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Thunderbolt news March 18, 2016 3
http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
Secretary of the IN BRIEF
Air Force Debo-
rah Lee James Air Show VIP Experience
receives instruc-
tion from Lt. Col. General admission is free to the Luke Air Force Base 75 Years
Rhett Hierlmeier, of Air Power Air Show, but attenders can be part of the VIP ex-
56th Training perience by purchasing tickets to the Luke Hospitality Tent at
Squadron director https://tickets.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1457.
of operations, on Tickets are $110 per person age 13 and up, $75 per youth ages
a flight simulator 6 through 12, and free for children under age 5 with a paying
March 10 at Luke adult. For more information, call Club Five Six at 623-856-6446.
Air Force Base.
James toured the AADD volunteers for dining in
Academic Train-
ing Center and Airmen Against Drunk Driving is seeking 10 volunteers to
was briefed on support the Spouses Dining In event at 7 p.m. April 8 in Hangar
the progress of 999. To sign up or for more information, call Master Sgt. Charles
F-35 Lightning II Loftus at 623-856-5712 or email charles.loftus.1@us.af.mil.
operations, pi-
lot training and Leadership Gold
more. She held an
all-call to thank Lightning Leadership presents Leadership Gold 8 to 11 a.m.
Airmen and gave or 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Navy Operations Support Center,
her impressions Room 412. The class is open to civilians, enlisted and officers.
Senior Airman Devante Williams of Luke. To sign up email llc@us.af.mil.
SECAF checks in on F-35 mission Finance office closed
by Tech. Sgt. training, as well as her tour of dif- West Valley Partnership. The 56th Comptroller Squadron office will be closed Monday
LUTHER MITCHELL Jr. ferent parts of base and interacting She also remarked how the work due to Wingman Day. The office will resume normal business
with Airmen in their work centers. hours Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information,
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs that Luke Airmen are doing to call Senior Airman KoRaye Williams at 623-856-7028.
“When it comes to the F-35 pro- accomplish that mission will give
Secretary of the Air Force Debo- gram, this is a program that has America aerial victory in the future. Local PTSA recruitment
rah Lee James visited Luke Air really taken off,” James said. “Pilots
Force Base March 9 and 10, to and maintainers are being trained, “I’m truly blown away by all you The schools surrounding Luke Air Force Base have Par-
meet with Airmen and gain a bet- sorties are being flown and chal- are accomplishing here,” James ent, Teacher and Student Associations and are looking to
ter understanding of its mission lenges are being overcome. There said. “You truly are making the fu- increase participation by recruiting parents and students
with a focus on F-35 Lightning II is a ‘can-do’ spirit here.” ture of our Air Force happen here to- to get involved. PTSA exists to help children reach their
operations, and its maintenance and day. The crucial training capabilities potential by engaging families and communities to advo-
training facilities. The SECAF’s visit included stops that you are providing will allow the cate for children. PTSA is not a fundraising organization;
at the Academic Training Center, a United States to prevail in any kind however, they do raise money for student activities. Schools
During her first visit to the base, state-of-the-art training center for of fight, particularly that high-end want children to participate in fun family friendly experi-
James held an all-call where she fighter pilots, and the 61st Fighter type of fight: the anti-access, area- ences that allow them to not only work hard for their future
took time to thank Airmen and give Squadron and 61st Aircraft Main- denial hard fight.” but to be children and have fun while attending school.
her impressions of Luke. tenance Unit, the first squadrons to For more information, call Roxane Dietrich, LAFB’s School
fly and maintain the F-35 at Luke. During her speech, James made Liaison Officer at 623-856-6550.
“Wow, what a great total force points on global security, a smaller
story we have going on here,” she During her tour, James discussed Air Force, the need to modernize the Mission-essential materials
said. “We have active-duty, the Re- everything from flight equipment, force and increase overall readiness,
serve component, civilians and fan- the performance of ALIS, the F-35’s as well as discussing her priorities Funding is now available for offices to submit their
tastic contractor support working autonomic logistics information for the Air Force. mission-essential requirements for periodicals and books
side-by-side with our international system, the next generation F-35 through the Luke Air Force Base Library. For more infor-
partners. That is the broadest of helmet and Luke’s partnerships James fielded a few questions mation, call Pam Lum at 623-856-3893.
the broad total force story, and I’m with other nations training here. from the audience before departing,
impressed with it.” but not before giving Luke one last AFAF campaign
James voiced how impressed she thank you.
Most of James’ day involved was of the support she has seen for The Air Force Assistance Fund is an annual effort to raise funds
briefings about F-35 operations and the 56th Fighter Wing’s mission to “Team Luke, you are doing a to support Air Force families in need. The campaign runs from
touring F-35 facilities. train the world’s greatest F-35 and fantastic job,” James said. “These March 21 through April 29. The goal for unit representatives is
F-16 fighter pilots from Arizona are critical capabilities for today, to have a 100 percent contact rate with active-duty personnel.
James spoke about how im- leaders such as Gov. Doug Ducey as well as for the future of our Air For more information, go to https://www.afassistancefund. org.
pressed she was with the leadership and community groups like Luke Force, and you are going to make it
team with respect to F-16 and F-35 happen for us all.” MPS closure
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC The military personnel section will be closed Monday. Per-
sonnel with scheduled appointments are being contacted to
Fiscal 2016 graduates reschedule. For those who have not been contacted, reschedule
an appointment by calling customer service at 623-856-7875
61st FS.......................................................... 16 314th FS ........................................................ 8 or emailing 56fss.fsmps@luke.af.mil.
62nd FS........................................................... 0 56th TRS...................................................... 33
309th FS ......................................................... 7 607th ACS.................................................... 85 In our own voice
310th FS ....................................................... 25 372nd TRS, Det. 12 ..................................... 31
311th FS ......................................................... 7 56th OSS (IFTU) ........................................... 0 The 56th Force Support Squadron Airman & Family Readi-
ness Squadron and the National Alliance on Mental Illness
F-35 Hours flown Sorties flown T-Bolts 37 Luke Airmen is featuring an In Our Own Voice presentation 11 a.m. to 1
F-16 Deployed are deployed to p.m. Thursday at the A&FRC, Bldg. 1113, for those who have
2,687.7 1,816 someone with mental illness in their lives. For more informa-
6,587.4 4,954 14 countries tion or to RSVP, call 623-856-6550.
around the world.
Thrift shop is open
The Luke Air Force Base Thrift Shop, located at Bldg. 750 is
open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Consignments
will be taken until 1 p.m. Like us on Facebook at https://www.
facebook.com/LukeAirForceBaseThriftShop.
Toastmasters on base
Toastmasters meets noon to 1 p.m. Thursday in Bldg. 1150,
3rd Floor Conference Room. Improve communication and lead-
ership skills through friendly, constructive exercises involving
See BrIEfS, Page 5
