General provides insight to new graduates

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Hill
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  "The key to air power is the pilots not the aircraft."

That was the message that retired Brig. Gen. Steven Roser delivered to CAFB's newest class of Air Force pilots Friday.

Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training class 08-13, along with the audience, soaked in the words of General Roser, a retired command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours. He spoke of his experience during his almost 30 year Air Force career.

The general told a story of when the first F-16 pilots came on scene, how they could not compete with the seasoned F-104 pilots. It was clear then the new F-16 pilots couldn't contend with the F-104 pilots that had been through combat missions and had experience under their belts.

He spoke of a conversation with his neighbor, an F-104 pilot, at Davis-Monthan AFB. "So we were sitting around telling war stories and I asked him 'how do you guys do when you go up against the F-16.' He said 'we smoke 'em.' I thought how could this be? The F-16 is the premier fighter and you are working with three generations older technology," remembered General Roser.

"My friend said 'it's simple. They have young lieutenants and every one of our pilots has more than 3,000 flying hours and has combat time. It is about the people not the plane.'"

That message from his former neighbor stayed with the general throughout his career.

The general encouraged the graduates to continue to learn. By continuing their studies, they will always be able to excel. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the people are the ones that get the work done.

The general first enlisted in the Air Force and then gained his commission after completing Officer Training School as a distinguished graduate in 1971. He then went on to fly CH-3s at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and then C-141s at Charleston AFB, S.C. He has also flown the C-17, C-5 and KC-10.