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JBSA News
NEWS | Oct. 4, 2017

Caring for international officers

By Randy Martin 12th Flying Training Wing

On Monday morning while the Air Force was conducting accountability for Airmen that might have been affected by the October 1, 2017 shooting in Las Vegas, the 12th Flying Training Wing’s "ambassador" was checking the safety of twenty international students he helps daily.

“We are all here at Randolph as brothers and partners for world peace,” said Roy Lozano, Chief of International Military Student Officers for the 12th FTW.

Lozano’s job means that he shepherds America’s allies’ best and brightest through some of the toughest flight training in the world right here at Joint Base San Antonio - Randolph and Brooks City Base. Their welfare, on and off duty, throughout the United States is his responsibility.

“This training is hard for Americans so you can imagine how hard it is for international students. I want them to have a good experience here,” Lozano said.

Currently there are more than 20 pilots from nine countries in training programs under the 12th Operations Group or in aerospace physiology.

Lozano estimated that he has helped over two thousand students from 23 countries in his 15 years as the IMSO. Constantly on the move and following a briefing with a new Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals class, Lozano tended to a Japanese and Arab officer’s administrative needs.

Though he was never a pilot or a military member he has mastered the process to build successful student while showing earnest hospitality.

“If I ever go to their country, I hope they have an IMSO to help me,” Lozano said.

International officers come here to learn how to be instructor pilots, fighter pilots, and remotely piloted aircraft pilots just like their American counterparts.

“We learn from them too,” said Lt. Col. Rene Carrillo, an instructor pilot with the 435th Fighter Training Squadron.

Carrillo conducted a flight briefing with an American and a Japanese pilot before their training mission in two T-38C Talons. Both officers listened intently to their instructor’s technical guidance and they took turns answering questions to confirm their understanding.

“Integrating these officers in our training here introduces them to our way of doing business and that will pay off in the future when we work together in training or combined operations,” Carrillo said.

“At first understanding the language and culture was difficult but I have overcome that by hanging out with the American guys,” said 1st Lt. Keigo Iizuka, a student pilot from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. In one month Iizuka will return to Japan for F-15J Eagle training.

“I love taking them to the airport because I hear their stories,” said Lozano.

“They say, I thought I was a good pilot but I am a better fighter pilot or, in some cases, instructor pilot because of the training here,” said Lozano.