ENJJPT committee discusses future of program Published Sept. 29, 2010 By John Ingle 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Partners of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program met Sept. 13-17 in Berlin, Germany, to discuss issues ranging from construction projects to possibly increasing participation during the annual fall meeting of the program's steering committee. Col. Kevin Schneider, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, said the meetings were productive and reinforced each signatory's commitment to the program. "All in all, the partners expressed that they are very pleased with the quality of training their graduates receive," the colonel said. "They also expressed the desire to continue with the ENJJPT Program past 2016." The current memorandum of understanding signed by the 13 participating countries expires in 2016, he said. The partners discussed various options to consider as they move forward with MOU discussions. The options include extending the current MOU, amending it to open up participation to other NATO partners or Partners for Peace participants, or completely restructuring the MOU. "At this point, we are just asking the nations for initial inputs for the direction they want to go," Colonel Schneider said. "Informally, they've expressed the desire to continue (in the program)." The colonel said NATO has doubled in size since the original ENJJPT MOU was signed in 1978. This lends to the possibility of other countries joining the program. He said the current steering committee chairman, Royal Norwegian air force Brig. Gen. Morten Klever, wants to explore the possibility of expansion to other partners. "We all realize that NATO is asked to do more and more in combat operations and it makes sense that we would maximize any and all training opportunities for NATO pilots, including ENJJPT," Colonel Schneider said. The colonel said the exploration of new signatories for ENJJPT seems to be coming at the right time as the German military, specifically the German air force, moves through a downsizing process. The changes to the country's military will also affect the number of German pilots participating in ENJJPT. In recent years Germany has sent, on average, 28 pilots to the program annually for training. That number will drop to 18 beginning next year, he said. Although the number of German pilot trainees will reduce, they will still remain the second largest contingent in the program. Members of the steering committee also approved the funding of a taxiway shoulder repair project. The colonel said the committee recognized the need for improvements to the airfield and agreed to pay their share of a $4.2 million taxiway project. He said the ENJJPT partners will pay for 80 percent of the bill, while the 82nd Training Wing, the host unit of Sheppard AFB, will pay the remaining 20 percent. The 80th FTW will host the spring steering committee meeting in March 2011. The fall meeting for 2011 is tentatively scheduled for Quebec, Canada.