Class 04-05 earns wings Published Dec. 8, 2006 By Public Affairs Public Affairs Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Eighteen officers will earn their pilot's wings at the Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 04-05 graduation at 10 a.m. today in the auditorium. The graduates spent 54 weeks studying flying fundamentals, checklist usage, emergency procedures, aviation physiology, applied aerodynamics, instruments, weather, navigation and mission planning. The guest speaker is Col Herbert Foret, director of safety and a T-38 instructor pilot, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. As the director, he is responsible for managing and providing policy guidance for AETC's flight, ground and weapons mishap prevention programs. He directs the operations and monitors the quality of mishap investigations and advises the commander and his staff on all safety issues. He is a command pilot who has accumulated over 4,200 flying hours flying in fighters and trainers primarily in the T-37, T-38, F-4E/G and F-16. Colonel Foret was commissioned on June 1, 1977 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. While at the Academy, he attended the United States Naval Academy as a participant in the first Service Academy Exchange Program. Colonel Foret graduated from pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Texas, and received his pilot wings in 1978. Since then, he has served in various operations and staff positions at all levels of command including flight, squadron, group, wing, command headquarters, and as a joint staff officer at a unified command headquarters. Colonel Floret's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Services Commendation Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.