Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

(from left to right) U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, Al Arreola, Mayor of Del Rio, Texas, Emilio de Hoyos, Mayor of Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, David Isbell, 47th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief, and John Sheedy, City Manager of Del Rio, stand in front of a fire engine at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Davidson (left), 47th Flying Training Wing commander, sits in the cockpit of a T-6A Texan II simulator while Al Arreola, Mayor of Del Rio, Texas, jokes about giving flying advice at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

Emilio de Hoyos, Mayor of Ciudad Acuna, sits in the cockpit of a T-6A Texan II simulator while U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, looks over his shoulder at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

Al Arreola (left), Mayor of Del Rio, sits in the cockpit of a T-6A Texan II simulator while U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, talks about how to fly the simulator at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

Laughlin leadership and distinguished visitors from Del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, from the catwalk of the Air Traffic Control Tower at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

Laughlin leadership and distinguished visitors from Del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, stand for a group photo in front of a T-1 Jayhawk, T-38C Talon, and a T-6A Texan II at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, explains the wing’s mission to Al Arreola, Mayor of Del Rio, Texas, John Sheedy, City Manager of Del Rio, Emilio de Hoyos, Mayor of Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, and Paloma Villasenor Vargas, Consul of Mexico in Del Rio, as well as other Distinguished Visitors from Del Rio and Ciudad Acuna at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

Emilio de Hoyos (left), Mayor of Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, and U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Davidson (right), 47th Flying Training Wing commander, shake hands at the end of the tour of Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Nov. 1, 2022. Laughlin’s mission is to develop U.S. Air Force pilots and the base relies on support from the local community to make that mission a success. Familiarization tours cultivate understating of the wing’s mission and help forge lasting partnerships in the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Larsen)

Laughlin welcomes Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña civic leaders

Published Nov. 3, 2022
By TSgt Dustin Mullen
47 Flying Training Wing

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Laughlin welcomed civic leaders from Del Rio, Texas, and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, to the base during a tour Nov. 1, 2022, to showcase the base’s mission of producing combat-ready Airmen, leaders, and pilots.

Col. Kevin Davidson, the 47th Flying Training Wing commander, spent the day showcasing Team XL to Al Areola, Mayor of Del Rio, Texas, Emilio de Hoyos Montemayor, Mayor of Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, and other civic leaders.

"Our partnership with the city of Del Rio is vital to the success of our mission.” said Davidson. “With so many families from Del Rio and Team XL living in the sister city of Acuna it is important that we share and educate Laughlin's mission to the civic and consulate leaders from both sides of the border. Our goal is to expand our relationships and build trust between the two cities and Laughlin AFB."

Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, while in different countries, maintain deep connections and support for one another. Those unique connections extend to Laughlin through dynamic community involvement.

“It was really exciting to tour Laughlin and see, firsthand, the day in and day out operations of the best pilot training basing thin the United States,” said Areola. “I hope to continue fostering the relationship with Laughlin and support their mission.”

During the tour, Davidson showcased Laughlin’s overall mission, pilot training innovations, and introduced the civic leaders to members of Team XL.

By increasing the understanding of Laughlin’s mission and capabilities, this familiarization tour will help everyone involved with future plans and problem-solving capabilities. Positive community relationships enable Laughlin produce new pilots and the next generation of airpower.