Vance sweeps 19th AF Instructor Pilot of the Year awards

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicole Poff
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Football legend Vince Lombardi once said, "It is and always has been an American zeal to be the first in anything we do, and to win, and to win, and to win."
And win, win, win is what three instructor pilots at Vance did.
Capts. Richard Ganske, 8th Flying Training Squadron C Flight commander, Bryan Griffith, 25th Check Flight commander, and Greg Nelson, 32nd M Flight class commander won 19th Air Force Instructor of the Year for 2005 for each of their respective (T-6, T-38 and T-1) airframes.
"With five bases competing, winning one IP of the year validates our exceptional instructors," said Col. Kevin Kriner, 71st Operations Group commander. "Clean sweeping all three awards demonstrates the incredible talent Team Vance has been gifted with."
The nominees were judged on their meritorious performance, extraordinary skills and job knowledge in their specialty, leadership abilities, judgment, decision making and other related achievements. They were also judged on how they positively impacted the training environment through innovative improvements, initiatives, special training projects, student processes and any other qualities that contribute to the whole-person concept.
Or to paraphrase Mr. Lombardi again, the winners were the ones willing to go longer, work harder and give more than anyone else.
Each nominee had won in his respective squadron as best IP of the year at the base level and Captain Ganske, who has been a part of the T-6 transition at Vance over the past two years, won 71st Flying Training Wing IP of the Year.
Their commanders will attest that each winner is the "go to guy" for their squadron.
"Captain Griffith is almost always our high flyer when it comes to sorties and hours," said Lt. Col. Nathan Hill, 25th FTS commander. "His IP skills and officership are top notch."
In winning Instructor Pilot of the Year, it's important to remember the most important part of the job is training the world's best pilots to fly ... fight ... and win. Every winner was lauded by their students as the "best IP" and "most knowledgeable" they had the opportunity to fly with.
"The IPs are extremely dedicated to producing the absolute best pilots in the world," said Captain Nelson, the T-1 Instructor of the Year winner. "We provide that foundation that our students will take with them into today's hot spots and combat zones."
Captain Nelson believes no one in the flying community goes about tooting their own horn but all three winners are honored by the award and their commanders have no problem singing their praises for them.
"Our instructor pilots are clearly the finest AETC has to offer and are producing the best pilots in the world," said Colonel Kriner, 71st OG commander.