Fitness center construction
The Luke Air Force Base Bryant Fitness Center has begun renovations. Access to the facility and exercise equipment will be limited during the renovation. New hours of operation are 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Equipment will be moved to make room for the work. The weight and racquetball rooms will be closed first and then the cardio rooms. Restrooms and showers will be closed. Temporary showers and restrooms will be provided outside the center. Access to the facility is through the north and east doors until further notice. Parking will be near the softball field and Bldg. 750. Flight medicine parking lots are off limits. Fitness testing is in Bldg. 850. Check in at the fitness assessment cell office to complete the abdominal circumference measurement. The remainder of the test will be performed at the Combat Fitness Center. For more information regarding the PT test, call Senior Airman Philemon Sehne at 623-856-2471. For updates on construction changes, call 623-856-6241 and speak with a supervisor.
Forging Sabre exercise
Luke Air Force Base will host Forging Sabre, an exercise involving members of the Republic of Singapore armed forces Nov. 30 through Dec. 14. The exercise includes night and weekend flying operations at Luke AFB and the Barry M. Goldwater Range complex. The areas around Luke and the BMGR may experience more noise than usual as a result of the increased air activity and types of aircraft involved. There will be an increased military presence with military movements along Highway 85 south of Gila Bend as military position themselves within the Barry M. Goldwater range. For more information, call Kiley Dougherty at 623-856-7991 or Maj. Matthew Hasson at 623-856-5997.
Tax volunteers wanted
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is looking for volunteers to assist individuals and families in preparing tax eturns for the upcoming 2016 tax season Jan. 25 through April 14. No prior tax experience is required. Once certified, volunteers will be asked to work at least four hours per week in the tax center. Services are provided free of charge. Volunteer opportunities include a tax center coordinator, who is responsible for running the daily operations of the tax center. The coordinator is at the site every day it’s open for the entire tax season, schedules volunteers to be at the VITA site and contacts volunteers weekly to confirm their availability for assigned hours, assists with filing tax returns, answers tax-related questions and manages flow of taxpayers according to site operational procedures. Also needed are tax preparers who are responsible for providing tax return preparation services to eligible taxpayers at the tax center. The tax preparer prepares basic 1040 tax returns and related schedules, interviews taxpayers to determine all income, deductions and allowable credits are claimed and answers tax-related questions. There are additional support roles available. For more information, call Capt. Jheremy Perkins at 623-856-6901, or email jheremy.perkins.1@us.af.mil.
LOSC tree, wreath raffle; cookie drive
The Luke Officers Spouses Club will be holding its annual tree and wreath raffle charity fundraiser at 11 a.m. Dec. 8 at Club Five Six. This year’s theme is “Peace on Earth,” and proceeds will benefit Luke Airmen and their families. Request an invitation at LukeOSCreservations@gmail.com. The LOSC members will also be collecting donations for the Christmas cookie drive that day. For more information, email Susie Dunn at lukeoscpresident@gmail.com.
Holiday gift wrap program
The Annual Community Gift Wrap Program runs Nov. 27 through Dec. 24. Organizations on base can raise funds by wrapping gifts at the Luke Air Force Base Exchange. Supplies are provided. For more information, call 623-935-2671, Ext. 211 or email tamiro@aafes.com.
Thrift shop holiday hours
The Luke Air Force Base Thrift Shop will be closed for Thanksgiving week Nov. 25 and 27.
Thanksgiving Day dinner
The Ray V. Hensman Dining Facility will host Thanksgiving Day lunch 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 26 in Bldg. 545. A traditional menu will be served. There is no charge to meal card holders. Active-duty members, retirees and their dependents are welcome and pay according to what they select to eat. For more information, call 623-856-6396.
Comprehensive Airman Fitness training
Comprehensive Airman Fitness Training is a three-day course for Airmen or Defense Department employees who endorse the resiliency program. Resilience training assistants provide awareness education and skill development techniques for Airmen and their families while enhancing individual resilience across the four domains of CAF: mental, physical, social and spiritual. The next class is 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 through 10. For more information, call Sharon Kozak at 623-856-2716.