First U.S. female ENJJPT graduate retires

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The dreams of a young girl playing inside a makeshift cardboard airplane eventually lead the first U.S. female student to graduate from the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program and then retire as an instructor.

For Lt. Col. Amy Young, 80th Flying Wing T-6 Texan II instructor pilot, the idea of becoming a pilot was her dream for almost as long as she can remember. Aviation runs in her family.

"My father flew B-17's and B-29's in the Army Air Corps," Young said. "Then he flew commercially after that for years. I have two older brothers that flew dust-offs in Vietnam, my mom did civil air patrol and my brother did aviation maintenance in the marines."

Out of 709 cadets who were physically qualified to be pilots, only 225 would be sent to pilot training.

"They were screening cadets in the T-41 then, on a one to five scale, a five being the highest," Young said. "If you got a five then you could go to the ENJJPT program."

After graduating first in the powered flight program at the academy, Young wasn't able to attend pilot training at Sheppard because she was a female. 

During the early 90's, there was still a military-wide combat exclusion for females. During the latter part of her senior year at the academy, that exclusion was lifted, allowing females to attend pilot training.

"I asked for my ENJJPT slot back and they said they weren't going to take that slot away from someone else and give it to me," Young said. "But it just so happened that a gentleman in my class chose to defer pilot training to go do his masters degree, he had an ENJJPT slot."

Young's stars were aligning as she looked to her future. She graduated the academy and arrived at Sheppard for pilot training toward the end of June 1993.

"It kind of wierded people out when I showed up," she said. "There were certainly individuals that thought women shouldn't be here."

With her dreams finally starting to become a reality, Young wanted to be treated like every other student pilot.

"I think everyone was a little freaked out about political correctness," she said. "Once we got past that everyone calmed down and got to business."

With the opportunity she had waited for most of her life in front of her, Young focused on her training and finally achieved her goal.

"I graduated ENJJPT and got my wings on Oct. 28, 1994," Young said. "Getting my wings was one of the biggest life moments I've had."

She was awarded the C-130 Hercules and assigned at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"People were wondering if I was going to get a fighter since I was the first female," she said. "I didn't finish high enough in my class to get a fighter, I did good, but we had a limited amount of fighter slots."

After Ramstein, Young instructed students for four years at Laughlin AFB, Texas, spending 1,500 flying hours training students in T-47's, flew missions for Air Force Special Operations Command, and joined the inspector general team at Scott AFB, Ill., throughout her career.

In 2009, Young returned to the same place her career started, as a T-6 instructor pilot in D-flight. Ironically, the same flight she was in years before as a student.

After a 21-year career, Young is set to retire Dec. 19, 2014. Her time in the Air Force took her to 44 states and 53 countries, racking up more than 5,600 flying hours in multiple airframes.

"I have been privileged to be a part of so many amazing things," Young said. Being able to look back and realize that when it's all said and done, I made a difference. It's very rewarding."
After retirement, Young plans to keep her foot in the door when it comes to aviation.

Young is looking into the retired return program. She would like to be able to retire and come back as a traditional reservist.

"I get to continue doing what I love, but just part time, benefit to the air force and to the wing," she said. "I'm also looking into teaching in the simulators as well."