The Marine Corps is drilling down on its plan to reclassify Marines tasked with protecting the AV-8B Harrier alive, an indication that the service is lastly getting nearer to retiring the decades-old jet as new F-35 Lightning IIs hit the fleet.
Final Thursday, the service launched a force-wide message that recognized 5 Harrier-aligned jobs that can be up for reclassification beginning subsequent month. The transfer is predicted to have an effect on as much as 202 Marines who as soon as labored on the jet, and the message warned that, if these troops had not already began the transition into new roles, their future jobs can be as much as the wants of the Corps.
Whereas a seemingly small a part of the general drive, the switch of the Harrier Marines is a part of the service’s overarching aviation plan. Launched in January, it expects refitted V-22 Ospreys, finalized purchases of KC-130Js and a restructuring of its squadrons to simply accept the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation plane, throughout the subsequent a number of years.
Learn Subsequent: Burn Pit Publicity Linked to Larger Charges of Psychological Well being Issues, Mind Damage
In the meantime, jets such because the Harrier are heading into the sundown someday subsequent 12 months and, whereas they’re nonetheless flying in workouts and even latest operations, they’re more and more being despatched to museums or taking part in farewell flights because the service finds new jobs for its crews.
Final 12 months, Navy.com reported that the ultimate group of Harrier maintainers had entered the fleet as an rising variety of its pilots have been being chosen to fill F-35 cockpits.
The Marine Corps stated on the time that it was offering alternatives for all Harrier-aligned Marines to transition to the brand new jet, however that it might be opening the door to communications, intelligence and logistics jobs, too.
“Because the Marine Corps continues to modernize, certified Marines stay the important thing to assembly our operational necessities,” Capt. Jacob Sugg, a spokesperson for the Marine Corps, advised Navy.com in an emailed assertion Tuesday. “All Marines throughout the AV-8B neighborhood have expertise and expertise that can put together them for achievement of their reclassified roles.”
The force-wide message launched final week recognized 5 mechanic jobs for the service’s “involuntary force-shaping measures.” They embody generalized Harrier mechanics, in addition to Marines who work on its energy crops, airframe, security gear and electrical methods.
By Aug. 1, Marines in these jobs who should not on deployment, pending orders, already in a lateral transfer or anticipated to be voluntarily separated and haven’t already began the transition course of to a brand new job can be assigned to a brand new one “based mostly solely on the wants of the Marine Corps, no matter remaining contract time,” the message stated.
It added that, by fiscal 2027, retention and promotion alternatives “will now not exist for the AV-8B inhabitants” and that Harrier-aligned Marines affected by the message will know what their new job is by Sept. 30 of this 12 months.
The concept for an plane with vertical takeoff and touchdown capabilities was conceived after the Korean Battle, and the Harrier quickly stuffed that function, giving the Marine Corps the maneuverability of helicopters, however with the power to fly lengthy distances and carry heavier weapons packages.
“Profession alternatives and transition paths proceed to be recognized for the remaining inhabitants of AV-8B aircrews and maintainers,” Sugg stated. “The AV-8B continues to supply operational flexibility to supply combatant commander necessities and affords skilled aircrew and upkeep manpower to assist the Marine Corps’ tactical plane transition plan.”
Associated: Marine Corps Lays Out Plan for Harrier Crews as Stalwart Plane Flies into Sundown
