The Navy officially stood up Strike Fighter Squadron 101 during a ceremony at the joint F-35 training schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla. The reconstituted unit, known as the “Grim Reapers,” will be responsible for training Navy F-35C pilots and maintainers, according to an Oct. 2 release from the F-35 program office. “Our Navy needs aircraft capable of overcoming a variety of threats—surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles, and tactical aircraft,” said Vice Adm. David Buss, Naval Air Forces commander, during the Oct. 1 event. “The F-35C brings stealth capability to the ultimate sea base—the flight deck of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier—for the first time in our history,” he said. The squadron, designated VFA-101, received its first F-35C in June. The Navy expects to commence real-world operations with F-35Cs in 2019. “The F-35C will enhance the flexibility, power projection, and rapid response of carrier air wings and joint task forces for decades to come,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 general manager, in the company’s release.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
