19th AF/CCC visits Columbus AFB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The command chief for 19th Air Force visited Columbus AFB Sept. 15 and 16 on her final base visit before heading to her next assignment at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Command Chief Master Sgt. Bernise Belcer visited Columbus AFB and spoke to Airmen, giving them advice and mentoring to helping in their careers and daily life.

Chief Belcer said Airmen at Columbus AFB, and throughout the Air Force, should focus on their jobs.

"(Airmen at Columbus AFB) should realize they are a part of shaping the aerial part of our force," Chief Belcer said. "What we do here is so important to the mission. They need enlisted Airmen to do their part of the flying mission. They are an important piece of the puzzle."

The Chief said pilot training at Columbus AFB is an integral part of our Air Force and it is necessary to continue training the next generation of the service.

"We are the U.S. Air Force," she said. "Flying is what we do. It's going to continue until we are all gone, and after."

Chief Belcer said Airmen facing increased ops tempo should know there are a large number of resources they can reach out to, if they need.

"The Air Force provides so many different resource to help you," she said. "Talk to people that have already deployed, use the resources and help of our professional agencies."

She said those deploying need to keep their families informed, while keeping mission and operational security in mind, and let them know what it is they will be doing.

"Keep your family involved," Chief Belcer said. "Help them understand what you do. Imagination is a whole lot worse than reality usually."

In addition, she said it is important to take care of the mission, but is just as important to take care of oneself.

"We talk about how important the mission is, how important taking care of our Airmen is, but where we sometimes fall short is taking care of ourselves," she said.