COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Mississippi –
Col. Michael McMillan, 340th Flying Training Group director of operations, presided over a change of command ceremony where Lt. Col. Anthony McKee relinquished command of the 43rd Flying Training Squadron to Lt. Col. Thomas Collins on October 19, 2023, at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
As a command pilot with more than 2,900 military flying hours, including over 2,000 hours in the T-38 Talon, Collins is responsible for administering and executing the Air Education and Training Command's/Air Force Reserve Command's Associate Instructor Pilot (IP) Program and providing Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and Traditional Reserve (TR) IPs to augment the cadre of active-duty pilots conducting pilot training.
During wartime, or in the event of hostilities, the unit is mobilized to offset anticipated losses of experienced active-duty pilot contributions to the instructor pilot training programs.
Collins is the 36th commander of the 43rd FTS. The 43rd FTS is one of seven training squadrons under the 340th FTG; six of those are charged with flying training. The 43rd FTS an Air Force Reserve squadron of the 340th FTG and has a heritage of building the world’s best warriors, leaders and professional military pilots.