LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Gen. Robin Rand, Air Education and Training Command commander, visited Laughlin to honor the 47th Flying Training Wing's 2014 annual award winners in a ceremony held at the Del Rio Civic Center March 12, 2015, and to recognize the achievements of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 15-06, who graduated March 13, here.
Rand was invited by the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and welcomed by the Del Rio Military Affairs Association to be the keynote speaker at their awards banquet.
Rand was also asked to be the keynote speaker at Class 15-06's graduation ceremony held the following day. There, Rand spoke to the newly christened pilots and their families.
Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, greets Col. Brian Hastings, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, and his wife, Eileen, after landing at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, March 12, 2015. Rand was invited to speak at the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet, which is a dinner event put on by the city to honor Laughlin's annual award winners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)(Released)
Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, and Col. Brian Hastings, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, stand as retired Maj. Gen. Gerald Prather begins the evening's invocation at the Del Rio Annual Awards Banquet in Del Rio, Texas, March 12, 2015. Prather earned his pilot wings at Laughlin Air Force Base in 1956 and he has served the Del Rio community in a variety of positions since retiring. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)(Released)
Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, speaks at the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet in Del Rio, Texas, March 12, 2015. Rand was asked to be the evening's keynote speaker by members of the city's chamber of commerce and military affairs association as they honored Laughlin's annual award winners. The banquet is a tradition in Del Rio and shows the close relationship between the base and the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)(Released)
Col. Timothy MacGregor, 47th Operations Group commander, center, Lt. Col. Brian Pardee, 47th Operations Support Squadron commander, left, and Lt. Col. Randy Oakland, 87th Flying Training Squadron commander, sing the national anthem at the Del Rio Annual Awards Banquet in Del Rio Texas, March 12, 2015. The trio helped kick off the annual award banquet put on by the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce that highlights Laughlin's and the chamber's annual award winners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet)(Released)
Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, joins Laughlin members to celebrate SUPT Class 15-06 graduation on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, March 13, 2015. Rand spoke at the graduation ceremony and thanked all the friends, family and Team XL members for their support and encouraged the new pilots to remain committed to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Aaron Redfield)(Released)