Romanian AF visits Sheppard as global bonds fly high

by Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

7/11/2014 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A Romanian Air Force delegation toured the base July 8-11 to witness the role Sheppard plays in training and inspiring warriors.

The visit was intended to establish international bonds and potential joint training ventures.

The four-member Romanian delegation was accompanied by U.S. Air Force Colonel Glen Lawson, Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania. During his career, Lawson was assigned to Sheppard for five years, as a student and a T-37 instructor pilot.

Now in his second year at his current assignment, he saw an opportunity to merge his knowledge of Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training's program with the future needs of the Romanian Air Force.

"The Romanian Air Force is a great ally to the United States and part of the NATO alliance. With an interest in upgrading their aircraft, they purchased twelve F-16s, scheduled to be delivered in 2016-2017. Base commander, General Kindsvater, and Colonel Bunch opened the doors to make everything happen," he said.

"This visit gives us an opportunity to highlight our world-class training program and show how we can meet the Romanian Air Force's needs for trained fighter pilots and maintainers," said Col. Lance Bunch, 80th FTW commander. "The community has already played an instrumental role in showing the incredible support the base receives from community leaders and neighbors. They have fully embraced this Romanian team."

Lawson emphasized the natural progression of the U.S. involvement with Romania's Air Force leading to the ENJJPT program, which has produced more than 6,800 NATO pilots since 1981.

"Since the Romanian Air Force is already familiar with the F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 aircraft, when they get the F-16s they'll be part of that combined alliance that can react and take action with the rest of the NATO partners," Lawson said.

"This year, U.S. F-16s and Canadian F-18s have been flying in central Romania at Campia Turzii. Later this fall, the Homestead Air Base Reserve unit is planning on flying F-16s during military exercises."

Col. Alexandru Trandafir, Chief of Training, ROU Air Force Staff, said he was highly impressed with everything the base has to offer.

"This is world class training, if not the best in the world. The community support is absolutely amazing. I'm really impressed about the commitment and dedication of the people here."

Other ROU Air Staff team members included Col. Iulian Patilea, Air Traffic Management Section, Lt. Col. Laurentiu Mititelu, Combat Aviation Training Office and Lt.Col. Ciprian Marin, Simulation Training Office

Amid the unique mission of ENJJPT, which trains 200 student pilots and 75 instructor pilots from 13 NATO nations a year, Bunch values the strategic significance of establishing such a close relationship with his Romanian aviation counterparts.

"The concept is not only are we the premiere fighter training program, but we build the coalition and relationships in the NATO alliance," he said. "The partnership can only strengthen us as this small Baltic nation is already part of the NATO strategy."

The visit could culminate in Romania joining the ENJJPT partnership -the first partner to do so since Spain joined in 1995. Further discussions will occur during the next ENJJPT Steering Committee scheduled in Izmir, Turkey this September.

After the potentially historic role he's played in getting the U.S., ENJJPT and Romanian Air Forces together, Lawson prepares for a new assignment to the Pentagon in September.