Forum: General F-35 Forum

F-35A Maintenance Training on Track by George Woodward 13 Sep 2012
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

http://www.asdnews.com/news-44920/F-35A ... _Track.htm

"As the Air Force begins its Operational Utility Evaluation of the F-35A Lightning II, maintenance training to support the joint strike fighter is also preparing for key program milestones.

Though the first "pipeline" students -- basic military training graduates -- don't begin training until January 2014, the two units in charge of F-35A maintenance training are already hard at work....

..."Right now at Eglin, we're training fuels, low-observables, crew chiefs, avionics, egress and weapons maintainers," said Senior Master Sgt. Greg Elliott, Det. 19 detachment chief. "Our students are a mix of 33rd Fighter Wing maintainers as well as Airmen from Edwards AFB getting ready for (Operational Test and Evaluation) and from Hill AFB for depot maintenance. We're also training (Autonomic Logistics Information System) in 'purple' courses with Marines and Sailors."

The joint nature of training is not merely incidental, but part and parcel of F-35 maintenance training -- illustrated by the fact that both the 359th TRS and Det. 19 have Marine Corps officers in command.

So far the maintenance training team has graduated 194 F-35 maintainers, performed more than 7,100 hours of course reviews and identified 9,970 line item curriculum corrections, Elliott said....

...One of 46 field training detachments the Air Force operates worldwide, Det. 19 is also working with the Navy and Marine Corps to establish best practices for F-35 training and maximize the use of limited training resources among the services. Earlier this year, the Marine Corps established its first field training detachment, mirroring the Air Force's model.

"(The Marine Corps) decided that the Air Force model for maintenance training was the right way to do business," said Marine Capt. John Park, commander of Det. 19. "The Marine Corps, when we go to a platform, we stay there for our whole careers ... so this is new to us. Having Marines move to the F-35 from the F-18 Hornet or AV-8B Harrier is unheard of, so it's a big change in our training process."...

Complete article best read at the jump.

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