Brig. Gen. McGillicuddy reminds SUPT Class 11-07 of roots

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander spoke at graduation ceremony for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 11-07 April 8 at Kaye Auditorium.

Brig. Gen. Paul McGillicuddy told graduates that this day would change their lives, and reminded them to think about the trials and successes of the pilots that came before them.

"How do you tell if there's a pilot in the room?" asked General McGillicuddy. "Wait long enough and they'll tell you."

After the jest, he walked attendees through some of the days they would experience as a pilot; early morning sorties, returns from successful missions, and bad weather days.

"You make a run to the BX for a shelf check or a club lunch. You come back and go 'God I see how the other half lives. It's not bad, it's just not for me because I'm a pilot," he said.

After thanking the instructor pilots and telling the graduating class how some of the worries he knew they had while they were teaching he reminded the class that many of bases in the Air Force were named after people who died trying to learn how to fly. Citing examples such as Luke Air Force Base, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, and McConnell AFB.

"That's whose shoulders we stand on," he said. "Men who stared down the Nazis of Germany, that went on the bombing raids where we lost so many bombers we couldn't keep track."

"I envy you guys, I really do. You guys are going to be out there in harm's way within a year," said General McGillicuddy. "Now family members, don't be afraid, they have Air Force training."

"You're going to be out there flying missions in Libya, Japan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and god knows where else," he said. "You guys knew that when you signed up. You wanted to be something bigger than yourself, you wanted to be something that was spectacular you wanted to be part of those individuals that make up the giants of the United States Air Force."