Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 2-26-16

Thunderbolt NEWS Feb. 26, 2016 3
http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt

Hero Award IN BRIEF

Courtesy photo Luke tax center open

)520/()7$XGUH\-HQQLQJV8QLWHG%ORRG6HUYLFHVH[HFXWLYHGLUHFWRU0DM&KDUORWWD/HDGHUWK The on-base tax center is now open. Free tax assistance on
0HGLFDO*URXSKHDOWKFDUHLQWHJUDWRU&DSW6KDUORWW8ULDUWHWK0'*(GXFDWLRQDQG7UDLQLQJ)OLJKW federal and state tax returns is available to active-duty, retirees
FRPPDQGHUDQG7HFK6JW$OLVD)ULVFKWK0DLQWHQDQFH2SHUDWLRQV6TXDGURQXQLWWUDLQLQJPDQDJHU and dependents. To receive assistance, members must bring a
JDWKHUIRUDSKRWRDWWKH8QLWHG%ORRG6HUYLFHV+HUR$ZDUGFHUHPRQ\)HE8ULDUWHEORRGGULYHRI- valid military I.D., social security card for each member of the
¿FHUUHFHLYHGWKH8%6+HUR$ZDUG2XWRIRUJDQL]DWLRQVWKDWKRVWHGEORRGGULYHVLQ$UL]RQDWKH family to be claimed, all tax forms for income (e.g. W-2, W-2G,
+HUR$ZDUGZLQQHUVDORQHVXSSOLHGSHUFHQWRIDOOGRQDWLRQVJLYHQRQPRELOHEORRGGULYHV 1099), a copy of the 2014 tax return, and a checking or savings
document (e.g. check or bank statement) with routing number
GI Bill transfer rules unchanged, from the member’s bank. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday in Bldg. 1150, Room 1020. For more
housing allowance cut approved information, call Capt. Jheremy Perkins at 623-856-3140.

An eleventh-hour change to Department of Veterans funding — not spouses. The congressionally mandated &RPSUHKHQVLYH$LUPDQ)LWQHVVWUDLQLQJ
Affairs legislation scrapped a plan by lawmakers to Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization
increase the service obligation required for troops who Commission last year recommended eliminating the Comprehensive Airman Fitness Training is March 15
wish to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their entire housing payout for both groups. through 17, June 14 through 16, Sept. 20 through 22 and Dec.
spouses or children. 20 through 22. It is a three-day course for Airmen or Defense
Children who have already been transferred the Department employees who endorse the resiliency program.
The bill, which was recently passed by the House, benefit under the old rules will be grandfathered into Resilience training assistants provide awareness education
originally included a provision requiring troops to the full housing allowance, as will those transferred and skill development techniques for Airmen and their families
serve 10 years on active duty plus a two-year service the benefit up to 180 days after the change is signed while enhancing individual resilience across the four domains of
obligation to qualify for the transfer benefit. Instead, into law. Troops who have not yet reached six years of CAF: mental, physical, social, and spiritual. For more informa-
lawmakers opted to keep the requirement at the current active service are not eligible to transfer the benefit tion, or to schedule a particular skill training for your unit or
six years of service, plus a four-year service obligation. and will not be able to lock in the current housing al- squadron before the dates, call Sharon Kozak at 623-856-2716.
lowance rules.
A plan to slash in half the housing allowance for Parents’ Night Out
military dependents using the transferred benefit re- Also included in the bill were two Fry Scholarship
mained in the bill and was approved as part of the vote. expansions for spouses of troops killed in action after Register children ages 6 weeks to 5 years at the 56th Force
A similar version of the legislation will be considered September 11, 2001, and a measure allowing Guard Support Squadron Child Development Center and children
by the Senate before heading to the president’s desk and Reserve members on medical hold from injuries ages 6 to 12 at the 56th FSS Youth Center today for a child-free
for approval before it becomes law. received on active duty to earn their GI Bill faster than afternoon noon to 4 p.m. March 12. Current immunizations for
has traditionally been permitted. each child are required at the time of registration. The cost is
The provisions, part of the Veterans Employment, $20 per child. For more information or to register, call the youth
Education and Healthcare Act, halved only the payment Courtesy of Military.com center at 623-856-7470 or the CDC at 623-856-6338.
for children of service members using the transferred
Munitions storage area closure change
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC
The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Storage
Fiscal 2016 graduates Area will be closed March 18 through 25 to conduct a 100-percent
munitions inventory. Only emergency issues will be handled
61st FS.......................................................... 16 314th FS ........................................................ 5 during this time. The last date/time for munitions turn-ins is by
62nd FS........................................................... 0 56th TRS...................................................... 30 4 p.m. March 17. Normal operations will resume March 26. For
309th FS ......................................................... 7 607th ACS.................................................... 73 more information, call Tech. Sgt. Donnie Roos at 623-856-5493.
310th FS ....................................................... 22 372nd TRS, Det. 12 ..................................... 31
311th FS ......................................................... 6 56th OSS (IFTU) ........................................... 0 Volunteer ops

Hours flown Sorties flown T-Bolts 39 Luke Airmen tOpening Day at Goodyear Ballpark: Forty-five Airmen
Deployed are deployed to needed to hold a giant flag before the game at noon March 1
F-35 2,244.6 1,505 at 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, 85338. Participants must
F-16 5,470.7 4,162 14 countries wear ABUs and can stay to watch the game.
around the world.
t3FBEUPTUVEFOUT Airmen read for 30 minutes to kinder
through 3rd grade students March 1 through 4 at Discovery
Elementary School, 7910 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, 85303.

t3FBEUPTUVEFOUT Airmen read for 30 minutes 9 a.m. to
2 p.m. to students age 5 through 12 March 2 at Countryside
Elementary School, 15034 N. Parkview Place, Surprise,
85388. For more information, email Tech. Sgt. Tim Boyer.

NCO Professional Enhancement

The next NCO Professional Enhancement Course will be
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 8 through 11 in the Airman Lead-
ership School Auditorium. The course is for staff and technical
sergeants who have completed Airman Leadership School at
least three years prior and/or who have not yet attended the
NCO Academy. NCOs must have approval from their leadership
to attend the four-day course. For more information or to sign
up, email Master Sgt. Ida Bushey.

Women’s History Month

The Women’s History Month luncheon at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
March 9 at Club Five Six. A 5k fun run is 7 a.m. March 25 at the
944th HQ auxiliary parking lot. There will be an essay contest
at Luke Elementary School and WHM items on display at the
Luke Air Force Base library. For more information, call 1st Lt.
Katie Pane at 623-856-4119.

Flightline feast

The 56th Fighter Wing Chapel is featuring a flightline feast
at 11:30 a.m. March 3 at the Hangar 914 fire pit. For more
information, call 623-856-6211.

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Easter Eggstravaganza is 10 a.m. to noon March 12 at the
56th Force Support Squadron Youth Center. For more informa-
tion, call 623-856-7470.