Video: Air Force Chief of Staff Visits CAFB

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — The Air Force’s top gun has a special message on a big day for some of the Air Force’s newest pilots.

“Being a pilot is a lot more than just flying airplanes. It’s also about being a role model,” said Gen. Mark Welsh III, Air Force Chief of Staff.

It’s a celebration of 14s – Class 14-14 graduating in 2014.

Airmen at Columbus Air Force Base thought having the Air Force Chief of Staff speak on the special occasion would be unique. To their surprise, General Welsh agreed.

“It’s unbelievable,” said new graduate, 2nd Lt. Tyler Will. “To him being our number one pick to come here. None of us really expected it.”

“He’s an incredible speaker with a lot of wisdom, and so just to get to hear that as the newest aviators walking across the stage was a huge honor,” said new graduate 2nd Lt. Sky Lesh.

The last time General Welsh was in Columbus was in 2007 for his son’s own graduation.

“I was just in the audience being a proud dad. It was a fantastic day,” he said.

While giving some personal insight, Welsh didn’t ignore the challenges of a new military, in an era of steep budget cuts that will take the Air Force back to 1947 levels.

“The Air Force has go to get smaller before we return by law to sequestered levels of funding in fiscal year ’16,” Welsh said. “That’s why we’re doing this. There is nothing good about asking airmen who’ve done fantastic work for our nation, to leave the service when they don’t want to. It’s horrible.”

The general says the balancing act poses tough choices, but he says the Air Force and its airmen will get through it, because that’s what they’ve always done.

“We’ve had to cancel a lot of modernization programs, and try to find that balance between readiness today, and capability tomorrow. That’s the dangerous part right now, but for our units, for our wings, shouldn’t have that dramatic impact on them,” Welsh said.

 

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