Subscribe
Congressional defense staffers, including Alaska Congressman Don Young's Defense and National Security Advisor Jakob Johnsen, visited Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 10, 2017.
The purpose of the visit was to provide congressional staffers an overview of U.S. military equities in Alaska, update the delegation on current projects and develop a better understanding of exercise Northern Edge 17.
“As JBER is home to two F-22 squadrons and Eielson Air Force Base will soon be home to two F-35A squadrons, it is important to Congressman Young that the two platforms can operate with each other and also with our legacy, fourth-generation platforms,” said Jakob Johnsen, senior legislative assistant to Congressman Young. “Northern Edge 17 provided us with the opportunity to see firsthand how the Department of Defense and Pacific Command plan to use both fourth and fifth-generation fighters to accomplish our desired ends.”
During the staff delegates’ six-day visit, they had the chance to tour Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and had the opportunity to get an up-close view of a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The F-35B Lightning II, which is participating in exercise Northern Edge 17 for the first time, is the world’s first operational short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft and has a greater mission radius than legendary platforms.
“This was the first time I had seen the F-35B, and the first time I have seen one actually fly,” said Johnsen. “It is an amazing aircraft, and Congressman Young looks forward to the continued development of its capabilities and tactics, techniques, and procedures.”
The F-35B Lightning II is participating alongside U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors for the first time in Alaska. Alaskan Command is hosting exercise Northern Edge 17, which is a joint-training exercise designed to sharpen participants’ tactical combat skills and develop interoperable plans and programs across the joint force.
According to Maj. Michael O’Brien, the operations officer for VMFA 121, visits like this one allow the squadron to highlight the F-35B Lightning II’s capabilities. It also provides non-military personnel an opportunity to see the aircraft and gain a better understanding of its ability to not only successfully perform in exercises like Northern Edge 17 but in other environments and integrate with other services’ aircraft.
“We really enjoy showing people outside of the military our aircraft and its capabilities,” said O’Brien. “Not many people will get the opportunity to see the F-35B Lightning II up close so when we aren’t flying, we like to provide opportunities for people to do that while giving them an ‘insiders’ perspective on the true successes of the F-35B and the Joint Strike Fighter program as a whole.”
It was the first time for many of the legislative assistants and advisors to see the F-35B variant. They also learned more about the Joint Strike Fighter program and how the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps employ their fifth-generation aircraft.
“I think we all really enjoyed hearing from an actual F-35 pilot from the force,” said Johnsen. “On Capitol Hill we often hear from general and flag officers on the F-35 program so it was great to hear from the actual operator, the actual pilot flying the F-35 every day. It was especially interesting to hear him compare his experience with the F-35 to his experience with fourth-generation fighters, and the incredible leap forward the F-35 provides. I look forward to sharing his perspective with Congressman Young and colleagues on Capitol Hill.”
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2017 16:42 |
| Story ID: | 233719 |
| Location: | ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Congressional Defense Staffers Visit VMFA-121, by MAJ Melissa Spencer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
