80th Operations Group opens new facility

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Sara Harper
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 80th Flying Training Wing celebrated the opening of its newest building, the 80th Operations Group Facility, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 5, 2012 at Sheppard Air Force Base. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was a distinguished visitor and the keynote speaker for the ceremony.

This was the Senator's second visit to the 80th Flying Training Wing and the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program in regards to the new facility; she attended the ground breaking ceremony in December of 2010.

After months of construction, the completion of the new 80th Operations Group Facility has been anxiously anticipated by everyone who will move in this September. The new facility will house the 80th Operations Group Commander, his immediate staff, the scheduling division, the standardization and evaluation functions and academic training.

This modern facility includes academic classrooms for student training and office space for instructors. It has an auditorium that seats 500 people, which is spacious enough to fit the entire wing for Commanders Calls and host ENJJPT graduations which occur every six weeks.

Approximately 120 people will move into this facility; according to the 80th Operations Group Commander, Col. Eberhard von Wintzingerode-Knorr, this will be the first time that the entire Operations Group staff will be consolidated in the same location, which will positively impact the mission.

"Having all functions of the group under one roof will greatly improve the quality and efficiency in our day-to-day operations of accomplishing our mission," said von Wintzingerode-Knorr.

Cutting the ribbon at the ceremony today was a significant milestone for the ENJJPT Program; as it marks the competition of the first phase of a projected three phase new ENJJPT Flying Training Complex which will transform ENJJPT's campus in the years to come.

After 31 years, the ENJJPT Program, which started out at Sheppard as a temporary location has only grown both in participants and infrastructure.

Col. Dieter Bareihs, 80th Flying Wing Commander, speaks to the benefit and importance of the ENJJPT Program and why the new Operations Group facility was needed.

"The ENJJPT Program is a one-of-a-kind program; we are the only internationally manned and managed pilot training program in the world," said Bareihs. "Our mission directly supports U.S. national security interests and we pride ourselves as being the world's premier combat pilot training program."

Bareihs states that it's important to have world-class facilities, like the 80th Operations Group facility, to match the world-class training in the ENJJPT Program.

"It's evident that our program is a force multiplier and crucial to long-lasting NATO partnerships that have only grown over the last 31 years," said Bareihs. "The ENJJPT program has become a model in the international community and now our ENJJPT campus and new facility match our world-class reputation."

The Senator spoke to the importance of not only the ENJJPT Program but how the new facility is predicted to save 50 percent in energy savings costs - which is a great way to save taxpayers' dollars.

Hutchison said that the base is so important for continuing and strengthening NATO partnerships and she has always championed Sheppard as the center for NATO-alliance pilot training.

The ENJJPT Program is part of the most supportive community in the state of Texas and Senator Hutchison took time to say "thank you very much" to the residents of Wichita Falls. She also states that, "It's nice to bring a little bit of Europe into the Texas culture" as well. This visit served as the Senators last official visit to Sheppard and the ENJJPT Program.