Photo By Tech. Sgt. Marleah Miller | Col. Christopher Niemi, 33rd Operations Group commander, presents U.S. Marine Corps...... read more read more
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EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The first U.S. Marine Corps officer graduated the Air Force’s only F-35 Lightning II Intelligence Formal Training Unit course, June 24, on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The formal course combines fifth-generation fighter-specific and general intelligence academics applicable to the F-35 and the low observable global strike mission. Completion of the F-35 IFTU curriculum fulfills all initial qualification training requirements, and students are assigned basic qualification status.
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Samuel Winsted, F-35B Lightning II intelligence officer, started his training at Eglin, May 18, 2015, learning the unique aspects of F-35 employment and intelligence support to the F-35 mission.
“It’s our job to help students understand what the F-35 can do and what it brings to the fight,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Miskin, 33rd Operations Group F-35 IFTU instructor. “We have to change and modify our lessons so we can incorporate those changes program-wide as the F-35 program approaches initial operational capability.”
The Marine Corps will declare IOC with the F-35B, short take-off and vertical landing variant, this summer.
“Having Lt. Winsted here is significant because the Marine Corps doesn’t have a course equivalent to our F-35 IFTU course,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Turner, 33rd Operations Support Squadron commander. “It will absolutely increase their capability.”
Winsted will serve in a critical role assisting the Marine Corps’ F-35 program at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, as it becomes the first operational F-35B base.
“Now that I have my basic qualification status, I can provide the right information, scenario development and mission integration to the F-35B to the Marine aircrews at MCAS Yuma,” said Winsted.
The F-35 IFTU at Eglin provides reach-back support regarding intelligence support to other services’ F-35 squadrons.
“Hopefully, we will be able to teach more Navy and Marine intelligence analysts,” said Miskin. “That way, as a whole, we can all be on the same page as to what intelligence to provide and how they will support F-35 aircrew to complete the mission.”
| Date Taken: | 06.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2015 09:45 |
| Story ID: | 168582 |
| Location: | EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 193 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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