COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Maj. Gen. Gregory Kreuder, 19th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Keith Scott, 19th Air Force command chief, visited Columbus Air Force Base to meet with student and instructor pilots currently progressing through the new Future of Undergraduate Pilot Training to discuss the next generation of pilots May 5-9, 2025.
The visit provided an opportunity for Kreuder to receive first-hand feedback on the new program from currently enrolled students and instructor pilots.
“Columbus was chosen for the honor of being the first to implement the Future Undergraduate Pilot Training (FUPT) because we know they can handle it. The men and women of Team Blaze are mission-focused and leaning into the improvements we must make to pilot training if we are going to generate the aviators our Nation needs to defend its interests in the future,” said Kreuder. “Integrating innovative technology into the way we train and having direct feedback from our future warfighters is essential to optimizing pilot training.”
The FUPT is a streamlined Undergraduate Pilot Training syllabus that capitalizes on civilian flight programs across the country to reduce the amount of time spent on the basics of flight at Columbus. Once complete, student pilots return to Columbus with their private pilot’s license and other ratings gained through the Initial Pilot Training curriculum.
Kreuder and Scott met with instructor pilots close to the challenges of the new program and listened to proposed adjustments to increase the effectiveness of training for students.
"The instructors and students are the ones closest to the problems and have the unique perspective of what works well and what needs improvement,” said Scott. “The force is constantly moving towards being more lethal and ready at the pace needed to win; this means creating efficiencies in training that give our pilots the best possible start before they begin the more advanced tactical flight training programs.”
Kreuder emphasized the importance of maintaining robust pilot training pipelines to maintain air superiority on-demand in support of combatant commanders.
“To hit our target of training 1,500 Air Force pilots per year, we must adapt our mindset and aggressively leverage the tools and training available throughout both the military and civilian sector,” said Kreuder. “We simply could not do this without the professionals at Columbus; they have validated our trust in their ability to get the job done and our confidence that FUPT is going to achieve its intended objective. It’s critical that we get this right, not just for those serving today, but for those that will be leading our Air Force in the decades to come.”
The 14th Flying Training Wing is one of the Air Force’s primary pilot training bases and produces approximately 350 new pilots annually.
“Our focus is to secure the advantage through lethality and readiness,” said Col. James Blech, 14th Flying Training Wing commander. “Ensuring that we’re creating the most capable and confident fighting force is vital for our mission to Train World-Class Pilots.