Spouses experience Luke mission

  • Published
  • By Capt. Miki Gilloon
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 20 Thunderbolt spouses recently toured the 56th Maintenance Group to gain an understanding of how F-16 sorties are generated by the 3,000 maintainers who work on the flightline and in the back shops. 

Critical components of the 56th MXG are to keep jets flying and mission ready to train F-16 pilots. Spouses were able to see just that as they learned about various aspects of the group's five squadrons, to include aircraft inspection program procedures and engine test cell operations. The spouses also viewed a weapons loading demonstration. 

Stephanie Reed, wife of 56th Fighter Wing vice commander Col. Hank Reed, took the opportunity to see what a maintainer does day in and day out when she closely inspected an F-16 engine intake. 

"The highlight for me was a cross between climbing into the engine and actually seeing an engine test run," she said. "What our maintainers do to keep the mission going is amazing." 

Touring various operations of the 56th MXG were not the only events on the schedule. 

The spouses met and personally talked with five Airmen during a panel discussion to
learn about what they do, their jobs and families, education and the challenges they face balancing their lives with their daily schedules. 

Jennis Pickens, wife of Lt. Col. Bradley Pickens, 56th Mission Support Group deputy commander, was particularly impressed with all the Airmen. 

"They are very proficient at what they do and obviously know a lot about their jobs," she said. 

Overall, the spouses were surprised with just how much is involved in maintenance. But this, said Col. Algene Fryer, 56th Maintenance Group commander, was the goal of the tour: to inform and educate spouses on what 56th MXG Airmen do on a daily basis and how they contribute to the wing's mission of training the world's greatest F-16 fighter pilots and maintainers. 

With the hard work and dedication that the spouses observed, it's no surprise that the 56th MXG has been recognized for their efforts. Most recently, the group was acknowledged as one of the Defense Department's best maintenance organizations. 

Additionally, the 56th MXG was selected for the 2007 Air Education and Training Command Maintenance Deadalian Award. 

"I can now see why the maintenance group was selected as the best in the Air Force and DOD," Mrs. Pickens said when the tour concluded.