Page 4 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, September 2020

4 September 2020
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
944th FW announces enlisted promotions for August
The following Reservists were promoted in August. 944th Maintenance Squadron
924th Operations Flight
Master Sgt. Steven Melessa
924th Maintenance Squadron
Senior Airmen Nova Korman and
Alexandra Gutierrez
Tech. Sgts. Anthony Hernandez and Sandy St. John Moreno
924th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Airman Brayden Pringle
Airman 1st Class Ethan Reardon
Senior Airmen Shaun Lea and Corbin Tuell
414th Maintenance Squadron
Airman Adam Mowbray
Senior Airmen Alec Colson, Hayes Herring and
James Thomas
Staff Sgt. Matthew Foy
Tech. Sgts. Justin Hosier and Joshua Pettit
944th Fighter Wing
Tech. Sgt. Deanna Radtke
944th Maintenance Group
Senior Airman Analisa Wright
news http://www.luke.af.mil Thunderbolt news Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt 5
September 2020
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flAg (from Page 1)
“It’s very important for them to see good, realistic emitters Military community launches second loaner library
so they know what to instruct to,” said a Norwegian air force
major from the 62nd FS. “Suppression of Enemy Air Defense
(SEAD) is our bread and butter for the F-35 and that is what by Airman 1st Class box also has an acrylic window that shows you
this jet is built for. They’re going to need to instruct at a level BROOKe MOeDeR and clearly what’s inside.”
where you know what you’re talking about instead of just Senior Airman The McKinleys volunteered their time
reading it in a book.” JACOB WONGWAI while InstantHandz covered the cost of the
During the exercise, pilots encountered enemy weapon sys-
tems including surface-to-air missiles (SAM), man-portable 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs materials.
air-defense systems and tactical ballistic missiles to give them “Reading is fundamental,” said Adam
a diverse training experience. Luke Airmen have created a community- Evans, InstantHandz chief strategy officer.
Senior Airman Tristen Roberts “The Mountain Home Range is a great environment for us based resource to help educate children while “The most important thing is that children
and adults enjoy it. Sometimes it’s nice to go
bringing the community together.
Staff Sgt. Stephen Zanzucchi because it is something new,” Levine said. “New airspace, new Nine individuals, including sponsors back to a book and enjoy the adventures that
terrain, new threats, etc. Sometimes fighting the same fight
944th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here at Luke can make you complacent. Fighting new threats who donated resources, contributed to the await you there.”
The original loaner library is in front of a
creation of the loaner library, located in the
Airman Jacob Kieffer and different adversaries keeps you on your toes and shows Ocotillo Manor neighborhood near the in- playground next to the Community Manage-
Senior Airmen Jonathan Hurtado and Genaro you problems that you haven’t dealt with at home station.” tersection of Walpai and Kiowa. The loaner ment Office.
Levine explained that while the exercise pushes pilots to library is a standalone, hand-constructed While loaner libraries provide free books,
Staff Sgt. David Vazquez adapt to combat situations, the whole exercise forced the
Airman 1st Class Brooke Moeder
Tech. Sgt. Erik Senekham squadrons to adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. shelving unit that can house up to 50 books Lauren McKinley, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron management support spe- it is still important for individuals who take
944th Medical Squadron “Being able to adapt is the main reason we were actually free for community members to exchange. cialist, and her husband, Staff Sgt. Eric McKinley, 56th Component Maintenance and leave books to sanitize each one to help
able to participate in the exercise,” he said. “Plan A was to While Luke’s Library donated the initial Squadron real property specialist, pose next to the Loaner Library July 28, 2020, at reduce the spread of COVID 19.
Airman Lyric La Shay Gooden go TDY (temporary duty) to Mountain Home to participate stock of books, the loaner library is a resource Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Located in the Ocotillo Manor neighborhood near the Eric said he hopes the library will encour-
Senior Master Sgt. Adrienne Stonum in person. Plan B was to go TDY to Hill AFB, fly to Mountain located in family housing where military age children to read more and enhance their
944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron Home for the exercise and then recover back to Hill. Those two families are encouraged to exchange books intersection of Walpai and Kiowa, the mini library houses two shelves where indi- reading and imagination abilities.
game plans were impossible because of COVID-19. Plan C is at no cost. viduals can take a book and leave one in its place. “It’s a way to leave this place a little bit
Senior Airman Crystal Kerstetter what we executed. Without the ability to adapt to the changing “The Loaner Library is a nice addition to better than when I got here,” Eric said. “We
Tech. Sgt. Ashley Wells environment, we would have missed out.” the neighborhood where families take walks ley, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron able to encourage young people and adults to saw it as an opportunity to use our imagina-
944th Civil Engineer Squadron Luke AFB pilots minimized contact, refueling before and during these [physical] distancing times,” said management support specialist, painted the take some time out of their day to read a new tion and create something that people would
after the mission to prevent landing at Mountain Home AFB, Miana Atkins, 56th Fighter Wing Staff Agency box. McKinley planned, engraved and built book and expand their minds.” be drawn to.”
Staff Sgt. Michael Denison ensuring pilots started and ended the mission at their respec- key spouse and Ocotillo Manor resident. “It the design within 20 hours. The library’s “attic” features a hand-painted While there are currently two Loaner Li-
944th Logistics Readiness Squadron tive bases and attended briefs and debriefs virtually. will be a nice stopping point and something The mini library houses two shelves, each scene. braries on base, Evans hopes these will inspire
“It’s a balance of risk, we still need to produce fighter pilots,” educational and fun for the kids to look for- holding around 25 books. Double doors protect “The neatest part about it is up top there is the implementation of more in the future.
Airman Brianna Figueroa the books from the environment. natural knot in the wood,” Eric said. “I filled
“I wish there was one on every block,” Evans
Airman 1st Class Bryan Hernandez said a Norwegian air force major from the 62nd FS. “I think ward to.” “The tiny library is a fascinating concept it with resin and my wife painted a nebula said. “But I think this is a great starting point
this is a very good operational risk assessment of how we can
Staff Sgt. Eric McKinley, 56th Civil Engineer
Courtesy of 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs make this happen as safe as possible and still get the training Squadron real property specialist, constructed that we have always found interesting,” Eric around it. I put a little runway scene with little and hopefully it’ll encourage other people to
we need.” the loaner library and his wife Lauren McKin- said. “By creating an inviting library, we are Thunderbird airplane models. The back of the do things for our community.”
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