Kowalski teaches AF family values at graduation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John Day
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, visited Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, April 3, to speak at Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 15-07's graduation ceremony.

As an accomplished B-52 pilot and an experienced leader as an officer, Kowalski has held many positions in his 35 years of service including instructor pilot, multiple staff positions at the Pentagon, commander of a bomb squadron, an operations group, a bomb wing, an air control wing and the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.

His speech began with a simple thanks to everyone in attendance for taking time out of their day to allow this graduation to happen. He reminded the graduates to also thank their parents, spouses, instructors and each other for getting them to this point.

"To all the turtles on the fencepost, you have to recognize that you didn't get here by yourself," Kowalski said. "You've got a lot of people to thank. Starting with your parents for giving you the values that got you here, the motivation to volunteer and the ability to do the hard work and participate in the team that it took to get you to this point of success."

The next thing Kowalski spoke on was the importance of the training mission that we execute every day.

"One of the first things that strike me when I visit a training base is how proud I am of our Air Force," Kowalski said. "We really do such an exceptional job in training people to do the missions that we ask them to do. It is important for a wing like the 14th here at Columbus is able to train a new generation of leaders and warriors to go out and deal with those threats in air, space and cyberspace."

He addressed the graduates for a moment to highlight what they would be doing each day after they receive their silver wings.

"This is the first step of a long journey," Kowalski said. "We didn't bring you to this program and pay you this money to teach you to fly airplanes. We did this because we need you to use airplanes in a multitude of different roles. Hopefully you will make that journey with a bit of humility."

Kowalski explained how all members of the Air Force are not just co-workers, but share a deeper bond of family.

"We are a family," Kowalski said. "What has brought you into this auditorium today are shared values. The shared values resulted in the success of these young officers. Values that are represented in the Air Force by the words integrity, service and excellence."

Elaborating further on these values, he detailed how to exemplify these values, not just display them when it is convenient.

"Core values are not simply words to be used on slides or seen on coins," Kowalski said. "Core values need to be verbs. They need to be how you live your life. Displaying them as a habit, in all the big and small things you do, builds character."

Kowalski reminded the graduates not to forget the contributions of others would help them through their careers.

"You are part of a team," Kowalski said. "This team is composed two-thirds of enlisted members in the rank of staff sergeant and below. Never forget that. When you pin your bars on, you are instantly a leader. You must act in that role and recognize the contributions of your team, especially those enlisted members who pull it all together and do that hard work so you can strap on your helmet or headset."

He talked about his days as a pilot and how the adversity in his era translated into the threats of today the graduates would face in the days to come.

"We faced a clear challenge: an existential threat from the Soviet Union," Kowalski said. "Our challenge in particular was to be so good that they would not dare risk war with the United States and NATO. Your challenges are even more daunting."

Kowalski imparted one last bit of advice to the graduates before departing the stage.

"Every day when you look in the mirror, remind yourself that you have the greatest job in the world and you get to work with the greatest people in the world," Kowalski said. "Make sure you continue to deserve it. Good luck, good hunting and God bless."