HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah; — Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing recently began standing up the last of its aircraft maintenance units, a big step toward receiving the full complement of F-35A Lightning IIs by the end of 2019.

The first operational F-35s landed at Hill Air Force Base in October 2015. Since then the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and 4th AMU have stood up and generated more than 11,000 flying hours with what is now 40 F-35As. The wing will eventually have 78 aircraft.

The 421st AMU, which will support the 421st Fighter Squadron, is preparing to receive its first aircraft in December. The unit is filling out the roster with new Airmen and training on four jets loaned from other 388th FW units.

“Our team has been learning about the multiple aircraft systems, inspection requirements, servicing, maintenance procedures and munitions loading,” said Capt. Kimberly Jackson, officer in charge of the 421st AMU.

The Airmen, some of whom are transitioning from fourth-generation airframes like the F-15 and F-16, have been concentrating on academics and theory, applying what they learn through hands-on aircraft work, and then refining those skills in proficiency training.

“Everyone is new and inexperienced to varying degrees, but there is a community of knowledge here in the 388th to draw from,” Jackson said.

While the 421st AMU is reaping the benefits of experience from the standup of the two AMUs that came before them, maintainers are still looking for ways to improve.

“We’ve evaluated and modified how we train, how we exercise, how we make maintenance decisions, how we organize, and how we communicate to maximize our team’s performance in our fifth-generation environment,” said Col. Michael Miles, 388th Maintenance Group commander.

The active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW fly and maintain the F-35A in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components.