COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Twenty students from Columbus Air Force Base have officially graduated from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) and earned their first set of wings. Wings in the Air Force is an achievement symbolizing completion of training and solidifies the title of Pilot. After receiving their diplomas and awards the newly appointed pilots in SUPT class 21-02 followed a tradition called the breaking of the wings, originating decades ago when the Army Air Corps first started issuing pilot wings to young graduating aviators. Graduation guest speaker Col. Matthew Leard, commander of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus (Okla.) AFB offered advice to the graduates. “Learn your trade, be an operational expert, but never forget you are an American first, an officer second and a pilot third.” The graduates will now continue onward to their respective bases and begin training on designated aircraft. Selected students will stay at CAFB as First Assignment Instructor Pilots. (Source: 14th Flying Training Wing 11/16/20)
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