Vance Air Force Base celebrated its 80th Anniversary Sept. 17, 2021, at Woodring Regional Airport in Enid, Oklahoma. The event consisted of a four-ship dissimilar formation flight of the base's heritage-themed aircraft which were then put on static display. A presentation of each squadron's heritage was read before an audience of 350 local civilians before a new aircraft name was unveiled. Col. Jay Johnson the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, presented the mayor of Enid with the "City of Enid" T-1A Jayhawk.
Friday night, Jan. 24, the flying squadrons at Vance met to do battle on a brand new, purple-surfaced pool table. They were about to engage in a Crud tournament.
“It’s like full contact pool without a cue stick,” said James W. Shepherd, with the board of directors of Soldier’s Wish, the organization that helped provide the new Crud table to the Greven Crosswinds Club on base.
Chief Master Sgt. Hope L. Skibitsky, now the command chief of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, has had an incredible journey, from leaving for the military at 17 with nothing to her name, to becoming a command chief.
Not many pilots can say that they have served in ground operations, were specifically trained for combat and rescue missions and can deploy at a moment’s notice. But 2nd Lt. James Barnard can.
He is one of more than 350 U.S. Air Force pilots delivered each year from Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
“In law enforcement, you wake up every day not knowing if it’s going to be another routine day in the office, or your last day on earth,” said Tech. Sgt. Eric Aber, the NCO in charge for Security Forces Operations.
“People get up every day and do it anyway knowing the risk involved, and some people have had to make that sacrifice. That’s what Police Week is all about, just remembering those and their selflessness for both...
“So help me God,” he recited, with his right hand raised and four-legged partner standing by his side. This American Airman just agreed to serve another four years in the world’s greatest Air Force.
On Jan. 23, 2018, Staff Sgt. Jose R. Fernandez, a K-9 handler assigned to the 71st Security Forces Squadron, after serving almost six years in the U.S. Air Force, reenlisted to serve another four.
