FCPVisions To serve and support the men, women, families and mission of Luke Air Force Base Winter 2016 F-35 academic training begins at Luke By STAFF SGT. Mayer, 56th Fighter Wing GRACE LEE F-35 Program Integration 56TH FIGHTER WING Chief. “Specifically over PUBLIC AFFAIRS the past several years, the Luke F-35 team has taken It was a historic mo- delivery of the world's ment as the first class of newest leading edge com- undergraduate pilots began bat aircraft. They put it training through the newly through the wringer to written F-35 Lightning II fully understand its ca- syllabus Monday in the pabilities then based on F-35 Academic Training lessons learned, designed Center at Luke Air Force a training program to pro- Base. duce world class F-35 pi- The day was long lots and support personnel awaited as Luke personnel for decades to come. This worked to create the sylla- was no easy task. Many bus for several years. traditional '4th Generation' “The start of the F-35 support, maintenance and B-course class today is operations methods and the culmination of years procedures needed up- of work by thousands of dating, modifying, or all U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Grace Lee U.S. and partner active together recreation. Many Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard, 56th Fighter Wing commander, welcomes the first class of F-35 Lightning II duty, civilian, industry open minds have engaged student pilots to train under the newly made F-35 syllabus Dec. 5 in the F-35 Academic Training Center and government person- auditorium at Luke Air Force Base. The syllabus was created to teach pilots without prior fighter jet ex- nel,” said Maj. Matthew MORE TRAINING ON 7 perience how to fly the F-35. Free Kasasa Cash Back checking pays you back on what you actually want to buy - not just gas or groceries. Just do banking basics, like paying with your debit or credit card, to earn cash back.* Get started today! CW16128 6x8 12_2016_FCP CU West.indd 1 11/22/16 11:30 AM 2 FCP Visions Winter 2016 From the Desk of Fighter Country Partnership What I’m thankful for As is common this time of year, I was recently thinking of what I’m The communities that surround Luke Air Force Base are like thankful for. I’m healthy, I’ve got a no other and I am thankful Fighter Country Partnership has so great family, and I’ve got a cool job. many supporters that feel as passionate about supporting the My son started at ASU this fall and men, women, families, and mission of Luke Air Force Base as I do. is getting ready to change his major and pursue his dreams. It’s because of those supporters that we could have a fantastic My daughter has fi nished her Operation Thunderbox this year. schooling and has recently gotten married. Her husband graduated at this year. We’ll be holding our an- as winning the lottery. I’m thankful the top of his class at Army Basic nual dorm dweller holiday party that the mission of Luke Air Force Training and Advanced Infantry and another Blue Blazer Squadron Base is ever-expanding to include Training. I’m thankful and excited mentoring session with a group of more and more international part- for them to start their adventure junior and senior Noncommissioned ners and the positive effects that we together. Offi cers in just a few weeks. I’m have on the entire Phoenix Valley. My wife and I are about to cel- thankful for our deployed family’s I’m thankful that we have senior ebrate 24 years of being married. dinners and the Finance Expo that leadership in the Air Force that sees We’ve had our fair share of ad- we’ll be part of in a few months. I’m Fighter Country Partnership for ventures together and I’m thankful thankful for all the programs that what it is - the platinum standard of about the opportunities and experi- support Luke Air Force Base. military support organizations. ences that are to come for us in the Bill Johnston I’m also thankful for the more Finally, when I was in uniform, future. Program Director, than 5,500 men and women of Luke it was not uncommon for random I’m thankful that I’m part of an Fighter Country Air Force Base. Every day, those people to come up to me, extend Partnership organization that is so full of intel- active duty, reserve, contractor and their hand and thank me for my ser- ligent and compassionate people. Country Partnership has so many federal civilian employees go to vice. Now that I’m on the other side, I’m thankful that I can be part of supporters that feel as passionate work to make good on their promise I make a point of doing the same something bigger than myself and about supporting the men, women, to deliver fully-trained fi ghter pilots thing when I see a service member I feel like I’m making a positive families, and mission of Luke Air to the United States Air Force. within the local community to show impact. The communities that sur- Force Base as I do. It’s because of I’m thankful that the Air Force my appreciation for them and how round Luke Air Force Base are like those supporters that we could have Reserve part of Luke Air Force Base thankful I am for what they do each no other and I am thankful Fighter a fantastic Operation Thunderbox call being assigned to Luke the same and every day. Give blood 3 times a year! 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) www.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org Eligibility Questions? Call 1-800-288-2199 X5497 Give blood 3 times a year! 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) www.UnitedBloodServicesAZ.org If you could save a life by giving just one hour, why wouldn’t you? Help save the lives of people like Phoenix Police Officer Rob. CW9354 3x4 9_2016 FCP CoG.indd 1 8/29/16 10:25 AM FCP Visions Fighter Country Partnership More than 140 blood transfusions were needed to save his life. FCP Visions is the official publication of Fighter Country Partnership 500 Estrella Parkway Suite B2, PMB #479 Goodyear, AZ 85338 Ron Sites, Executive Director and CEO (623) 695-9244 Nearly 500 blood donors are needed every day Delivered quarterly by direct mail and as a special supplement to The Glendale Star and Peoria Times. Also posted on Fighter Country Partnership website: www.fightercountry.org, in Arizona to meet the needs of hospital patients. The Glendale Star website: www.glendalestar.com and Peoria Times website: www.peoriatimes.com FCP Visions is produced, published and distributed exclusively by Pueblo Publishers, Inc. Owners and operators of The Glendale Star and Peoria Times Make your appointment today to save lives! Submit news and information to William E. Toops [email protected], Fax to (623) 842-6013 or mail to FCP Visions, 7122 N. 59th Avenue, Gendale, AZ 85301-2436 For bloodFor drive blood on drive base, on go base, to go to www.ArizonaHero.org/LukeAFBwww.ArizonaHero.org/LukeAFB FCP Visions Publishing Schedule (Use Sponsor(Use Sponsor Code: Code:LAFB) LAFB) Next Issue: Spring, March 23, 2017 • Deadline: March 3, 2017 To advertise contact: - or call - C.E. Williams Barbara Duran Connie Dahlin 1-877-UBS-HERO (827-4376) (623) 847-4601 (623) 847-4608 623-847-4606 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CW9610 3x8 12_2016_FCP UBS.indd 1 11/15/16 10:07 AM CW9607 3x4 12_2016_FCP Masthead.indd 1 11/15/16 10:32 AM Winter 2016 FCP Visions 3 Living Room • Bedroom • Children’s Furniture Dining Room • Electronics Outdoor Furniture • Offi ce/Entertainment We deliver ALMOST ANYWHERE in the UNITED STATES! www.AFW.com GLENDALE, AZ (602) 422-8800 GILBERT, AZ (480) 500-4121 101 & Bethany Home Rd. across from University of Phoenix Stadium 202 Santan Freeway & S. Power Rd. 5801 N. 99th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85305 4700 S. Power Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85296 Your LIFESTYLE FURNITURE Store 4 FCP Visions Winter 2016 Luke Airman uses SABC to save hit and run victim Nov. 30, an Airman had retirement and separations and immediately started to the sidewalk. I dialed 911 was. The exercises from a choice between being technician. "When I went to panic. I informed her I was and stayed with her to my last base at Osan Air a bystander and letting investigate, I saw a woman a military member and was keep her calm until the Base in South Korea helped someone else take care of laying across the ground." just making sure she was ambulance arrived. She me tremendously, because a situation or responding His Self-Aid Buddy okay." told me she didn’t need SABC was one of the main immediately. He chose to Care training immediately The woman told Sparks medical attention, but I topics we trained on. When respond, and his actions crossed Sparks’ mind as she believed she was a called anyway because you taking the SABC online possibly helped save a he ran over to assist the victim of a hit-and-run, but never know what could be training, make sure to pay life. woman. had she had little memory wrong." attention, you never know "As I was pulling into "I asked her if she was U.S. Air Force photo by Senior of what happened.