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Thunderbolt NEWS Aug. 7, 2015 7
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Pleus inspires new aviators, displays F-35s

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Airman 1st Class Daniel Lile $LU)RUFHDYLDWRUVDUHRIÀFHUVEHIRUHWKH\
Miss. — A 1990-1991 undergraduate pilot JHWWRÁLJKWVFKRRODQG3OHXVH[SODLQHGZK\
training student returned to Columbus Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander, speaks to Columbus Air
$LU )RUFH %DVH 0LVVLVVLSSL LQ DQ )$ Force Base’s newest pilots July 24 in the Kaye Auditorium on Columbus Air Force ´<RXU ZLQJV DUH VSHFLDO EXW WKHUH LV D
Lightning II July 23, 24 years after his Base, Mississippi. Pleus returned to Columbus AFB in an F-35 Lightning II to display reason you get the commission before you
graduation. the new aircraft to young aviators. He graduated from Columbus 24 years ago. get the wings,” he said. “It’s because you’re
RIÀFHUVÀUVWDQG\RXKDYHDVZRUQGXW\WR
%ULJ*HQ6FRWW3OHXVWK)LJKWHU:LQJ to graduate pilot training right now, is to go the most of where they are right now in take care of those enlisted folks. It is your
commander and Specialized Undergradu- ahead and go do whatever aircraft you are their careers. solemn job to make sure they can produce
ate Pilot Training Class 15-12 graduation VFKHGXOHGWRÁ\DQGGRWKHEHVW\RXFDQLQ the mission.”
VSHDNHUGLVSOD\HGWKHQHZÀJKWHUDLUFUDIW it,” Pleus said. “The F-35 isn’t going to be “The best assignment in the entire world
WR 7HDP %/$=( PHPEHUV DQG WKH $LU available to lieutenants for about a year- is the one you currently have,” he said. Pleus went on to talk about the good job
Force’s newest aviators. and-a-half, but once it is, there will be a lot “Don’t waste your time wishing you were the Air Force has done in maintaining air
of opportunities for people to transfer to it.” someplace else because the time there and dominance.
“Part of the reason I am here today, the friends you will meet will go by in an
besides to be the graduation speaker, is to Pleus urged the new aviators to make instant.” “Since 1953, we have provided air superi-
show this aircraft off to the other lieuten- ority as a United States Air Force to more
ants,” Pleus said. “We are not too far away than 7 million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and
IURPOLHXWHQDQWVJHWWLQJDFKDQFHWRÁ\WKH Marines that have deployed to really bad
F-35 coming right out of pilot training.” places in this world,” Pleus said. “Tens of
thousands of them have died but not one of
Pleus spoke on the F-35’s capabilities them died from an enemy aircraft. We are
and the Air Force’s need for its modern not about to change that record of success.”
technology. He said the aircraft is amazing
when people realize that F-15s and F-16s Pleus concluded his graduation speech by
were built at the time when the world had speaking on the meaning of the Air Force
ÁLSSKRQHVDQGQRZLWKDVVPDUWSKRQHV silver wings.

“This is the kind of technology jump we “The ultimate responsibility of a pilot is
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assembly line 20 or 30 years ago,” he said. the earth and looked skyward,” he said.
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During his speech at graduation July 24, limit, and for those who wear the silver
Pleus continued to give advice to pilots who wings of a United States Air Force pilot,
are currently in pilot training who aspire the sky is home. Welcome home graduates,
WRÁ\WKH) we are very proud of you.”

“What I would tell anyone getting ready Courtesy of aetc.af.mil