Sky high: Lieutenant continues ENJJPT journey

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Editors Note: This article is an ongoing series about the obstacles 2nd Lt. Abraham Morland faces as a Sheppard Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program student in the year long course, after he renounced his British citizenship to pursue his dream of flying in the U.S. Air Force.

Morland walks in a room full of helmets March 10, exhales a deep breath and dons a flight suit meant to protect his body during high speed maneuvers thousands of feet in the air. As he walks on the flight line and the roar of jet engines slice through the Texan landscape, he looks earnestly at his training instructor and says "All I've ever wanted to do is be a pilot sir,".

His journey had a long way to go, but he reached a milestone in his first Air Force flight above the clouds, called a dollar ride. The dollar ride is a tradition where the student gives their instructor a dollar as thanks for helping take them up on their first flight as an Air Force pilot.

Morland continues to lean on his faith in God as what gets him through the daily grind of attaining his high flying dream.

"It's nowhere near over, but it's got me through so far," he commented.

As of right now, he is focused on one thing and one thing only; getting his first pair of professional wings. His first flight was cancelled due to mechanical failure, but undaunted by the temporary setback; he stepped back out on the flight line a day later.

"I don't think there is any other feeling like it......it's so beautiful to even be up there," he said fondly.

When the aircraft finally lifted off the ground into wild blue yonder, Morland found himself in awe of what he saw.

"It was pretty impressive to look out and see God's creation and fly in the world's greatest Air Force," he said.

Flying one step closer to his goal and having gone through the lengthy process of renouncing his British citizenship to fly for the U.S. Air Force, Morland considers the experience surreal.

"I didn't know whether I'd get here or not until now," he said. "I'm finally here experiencing it."

Morland enjoys the amount of diversity within the course and the international cohesion it fosters.

"We're not only caring about our needs, but those of people around the world as well," he asserted. "That's why we're here, to help each other out."

The chance to make friends from all around the world is a strength that not only gets Morland through the rigors of the three-phased 55 week curriculum, but keeps the overall morale of the class in good shape as well.

"Without each other...no one would make it through," Morland said.

While Morland enjoys the international pact he is a part of, he also pictures rapport as something that could make or break an alliance in the global fight for airpower dominance.

"If you know them (the students) and have that friendship, you're going to give your life for that person," he said. "It's a joint fight and we're building relationships that last for a lifetime."

Through the ENJJPT program, only time will time will tell how those friendships and experiences will affect Morland's journey within the world's only multi-nationally manned and managed flying training program chartered to produce combat pilots for NATO.