Explore
The City of Lacey's annual Lighted Parade and Lighting of the Christmas Trees is back this year! Since 1996, the City of Lacey has been celebrating the holidays with an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and in most recent years, lighting up all of Huntamer Park in Woodland Square, for visitors
News Front
The Department of the Air Force released findings from a force-wide Interpersonal Violence Task Force Nov. 9, which studied the depth and scope of how airmen and guardians are affected by interpersonal violence. The results are available for download here. After the Secretary of the Air Force established the Interpersonal Violence
Focus
Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, Commander, Washington Air National Guard (WA ANG), is most proud of the six years he spent as an enlisted airman. "I started with nothing, and I've gone from Airman Basic to now the General Officer ranks," he began, "and my foundation was laid down as an enlisted
News Front
The images of and stories about service members suffering chronic illnesses and various cancers after throwing waste items into burn pits during combat operations over the past two decades only presents a part of the toxic exposure problem the military faces. While it is clear that burn pits do release toxins
News Front
While the overall size and racial diversity of our military remained steady, the number of women serving in the active duty force, both enlisted and officers has grown slightly, according to the newly released 2020 Demographics Profile of the Military Community report. Current stats also show the Army leads with personnel
Veterans
Do you want to find more information on VA benefits and services? Do you have a question, concern, recommendation, or compliment for VA? Then use the new "Ask VA" portal! WHAT IS ASK VA? The Ask VA online question portal, launched on October 18, 2021, was created to provide the veteran community
Military Policy
WASHINGTON - Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston announced the Army will expand its temporary promotion policy to all non-commissioned officer ranks, giving soldiers more time to complete required training schools. "Our goal is to develop every leader for promotion," Grinston said during a media roundtable Nov 1. "This
News Front
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — There are changes coming soon to the TRICARE retail pharmacy network. Starting Dec. 15, 2021, CVS Pharmacy will join the TRICARE network. At the same time, Walmart, Sam's Club, and some community pharmacies will leave the network. Express Scripts is the TRICARE pharmacy contractor. They manage the
Explore
Debuting in its inaugural year in Seattle with the intent to take the tour nationally, Saddle Up Country Fest - presented by 100.7 the Wolf in partnership with Lane Records and Sky High Music - will kick off on Dec. 4 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. Headlining the show
Focus
ARLINGTON, Va. - In July, a class that teaches recovering soldiers to create glass artwork resumed after 14 months on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that it's back up and running, it's providing participants with a unique creative opportunity. The glass blowing class is a one-of-a-kind adaptive reconditioning option
News Front
The U.S. military services have all set deadlines for when service members must be vaccinated against COVID-19. The first of those deadlines, for active duty Air Force personnel, arrived Nov. 2. Right now, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said about 97% of the total force has been vaccinated with at least
News Front
YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER - Just a little over 100 miles southeast of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, nestled in the picturesque shrub-steppe desert northeast of Yakima, one can find the Yakima Training Center. Spanning more than 327,000 acres, YTC is one of the largest warfighter training areas on the West Coast. Every branch of military
News Front
DALLAS - More than 500,000 Department of Defense and Coast Guard civilians and retirees now have access to the largest Exchange in the world, tax free, at ShopMyExchange.com. DoD and Coast Guard civilians were granted in-store shopping access May 1 after a change in DoD policy. To authenticate active and retired
Explore
It's all about the water in Thurston County! From local brews made with artesian well water to interactive educational exhibits, there is no lack of family-friendly activities in the Olympia area. Well 80 Brewhouse, located on Fourth Ave. in Olympia, is built on the site of one of Olympia's famous artesian
Family
November is a month for family celebrations and gatherings, a time for togetherness and giving. November also provides an opportunity to honor military families, recognize their sacrifices and celebrate their service. "We have some amazing families in the Washington National Guard," said Carl Steele, Director of the Washington National Guard's Joint
News Front
Strong relationships make for strong families, and with a strong family back at home, service members can focus on providing the nation with a strong defense. To better help service members build a strong relationship or strengthen an existing one, the Military Community and Family Policy office will host the inaugural
News Front
JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD - The 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade certified 15 advisor teams for Indo-Pacific employment, Oct. 13-Oct. 21, 2021 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Rilea, Oregon during Exercise Vanguard Focus 22-1. The exercise was a culminating training event designed as the final test for 5th SFAB's soon-to-be
News Front
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - The Flying Tigers will gear up Nov. 6 to face the Seattle Rugby Team as part of the XV Series and the first time for a combined Air Force/Army team to compete together in the Military Match Up. "Rugby is the greatest game on the planet," said U.S. Air
Focus
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - "The first thing that went through my mind when I was notified was that my crews are uniquely prepared to prevail in this kind of environment," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kyle Stewart, 8th Airlift Squadron commander. He was describing his mindset prior to his unit
Focus
First Lieutenant Evan Myers watched as Raleigh Bamer pulled back the piece of tattoo tracing paper that left a stencil of a wizard on his right leg just above the ankle. This is not the first time Myers has seen this. He estimated he had been tattooed 15 times and that
