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The U.S. Air Force engages in Public Affairs to provide trusted counsel to leaders; build, maintain, and strengthen Airman morale and readiness; enhance public trust and support; and achieve global influence and deterrence.
Public Affairs seeks to inform decision makers and communicate the service's requirements, capabilities, actions and achievements to the world and keeps the Luke community fully informed with complete and accurate information. Our programs are designed to increase public understanding of the Luke mission.
Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
14185 West Falcon Street Rm 138 Luke AFB, Ariz. 85309
Comm: (623) 856-LUKE (5853) DSN: 896-5853
Fax: (653) 856-6013 DSN: 896-6013
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 All media queries and requests for interviews must be coordinated through the Public Affairs office. During normal duty hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays), you can contact us at (623) 856-8182. If you have an urgent media query after normal duty hours, contact the command post at (623) 856-5800 and ask to have the on-call Public Affairs representative return your call.
Luke Air Force Base is the largest fighter training base in the western world located in the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Boasting more than 135 aircraft and approximately 6,400 active-duty and reserve military members and civilian employees, the base has produced over 56,450 pilots for America's Combat Air Force since 1941.
The Media Relations section of Public Affairs produces news releases on newsworthy Air Force missions, programs and activities. We work with the news media to provide interviews, coordinate visits and to respond to queries. We seek every opportunity to tell the Air Force story by reaching the public through local, regional and national news media organizations.
Media interest is high at Luke Air Force Base. More than 40 media outlets receive information on Luke activities and events. In the past 12 months, the Public Affairs office received more than 500 media queries alone from both local and national news media.
Our goal is to increase public awareness and understanding of Luke AFB's mission - Train the world's greatest F-16 fighter pilots and maintainers while deploying mission ready warfighters.
In the event of a base disturbance or other major event, the 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office will activate a Straight Talk Center, which provides accurate information and updates regarding the situation. For more information during actual real-world or exercise situations, call the Straight Talk Center at (623) 856-7064 for a recorded announcement or access the base website at www.luke.af.mil for real-time information.
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The Thunderbolt is the official newspaper of the 56th Fighter Wing and is designed to relay current wing, command, Air Force and Department of Defense news to a military audience. The newspaper staff keeps most of the news local, covering events sponsored by or benefiting the 56th Fighter Wing and Luke's tenant units.
For current and previous editions of the Thunderbolt, click the picture below.
The Thunderbolt is published each Friday morning and is available at high-traffic areas around the base. The Thunderbolt features the latest news on Luke people and activities and includes a mix of local and Air Force news, features, sports and community happenings. The Public Affairs office prepares and edits all editorial content for the Thunderbolt. Deadline for submission is Friday at noon, a week before publication. The Thunderbolt is published by exclusive contract with Aerotech News and Review, a private firm in no way connected with the Air Force. To contact the Thunderbolt staff, call (623)
856-5998. To place an advertisement, call Aerotech News and Review at (623) 487-7321.
Normally, the Thunderbolt has only two staff writers assigned to it at any given time. With so many worthy events happening at one of the Air Force's largest bases, this makes it very difficult to cover everything. This is why reader input is so critical. Some great stories never see print because no one comes forward to highlight the activity. The newspaper reaches more than 80,000 readers every week, including National Guard, Reserve, active-duty and retired personnel, so covering this wide gambit of news is a necessity to address issues specific to many audiences.
Although blowing your own horn is normally thought of as taboo, we love it. Bringing unit accomplishments to our attention allows us to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the men and women of Luke Air Force Base. Portraying these achievements in a clear, concise and professional manner lends credibility to the hard work and dedication required to gain such recognition.
All in all, the newspaper recognizes individuals and units, keeps service members up-to-date on current events and gives Thunderbolt readers a cross-section of the Air Force as a whole. By working together, the Thunderbolt will continue to represent Luke as an Air Force and Air Education and Training Command award-winning publication.
The newspaper archive is maintained by Aerotech News and Review. Problems or questions can be directed to 1-877-247-9288.
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 The objective of community relations is to increase public awareness and understanding of the Air Force and Luke's mission. We support surrounding communities in all aspects, ranging from tour requests, speaker's bureau or flyovers. Our goal is to foster positive relations with the surrounding communities. Participation in community events by Air Force people is desirable and highly encouraged. The Community Relations division can be reached at (623) 856-5853.
Community Relations offers the following programs:
The Speaker's Bureau
The speaker's bureau gives Air Force people the chance to directly interact with its neighbors in the community, professional organizations, schools, businesses and civic organizations. Our speakers consist of personnel from a wide-array of job descriptions and include personnel from the rank of Airman First Class to Colonel. Most organizations request speakers to talk about the F-16, Luke's mission, specific job descriptions or personal experiences in the Air Force.
Your organization may request those topics listed above or anything else you feel appropriate. We will try to match up a speaker to your specific request. If you would like to schedule a speaker for one of your organization's meetings, please call the community relations division at (623) 856-7994. Please allow at least three weeks prior to your meeting date when making a request.
Active-duty personnel wishing to join the speaker's bureau can call community relations at (623) 856-7994.
Base Tours
The 56th Fighter Wing offers organized group tours Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visitors must provide their own transportation and are limited to one bus load. Certain conditions and restrictions apply to all base tours, which can be discussed with a community relations representative. Here are a few to consider: Tours are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours are limited to groups no smaller than 15 and no larger than 40. Tours are not provided to individuals, non-organized groups, or groups under the age of 13. If your organization has any questions or to schedule a tour, please call (623) 856-6011.
Aerial Event Requests
Community relations helps facilitate flyovers and static display request that Luke AFB performs in the community; however the process does not start at Luke. To start a flyover request you will need to submit a DD Form 2535 on line which can be found at www.airshows.pa.hq.af.mil and receive approval from the Air Force Aerial Events office at the Pentagon. Luke AFB can only consider your request after you have approval from the Pentagon. Flyovers are considered for aviation-related and patriotic observances held in conjunction with Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, POW/MIA Day, or Veterans Day (event must be within seven days of the actual holiday dates to be considered). There are some exceptions to policies; those not meeting the criteria can possibly be approved one-time only as an Exception-to-Policy event, provided there is sufficient rationale for support. The local Phoenix metropolitan area FAA representative is Mr. Jacob Hansen; Phone: (480) 419-0330 ext. 240; Fax: (480) 419-0800. The request process takes approximately 60 days to complete, so please plan ahead. Please contact Barbara Plante at (623) 856-7994 if you have any questions about flyovers or the process.
Honorary Commanders Program
The Honorary Commanders Program provides the 56th Fighter Wing Commander and Luke Air Force Base a community outreach opportunity. The program expands the 56th Fighter Wing commander's ability to foster relationships between local civic and business leaders and base personnel. It also serves as an excellent vehicle for promoting a better understanding of Air Education and Training Command and Luke's F-16 training mission.
The purpose of the program is two-fold: It allows community participants to become more aware of the important Luke, USAF and Department of Defense military mission, and it allows military commanders and their units to learn more about the community in which they live. Luke commanders and personnel benefit through increased association with the community and its leaders
Actively integrating community leaders into the Air Force family builds strong relationships vital to the future success of Luke and the USAF. This is the Wing Commander's public relations tool whereby local community and corporate leaders gain insight to Luke AFB commander, personnel, programs, and operations.
The 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs administers this program for the wing commander and provides guidance and advice to ensure the program's overall success. A community or corporate leader is assigned to each of Luke AFB's 24 squadrons and four groups. New Honorary Commanders are inducted bi-annually in a reception and ceremony. The next round of Honorary Commanders will be inducted in November 2012. Elected officials and military retirees or those with extensive military backgrounds will not be considered for this program since there are other avenues to integrate them. When the Honorary Commander's 2-year term is complete, we invite them to join the Fighter Country Partnership organization in order to maintain their active participation with the base. For more information, please contact Barbara Plante at 623-856-5997.
Fighter Country Partnership
Fighter Country Partnership is the community support and advocacy group for Luke Air Force Base, and was founded in 1997 by concerned civic leaders and elected officials. Partnership members are business people, elected officials, military retirees and a diverse group of citizens who support Luke and its men and women. The FCP Board of Directors consists of 40 prominent business, civic and government leaders from the greater Phoenix community. The FCP phone number is (623) 882-2191 or for more information visit www.fightercountry.org
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Media Relations 
