How Luke AFB services are affected by the government shutdown (and other FAQ) Published Oct. 1, 2013 By Luke Air Force Base Public Affairs LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Arizona -- Note: This information is current as of Tuesday morning, Oct. 8 Support functions: - The Commissary is OPEN as of 9 a.m. Monday morning - The Base Exchange and Shoppette will remain open - The Bryant Fitness Center, Club Five Six, Falcon Dunes Golf Course, Fighter Country Inn and Thunderbolt Lanes will remain open - Education and Testing Services: No Tuition Assistance, no DANTES testing, no CLEP testing, and no DLPT, SOS, ACSC or AWC testing. There are educational guidance counseling/briefings and Course 14 testing. WAPS testing is still being provided - All other FSS facilities/operations are up and running again - Chapel: There will be no daily Catholic Mass or Sunday night Mass due to priest availability - Civil Engineering: Only emergency work orders will be processed - Custodial Contract: Custodial services will not be provided. Members will need to take out their own trash and police their areas - Potential mail delays to dorm residents Medical: - Aerospace Medicine Squadron: All services will be available except nutritional services. A primary care manager can help, or the clinic will provide referral to a network provider - Dental Squadron: Services will be available, however appointments may be limited - Medical Support Squadron: No mammograms will be available. Pharmacy manning for the Scottsdale site will be temporarily terminated and all staff will be relocated to Luke - Medical Operations Squadron: Medical and dental elective surgeries will be cancelled, however, life and limb surgeries will continue - No Chiropractic services will be offered - All other usual medical services will be available Operations and Maintenance: - F-16 flying operations will continue Answers to other frequently asked questions: - PCS orders: Airmen that have already received their PCS orders will be able proceed to their next duty station in accordance with their orders. For those awaiting orders, the Air Force Personnel Center is unable to authenticate and produce new orders until the FY14 budget or continuing resolution is established - Air Force Aid Society: Unless covered by one of the eligibility categories below, Air Force civilians are not authorized use of Air Force Aid. However, there is a program called Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund which may be able to help. Website: http://www.feea.org/programs/emergency-assistance/furlough-aid-information Guidelines on Air Force Aid Eligibility Eligible: - Active-duty Air Force personnel and their eligible family members - Retired Air Force personnel and their eligible family members, but not on a continuing basis, and based on a case-by-case review - Spouses and dependent age children of deceased Air Force personnel (who died on active duty or in retired status) - Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve personnel on extended active duty over 15 days under Title 10 USC - Air Force Academy Cadets and Preparatory School students. (Limited to emergency travel situations) - Basic Military Training students are only eligible for emergency travel assistance Not eligible: - Air Force civilian employees - Air Force veterans (separated, not retired) - Servicemembers on appellate leave - Air National Guard and Reserve full-time unit support personnel serving under Title 32 USC at their home station - Retired Reservists who are "gray area" - i.e. have not yet reached their 60th birthday - Former spouses - Family members who are not enrolled in DEERS and do not have a valid dependent ID card Air Force Aid bottom line: Some furloughed civilian employees may fall into one of the "eligible" categories as a dependent or retired Air Force military member, but otherwise recommend looking through the FEEA website.