Vance students see operational AF aboard KC-135

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Christopher L. Buzzetta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Officers awaiting pilot training at Vance had the opportunity to see the operational Air Force during flights aboard two KC-135 refueling aircraft with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB, Kan.

Twenty-six OAPTs, along with Capt. Matthew Cummins of the 5th Flying Training Squadron and Capt. Michael Crook of the 71st Operations Support Squadron, set out for McConnell AFB at 4 a.m. April 6.

"Since the Air Force revamped the "casual lieutenant" program in 2008, OAPTs haven't experienced much opportunity for exposure to operations outside of Air Education Training Command until after they graduate from pilot training," said Captain Cummins. "The light at the end of the rigorous two-year training tunnel is a little easier to see when they get a glimpse of how they will fit into the actual operational Air Force puzzle one day."

The students were split up aboard two KC-135s. One flight was a six-hour mission that flew aerial refueling tracks from Kansas to New Mexico. On that flight, four B-1B Lancers and one KC-135R(RT) refueled or connected with the boom without receiving fuel. The second flight lasted four hours and refueled B-52 bombers.

Instructor boom operator Tech. Sgt. Ralph Hoffmann and boom operator Senior Airman Mark Waski, both with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB, showed the lieutenants how the refueling process works. Students were able to fly the refueling boom with the control stick between refueling events.

"This recent event is just a small example of how we're trying to prepare a new generation of aviators to more knowledgably integrate in their future operational joint and combined environments." said Captain Cummins.