I can see MCAS Miramar being a location to move Whiting aircraft when the F-35 comes into service for the Marines. They may consider basing the west coast JSF's at Yuma. Miramar is a good location cause you have desert out east or ocean out west.
I'm sure the neighbors would prefer T-34's, but I'm also guessing the Marines aren't anywhere close to giving up that real estate. It is awesome for flying Hornets as you are 10 mins from El Centro, 20 from the Yuma ranges, 5 from the NAOPA, and maybe 10-15 from any of the commonly used W-291 papa areas........also just a 20-25 min flight up to R2508. Too valuable of a fleet base to give to the VTs IMHO. The Hornet isn't going anywhere for a long time, even after the F-35 arrives. You don't need good ranges to fly T-34 contact flights and BI's. Honestly, there is no good reason to move primary training from where it is. I know the primary studs here would probably like to live somewhere cooler than Milton or Corpus, but I really don't see that happening. Oh yeah, speaking of which, I can only imagine that the operational savings you might have from less time to train would easily be offset (if not more than offset) by the extra expense of paying people to live in SD. When I was a LTJG flying out of Miramar, I was making about $30 less than I made as a brand new LT in Oceana. Both of those places look like Manhattan in terms of living expenses when compared to anywhere you will live in the VT's.
