Air National Guard 2nd Lt. Monica E. Riggs, daughter of Richard B. and Robin E. Chester, Glade, has graduated from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The student earned silver wings with an aeronautical rating of pilot in the Air Force.

Student pilots start the 52-week program by attending a three-week preflight phase consisting of academics and physiology training for flight preparation, followed by phase two primary training conducted in T-37 Tweet aircraft to learn flight characteristics, emergency procedures, takeoff and landing procedures, aerobatics and formation flying. Students also practice night, instrument and cross-country navigation.

Each training phase includes extensive hours of ground events, flight simulator, day and night flying, and flight related instruction. Additional instruction is received on flight formation, navigation, low-level navigation flying, visual and instrument transition, radar cell formation, and simulated refueling and airdrop missions.

After primary training, students move on to advanced training in one of several tracks. Students selected for fighter-bomber assignments fly the T-38A aircraft; airlift-tanker students fly the T-1A aircraft; multi-engine turboprop students fly the C-130 aircraft, and helicopter students fly the UH-1 Huey at their assigned bases or stations.

Riggs graduated in 2001 from Phillipsburg High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2005 from Kansas State University.