in the 71 FTW. Today, student naval aviators only undergo primary T-6 training at Vance, transitioning to USN/USMC strike jet pipeline, the USN/USMC/United States Coast Guard (USCG) multi-engine maritime pipeline, or the USN/USMC/USCG rotary-wing and tilt-rotor pipeline at respective naval air stations in Florida, Texas or Mississippi. All students practice basic patterns and landings at Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field located near Cherokee, Oklahoma. Vance is considered the second busiest RAPCON facility in the United States, behind Nellis AFB. Nellis AFB is open 24 hours, but Vance AFB has more traffic per hour. Major Commands Gulf Coast Training Center (Air Corps), December 18, 1941 – January 23, 1942 Air Corps Flying Training Comd, January 23, 1942 – March 15, 1942 AAF Flying Training Comd, March 15, 1942 – July 31, 1943 Army Air Forces Training Command, July 31, 1943 – July 1, 1946 Air Training Command, July 1, 1946 – July 1, 1993 Air Education and Training Command, July 2, 1993 – present Base operating units 80th Air Base Sq, November 29, 1941 – June 13, 1942 80th Base HQ and Air Base Sq, June 13, 1942 – May 1, 1944 2518th AAF Base Unit (Pilot School, Basic), May 1, 1944 – February 4, 1945 2518th AAF Base Unit [Pilot School, Advanced-2E], February 4, 1945 – September 26, 1947 2518th AF Base Unit, September 26, 1947 – August 26, 1948 3575th Air Base Gp, August 26, 1948 – November 1, 1972 71st Air Base Gp, November 1, 1972 – present Major units assigned 60th Air Base Group November 29, 1941 – December 20, 1942 31st Flight Training Wing January 16, 1943 – May 15, 1945 2518th Army Air Force/Air Force Base Unit May 1, 1944 – August 28, 1948 3575 Pilot Training Wing August 26, 1948 – November 1, 1972 8600 Pilot Training Wing June 27, 1949 – May 28, 1951 71st Flying Training Wing November 1, 1972 – present Enid Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol Mission The 71st Flying Training Wing aims to train world-class pilots for the United States Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and its allies and to prepare Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) warriors to deploy in support of the combatant commanders. Based units Flying and notable non-flying units based at Vance Air Force Base. Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Vance, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.