Aircrews and F-16s at Misawa AB, Japan, recently tested their ability to rapidly deploy and set up operations through a training deployment to nearby Kadena Air Base. Maintenance airmen and pilots with the 35th Fighter Wing on March 23 rapidly checked out and launched their aircraft in a simulated contingency operation as part of exercise Beverly Sunrise 16-03, according to a Misawa release. The operational readiness exercise included all squadrons at Misawa, with airmen going through the entire deployment process and packing cargo needed to deploy, according to Misawa.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.