RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The 12th Flying Training Wing received the first two of 20 T-38C Talons from the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin AFB, Texas at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4.
The arrival of the jets marks the first phase of the consolidation of the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals training course from the 434th Fighter Training Squadron at Laughlin and the 3rd FTS at Vance AFB, Okla., to the 435th FTS here. Randolph was announced as the preferred location in May, and officially chosen to gain Laughlin and Vance's IFF missions in August.
According to a news release by Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs, the Air Force is consolidating IFF operations to three bases due to a decreased demand for IFF graduates. The move is projected to save the Air Force approximately $55 million over the next eight years.
The 435th FTS stands to gain an additional 11 active duty instructor pilots, some of whom have already arrived, and more than 30 support positions as part of this move. The squadron will also begin training 80 additional students annually, bringing their total student production capacity to approximately 150 per year.
"We're looking forward to the expansion of our IFF mission here in the 435th," says Lt. Col. David Drichta, the 435th FTS commander. "The consolidation will allow us to regain the efficiencies we lost when the demand for fighter pilots was scaled back. The increased manpower will enable us to do so much more and ultimately produce a wingman who's even more prepared to advance to formal training in his or her combat fighter."
After graduating from undergraduate pilot training or undergraduate combat systems officer training, pilots and CSOs go through the 435th FTS's 10-week IFF program to prepare them for follow on assignments in fighter aircraft. The curriculum includes training in basic fighter maneuvers, such as how to attack other aircraft and avoid being attacked, as well as basic surface attack and low level navigation.