Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 12-4-15

Thunderbolt NEWS Dec. 4, 2015 3
http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt

Courtesy photo IN BRIEF

6NLS+RSOHUZDVRQHRIWKH¿UVWIRXU¿JKWHUSLORWVLQ7DFWLFDO$LU&RPPDQGVHQWWR+LOO$LU)RUFH%DVH Dorm dwellers party
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Luke Air Force Base dorm residents are invited to a dorm
squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons. Today, he is responsible for the Lockheed Martin F-35 ground training dwellers holiday party 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Club
SURJUDPIRUWKHZRUOG¶VQHZHVW¿IWKJHQHUDWLRQ¿JKWHU Five Six. There will be free food, video game contests and prizes.

Legend in skies, classroom leads F-35 training Home-buying seminar

6NLS+RSOHUZDVRQHRIWKHÀUVWWRÁ\WKH))LJKWLQJ the transition to other new aircraft, except that the avionics The 56th Force Support Squadron Housing Management
Falcon. Now, he’s guiding the launch of F-35 Lightning II DQGZHDSRQVDUHVLJQLÀFDQWO\PRUHVRSKLVWLFDWHG 2IÀFHDQG$LUPHQDQG)DPLO\5HDGLQHVV&HQWHUZLOOEHFRQ-
operations by training the next generation. ducting a home-buying seminar 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the A&FRC
“Aviation technology evolves, and the F-35 introduces for active-duty military members, retirees and their families.
+RSOHUZDVERUQWRÁ\:LWKKRXUVLQWKHFRFNSLW the opportunity to advance tactics, but the objective to be There will be information on the VA loan program and an AFRC
DV D 86 $LU )RUFH SLORW KLV ORYH RI Á\LQJ EHJDQ DW DQ WKHEHVWÀJKWHUSLORW\RXFDQEHQHYHUFKDQJHVµKHVDLG´, representative will answer questions related to home buying.
early age like many pilots and was inspired by his uncle’s see the same drive in the F-35 pilots we’re training today.” Space is limited. For more information or to sign up, call Rodney
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What Hopler didn’t know until later in his career is that As the F-35A pilot training hub, Luke AFB will eventu-
he was born to teach too. ally provide training for U.S. pilots plus seven partner na- Luke Experience
tions and house a total of 144 F-35s. The base welcomed its
Hopler has trained more than a thousand pilots during ÀUVWFODVVLQ0D\6LQFHWKHQSLORWVKDYHJUDGXDWHG Luke Experience is performing two one-act plays at 7 p.m
his military service and then as a contract ground training through the F-35 training system at Luke. today, after Holiday Magic, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
instructor pilot. In his current role, Hopler is responsible for DWWKHEDVHWKHDWHU´)LQDO'UHVV5HKHDUVDOµDQG´$6HXVVLÀHG
WUDLQLQJWKHQH[WJHQHUDWLRQRIÀJKWHUSLORWVDVWKHOHDGIRU Pilots begin their F-35 training with Hopler’s team at Christmas Carol” are both rated PG for all audiences. There
the F-35 Academic Training Center at Luke Air Force Base. the academic training center with classroom instruction is no charge. For more information, call Lacey Quattlebaum
DQGÁLJKWVLQWKHIXOOPLVVLRQVLPXODWRUZKLFKUHSOLFDWHV at 623-856-9949.
´:KDWPDNHVDJUHDWÀJKWHUSLORWLVDWWLWXGHVNLOOVDQG all aircraft sensors and weapons employment. Simulator
training,” Hopler said. “The pilots we’re training today at ÁLJKWVDUHDPDMRUFRPSRQHQWRI)WUDLQLQJWRSUHSDUH Deployed family dinner
Luke are outstanding, and my team’s job is to give each SLORWVIRUWKHLUÀUVWULGHLQWKHVLQJOHVHDW)0RUHWKDQ
pilot the foundation to succeed in combat.” KDOIRIWKHLQLWLDOTXDOLÀFDWLRQÁLJKWVIRUWKH)WDNHSODFH The deployed family dinner is 6 p.m. Thursday in the Luke
in the full-mission simulator for training effectiveness and Community Chapel. Games, gifts, holiday dinner and a special
Hopler brings operational experience from 21 years of affordability. appearance by Santa are included. To RSVP by Dec. 7 or for
service in the Air Force to his role on the F-35. After F-4 pi- more information, call 623-856-6211.
lot training at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, he deployed The F-35 technology is impressive, says Hopler, but
WZLFHWR6RXWKHDVW$VLDDQGÁHZPLVVLRQVLQMXVWWZR the technology alone isn’t the advantage. It’s the men and Holiday magic street closure
years during the Vietnam War. women equipped to use it - with the right attitude, skills
and training - that make all the difference. Eagle Street from Bong Lane west to Jerstad Lane will be
+H DOVR ÁHZ +DZNHU +XQWHUV ZLWK WKH 8.·V 5R\DO closed 3 to 11 p.m. today for the Holiday Magic festivities.
air force as part of a tactical weapons unit before he was “Here at Luke, we’re preparing the pilots who provide a
selected to join the initial cadre of F-16 pilots. That’s when security net for our country and coalition partners,” Hopler Road closures
Hopler found his second passion - teaching. In 1978, Hopler said. “Many pilots have gone before them, and our team is
KHOSHGVWDQGXSWKHÀUVW)VTXDGURQDW+LOO$)%8WDK honored to continue the legacy and train the world’s best The following road closures will be in effect due to an electri-
and then continued his career as an F-16 instructor pilot. ÀJKWHUSLORWVµ cal underground project.

He says making the jump to the F-35 has been similar to Courtesy of Lockheed Martin ‡-HUVWDG/DQHZLOOEHFORVHG0RQGD\WKURXJK:HGQHVGD\
between Gillespie Drive and Mitchell Street.
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC
‡-HUVWDG/DQHZLOOEHFORVHG:HGQHVGD\WR'HFEHWZHHQ
Fiscal 2016 graduates Mitchell and Eagle streets.

61st FS............................................................ 5 314th FS ........................................................ 4 Holiday gift wrap program
62nd FS........................................................... 0 56th TRS...................................................... 23
309th FS ......................................................... 3 607th ACS ................................................... 35 The Annual Community Gift Wrap Program is now
310th FS ....................................................... 12 372nd TRS, Det. 12..................................... 31 through Dec. 24. Organizations on base can raise funds
311th FS ......................................................... 4 56th OSS (IFTU)........................................... 0 by wrapping gifts at the Luke Air Force Base Exchange.
Supplies are provided. For more information, call 623-
F-35 +RXUVÁRZQ 6RUWLHVÁRZQ T-Bolts 174 Luke Airmen 935-2671, ext. 211 or email tamiro@aafes.com.
F-16 Deployed are deployed to
843.6 569 Forging Sabre exercise
2,418.1 1,847 15 countries
around the world. Luke Air Force Base will host Forging Sabre, an exercise in-
volving members of the Republic of Singapore armed forces now
through Dec. 14. The exercise includes night and weekend
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Range complex. The areas around Luke and the BMGR may
experience more noise than usual as a result of the increased
air activity and types of aircraft involved. There will be an
increased military presence with military movements along
Highway 85 south of Gila Bend as military position themselves
within the Barry M. Goldwater range. For more information,
call Kiley Dougherty at 623-856-7991 or Maj. Matthew Hasson
at 623-856-5997.

Tax volunteers wanted

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is looking for
volunteers to assist individuals and families in preparing tax
returns for the upcoming 2016 tax season Jan. 25 through April
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will be asked to work at least four hours per week in the tax cen-
ter. Services are provided free of charge. Volunteer opportunities
include a tax center coordinator, who is responsible for running
the daily operations of the tax center. The coordinator is at the
site every day it’s open for the entire tax season, schedules vol-
unteers to be at the VITA site and contacts volunteers weekly to
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taxpayers according to site operational procedures. Also needed
are tax preparers who are responsible for providing tax return
preparation services to eligible taxpayers at the tax center. The
tax preparer prepares basic 1040 tax returns and related sched-

See BRIEFS, Page 17