COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Team BLAZE was honored with a visit by Gilbert Montoya, Director of Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, from Air Education and Training Command Aug. 31 at Columbus Air Force Base.
Montoya began his visit meeting senior wing leaders and receiving a 14th Flying Training Wing mission briefing describing the landscape of the past, present and future of Columbus AFB.
They then toured the Columbus-Lowndes County Small Arms Firing Range before proceeding to meet with all A4 leaders for lunch at the newly renovated Columbus Club.
“We got a chance to see the firing range, what an impressive facility,” Montoya said. “We had talked about it last time and it hadn’t opened yet, but there were already discussions going on about that partnership. It’s pretty amazing to go and actually see that the city and community leaders are leaning forward to help us with a challenge we were overcoming.”
Montoya finished the day touring the other A4 areas such as the Fire Station, L-3, and the 14th Logistics Readiness Squadron. While at the Fire Station Montoya presented a plaque to Ricky Songer, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Chief, in honor of their newly-received accreditation.
The second day of the visit, Montoya got a chance to tour the T-38 Test Cell site and Engine Shop before departing.
During his visit, Montoya praised the updates made to the NEXRAD radar site, improvements to the LRS, and the downtown shooting range, as well as expressing excitement for upcoming projects such as the community commons.
"It was good to see the close connection between the base and the community, and the people who have grown up here,” Montoya said. “I can see why folks from Mississippi love Columbus AFB."
This was Montoya's second visit to Columbus AFB since 2014. When asked what his biggest take away from his visit was, he was impressed by the amount of work being done on Columbus AFB every day to support training.
"What a great mission Columbus is delivering for us,” Montoya said. “When Gen. Roberson talks about airpower starting here, this is a perfect example. These young students who are graduating today and in the future are going to be our frontline warfighters. I can see firsthand, airpower starts here at Columbus AFB and with Team Blaze."