County officials get an inside look at Eglin's future

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Okaloosa County commissioners were the newest group to get a preview of nation's first military Joint Strike Fighter integrated training center at the 33rd Fighter Wing's campus Dec. 14.

Since the wing transitioned from its combat heritage to Air Education and Training Command, many distinguished visitors have asked to get a glimpse into the future DoD aviation and all things related to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from ground operations, to generating sorties to certifying pilots for flight.

"I always looked forward to the transition into new technology," said Commissioner Don Amunds who witnessed the change in the wing's appearance first-hand as a 33rd FW Honorary Commander from January 2008 to October 2009. "This is terrific. It'll be even more fascinating when you see it put to use. Right now it is just a shell; students will be the heart beat of this place in the future."

Col. David Hlatky, 33rd FW commander, and staff members were proud to show four commissioners, their staff and local print media around the university-style training center.

"Seeing the construction here is just the surface of what has been going on here" he said. "Our people have been working diligently and I'm so proud of the way people came together. The team is focused entirely on the training mission - we can't put a price tag on the friendships here (between all military services and contractors)."

Personnel are literally taking new equipment "out of boxes," checking to see if it works, learning how to operate it, testing its capabilities and troubleshooting realistic "what if" scenarios.

Those making decisions for the future of American military aviation come with a highly-reputable experience on fighter aircraft. Vice commander, Marine Col. Art Tomessetti, has eight years of test piloting the JSF to share. He told visitors about the training already in place like small group tryouts, demos and validation plus running day in a life exercises.

After the mission briefing, that included the F-35's tactical advances in aviation and advanced training systems, the tour group went out for a look at the Air Force hangar under construction, the Pilot Fit Facility where they saw how military are fitted for the high-tech helmet and the Academic Training Center.

"It looks more like a college campus than military training," said Commissioner Dave Parisot after walking through the landscaped parking lot from the dining facility to the dormitories, a place many will march during their rigorous day of JSF training in the future.

Design considerations were modeled after universities and what aesthetics would create a positive, comfortable and conducive environment for learning, the wing commander explained.

Inside the training center there are spaces carefully measured to fit full mission simulators and other training devices so military can practice before traveling to the opposite side of the campus to be immersed in flightline operations. The 260,000 square foot facility will be a place maintainers will move virtual avatars through aircraft generation procedures on computerized programs, remove/install engines, work on landing gears, load weapons and operate STOVL lift fans outside of using the aircraft itself.

"We are taking quantum leaps in maintenance training," said Colonel Hlatky. "The whole training process is electronic."

Instructors may not even be needed in classrooms with personal laptops leading each individual student through lessons. Training records are kept virtually through a computerized management system called Autonomic Logistics Information System, technical orders are read on screen instead of in bulky books and the entire logistics inventory is tracked in bytes. The future 100 pilots and 2,000 maintainers in training annually at the wing are the next generation computer-savvy individuals who connect well with the new technology.

"This aircraft is revolutionary," the commander said. "It's a 25-year collection of pilot wish lists."

Throughout the campus, past wing history and future operations set the tone of a proud heritage. Inside the Air Force Hangar, a wall mural of the new aircraft shows the same stars that are on the 58th Fighter Squadron building representing all their kills in Desert Shield and Storm, the most of any combat flying unit at the time of conflict. The large entryway into the u-shaped training building contains a F-35 mural with the names of each U.S. military service and silhouettes of maintainers donned in a variety of international flags. Inside the Marine hallway other murals depict pictures of current active duty service members working in their maintenance fields.

In another facility, what was once a flying squadron "home" was transformed into a Lockheed Martin state of the art facility to provide high-tech flight suits and computerized ways of measuring a skull for best helmet fit.

"Our board see ourselves as ambassadors of Eglin. This tour helps us spread the word to the community," said county administrator Jim Curry. "I kept thinking of the kids in junior high now who are the generation coming that will get to benefit from all of this."

While the wing still waits with the rest of world to receive news of the first F-35 is on its way to Eglin permanently, Colonel Hlatky said there is a lot of work still to be done to prepare before any training sortie numbers start counting.