19th AF/CC visits Columbus AFB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The commander, 19th Air Force, visited the men and women of Columbus Air Force Base for the first time in his new role May 10-11.

Maj. Gen. Mark Solo spent two days visiting Team BLAZE and observing its mission of Producing Pilots, Advancing Airmen and Feeding the Fight.

He said the men and women of 19th AF, including the members of Team BLAZE, play an integral role in the Air Force mission.

"The men and women of 19th Air Force are not only expected to be subject matter experts and train our people to be the best, but also to help train our coalition partners and allies," said General Solo. "It's important that we get that right.

"My goal as 19th Air Force commander is to make sure we continue to graduate the very best pilots, combat systems officers and air battle managers that we can and that the combatant commanders require."

The general said he was happy with how the men and women of Team BLAZE accomplish that mission every day.

"I'm impressed with the enthusiasm of the officer's and Airmen on this base and the knowledge of their jobs and how they are a part of the mission," he said. "It's been a pleasure to visit and meet with them."

General Solo offered some advice for the men and women training to become the future pilots and leaders of our Air Force.

"They're about to embark on an exciting part of their lives and careers," General Solo said. "I urge them to take what they learn here at Columbus and apply those lessons throughout their career. The skills and leadership they learn here will serve them for the rest of their lives."

General Solo said in training our coalition partners and allies, we are helping to build relationships that will benefit our countries far into the future.

"I don't think we'll ever go to war alone again," he said. "I can't think of a better way to improve our relationships than to train alongside each other and learn with each other."

The general said we are helping to train the next-generation of military leaders for our coalition and allied nations.

The 19th AF commander also addressed the future of the numbered air force.

"We're currently working through different plans and strategies for standing down 19th Air Force," he said. "If we do it right at the command level, it will be transparent to the men and women at the wings."