The F-35A Lightning II has done more than just become a unit of U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft—it has revolutionized how the Air Force prepares for and carries out combat missions. At Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings have led the way in setting a standard for this revolution, showing what airpower today can do when precision, versatility, and teamwork come together.
What’s actually shifted isn’t the plane itself—it’s the attitude behind how it’s used. The new plan for the Air Force, Agile Combat Employment (ACE), is far removed from the massive, predictable deployments of the past. To wit: no longer are there the sprawling bases and infinite supply lines—today’s Airmen are all about being fast, mobile, and flexible. Picture tiny, well-trained crews loading their equipment onto a C-17, touching down on a remote runway, and getting to work with only enough to maintain the mission.
Lt. Col. Aaron Cavazos of the 34th Fighter Squadron summed it up: “There used to be a lot of sitting around. Not anymore.” That added speed has made every drill a readiness test. At Mountain Home Air Force Base, training demonstrated that with cross-trained Airmen, you do not require a large crew to keep F-35s in the air. Master Sgt. Jonathan Whelan’s “Core 54” idea embodies that philosophy—technicians, crew chiefs, and avionics technicians cross-training in one another’s trades so the mission is never stalled, even with fewer people on the ground.
But under all of this change, it’s still the people who make the mission happen. The active duty and reserve Airman partnership at Hill has produced one Total Force team. The 388th and 419th work together with 78 F-35As—side by side, part-time and full-time Airmen available anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.
As Capt. Matt Fritz of the 419th described it, reservists practice, expecting that they will be called to duty. When these wings go into deployment—to Europe, to the Pacific, to the Middle East—they don’t carry planes and guns, they carry an always-on attitude about preparing and responding.
As F-35As land at bases like Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, their arrival is less about a lot more deterrence. It’s a show of solidarity. These deployments underpin NATO’s defense posture and demonstrate a level of interoperability and confidence that few coalitions can rival. The image of American and European pilots in the air and on the ground flying and training together is as robust as the aircraft itself.
At the home station, training has increased in intensity. Drills like Sentry Savannah and Bamboo Eagle challenge pilots and ground crew with tough, realistic conditions—anything from flying in poor weather to combat simulation against near-peer competitors. It’s all facilitated by the Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) program, which puts Airmen to the test to master multiple skill sets.
Today’s airmen are not just mechanics or refuelers but flexible operators who are able to do several different jobs in the midst of combat. Senior Master Sgt. Jake Lewis explained that cross-training instills confidence and renders little, forward-deployed units independent, even in the midst of limited resources.
The reach of the F-35A goes far beyond the Air Force, as well. Communities such as Fort Smith, Ark., are experiencing the payoffs directly with foreign partner training programs bringing new jobs, investment, and foreign partnerships to their doorstep. Local officials anticipate billions of dollars’ worth of long-term economic value—but the true dividend is the partnership and shared experience created through these efforts.
Last but not least, the F-35A is a combat aircraft—it’s a power of transformation. It’s changing the way the Air Force trains, deploys, and fights. The coming together of Agile Combat Employment, Total Force integration, and cross-skill, adaptable Airmen is the new universe of air warfare—where speed and agility are worth as much as firepower.
The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings demonstrated that the future is all about being innovative, unforeseen, and always willing to change. That’s the future of airpower—quick, networked, and always ahead.