MARCH 10, 2025 — Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 502, the “Flying Nightmares,” is training new and transitioning pilots on the F-35B Lightning II on a two-week detachment training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth through March 13, focusing on air-to-air and air-to-surface skills.
The “Flying Nightmares,” a Fleet Replacement Squadron, target two groups here: Category 1 pilots, fresh from undergraduate flight training, and Category 2 pilots, shifting from older aircraft to the F-35B. “The focus is air-to-air execution and air-to-surface skills,” said Lt. Col John Koepke, VMFAT-502 instructor pilot. NAS JRB Fort Worth’s diverse airspace and facilities amplify this two-week push.
For Category 1 and 2 pilots, training spans a year, progressing from basic flights—point-to-point navigation, landings, and approaches—to complex multi-ship strike missions, including nighttime bomb drops over vast distances. Students arrive an hour before takeoff, reviewing weather, prepping gear, and conducting risk analysis, followed by an hourlong brief covering every step from startup to shut down. “Standardized procedures streamline this,” Koepke said. Pilots then suit up, donning custom-molded helmets, 30 minutes before flying an hour-long sortie, tackling dogfights and tactical maneuvers.
Deploying from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, VMFAT-502 brings over 220 personnel, nearly half its 500-strong squadron, to NAS JRB Fort Worth, flexing its deployment muscle, Koepke said.
“New airspace and challenges sharpen our instructors and students,” he said. “Unlike Miramar’s familiar skies, Fort Worth’s joint reserve base prevents skill atrophy, preparing pilots for diverse environments—a critical edge for a squadron focused on training, not overseas ops.”
Setting up the detachment faced minimal hurdles, thanks to NAS JRB Fort Worth’s support. “The communication stream has been phenomenal, any friction points were resolved fast,” Koepke said. “Base staff bent over backwards, ensuring seamless execution.”
The squadron also coordinated with the VMFA-112 Fighter Squadron stationed onboard NAS JRB Fort Worth for dogfight training, amplifying the F-35B’s tactical edge.
With jet noise rising, Koepke has a message for Fort Worth residents: “Thank you for hosting us and sharing your facilities.” He acknowledges the uptick, apologizing but emphasizing its purpose. “It ensures our pilots leave as the most lethal, ready fighters for the Fleet Marine Force,” he said.
“The F-35B’s vertical takeoff and landing, plus short-field capabilities, make it a Marine Corps standout, “Koepke said. Ideal for dynamic environments with short runways or vast water gaps, its versatility is drilled into trainees. “We instill how it conquers distance and adapts.”
As the detachment ends March 13, Koepke hopes pilots and maintainers leave stronger. “I want them to grow from operating away from Miramar, build relationships, and gain experience,” he said. The Fort Worth stint—new terrain, new ties—primes them for future fleet demands.
“We’re honored to host VMFAT-502 and support their training requirements,” said NAS JRB Fort Worth Air Operations Officer Cmdr. Aaron Johnson.
NAS JRB Fort Worth is the first and finest joint reserve base, known for training and equipping air crews and aviation ground support personnel, while supporting missions such as airlift, aerial refueling, and global mobility, making it an integral part of national defense infrastructure.
Story by Sandy Owens
Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base