Team BLAZE,

You rocked 2015 — and you did it together, working as a team.

We often throw around the word team, reflecting back on our memories of sporting events. However, our team extends beyond our athletic seasons, squadrons, or even our wing.

Our Joint team brings with it the might of the United States Armed Forces and is comprised of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, civilians and contractors. Columbus Air Force Base provides the first cut in pilot production which ultimately places bombs and eyes on target and troops and equipment on the battlefield.

Columbus AFB receives hundreds of student pilots and Air Traffic Control apprentices each year. Making it to Columbus AFB takes hard work and determination — making it through our training programs requires teamwork. You matter … to your Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class, your squadron, and to the U.S. Air Force.

We started 2016 with a great news story. Every member of our team returned to duty following the holidays with zero injuries and zero DUIs. Our 100-percent safe return is a direct reflection of committed front line supervision and smart personal decision making.

Our Wing Safety has been equally committed, winning the Air Education and Training Command’s To-Promote-Safety Award which recognizes the 14th Flying Training Wing as having the most effective overall mishap prevention program. However, it must be executed by each one of us to be a true success. Our responsibility is to continually identify risks and hazards, mitigate them to the max extent possible, and then re-assess the remaining risk as acceptable or not in accomplishing our mission.

If the risk is too great, then we are all empowered to call a “knock it off” and find a better way. At Monday’s annual safety meeting, which marked the beginning of a new calendar year, I challenged you to continue our level of effort into 2016 — by eliminating all DUIs and preventing Controlled Movement Area Violations on our airfield.

Lastly, I need you to take my challenge beyond just the flightline. I need each of you to be a Wingman to someone on this base. We can only support the largest Flying Hour Program, produce the largest number of SUPT graduates, and continue to operate AETC’s busiest ATC facility with you. You are the 14th FTW’s number one asset and the fuel that powers our mission execution.

One cost we cannot afford is the loss of any individual due to preventable poor decisions. Wingmen and supervisors — ask the hard questions and seek the right answers. The success of our mission depends on it.

-BLAZE 1