Pakistani Air Force leaders tour technical training facilities

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Eight representatives from the Pakistani Air Force Academy visited Sheppard Dec. 7-8 for a tour of the base facilities.

The purpose of the tour was to orient the Pakistanis to Sheppard's aircraft maintenance training procedures, and allow them to enjoy the leisure activities available both on base and in the Wichita Falls area.

"With the technological advancement of aviation and military specialties, we thought we needed to train our teachers in a more efficient manner, so they can perform their duties more efficiently without damaging the equipment," said Air Vice Marshall Muhammad Hassan, PAF Academy commandant.

Wichita Falls is the third stop for the Pakistanis in their tour, following San Antonio, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Colo. The Sheppard tour was led by Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux, 82nd Training Wing commander, and Col. Jeffrey Kendall, 80th Flight Training Wing commander.

Having recently purchased 18 F-16's of their own, the PAF expressed a particular interest in the USAF understanding of the aircraft. During the tour, the Pakistani representatives sat in on the Aircraft Munitions Maintenance Officer Course in Bldg. 1020, received a crash course in how F-16 crew chiefs are trained in Bldg. 1040, and checked out the F-16 Avionics section of Bldg. 920.

"Our air force needs to train more efficiently than we do now. The skill level of technology improves constantly, and we need our personnel to stay up to that level," Marshall Hassan said.

Sheppard has played host to several other countries top officials looking for a better way to train.

Among the areas visited by the team were the Heritage Center, the Airman Leadership School, the base exchange, the golf course and the flight line. Off-base highlights were the seafood restaurant Pelican's, and the Kay Yeager Coliseum to attend the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey game Dec. 8.

"We have been very impressed by the hospitality and sense of commitment at Sheppard," Marshall Hassan said.