Chapter 28: Learning to Fly

02 June 2020 – Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas

Second Lieutenant Sabrina Knox-Jones and her husband entered the Student Training Flight office in the ENJJPT Building at 0930. She wore her OCP uniform in an official capacity for the first time. She still wasn’t used to the imagined weight of her rank insignia. A senior airman looked up from her desk.

“Good morning, Ma’am.”

The airman nodded at Tommy, who trailed behind Sabrina.

“Good morning, Senior Airman. Lieutenant Knox-Jones reporting for ENJJPT.”

Sabrina handed over a copy of her orders. Senior Airman Davis pulled Sabrina’s file up on her computer.

“I see you have your private pilot’s license already, Ma’am?”

“I do.”

Sabrina handed the airman a copy of her PPL certificate next.

“Okay, housing?”

“We’re good. I spoke with the Housing Office once I received my orders and got permission to live off-base. We’ll rent a house about five minutes from the Visitor’s Center on Northview Drive.” Sabrina handed over the address.

“Popular place,” SrA Davis commented. “You’re the third student I’ve seen stay there since I came to Sheppard, and the airman I replaced told me he saw another three there. Moved in already?”

“Yesterday. Tommy and I unpacked all night. The landlords have found their niche, and they just finished a reno, too.”

“What’d they do for the reno?”

“New floors throughout, fresh paint in every room, new fence around the property.”

“Very nice!” SrA Davis chirped. “You’ll be issued three flight suits at some point. Those are your Uniform of the Day at ENJJPT unless you hear otherwise, even as a casual student.”

The airman checked her computer and glanced at Tommy.

“Your husband, Ma’am?” Sabrina nodded. “And you have your spousal ID updated?” Davis asked Tommy.

A spousal ID is just that – an access card for military wives and husbands – allowing them to get on base and use facilities there.

“We’re both up-to-date in DEERS, but we haven’t gone to the support flight yet,” Tommy replied.

‘DEERS’ is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, a database of people who are eligible to receive DoD benefits.

“That’s our next stop, but we wanted to confirm Sabrina was all set here first.”

“You’re all set here, Ma’am. Here’s a checklist for the rest of your in-processing items. The top section lists the mandatory completion items.”

“Then I’ll depart the office and start work on these.”

“Have a good day, Ma’am.”

The 82nd Force Support Squadron supports everyone who lives or works on Sheppard Air Force Base, especially those on active duty. It oversees lodging, education, food sales, and on-base activities such as bowling and other off-duty events. One of the support services it provides is the Military Personnel Flight (MPF). MPF informs people about off-base attractions and local happenings. It also offers one-stop shopping for ID cards, in-processing, evaluations, promotions, testing, etc.

Getting Tommy’s ID wasn’t as painful as they suspected, but it did take time. Sabrina and Tommy completed her mandatory in-processing checklist by early afternoon. They checked out one of the on-base eateries for a late lunch.

“I can’t believe you have a mandatory orientation!” Tommy exclaimed around his ‘Tommy B,’ a sandwich filled with macaroni, cheese, and layered peppered bacon. “It’s not like you work at Target!”

“I’m the low woman on the totem pole now, TJ,” Sabrina replied with a shrug. “I do as they tell me. I’ll wear a onesie around all day and play with air-ee-o-planes, so it’s all good.” She took a bite of her salad. “Are you getting a job while I’m gone all day?”

“The Legal Aid office here does tax prep during tax season, so I’ll start there. There are plenty of other places off-base I can look into if that doesn’t work out. I’ll also check out Midwestern State University’s MBA program and see if I can work that in while you’re busy.”

“I’m sorry you’re gonna get left alone so often, Tom.”

“Sabrina, I knew what I signed up for the day I kissed you on the slopes of Breckenridge. You have career goals, and I’m not standing in the way of them.”

Sabrina enjoyed one last carefree weekend with Tommy, now her husband of almost two months. They explored the Wichita Falls area and found it to their liking. The people were friendly, the city well laid out, the pace slower than where they grew up. Sheppard Air Force Base had, for the most part, the same amenities as every base she knew of. She and Tom checked those out over the weekend, too. Their time together ran out far faster than they wanted.

“You didn’t have to get up, Tom. You don’t have to be anywhere this morning, and the sun’s barely up!”

“Sure I did. I needed to get up and help my wife out the door for her first day at ENJJPT. Make her breakfast and help her establish a routine. The cadre will swamp you with new information during UPT. And that’ll only grow.”

“I really am lucky you found me.”

“I am lucky someone else didn’t snap you up before I came to Colorado.”

With a kiss, Sabrina was gone. She walked into the ENJJPT building and paused. Then, she looked over her flight suit again, confirming that her appearance was perfect: her rank was sewn on her shoulders perfectly, unit patches were in the right places, her name tag was without wings on and straight, her hair was up correctly, and her mask was on and well-seated.

‘Breathe, Sabrina. Just breathe... ‘

Sabrina gathered herself before entering the meeting room specified in her check-in handout.

“Lieutenant Knox-Jones?”

“Yessir?” she replied to the dark-haired, compact man.

“Sminagos Ioannis Koskoulis, Hellenic Air Force. ‘Captain’ Ioannis Koskoulis in English. I’ll be one of your instructor pilots during UPT and the rest of ENJJPT.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir. Sabrina Knox-Jones, originally from outside Boston.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Boston during my time here. Red Sox fan?”

“Yessir!” Sabrina laughed. “Though I’m more of a Boston Bruins hockey fan. I used to play.”

“At least I know what kind of student I’m getting! No swinging your helmet bag if you’re upset!”

“Wouldn’t endear me to my dad’s mom’s side of the family. Keiolis.”

“Then we shall share some ouzo at the appropriate time! Καλως ΗΡΘΑΤΕ! Εύχομαι καλή επιτυχία!”

“I speak a few languages, Sir, but Greek isn’t one of them.”

“‘Welcome! I wish you good luck!’”

“Thank you, Sir. I’ll try not to kill us more than once a week.”

“My family would appreciate that. Ευχαριστώ. Thank you.”

At that point, a man with a gray buzz cut and a flight suit strode into the room. Someone called everyone to attention, which made people shoot to their feet. The man stalked to the podium before speaking.

“Be seated.” Everyone sat again. “I am Oberst-leutnant Lothar Wehner, West German Air Force or Luftwaffe, commanding officer, 80th Operations Group of the 80th Flying Training Wing. My staff plans and executes your training. I oversee seven squadrons, six of them flying training squadrons.” Lieutenant Colonel Wehner stepped around the podium.

“What you new students see around you is the mission of ENJJPT, to foster cooperation and build strength within NATO. I have run into pilots I met here during our time as students many times, in NATO meetings, in training, and even while vacationing. We are comfortable interacting after over a year together here. That builds better training in Europe and better cohesion between countries in the alliance.” He looked around the room.

“Relax. Settle in. It will not be long before the volume of information will begin to feel overwhelming. Let your IPs help you where they can, and help each other. It is a long road ahead of you, but a rewarding one.” LTC Wehner nodded to the back of the room.

“ATTENTION!”

The colonel strode out.

“All right, Lieutenant,” Captain Koskoulis said, “let’s get you ready for Phase One.”