IEAFA marks Nine Years of Sharpening Multinational Airpower

Published March 29, 2025
By Terrance D. Rhodes

RAMSTEIN, Germany --

As the Inter-European Air Forces Academy (IEAFA) celebrates its ninth anniversary, the academy continues to play a critical role in strengthening lethality and readiness among NATO, allied air forces, and African partners.

Through its professional military education (PME) programs and technical training, IEAFA has shaped enlisted and officer leadership, bridging gaps between diverse military cultures and preparing service members for the complexities of multinational operations.

Building a Legacy of Interoperability and Enhanced Readiness

Since its inception, IEAFA has been dedicated to empowering service members with the knowledge and skills necessary to operate cohesively and decisively in joint and multinational environments. For Lt. Col. Lyndsey Banks, IEAFA’s commander, the academy’s mission extends beyond tactics and technology. It’s about cultivating trust, understanding, and a shared warrior ethos across ranks and among partner nations.

“What strikes me most about IEAFA is its unique approach to building interoperability and enhancing readiness,” Banks said. “Seeing firsthand how IEAFA graduates return to their units, better equipped to lead, collaborate, and contribute to our mutual security is truly inspiring. IEAFA builds command teams. When we say that we are, “stronger together,” we mean that our students learn to lead at all levels. We are preparing them to operate effectively and serve alongside each other in the most demanding joint and multinational environments.”

This sentiment is echoed by SMSgt Robert Ortiz, IEAFA’s Senior Enlisted Leader, who highlights the academy’s ripple effect on enlisted leadership development and fostering a warrior ethos within the enlisted corps. “By strengthening partnerships, promoting interoperability, and instilling a commitment to excellence, we’re making a tangible contribution to a safer and more secure world,” Ortiz said.

Expanding Impact and Overcoming Challenges in a Complex Security Environment

Over the past year, IEAFA has expanded its reach, securing authorization to train African partners and further refining its curriculum to incorporate lessons from evolving security challenges. Notably, IEAFA is the first U.S. Air Force institution to become NATO-accredited, solidifying its role as a premier center for multinational professional military education. The academy has also integrated officer and enlisted education to create a more cohesive approach to leadership development and reinforce the warrior ethos at all levels.

“We recognize that professional military education must evolve to remain relevant in today’s complex security environment,” Banks said. “While we’ve embraced innovative teaching methods, IEAFA also emphasizes the enduring relevance of leadership fundamentals and the importance of a strong warrior ethos. These leadership principles ensure our graduates recognize that true interoperability stems from a foundation of teamwork and collaboration. This legacy of unified effort and shared purpose is what leads to decisive victories.”

One of the most significant challenges in international environments is the varying levels of enlisted force empowerment among different nations. Ortiz emphasized IEAFA’s role in bridging these gaps and fostering a shared warrior ethos. “We don’t all speak the same operational language or make decisions at the same levels,” he said. “IEAFA ensures that we align leadership principles with a common framework that transcends cultural and hierarchical differences.”

Success stories from IEAFA alumni reinforce this mission. Ortiz recalled a conversation with Romania’s Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, an IEAFA graduate, who credited the academy with shaping his career. “He wouldn’t be where he is today without IEAFA,” Ortiz said. “As Romania's CMSAF, I've used the principles I learned there to mend the relationship between our Air and Land Forces to the point we are now training together – this stuff really works!”

Looking Ahead: A Decade of Enhancing Lethality and Readiness

As IEAFA nears its 10-year milestone, the academy is poised to further expand its role within USAFE and NATO, focusing on enhancing the readiness of the multinational airpower community. Plans are underway to welcome new NATO members - Finland and Sweden - into the IEAFA community and explore new programs focused on developing the next generation of warrior leaders.

“Our biggest opportunities for growth lie in deepening our impact within the European and African theaters,” Banks said. “We’re focusing on expanding our capacity to welcome more students and cultivating opportunities for greater interoperability, enhanced lethality, and sustained readiness.”

The 10-year anniversary will serve as both a celebration and a reaffirmation of IEAFA’s mission. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the vision and dedication of those who have contributed to IEAFA’s success,” Banks said. “It’s a moment to reflect on our achievements and continue building a brighter future for multinational airpower.”

Ortiz summed up IEAFA’s enduring impact with a message to alumni and partner nation forces:

“At IEAFA, we plant seeds of knowledge, skill. We may not personally enjoy the shade of the trees we cultivate, but the impact of our work will be felt for generations to come.”

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