Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, December 2018

Thunderbolt news http://www.luke.af.mil
December 2018 3 Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
IN BRIEF
Wing food drive
The 56th Fighter Wing is featuring a wing-wide canned food collection competition through Dec. 17. The Cans and Kindness Challenge pits squadron against squadron to gather the most weight in canned food donations which will go to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. The most-needed items are peanut butter, canned light chicken, canned ravioli, canned fruit packed in no sugar or 100 percent fruit juice, low or no sodium canned vegetables, dry or canned beans, or low sugar boxed cereals. The winner claims the title of Thunderbolt CKC Champions and receives the Golden Can Trophy. For more information, contact the unit representative.
Exchange dedicated to hiring vets, spouses
In 2018, the Army, Air Force Exchange Service hired more than 5,000 veterans and military spouses. This year, the Exchange reaf- firmed its commitment to hire 50,000 veterans and military spouses by 2020. Veterans and military spouses can find job opportunities worldwide at ApplyMyExchange.com.
Exchange promises lowest price guarantee
From Dec. 1 through 24, authorized shoppers who make an in-store or online purchase at ShopMyExchange.com and find an identical item offered elsewhere for less will receive an Exchange gift card for the difference in price. To receive a gift card, shoppers bring their original Exchange receipt or online order confirmation along with a competitor’s current ad to the Luke Air Force Base Exchange customer service area. This same process can be initi- ated by shoppers, including honorably discharged Veterans eligible to shop online at ShopMyExchange.com, by calling Exchange Customer Relations at 1-800-527-2345 or filling out the online Customer Feedback form.
Show Some Love!
This year’s Combined Federal Campaign is going on through Dec. 14. You can contribute financially to your favorite cause or charity through the CFC. Now is the time to donate and to pledge volunteer hours to support the community. To see ways to volunteer, go to desertsouthwestcfc.org. For more information, see the unit CFC representative.
Christmas Reflections convert
The Arizona Winds will present Christmas Reflections at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Midwestern University. Midwestern is located at 19555 N. 59th Avenue in Glendale, just south of Loop 101. The main entrance to campus is off of Utopia Road. For further informa- tion about this concert and future concerts, visit www.azwinds.com.
Recycle cooking oil
To discard cooking oil used during the holidays, bring it from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday now through Jan.4 to the Bldg. 302 parking lot. All cooking oils are accepted and will be recycled to produce clean alternative fuel that may be used for fueling trucks, buses and other vehicles, thereby reducing hazard- ous exhaust emissions. Recycling also reduces the occurrence of blockages and overflows caused by fats, oils and grease disposed down the drain. For more information, call the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental office at 623-856-6890.
Exchange holiday returns
The Luke Air Force Base Exchange is extending its return policy for items purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24. The standard policy allows returns from 15 to 90 days after purchase with a sales receipt or on-line order confirmation, depending on the item. The holiday return policy extends these terms through Jan. 31, 2019. For more information, call 800-527-2345.
Worklife live webinars
The Federal Occupational Health Behavioral Health Services is offering the following webinars at 11 a.m. on the following dates. To register, go to FOH4You.com. For more information, call 800- 222-0364.
•A Holistic Approach to Feeling Your Best, Dec. 12
Gain awareness of how your mind, body and spirit can unite to help you live the fullest life possible.
Toastmasters on base
Toastmasters meets noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in the Quiet Study Room in the Luke Air Force Base Library. Improve communication and leadership skills through prepared and impromptu speak- ing. The cost is $20 to join and semiannual dues of $45. For more information, call Lynne Nutter at 623-856-9838 or 602-740-6124.
Royal Australian Air Force No. 3 Squadron thanks Luke Air Force Base for its training and hospitality Nov. 9 at a hangar celebration at Luke Air Force Base. No. 3 Squadron will travel home to Australia with its first two F-35As in early December.
US, Aussie mateship thriving at Luke
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. JENNA BIGHAM
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Since the arrival of Australia’s first F-35A Lightning II at Luke Air Force Base in December 2014, Australian pilots and maintainers have trained side by side with members from the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin in preparation for the day when Australian F-35s would travel home to Australia.
That day is quickly approaching as No. 3 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force will travel with two F-35s to Australia in early December.
The unique history of No. 3 Squadron makes it par- ticularly fitting that it has been here in the U.S. train- ing in preparation for their F-35 program’s next step.
“In 1918, No. 3 Squadron of the Australian Army Fly- ing Corps was operating out of western France when it flew its ‘Harry Tate’ RE8 aircraft, and successfully dropped ammunition supplies at low level to both Aus- tralian and American forces in the Battle of Hamel,” said RAAF Air Attache Terry Van Haren.
From that moment one hundred years ago, a strong friendship was formed. A friendship more fondly re- ferred to as a “mateship.”
“It’s a friendship that’s formed under difficult circum- stances. We’re there for each other in the good times and bad,” said RAAF Wing Commander Darren Clare, No. 3 Squadron commander. “Australia has been fighting
alongside the U.S. in every major conflict since World War I. It’s an ongoing and enduring friendship, whereby we rely on each other for support in those times of need.”
As their way of saying thank you, and with the sup- port of the Australian Embassy, Royal Australian Air Force members held an Australian Mateship Event on Nov. 9, 2018 at Luke AFB.
“In the spirit of the ‘100 Years of Mateship’ campaign, we wanted to say thank you for the support so far to get us to this point,” Clare said. “It’s not the end. Australia will have a presence here in the 61st Fighter Squadron for a number of years to come, but we appreciate all that you’ve done to get us where we are today.”
The event highlighted the friendships made over the last four years, and it was clear that the bond was shared by all.
“There’s no greater way to show your faith and trust in one another than to fly each other’s jets and to train each other’s pilots,” said Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier, 61st FS commander. “We appreciate you and all you’ve done for us as well.”
It’s been phenomenal, Clare said.
“I’ve flown with several U.S. Air Force pilots in the past and to be here in the Luke community, to be fully embedded within the squadron so tightly and be trusted to train your next generation of F-35 pilots is a pretty big honor,” he said. “We’ve been supported with what- ever we needed on base and achieved a level that we wouldn’t have been able to if we did this on our own.”
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC
Fiscal 2018 graduates
21st FS (calendar year).................................. 8 61st FS ............................................................ 0 62nd FS........................................................... 8 63rd FS ........................................................... 0 69th FS ........................................................... 0 309th FS ......................................................... 7 310th FS ....................................................... 10
425th FS (calendar year) ............................... 0 550th FS ........................................................ 4 56th TRS ........................................................ 4 607th ACS.................................................... 33 372nd TRS, Det. 12 ................................... 185 944th OG, Det. 2 .......................................... 91 54th Training Squadron .............................. 2
Hours flown F-35 2,312.60 F-16 2,228.50
Sorties flown
1,539 1,699
(As of Oct. 29, 2018)
T-Bolts
Deployed around the world.
219 Luke Airmen are deployed to 15 locations