Page 14 - F-35B and USMC

The Integration of the F-35B into USMC Operations

The pilots will take the aircraft into combat, their own lives in the balance as they penetrate contested
space and are likely to be outnumbered by adversary aircraft.

Second Line of Defense and a handful of journalists recently had the opportunity to visit with four such pilots
during a “Proof of Concept” demonstration on the USS America, November 19, 2016.

The four pilots are some of the most experienced F-35B pilots in the United States Marine Corps (USMC);

George “Sack” Rowell, Commanding Officer (CO) of VMX-1 (Marine Operational Test & Evaluation
Squadron). Prior to the F-35, Rowell spent appx. 3000 hours over 18 years of flying the F/A-18
Hornet. Previously the CO of VMFA(AW)-533

Col. Chad “Mo” Vaughn, CO of VMFA-211. Prior to the F-35, Vaughn spent a couple 1000 hrs over 13 years
in the F/A-18A-D Hornet, as well as time in the F-16A-B Fighting Falcon/Viper and F/A-18 Super Hornet at
NAS Fallon.

Col. Rich “BC” Rusnok, slated to become the CO of VMFA-121 in March 2017. Prior to the F-35, Price spent
appx. 7 years flying the AV-8B Harrier II with additional time in the F/A-18 Hornet.

Col. John “Guts” Price, slated CO for VFMA-122 (2018). Prior to the F-35, Price spent appx. 1200 hrs and 10
years flying the AV-8B Harrier II, and has about 400 hrs in the F-35 over the past 3 years.
The comments have been edited for readability with best efforts made to maintain context and integrity of
intent.

As you look at the F-35s combat capabilities, what two things really mark it as either a superior or
inferior weapon compared to what you have previously flown?

Mo: The closer you get to the airplane, the more positive you are about it.
The airplane provides awareness of what is going on around you. All around you. It is second to none.

I tell people this all the time.

I cannot tell you how awesome the sensor suite is, combined with the survivability of the airplane.

It’s not just that it is a stealth airplane, it is everything rolled into one.

It makes it unlike any other plane anywhere in the world right now.

BC: Stealth works. Low observability is not a fallacy.

You see it in the airplane and realize what a powerful capability it is.
None of the airplanes we flew prior had that capability.

To echo what Mo said, the situational awareness (SA), the fusion piece of it stands out.

In Gen 4 aircraft the pilot is the fusion engine, what’s in between your ears is what’s making that fusion happen.

To some degree that’s still true, the human is a major part of this weapons system.

However, the aid that the fusion system gives a pilot to make high level decisions, coupled with situational
awareness well beyond what was had before – that’s what makes it a game changer.
Second Line of Defense

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