Letter to Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force - Sheppard Air Force Base

Letter

Sen. Cornyn Leads Effort To Bring F-35 Missions To Texas

Urges Air Force to expand Sheppard Air Force Base for the future defense of our nation

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Republican leadership, led the effort to send a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force advocating for future missions at Sheppard Air Force Base. In the letter, he urges the Air Force to choose Sheppard as the eventual location for all F-35 Joint Strike Fighter maintenance training, as well as allied F-35 pilot training.

"Sheppard Air Force Base is well-equipped for additional missions in the coming years. I'm pleased to help make their case to the Air Force and specifically for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter maintenance training and F-35 pilot training. Sheppard would be an ideal location because it already performs the same maintenance training functions on the F-22, is capable of incorporating more missions, and has overwhelming community support. This combination makes Sheppard the best choice, and I hope the Air Force will agree," Sen. Cornyn said.

Background

The U.S. Air Force currently is planning to conduct F-35 maintenance training in three separate phases at three different locations. Consolidating this training in one location would achieve cost and resource efficiencies, as well as minimize personnel moves. With regard to the F-35 allied pilot training mission, the Air Force already conducts intermediate allied pilot training at Sheppard under the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program, so it would be completely logical to add future F-35 training as part of this curriculum. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rep. Mac Thornberry also signed onto Sen. Cornyn's letter.

--The full text of the letter is below--

The Honorable Michael B. Donley
Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330

Dear Secretary Donley:

We write today to urge you to expand the future role of Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in supporting the mission of the F-35 Lightning II fleet. The F-35, with its superior multi-role capabilities, will undoubtedly play a critical role in the future defense of our nation, and Sheppard AFB should play a central part in training those Airmen who will maintain this fleet of remarkable aircraft. We encourage you to consolidate all Air Force F-35 maintenance and technical training at Sheppard AFB.

As we understand it, the Air Force's plan for F-35 maintenance and technical training is to conduct it in separate phases at three different locations. Consolidation of this entire training program at a single installation - Sheppard AFB - would offer numerous benefits, including reduced costs, existing expertise and core competencies in fifth-generation fighter maintenance and technical training, robust experience with allied and international flight training, unparalleled community support for the base, and reduced need for personnel moves for our Airmen. Sheppard AFB is already a proven Center of Excellence for F-22 training, and its technicians and instructors are well prepared to take on further technologically advanced training missions for our Airmen.

Further, we ask that you strongly consider Sheppard AFB as you make other basing decisions in the future. The base is ready and willing to take on emerging Air Force training missions, including those related to irregular warfare, unmanned aerial systems maintenance, NCO education, and cyberwarfare.

In addition, Sheppard AFB would be an ideal location for conducting F-35 international pilot training for allied air forces; therefore, we request that the Air Force seek to include European and NATO allied F-35 pilot training at Sheppard AFB in the next negotiated Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) Memorandum of Understanding. Sheppard AFB has both expertise and direct experience in this area, due to serving as the current home of the ENJJPT Program. The Air Force is already planning to expand the ENJJPT operations facilities at Sheppard AFB, and we are working to ensure that project receives full funding in the near-term. Without question, this facility expansion will allow for a broader mission set under the ENJJPT at Sheppard AFB.

We appreciate your consideration of these important issues. As you move forward with basing decisions on these key training programs, please keep us fully informed. We look forward to hearing from you at the earliest opportunity and working with you to ensure that our Airmen receive the finest training in the world.

Thank you for your diligence and leadership in serving our nation's Airmen and their families. We look forward to your continued stewardship of the Department of the Air Force.

Sincerely,

Source