F-22 Aircraft Armament Apprentice Course

SHEPPARD Air Force Base-Airman Jose Flores, Airman 1st Class Jordan Listi, Airman Michael Meyer and Airman 1st Class Tevin Jones of the 363 Training Squadron, F-22 Aircraft Armament Apprentice Course, are getting set to load an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile on an F-22 aircraft on Oct. 17, 2012. (US Air Force Photo by Frank Carter)

Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training

The 80th Flying Training Wing hosts the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, the world's only multi-nationally manned and managed flying training program. 13 NATO countries participate in the 55-week program flying the T-6 Texan II and the T-38C Talon. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Crew dismantles mighty B-52G

A heavy equipment operator removes the tail section of a B-52G Stratofortress Aug. 25 at Sheppard Air Force Base during a demolition process. The aircraft was identified as "excess" when Sheppard received a newer B-52H to train aircraft maintenance Airmen in Training. Navy Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering Center from Port Hueneme, Calif., is overseeing the project. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Litteken)

Crew dismantles mighty B-52G

The tail section of a B-52G Stratofortress begins to bend Aug. 25 as crews work to demolish the former aircraft maintenance trainer. The 982nd Training Group determined the aircraft was an "excess" piece of equipment when Sheppard Air Force Base received an updated model, the B-52H. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Litteken)

Crew dismantles mighty B-52G

A worn down B-52G Stratofortress sits on the old Strategic Air Command ramp north of the 80th Flying Training Wing Aug. 24 prior to its dismantling. Navy Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering Center from Port Hueneme, Calif., is overseeing the project to demolish the excess aircraft. The F-15C and D models in the background will soon replace outdated A and B models on Sheppard's Ground Instructional Training Aircraft Ramp. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Litteken)

Crew dismantles mighty B-52G

This photo illustration shows the progress of a demolition crew removing a tail wing from a B-52G Aug. 25. The 982nd Maintenance Squadron worked with Navy Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering Center, from Port Hueneme, Calif., to dismantle the aircraft. The aircraft was removed from the Ground Instructional Training Aircraft ramp to make room for a B-52H. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Litteken)

Sheppard, community come together for 2009 Air Show

The Snowbirds perform at the 2009 Sheppard Open House and Air Show Oct. 10. This year's air show Oct. 10-11 brought in about 16,000 visitors Saturday and 7,000 visitors Sunday to Sheppard this weekend.

82nd Dental Squadron is all smiles over new facility

Brig. Ben O.G. Mannon, 82nd Training Wing commander and Col. William Pierpont, 82nd Dental Squadron commander, cut the ribbon opening the new dental officers recidency suite. The facility will greatly improve graduate numbers from the program as well as better care for Sheppard members. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Matthew Varga)

Sheppard receives historic B-52H for training

Employees of L3 Communications at Sheppard Air Force Base work to secure a B-52H Stratofortress Sept. 9 after it landed to become a new ground instructional trainer for the 82nd Training Wing. The B-52H, was part of the first strike force to respond to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The aircraft has nose art in memory of the event and those who lost their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Ingle)

Sheppard receives historic B-52H for training

Wayne Bradbury, a machinist with L3 Communications at Sheppard Air Force Base, secures a hatch Sept. 9 on a B-52H Stratofortress after it landed to become a new ground instructional trainer for the 82nd Training Wing. The B-52H, was part of the first strike force to respond to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. The aircraft has nose art in memory of the event and those who lost their lives. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Ingle)

Sheppard, AF retires the T-37B Tweet

The last seven T-37B Tweets in the Air Force inventory perform flyover July 31, marking the end of the primary pilot training aircraft's more than 50 year history. More than 78,000 U.S., NATO and international pilots trained in the aircraft until the final student mission June 17. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Litteken)

Sheppard, AF retires the T-37B Tweet

The last seven T-37B Tweets in the Air Force inventory, including the two pictured, took off for one final time July 31 as part of the aircraft's retirement ceremony. The four of the aircraft will make the journey to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., while the final three will go to the Utah Test and Training Range in Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo/Harry Tonemah)

F-15 takeoff roll

An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off Nov. 17 during the 80th Flying Training Wing's annual Combat Air Force Day. Student pilots from the wing, as well as Airmen-in-Training from the 82nd Training Wing, were able to take a close-up look at F-15s, F-16 Falcons, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, a B-1 Lancer, F-117 Nighthawk and German Tornado during the one-day event. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Ingle)

Passin' through

Three Air Education and Training Command F-22 Raptors from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., made a quick stop to fuel up Sunday during a cross-country trip. It marked the first stop here for the Air Force’s newest jet fighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Ian Phillips)

No matter the nationality, pilots speak same language

Capt. Alberto Surace (left) and 2nd Lt. Mathew Spinelli prepare for take-off in a T-38 Talon at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, on July 20. Both Captain Surace, of the Italian air force, and Lieutenant Spinelli are students in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr.)