by Curtis D. Tucker
Posted: 03/08/16
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In 2014 I was selected as an Honorary Commander at Vance AFB. I was paired with the 3d Flying Training Squadron under the command of Lt. Col. Sean Martin. Lt. Col. Martin was originally from New York but attended pilot training at Vance and was actually on his second assignment in Enid.
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Lt. Col. Martin retired from the Air Force on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Sean has been hired by Jet Linx Aviation, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. He will be flying the BE400 (which is basically a T-1) and will be based in Omaha although they are located in twelve cities across the country. His first day on the job is 14 Mar.
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Sean ended his military career on Tuesday in a T-1 Jayhawk after landing on the Vance Air Force Base flight line for the last time. The "Fini" flight is a military aviation tradition which marks a pilots retirement from the Air Force. Upon completion of the "Fini" flight, it is tradition to spray down or douse the pilot in water and a bottle of champagne upon leaving the aircraft.
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The celebration includes close family and friends along with the dedicated crew. Sean's wife Megan and two daughters were also given the chance to further douse him with hoses hooked to a fire truck. Once completely soaked, a pilot traditionally takes a quick toast of champagne.
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The "Fini" flight tradition was first officially noted during the Vietnam war, when the aircrew commemorated the completion of 100 missions. The 100th safe last-landing was a reason to celebrate, but it is now usually a separate flight altogether marking the final flight before retirement.
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The commemoration is meaningful to the retiring member and his or her family, and brings them together with the aviator's Air Force family. These traditions are always a good thing as they bring camaraderie and togetherness between families and the Air Force.
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After the flight line celebration there was a brief ceremony to officially retire Lt. Col. Sean Martin. Col. Clark Quinn, base commander, talked about the many achievements of Lt. Col. Martin including his 20 years of service and 4,000 hours of flight time.
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Lt. Col. Sean Martin was not only a great airman and pilot but also a great Honorary Commander host. We wish Sean and his family the best on this next chapter in their lives.
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Curtis, it was great seeing you at the ceremony! Thank you for being a great Honorary Commander and representative of the fantastic Enid community. In total, we’ve had a great eight years here. My family and I will miss it tremendously.
Thanks Sean! Your family will be missed.
Now, if I could only learn an adjective besides “great”!