1
00:00:00,353 --> 00:00:02,936
(gentle music)

2
00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:05,680
- [Narrator] Becoming a military pilot

3
00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,443
requires the highest
levels of self discipline,

4
00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:11,780
peak physical fitness

5
00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,390
and hundreds of hours training.

6
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:21,860
Since 1942 Laughlin Air
Force Base in Del Rio, Texas

7
00:00:21,860 --> 00:00:25,360
has been transforming Airmen
into combat-ready leaders

8
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,140
and pilots for the world's
greatest air force.

9
00:00:29,140 --> 00:00:31,330
Students have to pass three phases

10
00:00:31,330 --> 00:00:32,793
before earning their wings.

11
00:00:33,870 --> 00:00:37,170
During phase one student
pilots spend six weeks

12
00:00:37,170 --> 00:00:39,080
in academic training.

13
00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,903
Here they learn the art
and science of aviation.

14
00:00:44,910 --> 00:00:47,050
In phase two they become familiar

15
00:00:47,050 --> 00:00:50,060
with the T-6 Texan II aircraft,

16
00:00:50,060 --> 00:00:52,903
learning basic flying skills
and advance aerobatics.

17
00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:58,453
The final phase places
students in advanced training.

18
00:00:59,350 --> 00:01:01,800
Most will spend six
more months at Laughlin,

19
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,170
specializing in either the T-1 Jayhawk

20
00:01:05,260 --> 00:01:07,373
or the T-38C Talon.

21
00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:11,960
It takes an entire community to run

22
00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:15,413
one of the most revered pilot
training programs in history.

23
00:01:16,850 --> 00:01:18,400
This is all made possible

24
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,460
thanks to more than 2,800 personnel

25
00:01:21,460 --> 00:01:24,060
who support our mission of graduating

26
00:01:24,060 --> 00:01:26,663
500 new pilots each year.

27
00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:29,510
The efforts and teamwork

28
00:01:29,510 --> 00:01:31,380
of these highly skilled men and women

29
00:01:31,380 --> 00:01:32,680
keep the base functioning.

30
00:01:34,550 --> 00:01:36,543
We have teams who protect the base,

31
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,393
teams who keep our families
and wingmen healthy,

32
00:01:41,340 --> 00:01:44,903
and teams who maintain our
fleet of over 200 aircraft.

33
00:01:46,830 --> 00:01:49,730
Laughlin Air Force Base
also has a great partnership

34
00:01:49,730 --> 00:01:51,720
with the Del Rio community.

35
00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,840
We are the largest employer in the region

36
00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,550
and local businesses have
made our service members

37
00:01:56,550 --> 00:01:59,143
feel welcome for over 75 years.

38
00:02:00,850 --> 00:02:03,060
All of these teams work together every day

39
00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:04,283
to execute the mission.

40
00:02:06,230 --> 00:02:09,763
At Laughlin Air Force
Base we salute our pilots,

41
00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:13,373
our students and instructors,

42
00:02:14,490 --> 00:02:18,253
service members, both
civilian and military,

43
00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,223
as well as their families,

44
00:02:22,830 --> 00:02:26,440
and the community that supports
our men and women in uniform

45
00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,160
to make Laughlin Air
Force Base the gateway

46
00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:30,673
for military pilots.

47
00:02:36,340 --> 00:02:37,743
We are Laughlin.