Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, Jan. 26 2018
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vol. 2, no. 2 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR Jan. 26, 2018
An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
Vice President Mike Pence visits Nellis AFB
by Master Sgt. Heidi West Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Andrew Sarver combat aviators in the world,†Pence
said. “As we speak, I know nearly 600 of
Nellis AFB, Nev. Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with Chief Master Sgt. Raul Villarreal, 57th your members are in the skies and in the
Maintenance Group chief enlisted manager, after meeting Staff Sgt. Samantha Buxton, fight and we think of them this hour.â€
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-35 crew chief, during his tour of the F-35 Lightning
made his way to Las Vegas Jan. 11, II fighter jet in the Thunderbirds hangar at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 11, 2018. Pence “As all of you know, year-round,
2018, to attend the grand opening of praised Nellis AFB Airmen for their long-standing dedication to air superiority. through the Air Force Warfare Center,
the first AFWERX facility and visit this base is laser-focused on testing,
the men and women of Nellis Air Force tactics and training,†he continued.
Base, Nev. “From the Weapons School, where the
best train with our most lethal technol-
Upon arrival at Nellis, Pence, Secre- ogy to exercise Red Flag, which gives
tary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, our pilots a realistic combat experi-
and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. ence, to the NTTR unlike any training
David Goldfein headed downtown for complex in the world.â€
the opening of the AFWERX-Vegas
storefront, which will serve as an in- As the sun set on the desert hori-
novation hub to connect innovators zon, the vice president made his way
and accelerate results. through the crowd, shaking hands
and snapping photos with the Air-
“It is a great honor to stand before men. Bringing the day to a close, Pence
a gathering of extraordinary leaders, toured the Thunderbirds museum,
innovators and pioneers and open which houses decades of memorabilia
the first in the nation’s AFWERX in and achievements by the Air Force’s
Las Vegas … leading the way again!†premier aerial demonstration team,
Pence said. before heading to the Thunderbirds
hangar for an up-close look at an F-35
After meeting with state officials and Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon
community dignitaries, the vice presi- fighters.
dent, Wilson and Goldfein returned to
Nellis AFB to meet the Airmen of Air and women in uniform turned their Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Andrew Sarver
Combat Command’s largest base and eyes to the sky to see two F-22 Raptor
home to the U.S. Thunderbirds. Wil- and two F-35 fighter jets thunder over- Vice President Mike Pence greets Staff Sgt. Samantha Henry, 99th Force Support Squadron
son began the ceremony with opening head. Following the fifth-generation dorm manager, following his address to Airmen at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 11, 2018.
remarks, praising Nellis AFB for pro- flyover, Pence turned toward his audi- As the sun set on the desert horizon, the vice president made his way through the crowd,
viding the tools and tactical training to ence to express his gratitude for a vast shaking hands and snapping photos with the Airmen.
prepare today’s Airmen to react within history of air superiority.
seconds during real world operations
and meet the need for air superiority. “This base is essential to America’s
national security, but you already know
“This is where we, as Airmen, push that,†Pence began. “For more than 75
the envelope,†Wilson said. “We push years, in these halls and on these run-
ourselves and teams to do better, to be ways and in the vast expanse above us,
better, to fight harder, to learn more our nations’ Airmen have prepared to
and to take the fight to the adversary. fly and fight for freedom – and fight
This is where you develop the tactics they have. Nearly 60,000 gunners
and practice with the equipment that trained here before they took wing in
will give every one of you a better the Second World War. Many of our
chance to defeat the enemy and come fighter aces sharpened their skills in
home, again. these skies.â€
“In the 1950s, it was the F-86 (Sabre) The vice president also lauded the
that gave us a 14-1 kill ratio over Korea,†U.S. Air Force Warfare Center for its
Wilson continued. “Today, it’s the F-35 rigorous and realistic training via the
(Lightning II) with space and cyber U.S. Air Force Weapons School and
and unmanned [aerial] vehicles ready Nevada Test and Training Range.
— ready to take the fight to the enemy.â€
“To this day, Nellis trains the best
As the late afternoon crept onto the
flightline, Pence and the crowd of men
INSIDE: Commentary – 2; News – 3-5; Hometown Heroes – 8; Nellis Living – 12-14
