Officer Germany's final naval fighter pilot, navy participant in ENJJPT

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 80th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs officer
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Cmdr. German Navy Peter Schroth didn't plan on being the last fighter pilot for his country's navy - it's just one of those things that happened. Nonetheless, he said April 23, one day before his final flight with the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program here, that he is honored and proud to carry such a distinction and wear the uniform.

"You wear your uniform with pride. Everyone does that," he said. "It's nothing I had a lot of influence on."

The commander said the decision to phase out navy fighter pilots was made by German defense officials three months after he arrived at Sheppard for instructor pilot duties in February 2003. By 2005, the last German navy student pilots graduated from ENJJPT and the lone navy flying wing was shut down in 2006.

During the 41-year-old commander's five-year tenure at ENJJPT, he said the most important thing for him to do was to take care of the German delegation - senior leaders, instructor pilots, student pilots and dependents - as the alternate senior national representative and ensure his country's students left with the fighter pilot mentality.

"It's not just about learning how to fly. It's an education," Commander Schroth said. "It's not a simple ability. It's an attitude."

The commander said when a military engagement takes place, fighter pilots need that "attitude" because they are usually on the tip of the spear. But now, the tip of that spear won't include German navy fighter pilots.

"I think they are losing a very important and strong asset for the future," he said. "I would call it a disadvantage because the air force has a different role."

The commander explained that navy pilots were given greater latitude and freedom in making decisions and had multiple roles in the air, such as reconnaissance, bombing and ship support. Flying wings in the German air force, he said, have specific roles to play.

However, the commander expressed his confidence in the German air force and its ability to protect the country and its assets. He said the service's fighter pilots will continue to receive quality training through the program.

The end of the commander's career hasn't affected him alone. It's also meant his wife, Christina, would also feel the loss because she's leaving a home and friends she's known for the past five years.

"She's ready to go back home," Commander Schroth said of his wife. "But, she's been involved a lot in the community. We're leaving a lot of good friends and a place we both love."

Her one concern, he said, was that he would retire and sit at home, enjoying that new lifestyle. But, he said he already has a job lined up, so she won't have to worry about that. The job? What else would a pilot do?

The commander said he will work with an air rescue company in Germany. A completely different mission, he said, from what he was trained to do.

"This time I'll try to be rescuing people instead of breaking things, which is what a fighter-bomber pilot is supposed to do," he said.

Like a dedicated pilot, the commander said he won't begin to reminisce about his time here until the wheels of his T-37 Tweet are safely on the ground. He said there isn't time to think about such things while piloting a jet.

He said he will look back on his five-year assignment at Sheppard - also the place where he began his fighter pilot career in 1988 - and remember the great times he's had. But there are new challenges for him and Christina. Challenges, he said, they are looking forward to.

"Looking back is nice," he said. "But, at some point, you have to re-orientate."

Spoken like a true fighter pilot.