Happy holidays to Team BLAZE

  • Published
  • By Col. Jim Sears
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Commander
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The holiday season is now upon us, giving us a chance to rest and recuperate. This year we have many accomplishments to be proud of. Our mission would not be possible without each of your outstanding contributions to Team BLAZE. This year we produced over 400 total students from all flying training programs and we graduated our 12,000th pilot since 1971. We continue to advance Airmen and you have already racked up an impressive set of awards recognizing your 2012 accomplishments, such as the Outstanding Air Education and Training Command Civil Engineer and Contracting squadrons and seven individual AETC award winners. Also, we have fed the fight by deploying over 170 Airmen to over 18 countries including such places as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia. Let me take the time to thank you all for your efforts throughout the past year and for your time spent in preparation for the upcoming Combined Unit Inspection. This holiday period is a well deserved rest for all of you, and I hope you rejuvenate yourselves before returning in the New Year ready to work hard and show AETC how well we accomplish our mission every day.

Our mission is dependent on each and every Airman at Columbus Air Force Base, so take care of yourselves over the holidays and make sound decisions. Whether you are traveling to see loved ones or staying local, celebrate with care while you relax. Many of you will be taking various excursions in the next few weeks so it is important to apply the same risk management off-duty as you do on-duty. Be sure to take into consideration how long you will be traveling, the possibility of poor weather and the traffic on the road. Safety should be a primary concern; it is important that you prepare carefully for any travel, make a plan and follow it.

Although the holiday season is regarded as a loving, cheerful time, it can be a tough period for many of our Airmen. Those that may not be able to go home, or those with family members deployed, may have difficulty missing their loved ones. December can be one of the most stressful times of year and this stress is compounded with the addition of the approaching CUI. Ask for help if you need it. Columbus AFB has a network of people all willing to make your holiday the best it can be. If you need someone to talk to, please reach out to your friends, family, first sergeant or one of the many support agencies we enjoy such as the chapel or our mental health specialists. Airmen take care of Airmen, so keep your wingmen and their families in your thoughts and do not hesitate to reach out to others.

Vikki and I would like to wish you a truly happy holiday season. Every Airman is a critical part of Team BLAZE and we cannot continue to accomplish our mission without all of you. The well being of each individual Airman is important to the well being of the unit, so make smart decisions. Always have a designated driver, always have a back-up plan. Take time to recuperate and refresh. Focus on yourself and your family and building back up after working so hard on a daily basis. January brings a new year, and an intense few weeks of preparation for the CUI. Come back from the break with a fresh attitude, excited for the opportunity we have. We need everyone to return in January to show the Inspector General that we are the world's premier pilot training wing and community...developing the world's best Airmen.