Honorary commanders help Luke

  • Published
  • By Mary Jo May
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke's community relations program is designed to increase public awareness and understanding of the mission, policies and programs of the Air Force and enhance morale, public trust and support for the base. The "honorary commanders" program is one way the 56th Fighter Wing educates the local community.

The honorary commander program provides the 56th FW commander and base members another way to reach out to the community. The program expands the 56th FW commander's ability to foster relationships between local civic and business leaders and base personnel.

"Actively integrating community leaders into the Air Force family builds strong relationships vital to the future success of Luke and the U.S. Air Force," explained Capt. Kristin Haley, deputy chief of the 56th FW Public Affairs office. "This is the wing commander's public relations tool whereby local community and corporate leaders gain insight to Luke personnel, programs and operations," she said.

The program allows members of the community to understand the importance of Luke, the Air Force and Department of Defense military mission. It also 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.

A community or corporate leader is assigned to each of the base's 26 squadrons. The honorary commanders are inducted biannually with an induction reception and ceremony indoctrinating them to the base and their new military family.

Throughout their two-year term, honorary commanders become closely involved with their assigned squadrons and attend base and unit social functions, commander's calls, graduations, award banquets and other important events. They are briefed by the 56th FW commander on Luke's mission and given opportunities to participate in civic leader tours. The honorary commanders also extend reciprocal invitations to their squadrons.

"This mutual support program allows the host military commanders to become familiar with the honorary commander's place of business and community," said Lt. Col. Keith Miller, director of staff for the 56th Fighter Wing, and a former host commander of the 309th Fighter Squadron. "This is a great program because of the wonderful, lifelasting relationships being built with our local community leaders."

Many honorary commanders have supported the base and their squadrons in a variety of ways. One such example is Tony Estes, with the 56th Mission Support Squadron and a member of the Viper Club of America. He used his connections to turn a once empty spare office on the second floor of the 56th Mission Support Group building into a break room decorated in the Dodge Viper highperformance sports car paraphernalia.

"I was inspired by the Airmen at Luke and seeing how dedicated they are to protecting my life and liberty," said Mr. Estes. "I wanted to give something back. I noticed the fighter squadrons had break rooms, but there were none in the mission support squadron. So we made it happen."

Mr. Estes also coordinated the participation of the Viper Club of America at Luke Days open house and air show during the past three events. He helped arrange the popular "Viper vs. Viper" races. As a result of the Viper Club's association with the base, the club raised more $100,000 that directly benefited the base population through the morale, welfare and recreation fund.

Another example is the 308th FS's honorary commander Steve Bruflat and his wife, Donna. They hosted the squadron's holiday party at their house and regularly contribute to the Airmen's Attic, Operation Warm Heart, Operation Thunderbox and the Officers' Spouses Club fund-raising activities.

"It's examples like these that make this program so successful," said Col. Tom Jones, 56th FW commander. "But even more than the material contribution, it's their influence in the community that helps us build a better understanding of the important mission performed at Luke and by Air Force members."

The honorary commanders' program recently merged under the management of Fighter Country Partnership, a private organization and Luke's only community support organization. "This enables the consolidation of the various community support efforts into a single advocacy group to better help the mission and people of Luke," Colonel Jones said.