LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Twenty-one U.S. Air Force officers were awarded the coveted silver wings as a symbol of their hard work and training during a graduation ceremony held April 10, 2025.
Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) is a training program that helps prepare prospective military pilots. Upon completion of the program, graduates earn their silver wings as Air Force aviators.
The guest speaker at the Class 25-08 graduation ceremony was U.S. Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command (ACC). Wilsbach oversees the organization, training and equipping of combat-ready air, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum forces. Commissioned in 1985 through the University of Florida's ROTC program, Wilsbach earned his pilot wings in 1986 at Laughlin Air Force Base. Throughout his distinguished career, Wilsbach has commanded at various levels, including a fighter squadron, operations group, two wings and two Numbered Air Forces. His previous assignments include serving as Commander of Pacific Air Forces and Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. With over 6,000 flight hours in aircraft including the F-15C, F-16C, MC-12, and F-22A, he has flown 71 combat missions in operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.
Receiving their pilot wings during the ceremony were:
Capt. Casey Adams
1st Lt. Ahmed Mahmood
1st Lt. Nate Long
2nd Lt. Ibrahim Alharbi
2nd Lt. Michael Brunson
2nd Lt. Shian-An Chiou
2nd Lt. Andrew Crusan
2nd Lt. Caymus Ducharme
2nd Lt. Kai Gill
2nd Lt. Gillian Hooper
2nd Lt. Andrew Huggins
2nd Lt. Ryan Kops
2nd Lt. Faith Lee
2nd Lt. Curtis Mackey
2nd Lt. Jarett Mead
2nd Lt. Walker Morris
2nd Lt. Johnnie Nemecek
2nd Lt. Jace Pittman
2nd Lt. Noah Tuttle
2nd Lt. William Wingert
2nd Lt. Taylor Wynn
In addition to the graduation ceremony, a special emphasis was placed on recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of military spouses. It served as a reminder that while the graduates were the ones receiving their wings, their achievements were also a testament to the love, sacrifice and constant support of their spouses, who serve alongside them in spirit and strength.
“Tonight, we not only recognize the accomplishments of our pilots, but we take a moment to celebrate our Air Force spouses.” said Lt. Col. Aaron Borszich, 47th Student Squadron commander. “While, not in uniform, spouses are the backbone of our Air Force community. We thank you for your love and support. We thank you for celebrating with us when we slip the surely bonds of earth. And we thank you for comforting and encouraging us after a flight does not go as planned. Tonight, you and your spouse have crested one of the hardest climbs in an Air Force career and you did it together. But this was just the start.”
The ceremony proceeded with the breaking of the wings, a tradition symbolizing the start of a new journey for the novice pilots. According to the tradition, the first pair of wings a pilot receives should never be worn. Instead, the wings should be broken into two halves to invite good fortune throughout the pilot’s aviation career. One half is kept by the pilot, while the other is given to a significant person in their life. To preserve that good luck, those two halves are said to only be brought together again in the next life.
The event culminated in the pinning of the wings, where friends and family members affixed a pair of silver wings onto the graduates’ uniforms. This gesture signified the official transition of the students into winged aviators, fully prepared to embrace the forthcoming roles within the United States Air Force.
Pilot wings are a symbol of hard work, training, and dedication. Aviation wings are issued to pilots who have achieved a certain level of proficiency or training.