JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO--RANDOLPH, Texas –
International pilots from around the globe come to 12th Flying Training Wing locations to hone skills and strengthen friendships.
Whether it's at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph or the 12th FTW's geographically separated unit, the 479th Flying Training Group at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., the wing has trained more than 150 students hailing from 20 different countries in the last year.
"This builds good relationships so we can go fight wars together," Maj. Allan McDonald, assistant director of operations, special courses and training, and international military student officer at the 479th Operations Support Squadron at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. said. "Building those relationships is really key."
Roy Lozano, 12th Operations Support Squadron international military student officer, is responsible for all administration, training and issues pertaining to the 12th FTW's international students at Randolph.
The main mission and goal of hosting international students is to "support the U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives," Lozano said. "By doing this we are increasing our partners' ability to share in the defense burdens."
International students in the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph and Combat Systems Officer training at Pensacola claim professionalism and respect are defining qualities of the United States Air Force.
Lieutenants Ravinpal Singh and Tomasz Grzybowski of Malaysia and Poland respectively, say the military atmosphere of the 435th Fighter Training Squadron at Randolph isn't much different from what they're used to back home.
"It's pretty much the same," Singh said. "It is a very professional atmosphere."
"The main difference between my previous base and here is that here everything is getting faster and is more effective," Grzybowski said.
While the U.S. military lifestyle may resemble what they're used to back home, they have encountered other hurdles.
"The main barrier is language," Grzybowski said.
Students are required to be proficient in English before participating in the 12th FTW's international training programs. According to McDonald, they must pass the Defense Language Institute's English language test with at least an 80 percent score.
Capt. Ryan Bernier, 435th FTS B-Flight commander and instructor pilot, said the international students are held to the same high standards as their American
counterparts in their respective courses of training.
"We teach these guys the same way," he said. "We don't cut them any slack."
Though the program provides an excellent source of training for these international students McDonald said, "We learn a lot from them as well."