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Thunderbolt NEWS Aug. 21, 2015 7
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Sidewinders inaugural class go ‘Fangs out’

+2//20$1$,5)25&(%$6(10³The 311th Courtesy photo
Fighter Squadron graduated its inaugural class of F-16
Fighting Falcon pilots at July 31 at the Holloman Club. 7KHWK)LJKWHU6TXDGURQ¶VLQDXJXUDOFODVVRI))LJKWLQJ)DOFRQSLORWVSRVHVIRUDSLFWXUHZLWKWK)6
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The 14 graduates, class 14-FBH, completed hundreds of ¿UVWFODVVRI)SLORWVWRJUDGXDWHIURP+ROORPDQ7KHFODVVJUDGXDWHGVWXGHQWV
hours of training over several grueling months to reach the
KLVWRULFFHUHPRQ\DQGWRMRLQWKHSURXGKHULWDJHRIWKHWK Following graduation, more than 75 percent of the class Force careers,” said 1st Lt. Bryan Johnston Johnston. “We
will go overseas - an opportunity each graduate is excited may not know what the future holds, but we are excited
´/RRNLQJEDFNRQRXUMRXUQH\WRJHWKHUHDOO,FDQWKLQNLV to have. because we will be chasing the dream.”
that it has been a wonderful experience,” said 1st Lt. Brit-
tany Trimble, a graduate of class 14-FBH. “As soon as we “We’ve already had so many rewarding times in our Air Courtesy of holloman.af.mil
arrived, we were all integrated quickly into the squadron.
It was neat to be part of something like this and help get
it established. We all very much feel like we helped build
this squadron.”

And, having a heritage of brotherhood, of family, is
important to the 311th FS “Sidewinders” - so much so,
that Trimble’s own father, retired Lt. Col. Jack Trimble,
was the guest speaker for the inaugural class’ graduation.

A well-known combat pilot who had previously worn the
311th patch on his own arm, Trimble is a former POW who
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sorties with the F-4 Phantom II.

He served as both a navigator and a pilot in his Air
Force career. He also served at several locations including
Holloman.

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and Airman that he offered to the graduates to help prepare
them for the future they face.

“Your training is over,” he said. “You. You are now the
spear point of America’s power. Like so many generations
that came before you - it will challenge you. But remember,
a good wingman often makes the mission. But, you can’t
be a good leader without being a good wingman.”

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