News

14th FTW/CC hears issues, lays out plans at enlisted call

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing spoke to the enlisted force of Columbus Air Force Base at a commander's call Aug. 16 in Phillips Auditorium.

Col. Barre Seguin met with enlisted members of all ranks and outlined his vision for the wing, his views on leadership and his priorities as the commander here.

The commander said his vision for the wing is to "continue to be a premier training environment, embraced by community partnership and focused on families."

Families are a key item for the colonel, who recently spent 15 months away from his own family.

"We typically recruit Airmen, but we retain families," he said. "We need to take care of our families."

Colonel Seguin said that the Air Force will take as much as it can from Airmen, and that they should take time for their families. He also said that this shouldn't, and doesn't have to, take away from the mission.

One Team BLAZE member, Senior Airman Brandon Carter, liked what he had to hear from the colonel about families.

"I really felt he was genuine and sincere about how important families are," the 14th Force Support Squadron Airman said.

Colonel Seguin said his priorities for Team BLAZE members as commander are to develop Airman and their families, be a wingman and build Team BLAZE.

"I hold you personally responsible as a wingman, just as I hold myself personally responsible as one," he said.

He said that in order for the wing to accomplish his priorities, they will need to embrace three "essential enabling tasks: empowering leaders at all levels preserve mission assets and cultivate community relations."

Colonel Seguin said the relationship Columbus AFB and its local community have is known Air Force wide as one of the best, and that he wants to continue cultivating that positive partnership.

He also said he expects all Team BLAZE members to embrace what he called "Servant Leadership."

"I ask that you focus on service to one another and service to your subordinates," Colonel Seguin said. "You determine what attitude you go to work with each day. I ask you to make it positive."

Master Sgt. Jason Baty, 14th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, said he liked the colonel's views on leadership.

"This is an excellent leadership style that allows Airmen to focus their attention to the ones they serve ... each other," Sergeant Baty said. "Our rank inherently gives us power; serving our fellow Airmen, however, gives us authority."

The colonel said he plans on holding calls such as these regularly to not only get his thoughts across to the wing, but to also hear their issues and questions.

"Your issues are not going to fall on deaf ears," Colonel Seguin said. "That is my commitment to you."