U.S. and partner nation students graduate during IAAFA training cycle

Students wait in line to receive their wings during a graduation ceremony for the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Aug 8, 2022 at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland. Approximately 200 students from 10 partner nations and the U.S. graduated from IAAFA during B-Cycle graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

U.S. and partner nation students graduate during IAAFA training cycle

An international military students walk off the stage during graduation ceremony for the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Aug 8, 2022 at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland. Approximately 200 students from 10 partner nations and the U.S. graduated from IAAFA during B-Cycle graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

U.S. and partner nation students graduate during IAAFA training cycle

An international military student glances at the coin he received during graduation ceremony for the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Aug 8, 2022 at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland. Approximately 200 students from 10 partner nations and the U.S. graduated from IAAFA during B-Cycle graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

U.S. and partner nation students graduate during IAAFA training cycle

Capt. Leonardo Martinez, Colombian Air Force, points to his newly-earned wings from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy following a graduation ceremony Aug 8, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland. Approximately 200 students from 10 partner nations and the U.S. graduated from IAAFA during B-Cycle graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

U.S. and partner nation students graduate during IAAFA training cycle

Lt. Col. Tchoia Brown shakes hands with a student during a graduation ceremony for the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, Aug 8, 2022, at Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland. Approximately 200 students from 10 partner nations and the U.S. graduated from IAAFA during B-Cycle graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Vanessa R. Adame)

U.S. and partner nation students graduate during IAAFA training cycle

Published Aug. 31, 2022
By Vanessa Adame
37th Training Wing

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – International military students filled an auditorium here for a ceremony to mark the successful completion their training at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy Aug. 10, 2022.

At the conclusion of the training cycle, approximately 200 students from the U.S. and 10 Latin American countries earned their IAAFA wings.

Capitan Leonardo Martinez of Colombia, is one of the graduates graduating from the Instructor Pilot Instrument Procedures course. He described the training he received at IAAFA as physically and mentally challenging.

“The course exceeded my expectations, it’s the kind of course a student and pilot instructor seeks to strengthen their knowledge,” Martinez said.

The graduates were honored at a banquet that same day where Gen. Arturo González Ocampo, Commander of the Paraguayan Air Force, served as guest of honor. Antonio Bernabé Ayala Páez, sub-official principal, also joined González, as well as Col. Lauren Courchaine, 37th Training Wing commander, Col. José Jiménez Jr., IAAFA commandant, and other leaders from Joint Base San Antonio and the local community.

“I also studied within the same classrooms [at IAAFA], and it’s an honor to speak before such a select audience,” González told the graduates. “My presence here at IAAFA is testimony to the strong desire to continue strengthening the existing cooperation between all of the partner nations represented here by the students and instructors; in this way, together we can continue to bolster the defense and security of South America.”

Top performing students and instructors were also recognized during an awards ceremony including Suboficial Primera Sandra Gamboa of Policia de Peru, who earned the Academic Award for the highest grade point average in the enlisted category, and Teniente Cesar Benitez Gamba of the Colombian Air Force, who won the same award in the officer category.

A mariachi group and folklorico dancers helped celebrate the new graduates, who are leaving IAAFA with great memories and new knowledge.

As for Martinez, he plans to implement all he learned once he returns to Colombia, “…with the new students, with the instructors, with the seasoned pilots, with the students who come from other countries. It’s a great opportunity to be able to multiply the knowledge that IAAFA provides us with.”

The graduated international students were enrolled in 22 separate technical, professional military education and leadership, and aircrew training courses. IAAFA is the only Air Force institution that teaches these courses in Spanish to 32 partner nations across the Western Hemisphere.