Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, February 2020

2 February 2021 Commentary http://www.luke.af.mil Thunderbolt News Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt 3
February 2021
Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
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PHONE NUMBERS Key Spouse Program provides critical support to families — LuKE F-35s, F-16s TrAIn DAILy —

Airman and Family Readiness Center .................... 623-856-6550 by Tech. Sgt.
Airman’s Attic ......................................................... 623-856-6415 NeSToR CRuz
Armed Forces Bank ................................................ 623-535-9766
Base Exchange main store ...................................... 623-935-2671 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LEFT: An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron prepares
Base taxi .................................................................. 623-856-6866 A part of the Air Force culture is to takeoff, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base. The 62nd FS transitioned
Beauty shop ............................................................. 623-536-1897 from flying F-16 Fighting Falcons to flying F-35 aircraft in 2015. There are
Chapel ..................................................................... 623-856-6211 volunteering and giving back to the four F-35 fighter squadrons and four F-16 fighter squadrons that directly sup-
Chapel (after duty hours) ........................................ 623-856-5600 community.
Child development center ....................................... 623-856-6338 An elite team of volunteers serve port the base’s mission of training the world’s greatest fighter pilots.
Clothing sales .......................................................... 623-856-6310 as a communication link between the
Club Five Six .......................................................... 623-856-6446 wing commander and Luke Air Force
Command post ........................................................ 623-856-5600 Base families. They are known as key
Commissary ............................................................ 623-935-3821 spouses.
Community center ................................................... 623-856-7152
Computer IT service desk ..................................... DSN 945-2900 “The Key Spouse Program is a peer-
Crime Stop .............................................................. 623-856-6666 to-peer support program and a way for
Dental clinic ............................................................ 623-856-2273 spouses to volunteer,” said Jessica Mal-
Dermatology ........................................................... 623-856-2273 donado, 944th Fighter Wing Airman and
Dining hall .............................................................. 623-856-6396 Family Readiness director. “Key spouses
Dorm management .................................................. 623-856-7841 are appointed by the wing commander
Education center ...................................................... 623-856-7722 to come alongside military members and
EMERGENCY ONLY ............................................................. 911
Equal opportunity .................................................... 623-856-7711 leaders to provide support to families, Master Sgt. Louis Vega Jr.
Eye clinic ................................................................ 623-856-7965 particularly the spouses.” 944th Fighter Wing Key Spouses pose for a photo Dec. 12, 2020, during a
Falcon Dunes Golf Course ...................................... 623-535-9334 Key spouses support families with
Family health clinic ................................................. 623-856-2273 various resources. Maldonado said key key spouse meeting in Phoenix, Ariz.
Family housing ........................................................ 623-388-3515 spouses have three main functions: pro-
Fire station .............................................................. 623-856-6641 viding information, being a communica- “The big thing, and probably why really helps grow the family participa-
Firestone Car Care .................................................. 623-271-8104 tion link between the wing commander people shy away from the key spouse tion and atmosphere of support here.”
Fitness center .......................................................... 623-856-6241 and spouses, and providing support program, is they think it’s just a social Maldonado wants Reserve Citizen
Flight medicine ....................................................... 623-856-2273 club,” Maldonado said. “These individu- Airmen to understand the importance
Food court ............................................................... 623-935-2671 during deployments.
Fort Tuthill .............................................................. 623-856-3401 “Our key spouses go out to the new- als go through specific training such as of the key spouse program. An F-16D Fighting Falcon assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron taxis onto the
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................... 623-856-6149 comers’ orientation and reach out to what PII (personally identifiable infor- “I feel the key spouse program is runway, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base. During training, the forward cockpit
Hobby shop ............................................................. 623-856-6722 the families new to Luke,” she said. mation) is and how to handle sensitive underutilized in the Reserve as some be- is used by a student pilot with an instructor pilot in the rear cockpit.
Housing assistance section ...................................... 623-856-7643 “During deployments, they would call situations. They have a specific and vital lieve it’s solely an active duty program,”
Housing facilities section ........................................ 623-856-3007 and check in with the families, let them role within the wing.” she said. “I want people to know more
Housing maintenance .............................................. 623-935-2676 know what’s going on like when we do Jill Kuehler, spouse of Senior Master about our program and the resources we
Identification cards .................................................. 623-856-7832 Sgt. Michael Kuehler, 944th Aircraft can provide them. This is an amazing
Information, tickets and travel ................................ 623-856-6000 back-to-school events or giveaways for
Law enforcement desk ............................................ 623-856-5970 the holidays. Key spouses are getting Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, group of people and they are passionate
Legal assistance ...................................................... 623-856-6901 information out to the families and was one of the three volunteers who about taking care of families.”
Library ..................................................................... 623-856-7191 letting them know about the resources helped kick off the 944th’s Key Spouse “If anyone is interested in becoming a
Lodging office/switchboard .................................... 623-856-3941 available to them.” Program three years ago. key spouse, talk to one of us or Jessica
Maintenance control center ..................................... 623-856-5469 The 944th FW Key Spouse Program “Initially they needed someone. I and find out what it’s like,” said Kuehler.
Marine Corps .......................................................... 623-856-2417 was launched in 2017 with Maldonado said ‘sure I’ll do it,’ and I learned more “It’s pretty awesome.”
Marine Corps 24-hour duty desk ............................ 602-421-5806 and three key spouse volunteers. To- about it since,” Kuehler said. “It’s a very For more information about the 944th
Marketing ................................................................ 623-856-3245
Medical appointments ............................................. 623-856-2273 day, the program has grown to 20 key meaningful program. And I think the Key Spouse program, contact the 944th
Military equal opportunity ...................................... 623-856-7711 spouses, but more volunteers are still more (the program) grows and the more FW Airmen and Family Readiness
Military pay ............................................................. 623-856-7028 needed to support the thousands of robust it becomes, it’s better for families office at 623-856-8324 or jessica.maldo- An F-16D Fighting Falcon assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron prepares
Navy Operations Support Center ............................ 602-353-3008 families within the wing. of the 944th, better for members, and it nado.7@us.af.mil. for takeoff, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base. The 310th FS, which ad-
OB/GYN clinic ....................................................... 623-856-2273 opted its “Tophat” nickname in 1987, was originally activated Feb. 9, 1942,
Office of Special Investigations .............................. 623-856-6821 in Harding Field, Louisiana, where it flew the P-39 Airacobra and the P-40
Optometrist ............................................................. 623-856-2273 Munitions Storage Area Closure
Orthopedic clinic ..................................................... 623-856-2273 Warhawk.
Outdoor recreation .................................................. 623-856-6267 The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions
Pass and registration ............................................... 623-856-4880 Storage Area will be closed March 3-12 to conduct a 100%
Patient advocate ...................................................... 623-856-8968 munitions inventory. Only emergency issues will be handled An F-16D Fighting Falcon, part of the 310th Fighter Squadron, takes
Pediatric clinic ........................................................ 623-856-2273 during this time. The last date for munitions turn-in is off, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base. Luke AFB graduates
Pharmacy refill call-in ............................................. 623-856-3969 Munitions Storage Area Closure The 56th Equipment Main-
Photo services ......................................................... 623-856-6168 tenance Squadron Munitions Storage Area will be closed more than 188 F-16 fighter pilots annually.
March 3-12 to conduct a 100% munitions inventory. Only
Post Office ............................................................... 623-935-1343 emergency issues will be handled during this time. The last
Public affairs ........................................................... 623-856-6011 date for munitions turn-in is 4 p.m. on March 3. Normal
Recycling information ............................................ 623-856-4749 operations will resume March 15. For more information, call
Retiree Activities office .............................................623-856-3923 Tech. Sgt. Michael Keesucker at 623-856-6975 or Staff Sgt.
Rodgers Travel ........................................................ 623-856-6894 Bartholomew Williams at 623-856-6327. 4 p.m. on March 3.
Normal operations will resume March 15. For more informa-
Safety ...................................................................... 623-856-6941 tion, call Tech. Sgt. Michael Keesucker at 623-856-6975 or
Security forces .........................................................623-856-5970 Staff Sgt. Bartholomew Williams at 623-856-6327.
Security incidents .................................................... 623-856-7777
Service calls CE maintenance ................................. 623-856-7232
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response ...................... 623-856-4878
Shoppette ................................................................. 623-266-0040 Thunderbolt editorial staff Luke Air Force Base website and social media and is the source for articles and
Sick call ................................................................... 623-856-2273 Publisher ....................................................Aerotech News and Review photos published in the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt editor is authorized to use
South Gate VRC ...................................................... 623-856-4768 Editor ....................................................................................... Amy Lamb photos and articles from other .mil or .gov websites.
Submission deadline is at noon the 15th day prior to the month of publication.
Straight-Talk line ..................................................... 623-856-7064 Designer .................................................................................tinna sellie Contributions for the Thunderbolt can be made via email to amy@aerotechnews.
Telephone repair (Base) .......................................... 623-856-4400 Advertising sales ................................................................ 877-247-9288 com. The editor can be reached at 661-310-5712 or amy@aerotechnews.com.
Thrift store .............................................................. 623-935-5782 Luke Air Force Base The Thunderbolt uses material from the Armed Forces Information Service, Air
Ticket/tour office ..................................................... 623-856-6000 Commander.................................................Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder Force News Service, AETC News Service and other sources. All advertising is han-
Travco ......................................................................855-896-7939 Public affairs chief ................................................Capt. Candice Dillitte dled by Aerotech News and Review. They can be reached by calling 877-247-9288.
Travel management office household goods ........... 623-856-6425 Command information ...................................... Tech. Sgt. Clint Atkins Contents of the Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or en-
TMO passenger travel ............................................. 623-856-7035 dorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department
Transient alert ......................................................... 623-856-6204 Editorial Information of the Air Force.
Travel pay ............................................................... 623-856-7028 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supple-
Vehicle maintenance ............................................... 623-935-6576 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ and click on PDF edition ments, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by Photos by Airman 1st Class Brooke Moeder
Veterinary services .................................................. 623-856-6354 The Thunderbolt is published by Aerotech News and Review, a private firm in no the DOD, the DAF or Aerotech News and Review. Everything advertised in this An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron takes
Weather ................................................................... 623-856-6805 way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the 56th publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard
to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap,
Wellness center ....................................................... 623-856-2273 Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. This civilian enterprise Air Force news- political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. All An F-35A Lightning II lands while an F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares for takeoff, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke off, Dec. 15, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base. The 62nd FS trains fight-
paper is an authorized monthly publication for members of the U.S. military services.
Youth center ............................................................ 623-856-7470 The 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office prepares all editorial content for the photographs are Air Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. Air Force Base. Luke AFB’s mission is to train F-16 and F-35 fighter pilots and has graduated more er pilots as a joint international effort between Italy, Norway and the
than 61,000 fighter pilots since 1941. United States.