Page 21 - Relo Guide Peggy Elias

MILITARY

& VETERAN INFORMATION

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE

Luke Air Force Base is an active-duty, F-16
Fighting Falcon training base with 170 F-16s
assigned. The base population includes about
7,500 military members and 15,000 family
members. An important part of Luke’s F-16
fighter pilot training mission is the Barry M.
Goldwater Air Force Range. The range consists
of 1,900,000 acres of relatively undisturbed
Sonoran Desert. This training range is located
southwest of Luke Air Force Base between
Yuma and Tucson, south of Interstate 8. With
57,000 cubic miles of airspace where pilots
practice air-to-air maneuvers and engage
simulated battlefield targets on the ground, it is
one important training ground for F-16 pilots.
The immense complex allows for simultaneous
training activities on nine air-to-ground and two
air-to-air ranges. In addition to flying and maintaining the F-16, DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST AIRPORT
Luke airmen also deploy to support on-going operations in Iraq, From Airport: Take Interstate 10 West to State Route 51 North.
Afghanistan and to combatant commanders in other locations Follow State Route 51 to Loop 101 West. Following Loop 101
around the world. In 2004, more than 900 Luke airmen were West to Cave Creek Road. Turn North on Cave Creek Road to
deployed, most to supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since Pinnacle Peak Road, turn East on Pinnacle Peak Road and go ¼
June 2012, Luke AFB has been the permanent home of Naval mile. Cemetery will be on the right.
Operational Support Center (NOSC) Phoenix of the US Navy.
A NOSC is a facility used to provide operational support for RESERVE COMPONENTS
training and administrative services to Navy Reserve Units. NOSC This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed
Phoenix supports over 750 Navy Reservists in 16 Navy Reserve and cremated remains
units. The new 32,055 square-foot, one-story facility is located on
a 1.85 acre site at Luke AFB. The new complex features sufficient National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
parking and a secured perimeter to meet current anti-terrorism and 23029 North Cave Creek Road
force protection standards. On site administrative staff, a medical Phoenix, AZ 85024
unit, and reservists are on call during drill weekends. It also has 480-513-3600
a 4,800 square-foot drill hall, command staff offices, reserve unit
administration spaces, medical and dental examination areas, six SCHEDULE A BURIAL
classrooms, a distance learning center, a physical fitness room. Fax all discharge documentation to the National Cemetery
Scheduling Office at 1-866-900-6417 and follow-up with a
NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF AZ phone call to 1-800-535-1117.

A state law was passed in 1976 and signed by Governor Raul OFFICE HOURS
Castro authorizing the development of a state veterans cemetery. Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The cemetery was dedicated December 9, 1978 and the first Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day.
burial occurred on March 19, 1979. The cemetery was officially
transferred to the VA on April 1, 1989. The cemetery consists MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS
of 225 acres and will not reach capacity until well after the As of 2003, there were 18 monuments and memorials at the
year 2030. The Department of Veterans Affairs spent over $13 National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, most arranged along
million for improvements in 1999. The project included three a memorial walkway. Two unique memorials at the cemetery are
new committal shelters, a maintenance building, visitor center, the Eternal Flame monument, which is pyramidal in shape, and
founders plaza, assembly area and extensive landscaping. the World War II Submarine Torpedo monument.

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