Jet Stream The
Friday, January 15, 2016 Vol. 51, No. 02 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.
Bravo Company Graduates See Page 09
“The noise you hear is the sound of freedom.” Marines saddle up for New Year
II MEF commanding general visits Fightertown
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Squad Attacks: MEU Marines take on jungle, mud during live-fire training
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UK pilots begin training at VMFAT-501
Photo by Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez
Squadron Ldr. Jonathan Smith climbs in an F-35B Lightning II prior to his first flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Jan. 11. Smith, from the United Kingdom, is the first international pilot to begin his F-35B training at the air station. He will be the first international pilot to complete the entire F-35B training syllabus aboard the air station. Smith is a pilot with the U.K. Royal Air Force detachment attached to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31. Story by: Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy Staff Writer
Photo by Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez
Squadron Ldr. Jonathan Smith climbs in an F-35B Lightning II prior to his first flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Jan. 11. Smith, from the United Kingdom, is the first international pilot to begin hisF-35B training at the air station. He will be the first international pilot to complete the entire F-35B training syllabus aboard the air station. Smith is a pilot with the U.K. Royal Air Force detachment attached to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31.
The first United Kingdom F-35B Lightning II pilot to be trained entirely by Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 completed his first flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Jan. 11. Squadron Ldr. Jonathan Smith arrived in late 2015 with three other U.K. pilots to begin training. Smith will be the first international pilot to complete the entire F-35B training course aboard MCAS Beaufort. He is joining 14 of his fellow U.K. personnel already stationed at VMFAT-501.
Over the years, the tools to perform his job have changed. He no longer smells the jet fuel of an F/A-18; instead he smells the aroma of his daily specials. Mike Jones, the chef of the Officer’s Club aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort was stationed at the air station in 20072011 with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224. The O’Club is a place that provides a lunch alternative to all ranks, hosts social events, supports the local command, and provides a place for officers to use the Santini Bar in the evenings. “Our mission here at the O’Club is the standard MCCS mission,” said Claude McElveen, food and hospitality director of the O’Club. “To take care of Marines, sailors, and their families, and I believe
that we have the greatest job in the world.” Jones got into cooking at a very young age, inspired from watching his grandmother. “I’ve always had a passion for cooking,” said Jones. “I remember being five years old and watching my grandmother make apple pie on Thanksgiving. Seeing my grandmother cook in her kitchen is what made me want to cook.” While serving aboard the air station, Jones did on-the-job training at a local downtown restaurant, Saltus River Grill. Jones saw similarities between cooking and working on jets. “Being a mechanic we had to get the plane to the pilot, and in this case it’s getting the dish out to the customer. It’s a production mentality that we all need to have to pull together to execute a mission,” said Jones. see
send the experienced pilots through first,” said Smith. “We lead the way and establish a good sense of proper procedure so when the brand new pilots get here there are fewer problems.” The U.K. personnel are currently fully integrated with VMFAT-501 for training. Both countries are learning the new system and working together to produce capable pilots. The teamwork between the two nations is crucial to the international aspect of the F-35. No one country is solely responsible for its use so diplomacy is important. see
From the flightline to the kitchen Story and photo by: Cpl. Samantha K. Torres Staff Writer
“I think our people have done really well here so far,” said Smith. “It is a unique challenge getting this international team on a very complicated air plane. Being the first to do something is always challenging and I think they are coping with it very well.” All the international pilots are here to go through the F-35 training. Smith is taking the course and then returning to Edwards Air Force Base. The other three pilots are staying after they have completed the training. “There are a lot of wrinkles to be smoothed out but that’s why they
UK, page 7
Checkerboards return from Western Pacific deployment
CHEF, page 6
See Pg. 5 Chef Mike Jones cooks in the kitchen of the Officer’s Club aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Jan. 12. Jones has had a passion for cooking since the age of five, and has taken it as a career of choice after serving in the Marine Corps.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Kayla L. Douglass
A Marine embraces his wife aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Jan. 12. The Marine is returning from a six-month deployment in the Western Pacific as part of the Unit Deployment Program. Marines deployed to Japan and Guam for six months to improve unit operability. The Marines is with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, Marine Aircraft Group 31.