Weeks shares aviation experiences, lessons at SUPT 18-13 graduation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Col. Samantha Weeks, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, spoke at Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 18-13 graduation Aug. 17 on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, and shared experiences throughout her career. She stated to SUPT Class 18-13 those decisions and experiences were guided by the lessons learned throughout her time at pilot training.

Weeks stepped to the podium and immediately congratulated the new pilots, Airmen, families, friends and community for making the graduation possible.

She then focused on her target, to share her experiences and learned lessons with the U.S. Air Force’s and partner nations’ newest aviators to help them as they prepare to fly multimillion dollar airframes to impact the Defense Department and their respective countries’ mission with priceless precision.

“Maintain aircraft control, analyze the situation, and take the appropriate action.” Weeks said. “Military pilots have a reputation of being calm, cool and collected. It doesn’t mean we don’t get stressed and it doesn’t mean we can handle every situation we are faced with. It does mean facing those challenges we are able to keep a stable platform, maintain basic control of our aircraft, keep our jet in the sky, keep things in line and provide time to assess and act.”

She continued, paralleling the stress of flying to stress in everyday life. Each can be difficult to navigate, but staying calm and effectively assessing the situation will result in some sort of success.

She then spoke about a personal experience in the F-15C, which involved enforcing a no-fly zone during Operation Southern Watch.

“We were on the tanker, my flight lead was taking his gas when an E-3 [Sentry] AWACS told us an aircraft was crossing north of the no fly zone,” Weeks said. “My flight lead disconnected from the tanker and called us to immediately head south. I looked at my gas, but knew my responsibility was to trust my flight lead, fly my jet (maintain aircraft control), and be in position.”

She said she wondered ‘What would come next,’ an air-to-air engagement or a divert to an auxiliary field due to gas? She recalled her training took over and without thinking too much of the possible outcomes she followed the procedures learned throughout training.

“Throughout that engagement I fell back on that basic first step; maintain aircraft control,” Weeks said. “I challenge you to not only maintain aircraft control, but also maintain our proud heritage, our legacy, and continue to build upon it. … I ask you to own that pride and I ask you to spread that pride. … Be proud and humble of what you do.”

The second step for an emergency situation involves analyzing the situation. Weeks charged the graduates to assess the environment before they act.

No matter the situation or environment they must use the tools available to assess their next course of action. In the air their tools are the controls in the cockpit, but in life that could be family, friends, co-workers, wingmen, and oneself.

To highlight this, Weeks relayed the story of Col. Robin Olds, commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at the time and explained his role in Operation Bolo during Vietnam. The operation was formed to deceive Vietnam People's Air Force into a combat environment in which they were outnumbered by U.S. forces. Olds observed the enemy to ensure he understood the situation before he took action.

The final step is to take the appropriate action, Weeks stated. This is the critical aspect and its foundation’s within step one and two.

She then highlighted a story of heroism from a Columbus Undergraduate Pilot Training graduate, Sully Sullenberger and U.S. Airways flight 1549.

“In a few split seconds he maintained aircraft control, assessed the situation, used his training and experience to take the appropriate action and saved 155 lives that day on the Hudson River,” she stated. “His aviation career was founded here. That is part of the Team BLAZE legacy. Be proud of that, add to it, and build upon it.”

She left a few words for the Team BLAZE members, charging each individual to be a leader. She quoted Vince Lombardi, former head coach of the Green Bay Packers and his charge of “watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character.”

This was Weeks’ first SUPT graduation as the commander of the 14th FTW; she helped congratulate more than 25 pilots on their accomplishment and wished them luck as they get ready to continue their journey.

“Your families provided the foundation of your character, and our Air Force core values require integrity,” she stated. “It is up to you to turn your character and our core values into leadership. My parting message is to see yourself as a leader in any and every role you serve in. Right now, our Air Force needs bold leaders … so be bold! “