Luke AFB Thunderbolt – November 2025
P. 1
“We train the world’s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen”
INSIDE
Luke AFB Airmen Attend 2025 tower ChALLenge
StorIES
AETC leadership visits, 2
Dorm Mgmt. builds community, 3
Chaplain’s Thoughts, 4 24-hour POW/MIA
run, 5
FEAtUrE
Airman 1st Class Belinda Guachun-Chichay
Mastering atsO basics
See Pages 6 & 7
U.S. Air Force photos by Airman Rebecca Wagner
Luke Air Force Base leadership and members of the Luke Fire Department stand around a bell upon completion of the 2025 Tower Challenge at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2025. The Tower Challenge represents the 110 floors of the World Trade Center that first responders climbed during the terrorist attacks that occurred Sept. 11, 2001. Participants of the challenge climbed 110 floors around the arena in honor of the first responders who ascended the Twin Towers during the attacks.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Berkland, 56th Fighter Wing commander, swears in new U.S. Air Force and Space Force recruits at
the 2025 Tower Challenge at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2025. Over 20 new recruits took part in the Oath of Enlistment which signifies a service member’s commitment to military service and upholding the U.S. Constitution. The swear-in represents “the warfighters of tomorrow carrying on the mission from the fallen heroes who came before them.”
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Gabriel Vallejo, 362nd Recruiting Squadron alighted accessions recruiter, and Tech. Sgt Christopher Peluso, 362nd Recruiting Squadron alighted accessions recruiter, ring a bell upon completion of the 2025 Tower Challenge at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2025. Participants of the challenge climbed 110 floors around the arena in honor of the first responders who ascended the Twin Towers during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The attacks on the World Trade Center claimed 2,977 lives, including over 400 firefighters and police officers.
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U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Berkland (left), 56th Fighter Wing commander, and Jason Schechterle (right), 100 Club of Arizona community relations director, speak to a crowd at the 2025 Tower Challenge at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2025.. 11, 2001.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David Berkland, 56th Fighter Wing commander, descends stairs while participating in the 2025 Tower Challenge at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2025. Participants of the challenge climbed 110 floors around the arena in honor of the first responders who ascended the Twin Towers during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
LEFT: Members of the Luke Fire Department ascend the steps of
the 2025 Tower Challenge at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 6, 2025. Military members, emergency responders and community members climbed more than 2,000 steps to honor those who lost their life during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Nov. 21, 2025 Vol. 24, No. 11
