Page 3 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt June 2026

Thunderbolt News June 5, 2026 3 http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
Luke Airmen celebrate Nurse & Tech Week
By Senior Airman Elias Carrero
56th Fighter Wing
The 56th Fighter Wing recog- nized nurses and medical tech- nicians during Nurse and Tech Week. The observance highlighted the medical professionals whose daily work supports patient care, medical readiness and the instal- lation’s mission at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
Nurse and Tech Week is an ex- tension of National Nurses Week and includes both nurses and medical technicians assigned to the Luke Medical Group.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Wilson, Luke Medical Group chief nurse executive, said it made sense to add the recognition of the techni- cians who work alongside nurses because their skillsets are compa- rable to licensed practical nurses and they play an equal role in supporting Luke’s mission.
“This week is important to give back to those who take care of us,” Wilson said. “The nursing profession, to include our techs, is a selfless one. Those that get into this profession have a strong desire to care for others, so we take this week to try and show our appreciation and give something back to them and highlight all that they do.”
The Luke Medical Group held morale events and activities throughout the week, recogniz- ing nurses and technicians be- fore concluding with a hands-on training day focused on continued professional development.
“Nurse and Tech Week is im- portant because even as the back- bone of day-to-day patient care, our work can go unnoticed,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Abigail Camarena, Luke Medical Group
U.S. Air force photos by Senior Airman Elias Carrero
U.S. Air Force Airman Seneca Parker, Luke Medical Group Healthcare Operations Squadron family health medical technician, trains to draw blood during Nurse and Tech Week at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 13, 2026. The Luke Medical Group held morale events and activities throughout the observance week, recognizing nurses and technicians before concluding with a hands-on training day focused on continued professional development of the lethal force.
family health medical technician. “It’s a chance to recognize the team’s hard work while highlight- ing the role medical personnel play in supporting the installa- tion and overall mission.”
The teamwork and day-to-day consistency required of medical professionals support Luke’s population of the next generation of warfighters.
“Our nurses and techs help keep planes flying by caring for
See NURSE, Page 5
LEFT: U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Kristie Bejarano, 162nd Air National Guard trauma emergency nurse, left, and Tech. Sgt. Dulzaida Lorenzo, 162nd ANG aerospace medical technician, participate in a Tactical Combat Casualty Care training during Nurse and Tech Week observed
at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 13, 2026.
LEFT: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Salamatu Sesay,
Luke Medical Group Healthcare Operations Squadron family health medical technician, dons protective equipment during Nurse and Tech Week observed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 13, 2026. Nurse
and Tech Week is an extension of National Nurses Week focused
on recognizing nurses and medical technicians assigned to support Luke AFB’s combat-ready mission.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Arianna Blaasch, an ambulance services medical technician, left, Staff Sgt. Dominick Espinoza, ambulance services noncommissioned officer in charge, center, and Senior Airman Hannah Martel, an ambulance services medical technician, all assigned to the Luke Medical Group Healthcare Operations Squadron, demonstrate unloading a gurney during training at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, May 13, 2026.