Viet officer graduates ALP at CAFB

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Capt. Toai Dang of the Vietnam Air Defense-Air Force became the first Vietnamese student to graduate from the Aviation Leadership Program (ALP) on May 31 at Columbus Air Force Base. ALP is a U.S. Air Force-funded program providing students of partner and developing countries with undergraduate pilot training scholarships. The graduation ceremony also recognized students from the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 19-10/16. In addition, Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, commander of Air Education and Training Command, commented on Dang’s graduation marking a significant step forward for the two countries’ air forces. His graduation from ALP and the skills and knowledge he’s gained through the training “will allow the U.S. and Vietnam to more effectively work together to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he continued. Maj. Dave Cote, a 41st Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and Capt. Christy Martin, from the 14th Student Squadron, are both international military student officers who provide administrative support to the 55 international student officers from 23 nations while they are in pilot training at CAFB. Dang said he is looking forward to returning home to help fellow pilots with lessons learned after a year at CAFB. Upon his return, Dang will fly the EADS CASA 295, a twin turboprop tactical airlifter. Twenty years from now, “student pilots and graduates from Columbus AFB will be colonels and generals in their respective air forces, and these relationships could play a major role down the road, Cote said. (Source: CAFB 06/06/19)