Initial preferred F-35 bases list doesn't include Shaw Published July 30, 2010 By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thursday the Air Force announced the preferred alternatives for operational and training bases for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Last October, when Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley announced five operations candidate bases, they included Shaw AFB/McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.; Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt.; Hill AFB, Utah; Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and Jacksonville AGS, Fla. The announced preferred alternative locations are: - Operations - Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Burlington AGS, Vt. - Training - Luke AFB, Ariz. "This is not a final basing decision," said Ms. Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations. "The preferred alternatives with other reasonable alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the Environmental Impact Analysis Process." A preferred alternative is an alternative which the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors. Teams surveyed each candidate base for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability timelines. The secretary also announced training base candidates Oct. 29, 2009. They included Boise AGS, Idaho; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Holloman AFB, N.M.; Luke AFB, Ariz.; and Tucson AGS, Ariz. The current scope of this basing action includes 250 to 300 F-35 aircraft. The JSF is the next generation strike fighter bringing cutting-edge technologies to the battle space of the future. In the Air Force, the F-35 will primarily service an air-to-ground role, replace aging F-16 and A-10 aircraft while complementing the F-22. The Navy and Marine Corps plan on using the F-35, along with international partners.