ENJJPT: 30 years of pilot training excellence Published March 16, 2011 By John Ingle 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program has been described in many ways. It's the only internationally manned and operated flying training program. It's the only organization chartered by NATO specifically to train combat pilots for the alliance. Those are a couple of the official "big boy" descriptions. But a common description that isn't as flashy is perhaps the most used among those at ENJJPT - unique. Participating countries in the program - 13 in all - will commemorate the program's uniqueness and existence March 24 during ENJJPT's 30th anniversary celebration. The event also coincides with the annual spring steering committee meeting at Sheppard March 21-25. 30 years of change Col. Glen Lawson, deputy commander of the 80th Operations Group, graduated from ENJJPT in 1988 as a member of Class 88-08. The program was just 7 years old at the time. The colonel recalled the rigors of academic life and meeting the flying requirements of the 55-week program. "When you're a student - and I'm sure it's the same with the current students - it's probably the most challenging year of your career," he said. In 1988, ENJJPT used the now-retired T-37 Tweet as the lead-in trainer as well as the T-38A Talon, Colonel Lawson said. Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals was not offered at Sheppard, requiring graduates to go to a program to meet those requirements before moving on to their combat aircraft. Flight simulators were mock-up cockpits that didn't provide visual aspects for students. He said they were primarily for instrument orientation and to learn emergency procedures. Now, the T-6A Texan II replaced Tweet in 2009, the Talon has gone through several upgrades, students can attend IFF here and the simulators have graphics that create a realistic "flight" for students before they ever touch an actual aircraft. Colonel Lawson said ENJJPT graduates today walk away from Sheppard with higher skill sets today than those who came before them. German air force Capt. Timo Schnoebbe, 88th Fighter Training Squadron instructor pilot, said he has seen significant technological changes to the program since he arrived at Sheppard in 2005. ENJJPT celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2006. "The big change is the upgrade to the T-38C," the captain said regarding what he's seen while here. "Along with that is the syllabus change." The Talon has gone through structural changes to make it more efficient, and also modernized with the all-digital glass cockpit. The digital instrument pane upgrade gave students the chance to train with the same type of instruments they would see in an operational aircraft. Captain Schnoebbe said another improvement to the program was the "download" of requirements from one phase of training down to the next. For example, some fighter fundamental requisites were moved down to the T-38 block of training such as heat-to-gun exercises which is the first maneuver students learn to employ weapons. Some T-38 items were moved to the T-6A Texan II introductory training such as tactical formation flying. The IFF training curriculum also picked up additional requirements such as air combat maneuvers, close air support and surface attack tactics. Captain Schnoebbe, who graduated ENJJPT in 2000, said the addition of fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22A Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the EuroFighter has added more requirements for today's students. "I think students nowadays need to learn more with less flying hours," he said. "When I came through, I had to learn less with more flying hours." It's a small world ENJJPT's special international flavor does more than just train combat pilots for NATO. It forms relationships that transcend careers; that transcend generations. Colonel Lawson recalled a time when he was stationed in Germany and he saw two GAF pilots he trained with at ENJJPT. He also recalled a deployment to Southwest Asia in 2007 where he met German and Italian graduates. Captain Schnoebbe said there are five pilots from his ENJJPT class who are currently stationed at Sheppard as instructor pilots. "I think that's an ENJJPT-unique thing," he said. "You are not a stranger to other air forces." Air forces from various countries participate in war games such as Red Flag in Nevada and Maple Flag in Canada. Captain Schnoebbe said he has seen pilots he trained with or ones that have trained at ENJJPT taking part in those exercises. "You always know someone or you know who knows someone," he said. "I don't' think you could get that anywhere else in the world." Family affair The connection and establishment of relationships while at ENJJPT is certainly something that is special for those who, at one point, wore the organization's patch on their flight suit. When it is something that can be shared among family members, it adds another special flavor that some might say, "Only at ENJJPT." One German air force student pilot could certainly say that. Cadet Sasha Hankowiak is finding his own way through the program, but he had a little help from someone who gave a few tips on the program and flying - his father, retired GAF Maj. Rainer Hankowiak. "My father was an (instructor pilot) here back in the '90s," Cadet Hankowiak said. "He flew the T-38 for three-and-a-half years. He gave me a lot of good tips and insight about the program, about the multi-cultural program (and) about flying the T-38." The 26-year-old German said he knew he wanted to fly early in his life. He said he grew up near a base in southern Germany near the town of Neuburg an der Donau, his hometown. While his father was stationed here from 1992-1995, Cadet Hankowiak was able to become familiar with a little of the international atmosphere. Now that he is working toward pinning on his set of wings, he's experiencing it firsthand the quality of the program and those who serve it. "I think ENJJPT is a great program," he said. "We have awesome IPs that have tons of experience that we can learn from."