At the heart of the West Valley, Luke Air Force Base stands as a symbol of precision, progress, and purpose. Known as the Air Force’s premier training center for the F-35, Luke is home to seven active F-35 squadrons and hosts several international partners. Each day, the base buzzes with activity, from the roar of takeoffs to the steady rhythm of training that prepares pilots for missions worldwide.
While Luke’s mission is global, its heart is local. The base supports a powerful economic and cultural presence in Arizona, serving thousands of airmen, their families, and retirees. With over 127,000 medical beneficiaries, 573 dorm rooms, and a Child Development Center serving 234 children, Luke operates like a small city, one dedicated to readiness, service, and community.
Supporting that mission behind the scenes is the Fighter Country Foundation, a one-of-a-kind nonprofit focused exclusively on enhancing the quality of life for Luke’s airmen, their families, and base personnel. The organization partners closely with base leadership to meet needs that military budgets often can’t, bridging the gap between duty and daily life.
Fighter Country’s initiatives are both impactful and heartfelt. The beloved Pilot for a Day program gives children a once-in-a-lifetime experience as an honorary fighter pilot, complete with flight suits, call signs, and keepsake photos. Seasonal traditions, such as the Dorm Dweller Holiday Party, bring joy and connection to young airmen far from home. At the same time, financial education workshops, family retreats, and care package drives support service members during every season of life, including the airmen deployed this holiday season. These programs are more than gestures; they are lifelines of encouragement and reminders that the community stands firmly behind those who serve.
Beyond programming, the Foundation invests in projects that create lasting change across the base. Under the guidance of its board members, Fighter Country has funded shaded dining areas for maintainers working on the flight line, upgraded staff spaces at the Child Development Center, and transformed unused facilities into essential spaces, like the newly opened on-base food pantry, providing everyday support to airmen and their families.
One significant project stemmed from a simple yet powerful observation: one of the new fighter squadron buildings lacked a bar, a crucial gathering space deeply rooted in Air Force tradition. Historically, these squadron bars have been where pilots debrief after flights, share lessons, honor fallen comrades, and build the camaraderie essential to their mission. Recognizing the importance of preserving that tradition, Fighter Country Foundation stepped in to design and build a bar within the squadron. More than just a place to gather, it now serves as a hub for mentorship, connection, and culture, where new pilots learn from seasoned instructors and where the bonds that define military brotherhood and sisterhood are strengthened beyond the flight line.
The Foundation’s most ambitious effort to date is now underway: a $2.4 million, 7,000-square-foot Honor Guard facility designed to serve as one of only two regional training headquarters in the Air Force. Once complete, the building will provide the 33-member Luke Honor Guard, which performs more than 1,300 ceremonies each year, including 1,100 military funerals, a dedicated home to train, prepare, and honor those who have served. For years, the Honor Guard has worked from temporary and shared spaces; this facility will finally provide the dignified environment their solemn mission deserves.
Each project reflects the Foundation’s philosophy: to identify where needs intersect with opportunities and to respond with compassion, creativity, and lasting impact. From infrastructure improvements to morale-boosting programs, every initiative is designed to make life at Luke not only manageable but meaningful.
Luke Air Force Base continues to expand its impact both in the skies and on the ground. Pilots here learn not only to fly the world's most advanced aircraft but also to lead with excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Training at Luke prepares them to handle high-pressure missions, foster international cooperation, and carry forward the Air Force’s proud legacy of innovation and courage.
From advanced flight operations and global partnerships to local engagement and economic development, Luke remains a cornerstone of Arizona’s identity and a source of national pride. The presence of the base strengthens the region’s infrastructure and fosters connections between the military and civilian communities through events, volunteerism, and mutual respect.
Together, Luke Air Force Base and the Fighter Country Foundation represent a partnership built on purpose, one that blends strength with compassion. As the base trains the next generation of fighter pilots, the Foundation ensures their families and communities have the support, resources, and sense of belonging they need to thrive.
From the roar of engines overhead to the quiet acts of service behind the scenes, this collaboration proves that missions succeed not just because of skill, but because of the people and the community that stand behind them.
"Missions succeed not just because of skill, but because of the people and the community that stand behind them.