COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, Air Education and Training Command commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Chad Bickley, AETC command chief, visited Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., Aug. 27-29, to observe firsthand the 14th Flying Training Wing's efforts in leading the charge on pilot training advancements, particularly in the areas of human performance and execution of the Future of Undergraduate Pilot Training model.
During the visit Robinson emphasized the 14 FTW’s central role in innovating pilot training and recognized Airmen across the installation for their contributions to the mission.
"Columbus has been at the center of a transformational change in pilot training," Robinson said. "This [Columbus AFB] was the catalyst environment to figure out whether this new FUPT model could actually work towards our goal of 1,500 pilots produced for the United States Air Force, our allies and partners."
According to Robinson, the program is on track and expanding to other pilot training bases. Laughlin AFB in Texas is currently running its third FUPT class and Vance AFB in Oklahoma will begin FUPT in October.
A key element to FUPT is partnering with commercial aviation training schools.
"The secret sauce really comes down to the training portion that's done by commercial aviation training schools," Robinson said. "We've moved the basic fundamentals to that commercial aviation school that gets a 95% or better return on investment for performance."
The partnership with select civilian aviation programs, known as Initial Pilot Training, allows the Air Force to focus its attention and available resources on teaching military specific aviation competencies. Students build their foundational skills and earn their single and multi-engine ratings at IPT, then move on to the optimized T-6A portion of training, Undergraduate Pilot Training, where they will earn their wings upon completion.
The success of the IPT program speaks to a broader trend of innovation and efficiency within AETC, designed to enhance the readiness of the force.
Robinson discussed with Airmen and Columbus community leaders how these initiatives, along with a strong sense of purpose and opportunity, contribute to the Air Force's continued appeal. This appeal, a key component in maintaining a strong and capable force, became evident when considering the current state of recruiting. With this context of effective training programs and high enlistment rates in mind, Bickley addressed the positive state of the Air Force when engaging with Airmen at the base.
"Life is good in the Air Force right now," Bickley said. "We found out yesterday we had the highest number of Airmen in the delayed enlistment program ... ever. They want to be in the world's most lethal Air Force, and there's people backed up to join."
The Command Chief also noted ongoing changes to basic military training.
"We're transforming what we're doing there," he said. "We've always been focused on lethality and readiness. We're now taking it to the next level."
During the visit Robinson and Bickley met with junior enlisted Airmen and student pilots to gain insight into the next generation of Air Force leaders and their goals for what they hope to achieve in the future. The visit also included receiving updates on the 14 FTW Medical Group’s human performance initiatives, pilot production, and maintenance programs.