Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training
Cullen Lindquist Takes Flight
Happy New Year Everyone -
I am eager to usher in 2026 with an incredibly special story to me, about my nephew Cullen “Cully” Lindquist. Last spring, Cully commissioned into the
United States Air Force when he graduated from the University of Colorado ROTC. After years of clear-eyed and focused commitment and dedication (along with a lot of fun at CU) - Cully was awarded a very rare and highly competitive spot in the NATO Fighter Jet Pilot training program called ENJJPT (Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training). His parents - Peter’s sister Pam, and husband Peter, brother Jack (A 1st Lt in Intelligence serving in the United States Space Force) and the rest of our family, are immensely proud of him, and its been so fascinating and exciting to watch and learn about his endeavors up close. I am excited and honored to share his story here.
This holiday season I was very aware what a special and uncommon thing it will increasingly be, that he can be with us for Christmas, and it was one of the best gifts of my season to be able to sit and talk to him at our big gathering at our house this year. “They tend to get tighter and tighter with my leave because they invest around $10M in my training so they don’t want anything to happen to me while on leave.” Through this and a few other conversations with him and a little research of my own, I have learned about how they attract train and prepare pilots (there is a shortage of pilots in the military right now). This has also given me new insights into the point behind the spectacular Chicago Air Show that I watch and photograph each August from our apartment and rooftop located right above the heart of the show. Some from last year below:
When eager to learn about Cully’s training I found Sam Eckholm, who is an Air Force Academy Graduate who is now “leveraging his military background and unique access and storytelling in order to educate and inspire.”
Eckholm now produces YouTube videos that illustrate the training process and this flying experience and what is required both physically and mentally. With a following of over 1.5M, he is now sponsored by major defense contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney in addition to government entities such as the Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and NATO. He also works with the CIA and brands like American Airlines.
Two sample recommended videos about this kind of flying that I found fascinating:
Favorite quote from his video: Pilot Tyler Hiester – call sign “FEMA” : “Airshows are just a small visible representation of the thousands of airmen serving around the world” This Pilot loves the F16 because of the design of the canopy and the visibility. He can’t see the nose of the plane or the wings…only where he’s going. “It feels like I’m sitting on the end of a dart”
Colorado born Lindquist Brothers with their Dad, Peter
Cully’s Training and how he was selected for ENJJPT:
Naturally - becoming an Air Force pilot, especially a fighter pilot, is extremely competitive, involving tough academic, physical, and testing hurdles to earn a slot against many applicants. With only about 30% selection rates for boards and further washouts in training, it requires top performance, mental fortitude, and strict criteria.
According to Eckholm, pilot training includes the following requirements: A college degree- no specified subject; Candidates must be 18-33 yrs old - US citizens in good standing; there is no flight experience necessary, and no physical requirements such as height or vision requirements as long as vision is correctable.
The next step is to be commissioned into the Military through the Airforce Academy or ROTC. Junior/Seniors then list their preference for a pilot slot – which is merit based, so they’ll evaluate student and overall performance records as a consideration.
Finally, two tests are required: Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) (Like an ACT or SAT of Air Force Pilot training) – and also the Test of Basic Aviation skills (TBAS) - which measures raw skills, spatial awareness and the ability to multi-task. These scores determine what position a cadet is eligible for, so in order to be eligible to become a pilot, high scores on both are required.
For Cully, the culmination of these significant efforts and more, led to his exhilarating and triumphant college “Drop night” which awarded him with not only a rare flight assignment, but with his coveted ENJJPT assignment.
The moment Cully learned he earned a slot and would become a Pilot in the US Air Force ✨
Currently…
After graduation last spring, Cully was assigned to Sheppard Air Force base in Texas, which hosts NATO candidates from allied countries and focuses on Fighter pilots. (There are three other bases that train pilots including Columbus (MS) Vance AFB (OK), Laughlin AFB (TX)).
In general, there are three phases of his training:
Phase 1: Academics - 6 weeks - basic aircraft systems and basic instrument flying
Phase 2: Flight Line – 6-8 months - learn to fly a small aircraft to learn basic flight maneuvers, aerobatics, basic instrument flying. Soon after orientation at Sheppard, the candidates attended Initial Flight Training – (IFT) in Pueblo, Colorado - 40 days and 20 hours of basic flight maneuvers – much like earning a private pilot’s license. Another part of this phase 2 training involves Centrifuge Training in Ohio – where he is taken up to up to 7.5Gs in a simulator. This training is designed to begin to get their bodies used to the pain of all the sensations, and to begin to build the ability to withstand them. (Cully can you elaborate on this a little?)
Phase 3: Three possible tracks for phase 3 based on Merit - (24-28 weeks long) : Basically and importantly - they are “Racked and Stacked” against their peers. The number one students get their first choice and so on. Students who want to fly Fighters must be at least in the top third of their class. All three phases are extremely rigorous – 10-12 hour days of instruction, simulator training and flying. The assignment options for this phase of training are: Airlift and Tankers; Fighters or Bombers (Twin engine Supersonic Jets); or Helicopters.
At the end of the three phases training - almost two years after commissioning – they will be assigned – or awarded - their aircraft, at their second Drop Night which is also largely merit based after listing their dream sheet of aircraft. They then move on to train extensively on their assigned aircraft before they are fully qualified. These training protocols vary extensively depending on type of aircraft and training group.
Currently, Cully is in phase two of pre-pilot training called “Casual Status” that will last until March, when he begins his training in earnest in a group of 24 people. So, this means he will graduate and have his “drop night” in March 2027. We cannot wait to attend to witness this momentous milestone when he learns what plane he gets assigned to for the beginning of his career. As mentioned, there are numerous possible aircraft, but primarily the officers in this NATO group will be assigned to either a fighter or a bomber. Cully’s preference and what he (and most in ENJJPT) are working and competing for, is for an F16 or an F35 assignment. So, on March 2, 2026, his training begins toward this goal with his class of 24. It is an “American heavy group” just by chance, meaning not as many NATO members will be in his class compared to others, but he’s excited about his group!
Everything he does between March 2nd to graduation one year later, will either help or hurt his chances to get the aircraft and top choice for locations following training.
Right now in his pre-training he works basically a 9-5 job supporting various training pilots and he likes it. He works on scheduling and various logistical things. In order to gain more experience and network more on base, he is volunteering for two other jobs as well. He is a fitness manager, overseeing fitness assessments for his unit, and is also a “Bird Dog” - essentially he drives around the runways on an ATV with a shotgun to shoot birds to prevent them from hitting planes which can be hazardous for pilots. (That’s a good gig if you can get it!) In addition, every now and then they are offered to “pick up” tasks that are sometimes difficult, but they all know the more they volunteer, the more credibility they earn - so he volunteers a lot. For example, sometimes he gets up at 3am to report by 4am to facilitate health assessments for enlisted members on the base.
Cully has thoroughly enjoyed his first six months of training at Sheppard and being with the NATO unit – partially because he loves all the unique cultural and social traditions on this base. This social side and “bar culture” is something they purposely encourage and is depicted so well in the Top Gun movies. They purposely want to foster deep friendships and an ethos of mutual respect, so this makes it all so inspiring and fun for Cully. He says the Germans are by far the craziest! It is a Work Hard - Play Hard Ethos that is constantly encouraged in various ways. He’s absolutely loving getting to know everyone. Another interesting aspect is since they are all the “creme de la crème” of wherever they came from, and they all have highly competitive dispositions. They were told to expect to “feel defeated” - maybe for the first time, just because they are all surrounded by people who all excelled - but ever strong, calm and even-tempered - Cully recognizes that this is all just part of it, and something he has to just accept and rise to.
His Casual group is about 40 people, and only 6 are women, but one is his friend Sara from CU. He says there’s a gang of about 15 that are bonding and he loves getting to know people from all over the world. They were assigned to a dorm “quad” with their own rooms and kitchens, and his assignment is with mostly the “Duchies” and a few Germans. They all decorate their quads to express their own country and he says the Italians are always cooking amazing foods! He’s with pilots who will be training from 13 different nations - Canada, Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Romania, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Denmark and Turkey.
Thankfully, the chain of command at ENJJPT comes from specialized NATO Security Council rather than the US Government, and their training is entirely different than the other US Air Force Pilot training programs. It is more specific and more thorough in various ways. Thankfully too, he won’t be assigned to this first operational post until about 2028.
Currently, Cully is studying all the “Boldface” protocols for the first aircraft he will be flying at Sheppard, the T6 Texan II. These are the “critical emergency procedures that aircrew have to memorize and execute during an in-flight emergency”. Some aircraft have short boldface lists, and other more complex aircraft have really long boldface lists, and they all must be memorized and known. It is truly mind blowing and sobering, how much there is to learn, and master, in order to not only complete their precise and dangerous missions, but to survive as well.
We are so fortunate that people like Cully are so willing to work this hard for the security of all of us.
A proud salute and prayer for you forever Cullen Lindquist:
A strong and special young man who chose the harder path—
Here’s to discipline earned, risk understood, and the quiet bravery of showing up.
May the sky receive you safely, and may you always return—wiser, grateful, and whole.
✨
Brenda Lush
WanderLush - January 1, 2026