Marine's declare IOC

[markithere]

http://news.yahoo.com/u-marines-declare ... nance.html

Your thoughts?

[spazsinbad]

My thoughts? Why start yet another USMC IOC Thread? Here is one long running thread elsewhere:

Judgment Day [VMFA-121 IOC Declaration] CAM Jul 2015 Current end post (not beginning) here:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27429&p=297239#p297239

AND anotherie: F-35B Begins New ‘Operational Readiness Inspection’ Beginning post below:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27557

'neptune' started another ORI (for IOC) thread here: F-35B ORI viewtopic.php?f=61&t=27602

AND... just to be 'on the ball' (know what that is?) here is the same article that started this thread above HERE below:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27429&p=297239&hilit=reuters#p297239

[bring_it_on]

My thoughts? Why start yet another USMC IOC Thread? Here is one long running thread elsewhere:

Judgment Day [VMFA-121 IOC Declaration] CAM Jul 2015 Current end post (not beginning) here:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27429&p=297239#p297239

[willhan]

U.S. Marine Corps Declares the F-35B Operational

The U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operational capability today with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for world-wide deployment.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), based in Yuma, Arizona, is the first squadron in military history to become operational with an F-35 variant, following a five-day Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI), which concluded July 17.

"I am pleased to announce that VMFA-121 has achieved initial operational capability in the F-35B, as defined by requirements outlined in the June 2014 Joint Report to Congressional Defense Committees," said Gen. Joseph Dunford, Commandant of the Marine Corps. "VMFA-121 has ten aircraft in the Block 2B configuration with the requisite performance envelope and weapons clearances, to include the training, sustainment capabilities, and infrastructure to deploy to an austere site or a ship. It is capable of conducting close air support, offensive and defensive counter air, air interdiction, assault support escort and armed reconnaissance as part of a Marine Air Ground Task Force, or in support of the Joint Force."

Dunford stated that he has his full confidence in the F-35B's ability to support Marines in combat, predicated on years of concurrent developmental testing and operational flying.

"Prior to declaring IOC, we have conducted flight operations for seven weeks at sea aboard an L-Class carrier, participated in multiple large force exercises, and executed a recent operational evaluation which included multiple live ordnance sorties," said Dunford. "The F-35B's ability to conduct operations from expeditionary airstrips or sea-based carriers provides our Nation with its first 5th generation strike fighter, which will transform the way we fight and win."

As the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation, the F-35 will eventually replace three legacy platforms: the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler.

"The success of VMFA-121 is a reflection of the hard work and effort by the Marines in the squadron, those involved in the program over many years, and the support we have received from across the Department of the Navy, the Joint Program Office, our industry partners, and the Under Secretary of Defense. Achieving IOC has truly been a team effort," concluded Dunford.

The U.S. Marine Corps has trained and qualified more than 50 Marine F-35B pilots and certified about 500 maintenance personnel to assume autonomous, organic-level maintenance support for the F-35B.

VMFA-121's transition will be followed by Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211), an AV-8B squadron, which is scheduled to transition to the F-35B in fiscal year 2016. In 2018, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), an F-18 Hornet squadron, will conduct its transition.

https://www.f35.com/news/detail/u.s.-ma ... perational

[sferrin]

" we have conducted flight operations for seven weeks at sea aboard an L-Class carrier"

Those F-35s were out there for 7 weeks?

[SpudmanWP]

So.. now that they are IOC (Congrats to all).....

Considering that they are SO close and are Operational, when do you think they will make an appearance at Red Flag or Northern Edge?

[nht]

My thoughts? Why start yet another USMC IOC Thread? Here is one long running thread elsewhere:

Judgment Day [VMFA-121 IOC Declaration] CAM Jul 2015 Current end post (not beginning) here:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27429&p=297239#p297239

That is the declaration that the IOC would occur in the future and the first squadron would be VMFA-121.

Not the announcement that IOC happened just now which seems far more appropriately discussed in general since it doesn't necessarily talks about units. If the announcement today stated that IOC would be delayed a year you think that should be discussed in F-35 units rather than F-35 general?

AND anotherie: F-35B Begins New ‘Operational Readiness Inspection’ Beginning post below:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27557

'neptune' started another ORI (for IOC) thread here: F-35B ORI viewtopic.php?f=61&t=27602

While passing your ORI is required for declaring IOC those two events are not the same.

AND... just to be 'on the ball' (know what that is?) here is the same article that started this thread above HERE below:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27429&p=297239&hilit=reuters#p297239

If there was another post in General about the actual IOC I'd agree that we had pointless thread proliferation. That the IOC information was posted to related topics in other sub forums isn't really compelling. There are 11 sub-forums. I follow maybe three and only occasionally glance at active topics.

[SpudmanWP]

[geforcerfx]

" we have conducted flight operations for seven weeks at sea aboard an L-Class carrier"

Those F-35s were out there for 7 weeks?

I think hes counting total time spent at sea in the wasp for the couple tests they did.

[quote="SpudmanWP] "So.. now that they are IOC (Congrats to all).....

Considering that they are SO close and are Operational, when do you think they will make an appearance at Red Flag or Northern Edge? [/quote]
I would think they would wait for 3F.

[nht]

Lt. Gen. Davis Interview on F-35 IOC

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/417457/lt-gen-davis-interview-f-35-ioc

[SpudmanWP]

Youtube version of Davis Interview

[spazsinbad]

'nht' said above: "... There are 11 sub-forums. I follow maybe three and only occasionally glance at active topics...."

NOT MY PROBLEM.

[nht]

'nht' said above: "... There are 11 sub-forums. I follow maybe three and only occasionally glance at active topics...."

NOT MY PROBLEM.

Likewise this supposed post duplication isn't my problem either. IMHO this event (formal declaration of 1st IOC) is important enough to warrant it's own thread in General.

[spazsinbad]

'nht' granted - you are not 'markithere' - and "your thoughts" are noted. BTW did you miss the part where the same article was posted already earlier? NOT on your reading list here I guess BUT I see you did catch that ball.

[spazsinbad]

Earlier first part quoted here - however USMC declaration quoted in full below from same article:
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=27429&p=297276&hilit=Eckstein#p297276

Marines Declare Initial Operational Capability on F-35B Joint Strike Fighter
31 Jul 2015 Megan Eckstein

"...The following is the complete statement from the Marine Corps:

"The U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operational capability today with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for world-wide deployment.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), based in Yuma, Arizona, is the first squadron in military history to become operational with an F-35 variant, following a five-day Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI), which concluded July 17.

“I am pleased to announce that VMFA-121 has achieved initial operational capability in the F-35B, as defined by requirements outlined in the June 2014 Joint Report to Congressional Defense Committees,” said Gen. Joseph Dunford, Commandant of the Marine Corps. “VMFA-121 has ten aircraft in the Block 2B configuration with the requisite performance envelope and weapons clearances, to include the training, sustainment capabilities, and infrastructure to deploy to an austere site or a ship. It is capable of conducting close air support, offensive and defensive counter air, air interdiction, assault support escort and armed reconnaissance as part of a Marine Air Ground Task Force, or in support of the Joint Force.”

Dunford stated that he has his full confidence in the F-35B’s ability to support Marines in combat, predicated on years of concurrent developmental testing and operational flying.

“Prior to declaring IOC, we have conducted flight operations for seven weeks at sea aboard an L-Class carrier, participated in multiple large force exercises, and executed a recent operational evaluation which included multiple live ordnance sorties,” said Dunford. “The F-35B’s ability to conduct operations from expeditionary airstrips or sea-based carriers provides our Nation with its first 5th generation strike fighter, which will transform the way we fight and win.”

As the future of Marine Corps tactical aviation, the F-35 will eventually replace three legacy platforms: the AV-8B Harrier, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the EA-6B Prowler.

“The success of VMFA-121 is a reflection of the hard work and effort by the Marines in the squadron, those involved in the program over many years, and the support we have received from across the Department of the Navy, the Joint Program Office, our industry partners, and the Under Secretary of Defense. Achieving IOC has truly been a team effort,” concluded Dunford.

The U.S. Marine Corps has trained and qualified more than 50 Marine F-35B pilots and certified about 500 maintenance personnel to assume autonomous, organic-level maintenance support for the F-35B.

VMFA-121’s transition will be followed by Marine Attack Squadron 211 (VMA-211), an AV-8B squadron, which is scheduled to transition to the F-35B in fiscal year 2016. In 2018, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), an F-18 Hornet squadron, will conduct its transition."

Source: http://news.usni.org/2015/07/31/marines ... ke-fighter