Fighter
Air Traffic Control Developmental
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure; Airspace Structure
Two groups of fighters were returning from SSC Approach after working in Double-Shot airspace (w177).  The first was Aircraft X; a group of 2 fighters; and the second was Aircraft Y; another group of 2 fighters; though their flight plan reflected 4.  Double Shot called me upon flashing them to me to inform me that Aircraft X and Aircraft Y were joining up as one flight; and that Aircraft X was the new lead; and they were a combined flight of 4; climbing to FL200.  I was also told they were minimum fuel.  Not wanting to give a minimum fuel aircraft an undue delay; I called them Radar Contact; and took the data blocks.  When they checked on; however; they informed us that they had not been cleared as a single flight; with them only having approximately 3.5 miles of lateral separation at the same altitude on the same heading.  They also informed us they were two separate flights of 2.  We proceeded to treat them as separate flights; re-established separation; and worked them in as two separate flights from that point on.  All of this happened with relatively high volume; and quite high complexity traffic situations were developing elsewhere; and served as an unnecessary distraction for our sector integrity that could have been easily avoided if Double Shot had completed formation join up prior to handing us the aircraft.Have military controllers understand that we cannot accept aircraft that have not been given a clearance to join up as a formation or declared MARSA with less than standard separation; and to ensure that what their coordination accurately reflects the aircraft in question's status.
ZJX Controller describes situation where coordination between ATC facilities is not correct and finds this out from the pilot while exiting a warning area.