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Due to reduced military funding since the end of the Cold War, the Swedish Air Force pilot training program has undergone extensive changes the past few years. Previously, all pilot training was conducted in Sweden which contributed to the creation of a certain community and spirit within the Swedish Air Force. However, since 2022 the majority of flight training for pilots flying multi-engine aircraft has been conducted in the US Navy.

Because of this new cultural environment, Swedish students may bring home certain values and impressions which in turn might alter the current organizational culture of the Swedish Air Force. This could contribute to a fragmentation among pilots since they no longer share the same educational background, while an international environment might prove beneficial due to Sweden’s entry to NATO. However, these potential cultural changes are not yet noticeable in the Swedish Air Force.

This study aims to increase the understanding of how cultural factors in the US Navy could affect the culture of the Swedish Air Force. Through a qualitative approach, four Swedish pilots who have undergone flight training in the US Navy were interviewed regarding their experiences from their flight training. The result indicates that hierarchy, performance, initiative and individualism are perceived to be advocated values in the US Navy and could thus become more prominent values in the Swedish Air Force’s culture in the future. Further research is needed to confirm or reject the potential consequences highlighted in this study.