WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, known as ENJPPT, is the world’s only internationally manned and led pilot training program. The program brings together students and instructors from 14 NATO partner nations to train future fighter pilots under a common mission.

“Our mission is to train NATO’s fighter pilots,” said Jeff Shulman with ENJJPT. “We trained about 65% of the fighter pilots for the United States Air Force last year and then a majority of the pilots for the rest of the 13 other partner nations of the NATO alliance,” said Jeff Shulman, 80th Training Wing and ENJJPT commander.

Program leaders say the international structure allows participating countries to share ideas, experiences and best practices while preparing pilots to operate together around the world.

“Each of our allies has various strengths, and getting the best of those ideas from all 14 nations is what makes this program amazing,” Shulman said.

The training extends beyond flying aircraft. Instructors say students must also learn how to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

“We have to adapt to the different cultures that everyone comes from, so the biggest part of that is really understanding each other and working together as a team for a common goal,” said Instructor Pilot Andrew Wang.

For international students, the transition can be challenging.

“The most difficult thing going in was acclimatizing to a completely different culture and meeting new people and how you fit into all of it,” said student pilot Arsham Moti-Ghavanin.

Despite those challenges, students say the experience provides a unique perspective on the importance of NATO cooperation.

“I think it’s easy to look at NATO and it’s just this far away thing where it’s a big organization and you wouldn’t really interact with it,” Moti-Ghavanin said. “But when you actually get involved with it, you see how interoperability makes its place.”

Officials say the program’s standardized training helps ensure pilots from all participating nations are prepared to operate together if called upon.

“The training has to start on day one to have the same commonality of how we train, how we equip and how we organize,” Shulman said. “If we’re called up to do something across the world, we don’t have time to spin up. We are ready now.”

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, ENJPPT continues to serve as an example of how military partnerships and shared training can help prepare the next generation of aviators while strengthening the alliance between NATO nations.

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