VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Nineteen students in Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 23-07 received their wings during a ceremony held March 24 at Vance Air Force Base.
Having completed their initial aviation training in the T-6A Texan II, the newly pinned pilots will continue in either the T-1A Jayhawk or the T-38C Talon training aircraft at Vance.
The guest speaker at the Class 23-07 graduation ceremony was Air Force Col. Terence Taylor, the 27th Special Operations Wing commander from Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. Taylor received his pilot wings at Vance in June 1998. During his career, he has flown more than 4,800 hours, including more than 1,800 combat hours.
Receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were: 2nd Lts. Alton Brieske, Evan Charlton, Brad Douglas, Giovanni Flores, William Lacey, Dustin Magilligan, Zeke Mammen, Alexander Mehnert, Daniel Paolillo, Charles Schexnayder, Jaden Smith, Jay Solo, Ellis Syke, Benjamin Ward, Andrew Wardle, Alec Watson, Ethan Wentler, Kiersten Winfrey and Kyle Wipf.