Page 60 - Williams Foundation Integrated Force Design Seminar

Designing the Integrated Force: How to Define and Meet the Challenge?

http://www.sldinfo.com/raf-lakenheath-prepares-for-the-future-usaf-f-35as-and-f-15s-combine-with-raf-
capabilities-to-provide-a-21st-century-deterrent-force/

The UK is training its initial squadron in the United States and that squadron will then transition to Marham.

Similarly, the RAAF is training its pilots and maintainers in the United States and then the first squadron will be
stood up at Williamtown.

Both the RAF and the RAAF will then stand up their remaining squadrons based on the use of their own newly
built facilities respectively in Marham and Williamtown.

But the cross-learning will continue as US and allied F-35s operate with the RAF and the RAAF from their
bases.

And cross learning across the services will be a high priority for both the RAF and the RAAF, although the
senior service leaders in Australia have really hammered home the point that the F-35s flown by the RAAF will
learn joint from the outset.

In other words, there are several transitions, which will go on throughout the standup of the F-35 in Australia.

First, there is the transition from the US to Australia.

Second, there is the transition at Williamtown where the first operational squadron the second squadron,
which is to be a training squadron, will spawn.
Third, there is the transition associated with the IOC of the F-35 in Australia, during which the RAAF will
operate throughout Australia with the services getting a good initial look at the aircraft.

Fourth, there is the interactive transition where Aussie F-35s fly throughout the region and beyond and cross
learn with other global F-35 partners and US and allied F-35s operate in Australia and learn from the
Aussies with regard to the evolving approach to joint integration.

In other words, because the F-35 is being stood up at the same time in many allied countries as in the United
States cross learning is built into the standup and initial operating experiences.

Put bluntly, cross learning with regard to next generation high intensity operations is built in, whereby the U.S.
will learn as much from allies as the other way around.
During my discussion with Wing Commander Steven “Rooster” Bradley, we discussed the transition process and
his sense of the impact of the F-35 on the force.

Question: How important has been your engagement at Luke in standing up your initial F-35 squadron?

Wing Commander Bradley: The pilot training center at Luke has been crucial for us.

Our first squadron is not a training squadron but an operational one; therefore we have focused our initial
training efforts in the United States on generating the required number of pilots, maintainers and support
personnel necessary to declare Number 3 Squadron operational in 2020.

The second squadron that we will stand up at Williamtown will be Number 2 OCU, or Operational Conversion
Unit, which is the school where we will train our pilots and maintainers.

Second Line of Defense

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