COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command Deputy Director of Operations visited Team BLAZE as the guest speaker for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 17-02’s graduation Nov. 18, 2016, at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
Col. John Cline began by thanking the audience for attending and for all their support given to the newest graduates. He went on to congratulate the pilots themselves for a job well done throughout pilot training.
“First and foremost, congratulations for making it this far,” Cline said. “It is a monumental effort to make it through pilot training. To progress through a commissioning program, pass required medical and aptitude screenings, a competitive pilot slot selection, intense ground and flight training, rigorous academic testing and high stress check rides is a real challenge.”
Cline spoke about his own graduation right here at Columbus AFB and how lessons learned here are the foundation for aviation and how pilots can always fall back on them.
“Now the work really begins though,” he said. “The world class training you got here at Columbus, the professional focus, attention to detail and dedication to excellence fostered by this program will pay you back a million times over as you master your major weapon system.”
He warned the graduates the path they chose is not an easy one and they would face much danger and challenges over the years, but its worth outweighed the risk.
“This pilot path you have chosen is full of dynamic challenges, but it is also full of unique opportunities and incredibly rewarding experiences,” Cline said. “Be good stewards of the sobering responsibility that comes with pinning on these wings.”
Cline applauded their decisions to serve and emphasized how much that means to the nation’s defense.
“You will have a tremendous impact on the security of our great nation,” he said. “Every one of you is already a very precious national asset. As you progress, our Air Force will be a progressively better and more capable service for having you in it.”
He finished with his final words of encouragement and wished them the best of luck with their careers.
“It is an absolute honor serving with you and to count you among our Air Force family of warriors,” Cline said. “Whatever the future holds for all of you in the years to come, I wish you nothing but the best for your aviation careers.”