Silver City Native receives "Wings of Gold"

by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

(MILTON, Fla.) - U.S. Navy officer Lt. j.g. Tom Sanford a Silver City, New Mexico, native serving at Helicopter Training Squadron (HT-28), received his "Wings of Gold" during a winging ceremony held in Milton, Florida.

Sanford lands his first solo flight in
TH-57B Sea Ranger helicopter

 Winging ceremony is the pinnacle of flight officer training, which lasts approximately a year and a half. The curriculum includes air navigation, pre-flight indoctrination, and basic ground and engine systems. The rigorous curriculum forces pilots to retain vital flight operation information.

**See links below for additional photos**

https://www.flickr.com/photos/navyoutreach/38744635991/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/navyoutreach/37857539545/in/dateposted-public/