Jay Fisher, former Columbus Air Force Base Community Council president, took a coin from behind a podium Wednesday and tapped it against the wooden stand.
In response, several airmen took out their own coins, tapping them against their tables in response to Fisher’s strikes.
While the challenge coin may not look like much, Fisher said each holds a significant meaning for any service member who is awarded one, and you’ll hear about it one way or another.
“What it really is, is a symbol of the pride that you have in your organization,” Fisher said. “Whether that be in the squadron, group (or) the wing level, it is a token of your organization.”
That symbolism is part of why, as Col. James Blech’s time as the commander for the 14th Flying Training Wing comes to a close in July, BCC board members decided to gift Blech his own newly minted BCC challenge coin in recognition of two years of efforts both on and off base.
“I think people remember certain wing commanders when they come through,” said Kevin Stafford, president of the council. “I definitely think that he’s one that we’ll continue to look back on and say, ‘Man, we had a good time when he was here. We learned a lot about the base when he was here. He definitely supported the community.’”
Blech, during the BCC’s second luncheon of the year, spoke to dozens of city and county officials, community members and airmen about the changes and challenges the base has faced over the last two years under his command, alongside its growth and successes.
There will be a change of command ceremony to welcome the new commander on July 8 at CAFB.
Blech said he wanted the focus of Wednesday to be on highlighting the efforts of the airmen rather than just on his transition out of command. That’s why he, alongside other base leaders, recognized several airmen for their contributions to pilot training, base event planning and work on base over the last year during the luncheon.
“When you strip away the aircraft, training schedules (and) our strategic road maps … command ultimately boils down to one kind of single, profound responsibility, and that is airmen,” Blech said. “That’s why we took the time this morning to introduce you to some of them.”
Flying together
Blech said those contributions paved the way for the base to handle significant changes to pilot training over the last two years, including overseeing the final flight of the T-1 Jayhawk in March as the base transitions training to the T-7A Red Hawks next year.
“It has been a tumultuous couple of years for this base, and these airmen have led through that change,” Blech said. “Every change that’s happened across the Air Force seems to be happening here. … We’ve got people from this base that are currently deployed. We’ve got every change in pilot training happening here, and this is the only base that’s dealing with all those changes.”
The T-7A Red Hawks will begin flying in Columbus skies in August 2027, with one new aircraft being moved to the base every month for the next year until the base has a full squadron of 12, Blech said.
While reflecting on his time at CAFB, Blech said he was also proud of the way the base has partnered with other organizations to expand its efforts in the community, including with the STARBASE, a STEM center built to give hands-on experience to local fifth-graders.
Those kinds of connections, Blech said, help showcase the mutual benefits the city and the base have with each other.
“The airmen … they do (their service) because they’ve got a community of support that’s surrounding them,” Blech said. “… We can’t do it on our own. We don’t have the time or the resources to sit there and take care of all these different pieces. Nowhere is that foundational support more evident than in the relationship with the city of Columbus.”
As he reflected on his time in Columbus, Blech said he believes CAFB has been one of the most fulfilling stints of his 27-year career because of how much the city rallies around the base.
“I couldn’t even tell you how many bases I’ve been to in my life, and I’ve never been to a base that has this type of community,” Blech said. “You have a lot of bases in the communities that surround them where the community supports the base, but not in this real way. … It’s not just financial support either. Its presence. … There’s this strength in knowing that you are linked in arms with the community to be able to go do difficult things.”
While he’s disappointed that Blech has to leave Columbus, Stafford said he hopes that the BCC and the city can continue building on the awareness and relationships fostered under Blech’s tenure.
“A lot of people don’t understand that there are three main bases in the U.S. that train pilots, and we are one of those three,” Stafford said. “And we are the one that has the most flights in and out, day-round (and) year-round. So a lot of people just aren’t aware of the significance that means to our Air Force. And so (raising awareness about) just little things like that help make you more proud … of what your community and who your community is.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
