Retired adjutant general congratulates new pilots

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chase Hedrick
  • 14th Flying Training Wings Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss --  Retired Maj. Gen. Harold Cross, former adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard spoke during the graduation ceremony for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 10-11 July 1 at the Kaye Auditorium.

General Cross offered words of praise, patriotic inspiration, and advice to the attendees and graduates.

To start off the speech General Cross reminded the audience just how great of a milestone the graduation is for the pilots, and praised the hard work and dedication of Class 10-11 during their training.

General Cross pointed out that Class 10-11 was a total force class, consisting of Active Duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves.

"Nowadays we can't go to war without the total force. We have to have the National Guard and Reserves to make a full accompaniment. Their training is the same training as the active duty forces so they're ready to fight from day one. They're no longer strategic reserves, they're a tactical fighting force," he said.

General Cross also gave a special thanks to the three international students that were part of Class 10-11 and expressed hopes that they will return home with good memories of Mississippi and the United States.

The talk quickly turned towards the future. General Cross said that new pilots will quickly find themselves with greater authority and leadership opportunities. "You will have a lot of airmen under your purview and all they ask in exchange for their loyalty is that you provide them with courage and integrity and be interested in their career and well being," he advised.

General Cross also wanted to give a glimpse of what's ahead for the newest SUPT class, class 11-11. He said that Class 11-11 has a tough regiment ahead of them but it will give them the most adventurous times of their lives, and it's going to pull the best out of each of them.

General Cross ended by giving to those who have served and are serving our country what he called "the two most powerful words in the English language when said with sincerity: thank you."