A vision for the future

  • Published
  • By Col. Jim Sears
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Commander
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  What comes to mind when you think of Columbus Air Force Base and the 14th Flying Training Wing?

After a short time as your wing commander I see nearly 3,000 Airmen, civilians and contractors who do amazing things every day to make sure we Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen and Feed the Fight. Together we lead from the front.

I see in Team BLAZE a tremendous amount of pride in knowing that they are doing their part better than they have before, with fewer resources and higher demands. They do this with a smile because they know they serve their nation and community in a very special way.

Columbus AFB is fortunate to have a tremendous local community that loves and cares for their Air Force base and Airmen. They are our "12th man" and we cannot accomplish our mission without them. Bar none, this is the strongest bond I have ever seen between a base and the local community.

With this foundation, I challenged our leadership team of squadron and group commanders, directors and group superintendants to develop a long-term vision for Team BLAZE. This is not a statement of who we are but rather of where we are going. We looked to develop a vision worthy of the Air Force's greatest pilot producer, with programs that lead Air Education and Training Command and challenge the best in the Air Force with Airmen at the forefront.

Our new 14th FTW vision is to be "The premier pilot training wing and community developing the world's best Airmen."

It's a simple vision but demands greatness. It is designed to make you think of being the best, and if what you are doing doesn't take us there then you are empowered to make changes that will. We are not just a wing but also a vibrant community that includes all Airmen, families and the local community that does so much to help us succeed in our mission. These are the things that make Columbus AFB unique amongst other bases in AETC and the Air Force.

We have everything we need to be the best - your job is to figure out how. My job is to make sure you have what you need and establish the environment that will enable us to be the best. From this vision come my Guiding Principles:

1. Empower leaders at all levels
2. Challenge the status quo
3. Challenge assumptions
4. Make innovation happen
5. Let mission drive your focus

By embracing a vision focused by the word "premier," it's no longer good enough to be number one. When you get to the top it then becomes about building more distance between yourself and number two. This will take strong leaders, new ideas, innovation and a culture that embraces cost consciousness and excellence in all we do.

So join me, Team BLAZE, in leading AETC and the world's greatest Air Force from the front. Together we are the premier pilot training wing and community developing the world's best Airmen.