The U.S. Air Force has been fundamentally changed with the arrival of the F-35A Lightning II, and the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base are a big part of the transformation. These pilots and maintainers are not only flying state-of-the-art aircraft, but also are behind the scenes, setting new standards for what it takes to be combat-ready. Repeatable, predictable routines are a thing of the past; the time of F-35A corresponds to the emphasis on flexibility, rapid response, and creativity at each echelon.
Agile Combat Employment (ACE), the idea that confounds conventional fighter operations, is at the center of this change. Picture airmen who have their gear packed, getting on a C-17, and landing at a deserted airstrip with just enough facilities to refuel, rearm, and take off their airplanes. There are no large support crews, long supply chains, only the well-trained teams getting the job done.
Lt. Col. Aaron Cavazos, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, refers to the old system as “showing up in-country, staying put for months, doing the same routine, and leaving.” Today, though, unpredictability is the norm, and the exercise at Mt. Home Air Force Base is one of the proofs that thin, cross-trained units can work effectively with the minimum number of personnel.
Master Sgt. Jonathan Whelan talks about the “Core 54” method, where weapons and avionics technicians work shoulder to shoulder with crew chiefs, which leads to a smaller strike force but at the same time, greater combat readiness.
Still, the advancement of Air Force weapons systems through technology and tactics is just one side of the story. Military professionals on active duty and in the reserves have become partners, creating a Total Force alliance that is more than just a catchphrase. Mutually, the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill operate a total of 78 F-35As to capitalize on the pairing of talent and experience.
Col. Matt Fritz, 419th Fighter Wing commander, points out that pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel from the reserve train for the times they will be suddenly required by the country, then they will be ready to be deployed without any delay. This mix of veteran wisdom with fresh outlook guarantees that no matter where the planes fly – be it Europe, Japan, or the Middle East – they are always bringing the best of both worlds.
The F-35A has been a great benefit for allied forces in multi-national missions as well. They were able to increase American readiness and improve NATO’s overall air defense capabilities when they got to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. General Jeff Harrigian, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, pointed out that such deployments “significantly increase our support to NATO’s defenses.” The effort is not solely concentrated on missions; rather, it is on establishing confidence, compatibility, and a similar goal with close friends among other countries.
Changes alongside the operational revolutions have also affected training programs. Exercises like Sentry Savannah and Bamboo Eagle stretch the skills of airmen to cover scenarios of rapid cargo operations and simulated near-peer air combat. The Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) concept is the basis for these changes.
Airmen are not constrained to a single specialty; they learn to do tasks such as fueling, loading, and maintenance regardless of their profession. Senior Master Sgt. Jake Lewis says this cross-training instills confidence and upskilling in teams, allowing them to be self-sufficient and efficient even when going far away on deployment.
The influence of these programs is felt not only inside the base but also in its neighboring zones. Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a community that has already undergone the economic and cultural benefits of winning the F-35A international training programs. Community leaders foresee large-scale development of the local economy as a result of the implementation of these programs, with an annual potential of nearly one billion dollars in economic contributions. Tim Allen, president of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, is enthusiastic about the partnership, stating that it not only strengthens our international ties but also has the potential to increase local opportunities.
For anyone who has been captivated by aviation, military strategy, or innovation, the saga of the F-35A Lightning II and its crews is a masterclass in anticipating what comes next. These airmen are the future of air combat—being agile, adaptable, and ever-prepared for their next mission—, and they are proving that readiness is after all a matter of people as much as it is of planes.