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GATC commander stops at Sheppard during U.S. tour

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Adawn Kelsey
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Commander of the German Air Force Training Command paid a visit to Sheppard March 6-7 to tour several 80th Flying Training Wing and Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program facilities and to become more familiarized with the training operations held here.

During his visit, Brig. Gen. Rainer Keller took a snapshot tour and visited several 80th FTW facilities to include the operations, aerospace physiology and simulator buildings, and then journeyed to the flight line to explore the T-6 and T-38 trainer aircraft.

Sheppard is only one of many stops during Keller's trip. As the commanding general of the GATC, Keller is fully responsible for all German air force schools and training installations and has been visiting several installations around the United States.

"GATC trains about 30,000 students each year in more than 1,000 different courses on about 35 different training installations, in Germany and in the U.S.," Keller said.

The GATC is responsible for all individual course-based training in the German air force organizational areas, for soldiers in air force uniform as well as for army and navy military members who are in fields such as pilot training and engineering training for flying weapon systems.

Keller said training in a multinational environment lays the groundwork for better interoperability during multinational exercises and operations.

"Train together, fight together," he said. "Common training and mutual understanding of procedures and corporate military cultures may lay a foundation for trustworthy cooperation in later operations."

While at the Air Education and Training Command headquarters, Keller said he saw an obvious difference in the size and capacities of the U.S. and German air force training systems; however, regardless of size, there are definite benefits from the partnership in training.

"First, the development of common standards and procedures in training enables participating nations to operate worldwide missions more efficiently," Keller said. "Secondly, early participation in multinational training strengthens the relationship among military leaders of the nations in the long run."

Since the 1990's the appearance of international crisis and conflicts has changed. Keller said peacekeeping and peace enforcement in an asymmetric environment has replaced former patterns of war and conflict management. He pointed to Afghanistan and the Balkans as two examples of U.S. and German involvement in partnered peace keeping.

"This requires permanent situation analysis, common action to prevent the outbreak of armed conflict and, if prevention fails, the rapid deployment of capable, robust and well-trained forces to establish the conditions for a political solution in combined operations," he said. "That means to enhance security, stability and order."

Since Keller's trip began Feb. 27, he has enjoyed getting familiar with the training operations conducted in the U.S., the open country and the relationships he has observed during the past week.

"I have spent many hours traveling during my trip around the U.S., and will continue to visit all of the installations that conduct training for my command," Keller said. "I have been so impressed by not only the size, quality training conducted and the quality facilities, but by the hospitality I have received and friendships extended to me."