Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located 4 miles south of downtown Enid, Oklahoma, and within its city limits, about 65 miles north northwest of Oklahoma City. The base is named after local World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Lt Col Leon Robert Vance, Jr.
The mission of the 71st Flying Training Wing is to produce military pilots, build Air Force leaders and meet taskings in support of national defense objectives. Vance is the U.S. Air Force's only Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training base training more than 400 Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied student pilots for worldwide deployment and AEF support in the T-1, T-6 and T-38 aircraft.
The expansion of the training mission at Vance to include the IFF squadron is a result of base realignment actions.The 3rd Flying Training Squadron, a T-6 unit from Moody AFB in Valdosta, Ga., was deactivated and resurrected as the 3rd Fighter Training Squadron at Vance. The new unit will use the AT- 38C to introduce pilots to air-to-air employment, air-to-surface attack and low-altitude navigation. The aircraft came from Moody with the first arriving at Vance in May 07.
While many things in the area are low cost, housing seems to be higher than one would expect. Vance is selected by the Air Force as part of an extended experiment in contract services. Under this plan a civilian contractor furnishes the support facilities normally provided by base agencies.
Official website of Vance Air Force Base
