71st FS reactivates and 71st FGS established

On Jan. 6, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the 1st Fighter Wing held a unique event combining two squadron activations and two assumptions of command. The 71st Fighter Squadron, which had been inactive, was reactivated, and the 71st Fighter Generation Squadron was established.

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – U.S. Air Force Col. Brandon Tellez 1st Operations Group commander, left, Lt. Col. Andrew “Lite” Gray, 94th Fighter Squadron, Col. Neal Van Houten 1st Maintenance Group commander, and Capt. Trent Amerson, 27th Fighter Squadron director of maintenance, stand together during the 71st Fighter Squadron and 71st Fighter Generation Squadron activation and assumption of command ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan. 6, 2023. The 71st FS and 71st FGS are home to the F-22 Raptors and are tasked with training the next generation of pilots and maintaining aircraft superiority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Bithell)

This reactivation ceremony was led by Col. Brandon Tellez, the 1st Operations Group commander, who said that the 71st FS will now serve as the formal training unit for the F-22. The newly appointed commander of the 71st FS, Lt. Col. Andrew Gray, also spoke on the importance of air superiority and the squadron’s role in preparing the next generation of fighters to maintain air dominance.

The ceremony also marked the assumption of command for Capt. Trent Amerson, who took charge of the newly established 71st Fighter Generation Squadron. He acknowledged the proud heritage of the Ironmen and spoke about the importance of training and developing elite Raptor pilots in a safe, secure, and reliable manner.

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