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  • Mark Crosby, 47th Maintenance Directorate aircraft mechanic, was chosen by wing leadership to be the “XLer of the Week”, the week of July 27, 2020, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The “XLer” award, presented by Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Robert L. Zackery III, 47th FTW command chief master sergeant, is given to those who consistently make outstanding contributions to their unit and the Laughlin mission. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Senior Airman Anne McCready)

    XLer of the week: Mark Crosby

    Mark Crosby, 47th Maintenance Directorate aircraft mechanic, was chosen by wing leadership to be the “XLer of the Week”, the week of July 27, 2020, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The “XLer” award, presented by Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Robert L. Zackery III, 47th FTW command chief master
  • Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, passes the guidon to Col. Craig D. Prather, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, during the virtual wing change of command ceremony at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, July 31, 2020. Prather takes command after serving as the commander of the 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component at Fort Bragg, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marco A. Gomez)

    Col. Craig D. Prather takes command of Team XL

    Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, passes the guidon to Col. Craig D. Prather, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, during the virtual wing change of command ceremony at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, July 31, 2020. Prather takes command after serving as the commander of the 1st Joint Special Operations Air Component at Fort Bragg,
  • Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, stands in front of a T-6 Texan II, July 17, 2020 at Laughlin Air Force Base Texas. Like all other instructor pilots of Team XL, Gentile attended pilot instructor training. This enabled him to impart his years’ worth of knowledge and experience to the younger instructor pilots of the flying training squadrons here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anne McCready)

    Col. Lee Gentile bids farewell to Laughlin AFB

    On July 17, 2020, after nearly two years serving at ‘the base on the border’, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Col. Lee Gentile, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, stood in the T-6A Texan II locker room preparing for his final flight as a part of Team XL. The bittersweet feeling of finishing an era started to creep up as he gathered his gear. Fastening his g-suit, he took his emotions and neatly stored them in a box for later. Right then, he had a job to accomplish.
  • First Lt. Zachary Froembling, 86th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, briefs 47th Student Squadron students, 2nd lieutenants Nicholas Jasper and Maurice Martin, for a simulator mission, June 25, 2020 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The simulators are a crucial part of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training students’ curriculum, because they provide a safe place to learn from mistakes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anne McCready)

    86th FTS leads future Air Force pilots to fly heavies

    If you’re flying a heavy in the Air Force, chances are you trained in the T-1A Jayhawk with the 86th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The 86th FTS creates the best mobility pilots in the Air Force, and when they’re called back to carry on the mission, they bring experiences from previous assignments and numerous aircraft to the classroom--and the cockpit.
  • Twelve technical sergeants from the 47th Flying Training Wing were selected for promotion to master sergeant, officials announced July 16, 2020. The Airmen were among 4,649 technical sergeants selected for promotion across the Air Force, representing 20.86 percent of the 22,286 eligible. (Courtesy Graphic)

    Twelve selected for E-7 at Laughlin AFB

    Twelve technical sergeants from the 47th Flying Training Wing were selected for promotion to master sergeant, officials announced July 16. The Airmen were among 4,649 technical sergeants selected for promotion across the Air Force, representing 20.86 percent of the 22,286 eligible.
  • Lt. Col. Marc Johansen, 47th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, addresses the 47 CES during his assumption of command on July 13, 2020 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He and his family were last stationed at Stuttgart, Germany, where he served as engineer division chief at Special Operations Command in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anne McCready)

    47th Civil Engineer Squadron Change of Command

    Lt. Col. Marc Johansen, 47th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, addresses the 47 CES during his assumption of command on July 13, 2020 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He and his family were last stationed at Stuttgart, Germany, where he served as engineer division chief at Special Operations Command in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior
  • Maj. Aaron Velasco, 47th Contracting Flight commander, and his wife, Jackie, pose for a photo after the change of command July 10, 2020, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The Velasco family hails from San Antonio, where he was a flight commander in at Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anne McCready)

    47th Contracting Flight Change of Command

    Maj. Aaron Velasco, 47th Contracting Flight commander, and his wife, Jackie, pose for a photo after the change of command July 10, 2020, at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The Velasco family hails from San Antonio, where he was a flight commander in at Basic Military Training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anne McCready)
  • A graphic displaying Laughlin's pilot graduates in a yearbook format.

    SUPT Class 20-18 set to graduate

    Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 20-18 is set to graduate after 52 weeks of training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, July 10, 2020. Laughlin is the home of the 47th Flying Training Wing, whose mission is to build combat-ready Airmen, leaders and pilots. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Marco A. Gomez)

  • Laughlin AFB updates HPCON

    LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas— Due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the local area, the 47th Flying Training Wing Commander, Colonel Lee Gentile, has directed the base transition to Health Protection Condition Charlie (HPCON C). This action is necessary to better protect the health of our people and continue the vital DoD mission we
  • The hangar doors open to reveal the T-38C Talon aircraft, painted with a first assignment instructor pilot theme, as pilots and maintainers alike watch eagerly from outside, June 26, 2020 at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. “The best part was seeing Valentin’s face and how excited all the pilots were,” Juan Gonzalez, 47 MXD corrosion control work lead, said. “Col. Jones complimented our work and that meant a great deal to us. We feel proud of the work we did.” (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Anne McCready)

    First FAIP flagship unveiled at Laughlin AFB

    On an overcast and humid morning, a gaggle of instructor pilots--most of them wearing a black flag patch identifying them as first assignment instructor pilots--gathered on the flightline in front of the closed doors of Hangar II along with members from the 47th Maintenance Directorate and the corrosion control team. A high-pitched constant ringing cut the atmosphere as the hangar doors slowly opened, revealing the 87th Flying Training Squadron’s FAIP flagship.
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