80th FTW commander bids farewell to Sheppard, local communities

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lieutenant Sara Harper
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  While there are many things Col. Kevin Schneider will miss after he relinquishes command of the 80th Flying Training Wing June 24, it will be the simple, iconic image he sees from his desk every day that best encapsulates his experience here.

"When I come into work in the morning, I look out at the flight line and see a couple of crews stepping to their T-6s or T-38s," the colonel said. "That picture of an Instructor Pilot and a Student Pilot walking to their airplane really hits home with me. That picture sums up our mission.

"That's what we do here every day and what we have done better than any other pilot training program in the world. That mental picture of pilots going to fly has always motivated me and will stay with me for a long, long time."

Colonel Schneider said he will miss the people in the local communities and their support to the mission.

"This has been a fantastic tour and the local communities of Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park and Electra have made us feel like family," he said. "I have never been stationed anywhere where the community support for the military base is as strong as it is here. I am pretty confident that I will never see any community support that is stronger and more genuine than it is here."

Colonel Schneider said one thing he re-learned during his assignment as the 80th FTW commander was the mission is not accomplished by one person alone.

"All I can say is 'Thank you,'" he said. "The mission goes on every day not because of my efforts, but because of the great work being done by the men and women of the ENJJPT program and Sheppard as a whole. I am proud to have worked with and served with the officers, enlisted, government civilian employees and contractors that make the job happen. It has been an amazing experience."

During Col. Schneider's command, the 80th Flying Training Wing has undergone facility improvements with the new ENJJPT campus and operations ramp. He hopes that will be carried on by Col. Dieter Bareihs, incoming 80th FTW commander.

Colonel Schneider said he hopes the progress of the new 80th Operations complex will continue since there is still much more work to be done.

"Our training is world-class and we are the best at what we do - anywhere in the world," he said. "However, our facilities are lagging behind and I wish I could have done more to bring our infrastructure out of the 1960s and into the 21st century."

Colonel Schneider said he has one piece of advice to offer the incoming 80th FTW commander.

"My primary piece of advice to Colonel Bareihs is to enjoy every minute of command because it will pass in the blink of an eye," he said.

Colonel Schneider's next assignment will be at the pentagon.