General Nuzzo chaired the committee’s proceedings. The 75th Steering Committee meeting of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) programme took place from 5 to 9 March. The meeting took place at the US Air Force base in Sheppard (Texas), the historic home of the international programme since the 1980s. For the second year running, Air Brigadier Vincenzo Nuzzo, currently Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force Schools Command/III Air Region, chaired the committee’s proceedings. Over the course of five days of meetings, representatives from fourteen nations held various working sessions and established the guidelines and objectives for the future of one of the world’s most important military pilot training programmes. Among the key topics were the updating of training and maintenance procedures and programmes, with a particular focus on the procurement programme for the new T-X trainer aircraft. As part of the Committee’s side events, and as a testament to the strong ties between the local community of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base, an official meeting was organised between the key participants of the ENJJPT Steering Committee, the local community, the Wichita Falls authorities and, in particular, the Sheppard Military Affairs Committee. He then addressed the Sponsors Group, expressing his personal gratitude and that of all the nations participating in the programme for the invaluable, generous and ever-present support that the local communities and sponsors offer to all ENJJPT staff, the young participants and their families. During his stay, the General met with the Italian Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Armando Varricchio, who was visiting RAMi as part of a series of institutional engagements in the State of Texas. During the meeting, in his capacity as Chairman of the Steering Committee, the General was able to outline the tasks and future prospects of the ENJJPT programme to the diplomatic representative.
The Sheppard RAMi reports to the Italian Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Region of Bari. Established in 1984, its mission is to represent the Italian Air Force within the ENJJPT (Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training) programme, contributing to the training of young pilots from all the nations participating in the programme, as well as Italian officers who, upon completion of the Air Force Academy, continue their flight training path in a thoroughly international, highly selective and competitive environment. The ENJJPT programme was established in 1980 at the US Air Force base in Sheppard. Twelve nations, including Italy, signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of an international flight school for the training of military pilots, specifically for the jet pipeline.
