HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Maj. Gen. Derek Rydholm, director of Plans, Programs and Requirements for Air Force Reserve Command, met the base's first qualified F-35 weapons load crew during a tour of the 419th Fighter Wing here Oct. 2.
Reserve Airmen gave Rydholm an overview of F-35 operations at Hill AFB, including training for pilots and maintainers, construction projects for the new aircraft, and the Total Force partnership between the Reserve 419th FW and active-duty 388th FW.
Hill's fighter wings are the first to fly combat-coded F-35s, and are slated to receive one to two jets per month through 2019, for a total of 72. Some of the wings' youngest Airmen will train on and maintain the Air Force's newest fighter jet, and are on a course to become the leading experts in fifth-generation technology.
During his stay, Rydholm will also attend various events during the wing's training weekend to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Air Force Reserve at Hill AFB.