Honorary Commander induction ceremony sets course for deeper community relations

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Brionna Ruff
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Twenty-three honorary commanders were inducted in a ceremony on Aug. 30 at the BLAZE Hangar.

The Honorary Commander program is a community relations program that gives selected community leaders an opportunity to gain a deeper and more personal insight into the Air Force and the mission of Columbus AFB.

"I thought it was awesome I loved it, I'm still on a high over that, it was just really impressive to me and I'm blessed and honored to be a part of the program!" said the newly inducted Command Chief Honorary Commander, John Almond of Carl Hogan Honda. "I just think it is a significant and tremendous opportunity to be a part of such a great program!"

The ceremony allowed community members to get a sense of what a formal military ceremony entails from being a part of formation to being "officially inducted" into the program.

Community leaders are paired up with base leadership to include group and squadron commanders. Throughout the course of their time as an honorary commander, community leaders will be able to work and socialize with members of the base and gain a better understanding of how different groups and squadrons produce pilots, advance airmen, and feed the fight. This program benefits the base and our community by not only allowing community leaders to have a better understanding of the Air Force, but by allowing Air Force Commanders to have a better understanding of the way businesses work outside of the military.

Active Duty Commanders were also excited about the new opportunities the program could potentially bring. "This could be a jumpstart for a productive and mutually beneficial relationship between the base and our community and being a key part helping take care of our airmen," said Col. Scott Frickenstein, 14th Mission Support Group Commander.