cadet Fabio Perez Lopez became the first Spanish speaker to successfully complete the Initial Officer Training Course at the
, one of the most prestigious in the world, based in the United Kingdom.
The young student from the Peruvian Air Force Officer School completed the MIOTC course over eight months.
The instruction received in the program has strengthened his training as a future officer and allowed him to acquire a global perspective and valuable intercultural background.
The Peruvian Air Force highlighted this achievement on its social media and noted that Perez gained valuable experience in doctrine, leadership, and top-level military training, representing Peru with honor.
The opportunity to train at RAF Cranwell came thanks to an initiative by the high command of the FAP, which opened the Air Attaché Office in London and promoted the participation of a cadet in this international program
"In the case of the cadets who passed the evaluations in the selection process, we learned that it was for the Royal Air Force," he told Andina News Agency.
Challenges
After a rigorous selection process, which included language proficiency tests and interviews with British representatives, Perez was chosen to represent Peru from August 2024 to April 2025.
During his stay, Perez faced a series of challenges, such as adapting to the British accent and writing military documents in English.
"One of the biggest challenges was the language barrier, as I had been accustomed to hearing American English all my life, so the change between accents was quite a challenge. Academically, writing documents, expressing opinions, participating in classes, giving presentations, holding briefings, and learning slang were also part of it. Additionally, differentiating between accents was a matter of adaptation, to the point where I stopped thinking in Spanish," he explained.
The physical demands of training in extreme temperatures, including an expedition in Scotland under adverse weather conditions, were another challenge he had to face.
Among his memories is the adventure training in Scotland, climbing mountains over 1,000 meters high with extreme temperatures and winds of -13°C, along with hail, fog, and rain, using military gear suited for that geography and climate.
"Going from the Peruvian winter to the British winter was a big challenge (...) in one of the practical field exercises, where it had snowed, and we were camping in the forest at -3°C with routine inspections of field equipment. However, in most field deployments and physical education classes in the snow, it was a different experience," he indicated.
Despite the difficulties, Perez highlighted the openness and camaraderie of his instructors and international peers, with whom he shared not only training but also cultural experiences.
"Being the first Peruvian cadet, they showed plenty of interest in getting to know me, my country, and my customs," he noted.
The reception Perez received from the instructors and classmates was very friendly and even, at some point, amusing.
"At first, they were quite confused because they couldn't guess which country my accent was from until I, jokingly, told them I came from the same place as Paddington Bear," he said.
Projection in Peru
The Peruvian cadet emphasized that British training places emphasis on leadership, ethics, self-discipline, and commitment -aspects he hopes to apply in his future role as a FAP.
He also appreciated the institutional support he received, pointing out that the Peruvian Air Force is committed to high-level professional training with international reach.
Perez left a message for future Peruvians who dream of pursuing a career in military aviation.
"The message I would give is to prepare, to study, to be disciplined, and to show great interest in learning the English language because it can open doors to experiences like this. For an aviator, the sky is no longer the limit," he stated.
After this enriching experience, the fourth-year cadet aims to graduate as an officer (Second Lieutenant) next December.
"My expectations as an officer are to contribute to helping my Air Force fulfill its mission and vision by applying the knowledge gained from this experience at RAF Cranwell," he pointed out.
Perez also emphasized that the FAP is interested in sending cadets abroad so that the professional training of its members leads them to professional excellence.
"This way, we can acquire knowledge and experiences in top-level institutions in the international context, seeking the continuous improvement of our institution," he concluded.
