Altus' community leaders tour visits Vance

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Thirty-nine community leaders and base members from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., took a look June 29 at where pilot training begins for some of the base's students.
Vance AFB was the first stop for Altus' community relations tour, which continued on to Nellis AFB, Nev.
"We wanted to show the Altus civic leaders how pilots progress in their training, and what better place than Vance Air Force Base. Many C-17, C-5 and KC-135 pilots who receive their training at Altus also have flight training roots at Vance," said Jim Weslowski, chief of Altus' public affairs office. "For many of the civic leaders, it is the first time they have visited another base. Now they have a chance to see a larger picture."
The 97th Air Mobility Wing's primary mission is to train airlift and air refueling crews.
The Air Force Tour Program increases community leaders' awareness and understanding of the service's role in national security by inviting groups of civilians to witness the Air Force mission at its bases, said Bob Farrell, 71st Flying Training Wing chief of community relations. Air Force units select candidates who are capable of disseminating information to various publics about the Air Force's programs.
The group received a windshield tour of the base, visited aerospace physiology and the 32nd and 33rd Flying Training Squadrons, ate lunch with wing leadership and were shown static displays of each of Vance's airframes.
"The people at Vance were real hospitable; they were very informative and told us about flight training at Vance and how classes use the different air frames," said John Gallagher Jr. of Allstate Insurance in Altus, Okla. "We got to understand how the mission at Vance is important and how the students train before they're sent (to Altus) or on.
"The tour itself was good as well. Tours are a good way for the Air Force to build community support and give people in their community a better sense of security."
This was the first time a tour has visited Vance.
"It's always an honor when a base is selected for a community relations tour visit, so we were more than glad to show Altus civic leaders how we operate and train at the Air Force's only Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training base," said Col. Bryan Benson, 71st Flying Training Wing commander. "I think everyone had a great time and I thank Team Vance members involved with the tour for making us shine."
A Vance AFB community relations tour is scheduled for Aug. 7 and 8. Tour participants will visit Maxwell AFB, Ala., and Tyndall AFB, Fla.