FRCE Boosts Marine Readiness with Cutting-Edge F-35 Recovery Training

At Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) in North Carolina, innovative training methods are offering invaluable experience to the Marine Corps. This initiative focuses on recovering downed aircraft, with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 (MWSS-271) taking center stage.

The recent exercise involved the recovery of a decommissioned F-35B Lightning II, providing a risk-free environment for training. This partnership between FRCE and MWSS-271 enabled the use of a stripped-down airframe, offering a realistic yet safe platform to hone skills.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Durand outlined the detailed procedures in this simulated event. Over three days, his team practiced lifting the aircraft, managing landing gear failures, and conducting controlled recoveries. This training platform reflected various real-world scenarios, enhancing readiness for diverse conditions.

An F-35 recovery poses unique challenges due to the aircraft’s newness. “Recovery has so many different scenarios,” Durand noted. The focus was on imparting essential skills to ensure aircraft retrieval without causing further damage.

These exercises promise to prepare Marines for any eventuality, ensuring the aircraft’s quick return to operational status. “We’re really stressing the need for that aircraft to be able to get back into the air and do its job,” Durand emphasized.

For FRCE, supplying a nonoperational airframe was crucial. F-35 Branch Head Ike Rettenmair highlighted that this asset allowed for genuine hands-on learning within a safety net. The nonoperational airframe offered realistic training without the high stakes of using active-duty jets.

The collaboration between FRCE and MWSS-271 also sharpened the expertise of FRCE staff. It allowed engineers and artisans to refine their skills, presenting a mutually beneficial scenario for all parties involved. “This really was a win-win situation for everyone involved,” Rettenmair stated.

Based at Cherry Point, the collaboration between the two organizations remains fruitful. Durand praised the facility’s accessibility, which simplifies ongoing training efforts as new scenarios emerge globally.

This decommissioned F-35B not only supports recovery training but also serves as a vital tool for artisan and engineer skill development at the depot. “The airframe serves as a training aid that helps us improve processes and procedures,” added Rettenmair.

FRCE, the principal site for depot-level maintenance on the F-35B, continues to perform critical modifications and repairs on various aircraft. Its dedicated effort exemplifies a broader commitment to enhancing the operational readiness of the U.S. military.