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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach urged hundreds of future officers to embrace the weight of military service during a keynote at the 2026 National Conclave of Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings, a gathering themed WildWestCon. Framing his remarks against the backdrop of ongoing combat operations, he told cadets they are entering a force at war and underscored the significance of their decision to commission.
With Operation Epic Fury underway, Wilsbach highlighted a Combat Search and Rescue mission in Iran as an example of the Air Force’s ethos, reaffirming a commitment to “Mission First, People Always” and the promise to recover airmen in harm’s way.
His message focused on qualities he said the service needs from its newest leaders: sound judgment, toughness, grit and character. “We need you to make good decisions under pressure,” Wilsbach said. “The way you do that is by doing hard things together. Toughness is defined by resilience, making yourself uncomfortable, not resting on laurels and always striving to be better. And grit is what carries leaders through when plans fall apart.”
He stressed that none of those attributes mean much without others. “No mission is accomplished alone,” Wilsbach said. “Teamwork is the force multiplier that turns individual resilience into collective victory.” At the foundation, he added, is integrity and trust. “Trust is everything in our profession.”
Wilsbach also reminded cadets that only a small fraction of Americans choose to serve and an even smaller number will lead as officers. He encouraged them to seek out difficult challenges, earn the confidence of those they will command, invest in the relationships forged at NATCON, and keep the Air Force’s purpose front of mind.
After the address, Wilsbach met one-on-one with attendees alongside Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe, taking questions and offering practical advice to the next generation.
The annual conclave convenes Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings members from detachments nationwide for professional development, awards and interaction with senior military and civilian leaders. For AFROTC cadets, NATCON remains a marquee leadership-development forum and a rare chance to engage directly with top Department of the Air Force officials.
