Luke AFB Thunderbolt – October 2025
P. 1
“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen”
INSIDE
Instructor PIlot War Day sharPens lethalIty, buIlDs mIssIon-reaDy aIrmen
By Airman Rebecca Wagner
56th Fighter Wing
The 56th Fighter Wing joined forces with the Kansas Air National Guard, Altus Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma to launch 63 aircraft during the latest Instructor Pilot War Day at the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Sept. 10, 2025.
The large-force exercise brought together multiple services and mission sets to rep- licate a joint, large-scale aerial combat operation. The event reinforces the Air Force’s imperative to develop Airmen who
U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Rebecca Wagner
U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathaniel Jewell, 61st Fighter Squadron fighter pilot, puts on his helmet in an F-35A Lightning II in preparation for Instructor Pilot War Day, Sept. 10, 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. IP War Day is a joint exercise including Kansas City Air National Guard, Altus AFB, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma which strengthens coordination and tactical readiness in the air in preparation for the future fight.
U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Rebecca Wagner
LEFT: U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathaniel Jewell, 61st
Fighter Squadron fighter pilot, adjusts his helmet
and oxygen mask inside an F-35A Lightning II before takeoff, Sept. 10, 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Instructor Pilot War Day focuses on advanced air- to-air defensive maneuvers, helping to shape the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat-ready Airmen.
Oct. 3, 2025 Vol. 24, No. X
LEFT: An F-35A Lightning II flies over the flightline at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 21, 2017. The F-35 is
a multirole fighter jet able to perform missions which traditionally required numerous specialized aircraft. As the primary training location for the U.S. Air Force and partner nations, Luke is currently home to 61 F-35s projected to grow to 144 in the near future.
StorIES
Belgian ambassador visits, 2
9/11 memorial service, 3 Preventing water
pollution, 5
Chaplain’s thoughts, 11
FEAtUrE
Airman 1st Class Belinda Guachun-Chichay
Joint MEDEVAC ExErCisE
See Pages 6 and 7
U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jensen Stidham
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can dominate in any environment, ensuring the U.S. maintains global air superiority.
“IP War Day is a quarterly, large-scale training exercise designed to immerse our instructor pilots in realistic, high-pressure combat scenarios,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Walker, 944th Wing weapons offi- cer. “It sharpens our lethality, tests our tac- tics, and builds the combat mindset we need to prevail against any adversary. Luke AFB has the most F-35 instructor pilots, and the lessons learned here directly strengthen our ability to train and mentor the next generation of combat-ready Airmen.”
Instructor pilots planned and executed missions that integrated offensive counter- air, suppression of enemy air defenses, and air interdiction across contested airspaces. Aircraft included F-35A Lightning IIs, F-1 Mirages, and F-16 Fighting Falcons from Luke AFB, KC-46A Pegasi from Altus AFB, F-35B Lightning IIs from MCAS Yuma, and KC-135 Stratotankers from Kansas ANG.
“IP War Day challenges our mission planning, tactical skills, and decision- making under pressure,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Nathaniel Jewell, 61st FS pilot. “It’s designed to push instructor pilots to the edge so we can build the mental agility and lethal proficiency needed to out-think and out-fly any threat. That directly translates into training students who are mission ready from day one.”
The exercise enhanced tactical profi- ciency while strengthening joint interop- erability. By flying large-scale operations with other wings, services, Luke Airmen develop the confidence, resilience, and combat power essential to the Air Force’s future fight.
Events like IP War Day forge lethal, dis- ciplined, and adaptable Airmen who demon- strate brilliance at the basics; combat-ready Airmen who can project power, defend the nation, and ensure that the U.S. maintains air superiority.
