Jet Pilot Training Class Conquers Innovation During COVID-19

Every Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program class has undergone common challenges during the 55-week course. ENJJPT Class 20-04, however, has endured unique circumstances during their trek to earn their pilot wings, which began Feb. 26, 2019. Perhaps no other class in the nearly 40-year history of the U.S. Air Force 80th Flying Training Wing program has faced the traditional trials while also navigating the unknowns of game-changing innovation as well as a global pandemic.

Their journey culminated with less-than-normal fanfare April10, 2020, when 19 members of the class – 15 Americans, three Spanish and oneBritish – pinned on their pilot wings during a graduation ceremony thatincluded social distancing standards and virtual attendance by family membersaround the globe via Facebook. The program has graduated 7,782 pilots for theNATO alliance.

Col. Russell Driggers, 80th FTW commander and guest speakerat the graduation, said some may ask why program would have the graduation inlight of COVID-19. He said it is because of the challenges the student pilotshave undergone – the virus; virtual, augmented and mixed reality technology; weather;pilot shortages and others – that they decided to celebrate Class 20-04’saccomplishment.

“It’s times like these that we’ve got to take time to seekout and find and celebrate the good, the true and the beautiful,” he said. Ican tell you, after having done this business for lots of years, the wing we’reabout to award … they’re indeed good, they’re true and they’re beautiful.”

Class 20-04 is the first ENJJPT class to experience the fullarray of the program’s traditional training arsenal to include classroomacademics, a variety of simulator sessions, and flight time in the T-6A TexanII and T-38C Talon, as well as new tools. The wing’s Innovation Lab, over thepast two years, has deployed mixed reality technologies to enhance the ENJJPTcurriculum by giving student pilots the opportunity for more chair and “flight”time to work on ground and air procedures.

Driggers said the class successfully completed the 80thFTW’s crucible of demanding training, learning the necessary combat pilotskills and attitude, and how to operate in a multi-national environment. Hesaid they’ve met the standards of classes that preceded them, while paving anew path for those to come.

“Your class will forever be known in every sense of thewords as the ‘guinea pig’ class,” he told the 19 graduating pilots. “We put youthrough the small-group trial syllabus. We put you through multiple virtualreality training devices and we’ve asked you to help us figure out how to makethat happen.”

Driggers also praised the class for completing theirrigorous training even in the midst of a global pandemic. He said the flyingtraining mission of ENJJPT is essential to the United States and its NATOallies.

“To do that while keeping the ENJJPT family safe andhealthy, you’ve also witnessed intense organizational change,” he said. “ENJJPThas made the shift from a training footing to a true fighting stance as we’vetaken on an operational combat mindset.”