The Journey Continues - Part 2
Getting an ID Card
The next phase of my official duty as an Honorary Commander was getting on base. At the start of the process my wife and I had to fill out background checks. Soon after the initial meeting we were informed that we had passed inspection and I was told I could get my base ID card at the Visitation Center near the main gate.
I drove out the the base and made my way to the Visitation Center. The building is to the right before you get to the main gate. There is a parking lot and a nice selection of airplanes on display that you can view. Enid residents can drive up to that location and spend an afternoon looking at the planes. There is also useful information inside the center about Vance, Enid and Oklahoma.
The guys on duty at the Visitation Center were very friendly and got me in and out really quickly. I had to pose for a webcam photo and wait for my ID to be created. My temporary base ID gets me, my wife and our kids on base. To get your base ID you will need your drivers license, insurance verification and vehicle registration.
My First Family Visit
Lt. Col. Martin invited my family and I to the first Commanders Call and potluck dinner. The Commanders Call takes place about once a quarter and involves all of the 3d Flying Training Squadron. They get together to introduce new members, pass out awards and discuss things going on in the Air Force. I was unable to attend this part of the briefing but could have sat through most of it unless there had been some security issues discussed.
My family and I were able to make the potluck dinner which included family members of all of the 3d Flying Training Squadron. It was a big group and very young. Many of the wives had newborns or were pregnant and the room was filled with young children having a great time.
We were introduced to the squadron and immediately felt like part of the family. There were tables and tables full of entrees, side dishes and desserts. While enjoying the great food we were able to speak with many of different members of the squadron. Everyone we spoke to really enjoyed being in Enid and some had been here before and returned. The squadron is a close knit group and we enjoyed being a part of the evening.
Lt. Col. Martin gave us a tour of the 3d Flying Training Squadron. The building is one of the newer buildings built in the 90's. It is located across the street from the flight line. The 3d Flying Training Squadron operates the T-1A Jayhawk aircraft conducting advanced phase tanker/transport flight training.
The 3d FTS is the third-oldest squadron in the Air Force, with over 95 years of service to the nation, its origins date to the organization of the 3d Aero Squadron on 1 November 1916 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Deployed to the Philippines after World War I, during the 1941-1942 Battle of the Philippines, it was wiped out, with some of its personnel being forced by the Japanese to endure the Bataan Death March. It was not re-activated until 1973.
The 3d was moved to Vance AFB, Oklahoma in 2007 to provide IFF (Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals) training to fighter graduate students. The 3rd lost its IFF mission due to a lack of a relevancy in 2011. It was reassigned to provide Advanced Phase Training in the T-1A Jayhawk for the USAF.
Pilot training is a challenging 54 week program. Each class currently consists of about 15 students with it's own patch and control room in the squadron building. Student pilots first fly the T-6, no longer the T-37, mastering contact, instrument, low-level and formation flying for about 6 months. Students then continue training in the T-38 or T-1A. There is a graduating class every 3 weeks. Student pilot training has about a 10% dropout rate.
The logistics to get the classes and flights in on schedule was something to behold. They have large boards in each room with each students name on each day detailing what they needed to accomplish. When they have a high wind day or weather related delay it throws a wrench into the entire system. It takes a pretty large crew to make everything happen and a support staff to keep the flow going.
Student pilots with the 3d FTS have to fly longer distances away from Enid and make their way back. I discovered that Vance pilots make many landings at the airports in OKC, Tulsa and Wichita. Many flights take them to OKC where they might only stay a few hours or they might make an overnight stay. If pilots get down to OKC and the weather prevents them from flying back, they are bused back to Enid. Woodring airport is currently extending their runway to accommodate the Vance planes.
We also learned that the top two pilots in each class normally get to choose the planes that they want to fly or the location where they'll be stationed. They are ranked on may factors not just grades. Every so often, Vance will snag a couple of the upper student pilots to keep here, which assures their mission of training the best pilots. All other pilots fill out a dream sheet and they are assigned the planes and locations where the Air Force needs them most.
It was a great evening and very informative. I hope I'm getting most of the information correct. Next up we have a mission brief luncheon with all of the Honorary Commanders. I'll post more after that!
