41st FTS buzz in new commander

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danielle Powell
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Lieutenant Col. Todd White relinquished command of the 41st Flying Training Squadron to Lt. Col. Charles "Boots" Hamilton Tuesday during a ceremony in Hangar 4.
Before assuming command of the 41st FTS, Colonel Hamilton was the Operations Officer for the 37th Flying Training Squadron.
"Little did I know when we stood up the 41st FTS almost nine years ago, I would be standing here as the commander. I count this as one of my greatest privileges," said Colonel Hamilton.
Colonel Hamilton spoke with the highest regards of the men and women of the 41st FTS saying "The Buzzsaws are professionals of the highest caliber. They always have been, and I know they always will. Together we will press forward and continue to meet our mission with the same dedication and skill the Buzzsaws have always shown."
"Since we are a nation at war, your dedication to the mission and contribution to the global war on terrorism, cannot be underestimated. We continue to train the world's greatest pilots. We develop military leaders and instill a warrior mentality in our students. We truly lay the foundation of combat capabilities for America's Air Force. It does start here," said Colonel Hamilton.
"It has been a great, tremendous ride over the last two years," said Colonel White to his fellow Buzzsaws. "You have done a tremendous job over the last few years. I appreciate your efforts."
Colonel White will continue his work at Columbus AFB at the 14th Operations Group until his retirement next month.
The 41st FTS trains future Air Force military aviators in Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Phase Two in the T-37 and T-6. Additionally, the 41st FTS trains several foreign military pilots each year in the T-37 and T-6 through both the Foreign Military Sales program and the international Aviation Leadership Program. To accomplish its mission, the 41st FTS annually flies over 17,200 sorties, 22,000 flight hours. The squadron also qualifies and sustains 84 mission-ready T-37 and T-6 instructor pilots.