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General Looney helps CAFB celebrate 65 years of heritage

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Parie
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --  Air Education and Training Command's top officer visited Columbus AFB Thursday and Friday to help with the culmination of a week's worth of heritage events at the base.

General William R. Looney III, AETC commander, was the guest speaker at the 60th Air Force Anniversary Ball in downtown Columbus Friday.

During this time of heritage celebration, General Looney took time to talk about the evolution of the Air Force since he graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1972.

"I think one of the biggest changes I have seen in the last 35 years has been we have become a more professional force as we transitioned from a draft era to an all volunteer era," said the general, a former 50th Flying Training Squadron T-38 instuctor pilot here. "As we became an all volunteer force, the quality of life steadily increased to meet continuing recruitment and retention needs of the Air Force."

"The overall result of the transition is we have become more powerful, professional, dedicated, capable, talented and committed," General Looney said. "Without a doubt we are still the world's great air and space power and will continue to be."

While there is no drastic change in course on the horizon for AETC Airmen, there will be a continued transition to the Air Expeditionary Force concept.

"With the end of the Cold War and the rise of the Global War on Terror," the general said. "We are not sure where the next crisis will arise. We need a force that can rapidly deploy ... to any location in the world."

General Looney said the expeditionary focus has made it necessary to change the way the command trains.

"Enlisted Basic Military Training now focuses on combat, marksmanship and life saving skills as well as operating in a forward environment and less so on marching and customs and courtesies."

"(We are also changing) officer training to give them more combat and operational skills and create a mindset that everyone is deployable and a combatant," he said.

"We are the first command individuals enter in the Air Force and therefore we have the responsibility to mold them and imbue them with this expeditionary culture," the general said.

General Looney closed his visit with his thoughts about Columbus Air Force Base and the BLAZE Team Airmen.

"From the outside, a lot of Columbus AFB looks the same because the desire has always been to keep the look of the base so that it maintains it connection with the local community and culture," he said. "There have been new buildings built, but they all blend into the local architecture and beautiful environment.

"Columbus is one of the gems in our United States Air Force and has always been a great assignment and place for people to live and work."

"This visit has been absolutely fantastic," he said. "I have always had a close, warm relationship and fond memories of Columbus Air Force Base," he said. "Once again, I have not only been impressed by the base, but by its Airmen's talent and dedication."

"Columbus Air Force Base is clearly hitting on all cylinders," he said. "I would like to thank every one of our Airmen, from the most senior to the most junior. I appreciate their service and the manner in which they help us create this great air and space force we call the United States Air Force."