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WHAT TO EXPECT IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS SELECTED FOR PILOT TRAINING

 

If your son or daughter has a pilot slot, congratulations!  A new goal has been established - Wings!

 

Your son or daughter will likely have a period of time after USAFA graduation called “casual status” until his or her flight class begins.  This can be at any base the Air Force chooses. 

 

If they have not already had their Introduction to Flight Training (IFT), they will satisfactorily complete this during their casual status before entering formal military pilot training.

 

Air Force pilots come from four different commissioning sources:  the Air Force Academy, Officer Training School (OTS), Reserves (ROTC), and the Air National Guard (ANG).  The Air Force assigns these officers to one of several training bases.  Currently, those bases are:

 

Columbus AFB (Columbus, MS)

Laughlin AFB (Del Rio, TX)

Vance AFB (Enid, OK)

Sheppard AFB (Wichita Falls, TX)

NAS Whiting (Pensacola, FL)

 

The first three locations are host to what is called Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (also called JSUPT, or UPT). 

 

Sheppard AFB’s training is called ENJJPT (pronounced “en-jep”), for Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training.  It includes officers from other NATO countries as well.

 

The Navy operates Whiting Field.  Their training is different than the Air Force, and they fly a different airplane.  However, Air Force officers trained at this location have little difficulty transitioning to Air Force ways.  Training at Whiting Field on average takes about 3-6 months longer than Air Force training.  The difficult part of transitioning is learning AF terminology, reading AF publications (much different) and the AF pace of training.

 

UPT and ENJJPT training takes approximately 55 weeks.  It is broken down into three phases, academic & preflight training, primary aircraft training, and advanced aircraft training.  Phase I covers the first 6 weeks, where the student receives classroom instruction and computer based training on physiology, systems, instrument flying, aerodynamics, and airfield operations (pattern priority, logistics, etc.).  They fly simulators and study.  Students are graded on their performance, which will affect their training later.

 

After the 6th week, if the student has performed satisfactorily in his simulator and passed all his tests, he will enter Phase II and take his first flight in the T-6A Texan II (also known as the ‘dollar ride’).  The T-6 is a turboprop airplane with a ceiling of 35,000 feet, and a top speed of about 350 mph!  It has tandem seating for 2.

 

About the 10th or 11th week, the student will solo.  After their solo, at most bases, in order to celebrate the occasion, the student is thrown into a water-filled dunk tank, regardless of the weather!

 

Around the 28th week, the UPT students will “track select.”  This is where the Air Force assigns the student to new aircraft in one of four tracks -- the T-38 Talon (fighter-bomber track), the T-1 Jayhawk (airlift-tanker track), the T-44 (multi engine turboprop track), or the UH-1H Huey (helicopter track).  Their assignment is based on their overall performance during Phase I, the student’s desire, and the needs of the air force.

 

ENJJPT students do not “track select.”  They are all assigned to the T-38 at Sheppard AFB.

 

The remainder of this narrative will deal with those assigned to the T-38 or T-1 tracks.  Students completing naval training at Whiting who have track selected to the T-38 or T-1 will move to one of the UPT bases to complete their training in Phase III.  Phase III is advanced training in aircraft that has characteristics similar to the aircraft the student will be assigned upon graduation.  The T-38 Talon (fighter-bomber track) is a sleek jet that can break the sound barrier!  It has tandem seating for two.  The T-1 Jayhawk (airlift-tanker track) is the military version of the BeechJet 400A business jet.  It can accommodate 7 people, but for training purposes it seats 3 crewmembers (two students one instructor pilot).

 

Near the end of Phase III, about the 52nd week, the student will be told what aircraft are available for assignment after completion of their track.  How well the student performed during Phase III will have a major impact on their Major Weapon System (MWS) assignment.  The student puts together his “dream list” of desired assignments.

 

The T-38 track has the options of fighters (F-15, F-15E, F-16, or F-22) or bombers (B-1, B-2, or B-52).  T-1 track graduates are assigned to the C-5, C-17, C-21, C-130, KC-10, KC-135, RC-135, or E-3. 

 

Two weeks before graduation is Assignment Night.  This is an informal gathering where the students are told what their assignments are.  National Guardsmen already know what their assignment is (whatever their unit flies).  Active duty officers are assigned to one of the above aircraft, or could become First Assignment Instructor Pilots (FAIP’s), teaching others to fly the T-6, T-38, or T-1.  This is a time of joy, and sometimes disappointment.

 

Two weeks later is graduation!  In a wonderful ceremony the graduate receives the aeronautical rating of pilot and his or her silver wings!  Their 10-year commitment to the Air Force begins now.  There is an awards ceremony/dinner the night of graduation.  Academic Performance, Leadership, Flight Skill, and Distinguished Graduate awards, as well as the Air Education and Training Commander’s Trophy are presented for each track.

 

After graduation, the pilot moves on to train for his or her MWS. 

 

Of course, by the time you read this, the Air Force may have adopted a new syllabus, closed bases, or changed aircraft.  Change is one thing you can be sure of.

 

A civilian parent without consultation of Air Force personnel prepared this narrative.  Accordingly, reliance on its accuracy is not recommended.