Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, February 2022
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2 February 2022 Feature http://www.luke.af.mil Thunderbolt News Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt 3
Thunderbolt
February 2022
http://www.luke.af.mil
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
PHONE NUMBERS Accomplishing your goals: Airmen compete in fourth quarter load competition
Airman and Family Readiness Center .................... 623-856-6550
Airman’s Attic ......................................................... 623-856-6415 U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jocelyn U.S. Air Force Airman
Base taxi .................................................................. 623-856-6866 An Airman’s journey to becoming an Ironman Zavala and Staff Sgt. James 1st Class Joseph Har-
Armed Forces Bank ................................................ 623-535-9766
Base Exchange main store ...................................... 623-935-2671
rison, 309th Aircraft
Meeks, 944th Fighter Wing
Beauty shop ............................................................. 623-536-1897 aircraft armament system tech- Maintenance Unit air-
Chapel ..................................................................... 623-856-6211 nicians, attach an AIM-120 ad- craft armament system
Chapel (after duty hours) ........................................ 623-856-5600 By 2nd Lt. vanced medium-range air-to-air technician, prepares
Child development center ....................................... 623-856-6338 JAmeS STeWART missile to their assigned F-35A to load an F-35A Light-
Clothing sales .......................................................... 623-856-6310 Lightning II aircraft during the ning II aircraft Jan. 7,
Club Five Six .......................................................... 623-856-6446 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs quarterly load crew competition 2022, at Luke Air Force
Command post ........................................................ 623-856-5600 The Ironman endurance triathlon dates back to 1978
Commissary ............................................................ 623-935-3821 Jan. 7, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Harrison
Community center ................................................... 623-856-7152 and is specifically designed to challenge endurance athletes Base, Arizona. Teams of three was participating in
Computer IT service desk ..................................... DSN 945-2900 with an ultimate single-day event. The race consists of a Airmen competed against each the quarterly load crew
Crime Stop .............................................................. 623-856-6666 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run, and other in preparing and loading competition, where Air-
Dental clinic ............................................................ 623-856-2273 requires what some would say is an incredible amount of their assigned aircraft the fast- men hone their skills
Dermatology ........................................................... 623-856-2273 training and preparation. est, while still maintaining ef- to better prepare Luke
Dining hall .............................................................. 623-856-6396 On Nov. 21, 2021, U.S. Air Force Col. Luke Casper, 56th ficiency and proper procedure AFB’s fighters down-
Dorm management .................................................. 623-856-7841 Fighter Wing vice commander, along with his friend, U.S.
Education center ...................................................... 623-856-7722 throughout the competition. range.
EMERGENCY ONLY ............................................................. 911 Air Force Maj. Miguel Fernandez, Air Force Academy ad-
Equal opportunity .................................................... 623-856-7711 mission liaison officer, put their training to the test and Airmen from
Eye clinic ................................................................ 623-856-7965 completed Ironman Arizona in the college town of Tempe, the 308th and
Falcon Dunes Golf Course ...................................... 623-535-9334 just outside of Phoenix. 309th Aircraft
Family health clinic ................................................. 623-856-2273 In early Spring 2021, Casper began an intense training Maintenance
Family housing ........................................................ 623-388-3515 regimen to prepare for the Ironman. In addition to being a Units load
Fire station .............................................................. 623-856-6641 challenging race, Casper stated it takes countless hours of
Firestone Car Care .................................................. 623-271-8104 an AIM-120
Fitness center .......................................................... 623-856-6241 preparation, perseverance, and resilience, and that there advanced
Flight medicine ....................................................... 623-856-2273 are several elements that tie into achieving a goal. medium-range
Food court ............................................................... 623-935-2671 “I think the training was harder than the race itself just air-to-air mis-
Fort Tuthill .............................................................. 623-856-3401 because it’s so mentally challenging,” said Casper. “The sile on an F-
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................... 623-856-6149 training is the same week in, week out. It just builds on 35A Lightning
Hobby shop ............................................................. 623-856-6722 itself. You know you’re waking up early to get it done, biking II aircraft dur-
Housing assistance section ...................................... 623-856-7643 for hours on Saturday, and then running a ton on Sunday,
Housing facilities section ........................................ 623-856-3007 which was my program week-to-week. I generally [trained] ing a quarterly
Housing maintenance .............................................. 623-935-2676 load crew
Identification cards .................................................. 623-856-7832 just about an hour each day during the work week in the competition
Information, tickets and travel ................................ 623-856-6000 initial part until the last few months, and then it became Jan. 7, 2022,
Law enforcement desk ............................................ 623-856-5970 an hour and a half in the morning.” at Luke Air
Legal assistance ...................................................... 623-856-6901 Casper added he was able to stay focused on the training Force Base,
Library ..................................................................... 623-856-7191 and that having a plan, establishing a routine, and staying Courtesy photo Arizona.
Lodging office/switchboard .................................... 623-856-3941 committed were some of the key elements to seeing his U.S. Air Force Col. Luke Casper, right, 56th Fighter Teams of
Maintenance control center ..................................... 623-856-5469 plan through. Wing vice commander, and his friend, U.S. Air Force
Marine Corps .......................................................... 623-856-2417 Maj. Miguel Fernandez, Air Force Academy admission three Airmen
Marine Corps 24-hour duty desk ............................ 602-421-5806 “I always wanted to do a full Ironman triathlon,” said competed
Marketing ................................................................ 623-856-3245 Casper. “I’ve done three half Ironman [races] before, but liaison officer, participate in an Ironman Triathlon, Nov. against each
Medical appointments ............................................. 623-856-2273 being able to fully complete an Ironman was my ultimate 21, 2021, in Tempe, Arizona. Ironman Arizona chal- other in pre-
Military equal opportunity ...................................... 623-856-7711 goal. After about two months into my training, I was recom- lenges athletes to complete a 2.4-mile swim course, paring and
Military pay ............................................................. 623-856-7028 mended to a coach who really helped me with designing 112-mile bike course and a 26.2-mile run course. loading their
Navy Operations Support Center ............................ 602-353-3008 some of my training programs. This consisted of an analysis assigned air-
OB/GYN clinic ....................................................... 623-856-2273
Office of Special Investigations .............................. 623-856-6821 on how I was doing and would mold the [training] for the in Idaho, but unfortunately he wrecked his bike and was craft the fast-
Optometrist ............................................................. 623-856-2273 next week.” injured, so he wasn’t able to compete in that race and was est, while still
Orthopedic clinic ..................................................... 623-856-2273 Casper found that having a coach gave him the support able to push it into Arizona. Being accountable to [him] was maintaining
Outdoor recreation .................................................. 623-856-6267 needed to overcome challenges during his training; but motivating as far as making sure I was meeting my gates efficiency and
Pass and registration ............................................... 623-856-4880 having a wingman was just as important. and to be able to race with him the entire time.” proper proce-
Patient advocate ...................................................... 623-856-8968 During his training, Casper reached out to Fernandez, a Setting goals and seeing the plan through was critical dure through-
Pediatric clinic ........................................................ 623-856-2273 longtime friend since his days at the U.S. Air Force Academy. out the com-
Pharmacy refill call-in ............................................. 623-856-3969 to Casper’s and Fernandez’s progression throughout their
Photo services ......................................................... 623-856-6168 Casper soon discovered he and Fernandez were completing training. Photos by Senior Airman David Busby petition.
Post Office ............................................................... 623-935-1343 similar training programs and decided to compete in Iron- “If you break the training down into tasks and into build-
Public affairs ........................................................... 623-856-6011 man Arizona together. Although separated by hundreds of ing blocks, and you just kind of go day-to-day, week-to-week,
Recycling information ............................................ 623-856-4749 miles, preventing them from training as a team, they didn’t month-to-month, they just build on each other and before tRAinS (from Page 1) strategically capable of fighting its way “FARPs play a critical role in support of the speed at which we adapt, and these
Retiree Activities office .............................................623-856-3923 allow it to become a barrier. you know it, you’re riding 100 miles and you’re like, I didn’t through heavily contested airspace in a Lilly Pad Operations, and allow our F-35 non-traditional rearming/refueling events
Rodgers Travel ........................................................ 623-856-6894 “Although [Miguel] lives in Washington, he happened know I could ever do this,” said Fernandez. training environment and placing them challenging and dynamic environment, fleet to operate abroad with minimal man- help us flesh out what works and, more
Safety ...................................................................... 623-856-6941 to be doing a similar type of training event as me,” said into an unknown airspace “exposes them rearming, refueling and proceeding even power, logistics, or infrastructure require- importantly, what doesn’t.”
Security forces .........................................................623-856-5970 Casper. “He was getting ready to do Ironman Coeur d’Alene See GoAlS, Page 6 to problems they haven’t seen before, and
Security incidents .................................................... 623-856-7777 forces them to think critically rather than further without the need for support from ments,” Curtis added. “Missions of this kind have an initial
Service calls CE maintenance ................................. 623-856-7232 more vulnerable aircraft like airborne Due to the F-35’s multirole capabilities amount of inefficiency,“ said Curtis. “But
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response ...................... 623-856-4878 apply a predetermined solution,” he said. tankers or [command and control] assets,” in all warfare domains, “it serves as a node sacrificing small amounts of efficiency for
Shoppette ................................................................. 623-266-0040 Thunderbolt editorial staff Luke Air Force Base website and social media and is the source for articles and As a result, pilots used the F-35’s embed- said Goldsworthy. in a network of domain-agnostic assets,” the reward of teaching our pilots how to
Sick call ................................................................... 623-856-2273 Publisher ....................................................Aerotech news and Review photos published in the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt editor is authorized to use ded training (ET) system, which allowed Not only can they accomplish this task, said Curtis. think when in the cockpit, is absolutely a
South Gate VRC ...................................................... 623-856-4768 Editor ................................................................................. Jenna Bigham photos and articles from other .mil or .gov websites. them to fight against simulated threats he said, “but we can do so successfully with Domain-agnostic warfare refers to the worthwhile investment.”
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 jenna@aerotechnews. without needing physical threat emitters. inexperienced pilots. No other pilot could ability to create combat effects from any After completing the mission, it was
Telephone repair (Base) .......................................... 623-856-4400 Advertising sales ................................................................ 877-247-9288 com. The editor can be reached at jenna@aerotechnews.com. “ET lets us exit our usual training en-
Thrift store .............................................................. 623-935-5782 Luke Air Force Base The Thunderbolt uses material from the Armed Forces Information Service, Air perform at this level without much more ex- warfighting domain, rather than the tra- clear to 63rd FS and 56th FW leadership
Ticket/tour office ..................................................... 623-856-6000 Commander.................................................Brig. Gen. Gregory Kreuder Force News Service, AETC News Service and other sources. All advertising is han- vironment, decouple from physical threat tensive training,” said Javorsek. “It is great ditional methods that tend to focus on that the mission was beneficial to student
Travco ......................................................................855-896-7939 Public affairs chief ..................................................Maj. Candice Dillitte dled by Aerotech News and Review. They can be reached by calling 877-247-9288. assets, and conduct missions without sac- to see the 63rd [FS] leading as we transition platforms. F-35 pilots.
Travel management office household goods ........... 623-856-6425 Command information ..................... Master Sgt. Holly Roberts-Davis Contents of the Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or en- rificing fidelity,” Curtis said. from training fingers to training brains.” “As our adversaries continue to become “This high-end training mission shows
TMO passenger travel ............................................. 623-856-7035 dorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department ET also affords F-35 pilots the ability to This mission also demonstrates that “the more advanced, we have to change the way not only what our students can do, but also
Transient alert ......................................................... 623-856-6204 Editorial Information of the Air Force. replicate any current or emerging threat, innovation taking place in our training we test, and train. By starting with what the capabilities of our incredible support
Travel pay ............................................................... 623-856-7028 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supple- and allows them to build tactics to overcome squadrons will let us pursue adaptive bas- effect needs to be created and then finding from ground personnel, mission planning
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 those threats. ing and execute Lilly Pad Operations when the right platform at the time of need, we experts and highlights our interoperability
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
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 The larger strategic impact of this mis- responding to adversaries,” said Curtis. enable adaptation in a Mosaic battlespace,” as a lethal team,” said Goldsworthy. “I am
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 sion was not forgotten among 63rd FS and Lilly Pad Operations refers to the idea said Javorsek. “That antiquated way of consistently in awe of what my Air Force is
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. 56th FW leadership. of aircraft “hopping” from one location to planning and training is essentially over. capable of and truly proud and humbled to
“This mission shows that the F-35 is another along a strategic route. Winning the next war will come down to be part of a mission like this.”
