Last B-Course graduation from Tyndall AFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The final five F-15 student-pilots that will train at the 325th Fighter Wing graduated May 14 at the Heritage Club.

The F-15 B-Course students were members of the 95th Fighter Squadron and were qualified for the Combat Air Force through a curriculum of F-15 academics, flight simulations and syllabus sorties. The graduation ceremony marked the end of F-15 B-Course training at Tyndall.

The five 95th Fighter Squadron students are: 1st Lt. Aaron Stevens, 1st Lt. Terrance Fregly, 1st Lt. Aaron Ewing, Capt. Joel Thesing and Maj. Skylar Clark.

"The 325th Fighter Wing has produced almost 3,900 F-15C pilots over the span of 22 years, so we consider it quite an honor to send off the last group of Tyndall F-15C graduates," said Lt. Col. Scott Yancy, 95th Fighter Squadron commander. "I'm extremely proud of the professionalism, expertise and dedication of the instructor pilots in the 95th Fighter Squadron. It takes a lot of effort to prepare these students for the Combat Air Forces - we finished strong!"

The students all had some positive things to say about their experience at the 95th Fighter Squadron and are all going to bases around the globe to continue their careers.

Lieutenant Stevens hails from Indianapolis and is headed to the Kadena Air Base, Japan. He said it feels bittersweet to be part of the last B-Course graduates.

"On one hand, it's an honor and privilege to be a part of the last B-Course here, and to be part of a squadron of such great tradition," said Lieutenant Stevens. "On the other though, it's hard to comprehend the fact that the F-15s are actually leaving Tyndall, along with all the jobs."

Lieutenant Fregly hails from Tallahassee and is also headed to Kadena.

"It's awesome to be able to fly the World's Greatest Air Superiority Fighter," said Lieutenant Fregly. "It's unfortunate that very few of my peers will be able to fly and employ in a jet that is as combat proven as the Eagle. The B-Course experience here at Tyndall was second to none and it is pretty amazing to be part of the last class."

Lieutenant Ewing hails from Lakewood, Colo. and will join some of his classmates at Kadena. He said it has been a privilege to train with the Boneheads in the 95th Fighter Squadron and continue the tradition dating since World War II of providing air superiority for America.

"It was an awesome experience to be trained at Tyndall and it will be strange no longer having Eagles stationed at this base, but knowing that Tyndall will continue to provide air dominance training with the F-22 is encouraging and I hope to one day return and transition to the Raptor," said Lieutenant Ewing. "I am excited to enter the combat Air Force overseas and use what I have learned over the past 8 months to employ the Mighty Eagle in protecting the skies."

Captain Thesing hails from Brainerd, Minn. and is headed to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. He said this has been one of the most challenging but gratifying experiences of his life.

Major Clark hails from Newport Beach, Calif. and is headed to Great Falls, Mont. He summed up his experience by saying, "this has been awesome, the 95th is awesome, the instructors here are awesome and all of my classmates are awesome."

Tyndall announced it was moving forward with the Combat Air Forces restructuring plan April 8; divesting the base of its F-15 pilot training program and 48 F-15 Eagle aircraft by the end of fiscal year 2010.

"This class was a unique mix of officers," said Colonel Yancy. "We had a B-1 pilot transitioning to the F-15, a Maintenance Officer moving into the cockpit and three Lieutenants coming to us right out of flight school. One of the keys to success for getting through this demanding course is teamwork. Despite their various backgrounds, this class bonded quickly and it showed in their demeanor around the squadron and their tactical prowess on the flight line. We are most proud to call them Bonehead graduates - each of them will carry forward our outstanding tradition and be a great addition to their operational units."

For more B-course graduation photos click here.