Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, August 2019

Thunderbolt news http://www.luke.af.mil
Luke leadership, along with participants of the Money Strong Financial Incentive Program, pose for a group photo June 24 at Luke Air Force Base. Money Strong is a volunteer-driven program dedicated to helping Airmen manage their finances, plan for their economic future and learn skills such as budgeting, investing, building credit and more.
Maintenance initiative expands wing wide
August 2019 3 Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
IN BRIEF
Air Force Ball
Save the date, 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at Wigwam Resort, for the Luke Air Force Base Air Force Ball. For more information or to purchase tickets, contract your unit representative.
Retiree Appreciation Day
The Luke Air Force Base Retiree Activities Office will host the 2019 Retiree Appreciation Day 8 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 26 at the Naval Operational Center on Luke Air Force Base. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the programs and services available to military retirees. Tables with information about healthcare, social support and commu- nity programs will be displayed. There will also be speakers, demonstrations, certain immunizations and health monitoring such as blood pressure screenings. Representatives from some of the community organizations will be on hand to answer questions and provide information. The event is for military retirees from all branches. For more information, contact the Luke Air Force Base RAO at 623-856-3923.
Wheelchair Games
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is July 3-8, 2020, in Portland, Oregon. Co-presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Veterans Wheelchair Games is a rehabilitation and wheelchair sports program empowering Veterans with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, amputations, and other neurological injuries to live more active and healthy lives. Registration is Jan. 7 - April 15, 2020. For more infor- mation, call Dave Tostenrude at 206-445-3519 or email david. tostenrude@va.gov.
Munitions Storage Area Closure
The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Storage Area will be closed Sept. 6 through 13 to conduct a 100% munitions inventory. Only emergency issues will be handled during this time. The last date for munitions turn-in is 4 p.m. Sept. 5. Normal operations will resume Sept. 14. For more information, call Tech. Sgt. Mark Christy at 623-856-5493 or Staff Sgt. Travis Oelker at 623-856-8123.
Heroes Patriotic Luncheon
The Veterans Medical Leadership Council’s 17th Annual Heroes Patriotic Luncheon is 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (PST) Nov. 8 at the Arizona Biltmore Ballroom, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, 85016. This year’s featured speaker is Na- vajo Code Talker, Peter MacDonald, Sr., U.S. Marine Corps. For more information, call Sam Young at 602-540-7648 or email info@arizonavmlc.org.
Home of the Brave Virtual 5k Run Walk 2019
The Second Annual Home of the Brave Virtual 5k Run Walk honors those who choose to dedicate their lives to help protect our freedom in the United States. A portion of your registra- tion will be donated to this charity. For more information, call
19th annual Phoenix Career Fair
The 19th Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3422 E. Elwood Street, Phoenix, 85040. The event is free and will offer entry to professional level recruiting. For more information, email nmorrison@citycareerfair.com.
9/11 Tower Challenge
The 9/11 Tower Challenge Foundation organizes an event to memorialize the first responders who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and the military families whose lives were changed by that event. The Challenge consists of climbing 2,071 steps and is held in three locations; University of Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Gila River Arena in Phoenix and the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff. For more information, email Ben Buehler-Garcia at bbg@american
Korean War veterans
The West Valley Chapter of the Korean War Veterans As- sociation of Arizona invite Korean War and Korea Defense veterans to the monthly meetings held at 2 p.m. the second Friday of the month, September through June at the Peoria Community Center, 8335 W. Jefferson, Peoria, AZ 85345. The next meeting is Sept. 13. For more information, call Cathy McDaniel at 602-218-8562 or email cmcdani137@aol.com.
Story and photo by Airman 1st Class ZOIE COX
56th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs
A team of volunteers turned a broad idea into a thriv- ing financial management assistance program.
Dubbed the Money Strong Financial Incentive Program, volunteers dedicate time to helping Airmen control their finances and plan for their economic fu- ture, ultimately helping improve their financial quality of life.
“The Money Strong Financial Incentive Program will help bridge the gap between personnel, Air Force pro- grams and financial freedom,” said Maj. Richard Wille, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron commander.
According to CNBC.com, the enlisted force is the most stressed occupation in the U.S., along with having the second lowest median salary of the top ten most stressed occupations. The mission of Money Strong is to increase readiness and enhance lethality which entails reducing vulnerability and distractions, building a culture of financially ready Airmen and establishing or increasing emergency and retirement savings.
The target audience for Money Strong is junior officers and junior enlisted members, but is open to anyone on base.
“There is a concerted effort in certain regions of the United States to put financial education in high schools so why not have that same type of education within our own force,” said Tech. Sgt. Randy Sims Jr., 310th Aircraft Maintenance Unit dedicated crew chief.
The Money Strong Program works hand-in-hand with the Airman and Family Readiness Center and a volunteer team of personal financial counselors. When Airmen express interest in the program, they will attend an orientation class where the program and expectations are laid out. Once enrolled, they have the responsibility to meet at least five milestones.
Milestones can earn the participant up to a total of six days off work in the 12-month period or “Money Strong Dollars” which can be used as tickets for a quarterly raffle where cash is given away.
The mandatory milestones are the initial data pull and a progress check each quarter. The initial data pull is a private meeting with a personal financial counselor where they look over the entirety of one’s financial re- cords and work to develop a game plan on how to assist with their finances, whether that be improving credit or increasing emergency savings.
Additional aspects of the program include “Lunch and Learns” where Airmen can earn Money Strong Dollars. These are free lunches where participants are taught skills such as budgeting, investing, building credit and more.
“I decided to participate in the program because I knew I wasn’t saving or investing as much as I should’ve been,” said Staff Sgt. Antonio Simon, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment craftsman. “Everything is easier when your finances are in order. I would strongly recommend the program to others, they can help you advance your situation for sure.”
THUNDERBOLT ALMANAC
Fiscal 2019 graduates
21st FS (calendar year).................................. 8 61st FS .......................................................... 17 62nd FS......................................................... 42 63rd FS ......................................................... 24 69th FS ........................................................... 0 309th FS ....................................................... 50 310th FS ....................................................... 21
425th FS (calendar year) ............................... 0 550th FS ...................................................... 31 56th TRS ...................................................... 12 607th ACS.................................................. 170 372nd TRS, Det. 12 ................................... 893 944th OG, Det. 2 ............................................ 6 54th Training Squadron ............................ 73
Hours flown F-35 13,512.30
Sorties flown 9,435 8,632
F-16 10,978.20
(As of July 27, 2019)
T-Bolts
Deployed around the world.
187 Luke Airmen are deployed to 12 locations