." The senator has been a pilot for 50 years.

After visiting with the Airmen, Senator Inhofe toured the base with Col. Russ Mack, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, and members of Vance's senior leadership, stopping at the 25th, 8th and 33rd Flying Training Squadrons and the Armed Forces Reserve Center, scheduled for completion later this year.