14th OG CC speaks at Class 09-07 graduation Published April 10, 2009 By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The current 14th Operations Group commander helped welcome some of the Air Force's newest pilots by speaking at their graduation April 3 at the Kaye Auditorium. Col. David Reth, 14th OG commander, spoke at the graduation of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 09-07. The 14th OG conducts pilot training for U.S. Air Force and international officers, using a fleet of over 200 T-6, T-38, and T-1 aircraft and flight simulators. His command includes six squadrons and over 1,000 officers, civilians, enlisted, and contractors. "This is the culmination of everything my team does," he said. "We work daily to graduate pilots and help them become military aviators." He said there is a big difference between a pilot, and an aviator. "The first is a technician," he said. "The other, is an artist." Colonel Reth told the story of Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, the Air Force's only five-star general, who's career showed poor performance initially. But he said General Arnold never gave up or relented, becoming the first U.S. military rated aviator and then eventually becoming General of the Air Force. "Look closely at your wings," he said. "There is no class rank, assignment or aircraft type on your wings. You start fresh today. It is not what you will fly, but how well you fly it that will define you. Don't let what you fly define who you are. You define yourself by what you do, and how you do it. "Remember today, the day you earned your wings and joined the brother and sisterhood of military aviators." For his parting words, the colonel gave the graduates a few words of advice. "Remember to most the sky is the limit, but to those who fly the sky is home," he said.