80th Flying Training Wing holds first-ever off-base ENJJPT graduation
After speaking with graduates, the location of the graduation makes no difference. 1st lieutenant Michael Smith and the rest of class 25-04 graduated at the Wichita Falls Convention Center in the Delta Hotel at the heart of the city. To commemorate the graduation, city officials like Mayor Tim Short and several city councilors were in attendance.
During their training, Smith and his classmates spent several hours giving back to the community around Sheppard.
'We couldn't have done it without the support of the local community and all the things that we do off-base to try to give back are just to try and show our appreciation for the community that supports us through all of it,' Smith said.
The ENJJPT program plays a vital role in the importance of Sheppard Air Force Base. The program's prestige allows pilots like Greggor Hines to take great pride in walking across the stage and getting pinned with their hard-earned wings.
'Since the '80s we've been working together with this partnership to build NATO's fighter pilots,' Hines said. 'I think it's truly an honor that I get to walk across the stage tonight. I just can't wait. I think that really the whole program is pretty incredible.'
For Hines, the most important aspect of the program is the connections he's made through the years of hard work. One of his wingmen from overseas changed how he reads maps. Though the change is small, it's emblematic of what ENJJPT hopes to be for all of its pilots.
'We were doing a low level, and he had a certain way that he was able to fold the map and that really helped me personally,' Hines said. 'And that seems like such a small detail, but I think that highlights just how incredible partnerships are.'
As the class 25-04 moves on to their next assignments around the country, both Hines and Smith will remember the time they spent learning with their international wingmen.
'We get really the best of all of that international training to make us the best product we can,' Smith said. 'Not only as American pilots for us or German pilots for my classmates, but really pilots for the NATO alliance.'
No matter where they go next in training, they will always be NATO pilots.
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