Steering committee wraps up discussions

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Brittany Oligney
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Officials from 13 international air forces welcomed a new chairman after completing week-long discussions at the 59th Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Steering Committee March 12.

The discussions, hosted by members of the 80th Flying Training Wing, covered the current syllabus, funding for the program and improvements for the future.

Brig. Gen. Morten Klever, new ENJJPT Steering Committee chairman and Royal Norwegian air force Air Warfare Center inspector of air operations, said he appreciates the ground work laid by Italian air force Brig. Gen. Franco Marsiglia.

"This is a program that is viewed as a benchmark for all other programs, and we have to keep it that way for the future," General Klever said. He later added, "We will succeed."

ENJJPT has been the world's only internationally manned and managed flying training program since 1981 when the program first began training NATO pilots. After almost 30 years, the Norwegian general said the program is still the best.

Over the past couple of years, ENJJPT officials replaced the venerable T-37 Tweet with a more economical aircraft, the T-6A Texan II. The transition of airframes began at Sheppard AFB in 2008 and was completed with the T-37 retirement in July 2009. The next major challenge for the steering committee, General Klever said, is to find a viable replacement for the T-38C Talon, an advanced jet engine training aircraft that has been used since the 1950s.

General Klever said another future goal of the program is to work on the syllabus that better prepares pilots for transition into fifth-generation aircraft, such as the U.S. Air Force's F-22A Raptor and the Euro-Fighter Typhoon.

"The main objective is to create the best combat pilots in the world," he said.

Col. Kevin Schneider, 80th FTW and ENJJPT commander, said the steering committee works for the success of the program and to maintain its status as the best in the world.

But it's not just about keeping the program as the best in the world, he said. It's also about ensuring partner countries can continue to have top-quality pilots in their respective air forces.

"Each partner brings a lot to the fight," he said of the alliance.

General Marsiglia, the former ENJJPT chairman, said he was very happy with his tenure and also the success of this steering committee meeting.

"The steering committee's main task is to try to get the policy and the right guidance for this international program," he said. "It is the best way to provide the best flying training program to our future pilots ... our future warriors."

The general said the steering committee has two tasks: increase the flying training program and look into the future. He said this committee has achieved both goals.

As the out-going chairman, he said one thing he will take away from his tenure and his time spent at Sheppard AFB is the relationship the base has with the surrounding communities. He said he even tells his European colleagues about the special link between people such as the ENJJPT country sponsors, a group of local residents who sponsor the servicemember instructors and students, and families from the participating countries.

In a simple word of gratitude, General Marsiglia bid farewell with,"Grazie."

The next steering committee meeting will be held in the fall in Berlin, Germany.