Happy Holidays to Team BLAZE

  • Published
  • By Col. Barre Seguin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing commander
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Team BLAZE, as we quickly approach the end of the 2011, I thank you for your significant contributions to our mission to Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen, Feed the Fight. You contributions ensured the tremendous success of our Team. Over the course of the year, we produced over 360 pilots for the United States Air Force and our allies and advanced numerous enlisted and officer Airmen through professional military education. Our civilian and contractor Airmen also advanced professionally and personally by taking advantage of educational self-improvement opportunities. Additionally, we fed the fight by deploying over 130 expeditionary Airmen around the globe to support contingency operations as part of our broader joint and coalition team. Thank, you, again for your many and great contributions to our mission.

Our impressive mission accomplishment in 2011 would not have been possible without each and every one of our Team BLAZE members. From our Civil Engineer "Fire Dawgs" who respond without regard to personal safety; to our Med Group medics who ensure our health and well-being; to contract Airmen maintainers who keep our aircraft in the air; to our instructor pilots who show at 4 a.m. to ensure our student pilots receive the best training possible; all of you are the cogs who bring millions of moving parts and piece together into seamless mission performance. As we proceed into this holiday season, I ask you to reflect on our phenomenal mission accomplishment and take time to focus on what's important to you personally.

The holidays provide the perfect opportunity to reconstitute and put our lives into perspective. Spend time this holiday season with family and friends and offer thanks for our many gifts and good fortune. In this time of thanks and celebration, remember our deployed BLAZE Team members in your thoughts, reflections, and actions. Their sacrifices in service to our Air Force and our Nation offers us the chance to enjoy this season in peace and freedom, surrounded by family and friends, in the country we're sworn to protect. Include their families in your thoughts and actions, as they miss their loved ones and anxiously look forward to their safe return.

Nancy and I would wish all of Team BLAZE a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for our many Team successes and the part you played in those successes. We go into the holiday season with a deep sense of pride in our accomplishments in Building Leaders, Advancing Integrity, putting Service before self and executing with Excellence in all we do. This past year we faced challenges and opportunities as one Team BLAZE, and we will approach 2012 in the same manner. Happy holidays and I look forward to working alongside each of you as we BLAZE Forward into the new year.