Two Canadian air force student pilots made history late last year, when they became the first two Canadians to train in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program with the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Tex. While Sheppard has hosted Canadian instructor pilots in the past, 2nd Lt. Reg Reimer and 2nd Lt. Bertram Cronshaw are the first two student pilots to go through ENJJPT. They are participating on a trial basis as the Canadian air force weighs options for maintaining a steady flow of new fighter pilots as it expands. Reimer had his first solo flight in a T-6A trainer aircraft on Dec. 12, while Cronshaw went solo five days later. Both will return to Canada for their follow-on training. (Sheppard report by A1C Adawn Kelsey)
The Air Force will promote 11.07 percent of eligible master sergeants to senior master sergeant this year, a decline from last cycle that snaps a four-year streak of increases. Out of a pool of 13,315 eligible individuals, 1,474 new E-8s were selected.