Military Matters; Aiming High

YUMA, Ariz ( KYMA , KSWT ). Two U.S. Air Force pilots assigned to Marine Corps. Air Station Yuma made history by becoming the first Air Force pilots to take off from an Amphibious Assault Ship.

Back in September U.S. Air Force Captains Spencer Weide and Justin Newman were taking part in an integrated training exercise in the Eastern Pacific. The two pilots man the latest version of the F-35B Lightning II and were aboard the USS America which can carry a variety of aircrafts from jets to heavy lift helicopters.

The training brought service members from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps for the sole purpose of enhancing the fighting capabilities of each branch.

Integrating the Marine Aircraft Wing’s combat power and capabilities with the capabilities and skills of the Navy and Air Force leads to an armed force team that is better trained, equipped and ready to respond to crises across the globe.