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Senior Airman DAVID OWSIANKA Air Force

Student pilot survives lymphoma, continues dream

Senior AirmanDAVID OWSIANKA Capt. Dakota Olsen, 310th Fighter Squadron student pilot, performs a preflight check during his training at Luke Air Force Base. What if your childhood dream job became a reality? Now imagine that dream coming to a screeching halt with the possibility of not just losing the dream, but your life as well….

Airman 1st Class GRACE LEE Local

308th signs on to clean up

Airman 1st ClassGRACE LEE Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, middle back row, Adopt-A-Street representatives and 308th Fighter Squadron pilots pose June 7 at the northwest corner of Glendale Avenue and Dysart Road. The Adopt-A-Street program invites the community, civic organizations, private businesses and individuals to help keep up the overall appearance of local streets. The Glendale…

Samuel King Jr. Local

Luke looks back at F-35 mission

Samuel King Jr. The pilot and crew chief salute each other as the F-16 Fighting Falcon taxies toward the runway for another sortie Sept. 6, 2012, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. With an average of 106 takeoffs per day and an inventory of 138 F-16 Fighting Falcons, it would have been easy to not…

130610-F-HT977-012 Air Force

FSS gets new boss

Airman 1st Class James Hensley Col. Nathan Mooney, 56th Mission Support Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Todd Ladd, incoming 56th Force Support Squadron commander, during a change-of-command ceremony June 10 at Club Five Six on Luke Air Force Base. The 56th FSS supports the Luke community by providing manpower and personnel, airman…

Untitled-1 Air Force

This week in history: June 14

By June 12, 1943, the 56th Fighter Group had lost a couple of pilots in combat. On that date, the 62nd Fighter Squadron conducted a fighter sweep with two flights between Blankenburge, Belgium, and Calais, France. Flying at 20,000 feet near Ypres, Belgium, they saw two flights of four FochWolf-190s each at 15,000 feet. Maj….

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Sports

Sports Shorts – September 14, 2012

Posted  September 14, 2012

New pool hours The Silver Wings Pool offers open swim and lap swim 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The pool closes for the season Sept. 21. For more information, call (623) 856-9334. Ghostly Ghoul run The Ghostly Ghoul 5k fun run is…

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Air Force

F-16 pilot reaches flying hour milestone

Posted  September 7, 2012

Maj. Frank Bricel, 69th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations, prepares to exit his aircraft Aug. 31 after crossing his 3,000 flying hour mark in an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Luke Air Force Base. Bricel has been flying for 18 years. On a scorching afternoon in the skies over Luke Air Force Base, one F-…

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Local

Luke 1 departs, praises Thunderbolts

Posted  September 7, 2012

Brig. Gen. JD Harris, 56th Fighter Wing commander, and his wife, Heather, prepare to depart Luke Air Force Base after a two-year tour here. Harris has been selected to serve as vice commander of the 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan. We serve the Constitution of the United States; that is the oath…

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Salutes & Awards

308th FS graduates 18 in class 12-AGB

Posted  September 7, 2012

The U.S. Air Force’s newest Viper pilots will culminate nine months of demanding training today and receive their graduation certificates. Class 12-ABG from the 308th Fighter Squadron Emerald Knights will join the ranks of a select group of aviators fortunate enough to fly the F-16. They did not achieve this goal on their own; it…

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Salutes & Awards

THUNDERBOLT OF THE WEEK

Posted  September 7, 2012

Staff Sgt. Andrea James 56th Operations Support Squadron 309th Fighter Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment NCO-in-charge Hometown: Henrico, N.C. Years in service: Eight Family: Wife, Staff Sgt. Shira James, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron; daughter, Jaden, 5; and son, Jaxon, 1 Education: Pursuing a degree in criminal justice at Rio Salado College. Previous assignments: Robins Air Force…

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Staff Sgt. Jason Colbert
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Health & Safety

Giving kids a boost

Posted  September 7, 2012

Staff Sgt. Jason Colbert Staff Sgt. Erin Watson, 56th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, receives a new booster seat Aug. 30 after being briefed on its proper use and installation by Senior Airman Jessica Crotta, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, during the Booster Bash at Luke Air Force Base. A new law went into effect Aug….

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Health & Safety

Make immune system healthy, strong

Posted  September 7, 2012

The body’s immune system has many jobs, including fighting against bacteria, parasites and fungi; it is also essential in keeping the body healthy from infection. The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues and organs that together prevent and defend against attacks to the body, according to Rachel Perkins-Garner, 56th Medical…

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Air Force

ITT offers travel discounts

Posted  September 7, 2012

Army Spc. Christian Lopez, 258th Engineer Company engineer, left, and Pvt. Andrew Romero, 258th EC engineer, check out brochures at the Information, Tickets and Travel office on Luke Air Force Base Aug. 29. ITT is located in Bldg. 1150 and offers deals on tickets, airfares and more to military personnel, family members and Defense Department…

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Health & Safety

SFS turns to traumatic stress expert for help

Posted  September 7, 2012

Courtesy photo Susan Simons, Under the Shield president, speaks to personnel from the 56th Security Forces Squadron along with members of local law enforcement agencies Aug. 29 at the military working dog kennels on Luke Air Force Base. Simons works with the 56th SFS and local police Wednesdays teaching them how to be mentally prepared…

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Air Force

People First

Posted  September 7, 2012

Redesigned program eases transition to civilian life A redesigned program will help ease every Airman’s transition to civilian life and better apply their military experience, Air Force officials said. The program is the first major overhaul of the transition assistance program for military members in nearly 20 years. The effort began in response to a…

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