ANJ, Nov. 9 – The U.S. Air Force 388th Fighter Wing trains ground crews to refuel and rearm F-35A Lightning II fighters simultaneously with engines running and pilots in the cockpits. This hot Integrated Combat Turn aims to get jets back in the air faster and reduce vulnerability on the ground for aircraft and crews.
The wing practices for large bases and dispersed sites under Agile Combat Employment. Fuel specialists from the 75th Air Base Wing position and ground trucks before 388th personnel connect hoses for refueling. Weapons crews load munitions concurrently as crew chiefs signal pilots during checks. Lt. Col. Cahn Wadhams of the 388th Maintenance Group said running engines allow pilots to move jets quickly if needed.
Crews rehearse with engines off first while weapons teams train separately to load around running jets. Senior Master Sgt. Stephanie Rivera noted Airmen manually lift and load weapons of hundreds of pounds, demanding fitness and care for safety under active aircraft.
F-35A onboard systems flag many issues before landing to aid rapid turnaround decisions. The wing will train more crews and chiefs over the next months while practicing regularly. High reliability enables loading, fueling, and launching within minutes to boost operational readiness and combat effectiveness.