With the AV-8B, it was found that if the pilot spent some time in the Hornet, getting used to staying ahead of a jet before moving to the Harrier, there were a lot fewer 'Carolina Lawn Darts'.
I hope they don’t push the pilots too fast into F-35s as you suggest could be happening. On the other hand, I’ve spoken to a few pilots who have flown F-35s or spent hours in the flight sim and to a man (I guess and woman, now) they have all said something to the effect of the F-35 being a completely different flying experience from other fightrs, in a good way. I’m not a pilot so I don’t know though. Nor do I know if they mean it’s easier to pull off tough maneuvers or what. just reporting some data.
Never happened. Newly minted Marine Aviators went straight to VMAT-203 for training in the AV-8A/C/B.
“With the AV-8B, it was found that if the pilot spent some time in the Hornet”
They fly the Goshawk first and that is a pretty high performance jet.
Air Force has been doing the same thing for years; we have brand-new pilots from UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training) going directly to RTU for the F-22 and F-35, just as we did with the F-15, F-16 and A-10 in the past. Top students in UPT classes traditionally have the option of a fighter slot, but—not unsurprisingly—a number want the heavies, looking at an airline career once their service commitment was up.
Had a friend who was a T-38 IP at Columbus AFB, MS back in the late 90s (now retired like I am). As assignment night approached, the fighter IPs were pushing the top student in their class to take an F-15 or F-16 slot, which he could have easily obtained, given his performance in pilot training. The student wanted (and got) a KC-10.