Every mission the 97th Air Mobility Wing executes, from flying operations to deploying ready Airmen across the globe, contains elements of risk. However, as a Wing charged with a training mission, we approach risk differently than an operational unit. At Altus Air Force base, three formal training units teach baseline and upgrade courses to operate C-17, KC-135, and KC-46 mobility aircraft across a spectrum of contested operations. So, yes, there is inherently more risk when someone is flying an aircraft for the first time. This necessary risk is mitigated with experienced top-tier instructors and conservative training procedures. We do this because the Joint Force has an insatiable demand for combat aviators. Whether we are forging combat capacity or preparing to deploy, we must remember that, in training, we can always fly the mission tomorrow and we must mitigate risk today.