US Marine Corps Declares F-35B IOC, Ready for War

The US Marine Corps has decided for good or ill to declare their F-35B has acheived IOC or Initial Operational Capability.   This means the F-35B can do to war.  However, it will not have its entire capability set.  That 'Initial' bit is still set.  The F-35B can do data fusion for 4 F-35Bs at once.  It cannot fire its cannon (which is an external pod on the B anyways).  It successfully went to sea on the USS Wasp, but, unfortunately, could only have 50% of the aircraft being combat ready at any time.

The first squadron will go to Okinawa.  Some will be based on land.  Some will be aboard an LHD.

This is being reported all over the place.