This from Military Times: Video gamers no longer will be able to fight and kill American troops as members of the “Taliban” in the upcoming first-person shooter “Medal of Honor,” Military Times has learned. Instead, they’ll fight and kill American troops as “the opposing force,” a response to criticism from service members’ families and others.

For more on the story, click here.

CAMP MURRAY - The Washington Army National Guard bid farewell today to approximately 25 citizen soldiers from the 319th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) headquartered at Camp Murray.  The 319th will be deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The 319th transitioned onto federal active duty status Thursday. Their mission will be to respond to, analyze, attack and mitigate explosive hazards and improvised explosive device threats throughout the Central Command Theater.

"The 319th is embarking upon a vital mission that will be crucial to the safety of those they serve with overseas.  They are very well trained and will make our state and nation proud," Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Lowenberg, the Adjutant General and Commander of the Washington National Guard, said in a release.

The 319th will receive pre-deployment training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, before deploying to the CENTCOM Theater later this fall.  319th teams will serve throughout CENTCOM including Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. The deployment is scheduled for 12 months plus any leave time they accrue, and are slated to return home in the fall of 2011.  

The unit previously served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2004 to December 2005.  The 319th consistently trains with local, state and federal jurisdictions here in the U.S. 

The Chief of Staff of the Army announced that MG Robert B Brown (former commander of the 1-25^th SBCT at Ft Lewis) will assume Command of the US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, 4 November.  

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs was just informed by the JBLM
Staff Judge Advocate that the Article 32 hearing previously scheduled
for tomorrow for Staff Sgt. David D. Bram has been delayed. The Article
32 hearing may be rescheduled for later this month.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - More than 1,100 vehicles accessed
Mounts Road gate today, a new gate for vehicles to enter Joint Base
Lewis-McChord on weekday mornings.
*  Gate is open from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
*  Only for drivers with DoD identification and JBLM registration decals
on their vehicles.
*  Gate is for inbound traffic only.
*  The gate is intended for drivers travelling northeast on Nisqually
Road/Mounts Road.
*  The new gate is not intended as an alternate access point for drivers
already on I-5. Drivers already on I-5 should plan to use one of the
existing JBLM gates along the interstate.
*  Gate can only be accessed by a right-hand turn from Nisqually Road.
*  Drivers SHOULD NOT use exit 116 to access the new gate. Left turns
into the gate will not be permitted.
The Mounts Road gate has been opened to relieve some congestion on
northbound I-5 and take pressure off the other JBLM gates along the
interstate. It was made possible by a partnership between the joint base
and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This
cooperative effort made possible an immediate step to help ease
congestion motorists are currently experiencing on northbound I-5
leading to and through the Joint Base Lewis-McChord corridor. 

MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Tacoma, Wash. - The Warrior Transition
Battalion welcomes new leadership Oct. 5 when Command Sgt. Maj. Arlindo
Almeida assumes responsibility of the unit, replacing outgoing Command
Sgt. Maj. Jim Davis who is deploying to Afghanistan with the Army
Material Command.  
Almeida, who previously served as the command sergeant major for the
330th Medical Brigade, was selected to join the WTB after serving two
tours in Iraq.
"You see the casualties of war and those who survived and the struggles
of what they're going through; my goal and concept is I want to be a
part of the recovery process.  I want to use my powers to help them in
the direction they want to go," he said.
Almeida joined the active Army as a military policeman in 1978, becoming
a Reservist three years later in the military intelligence field before
spending most of his career as a Reserve drill sergeant and a first
sergeant in the drill sergeant program.  Upon Almeida's promotion to
command sergeant major, he also led transportation and civil affairs
units.  In his civilian capacity, Almeida works with the Public Defender
Service for Connecticut.  
"This mission is probably more personal to me because some of these
great Warriors I've probably served with," Almeida said.
As the WTB's senior enlisted advisor, Almeida will be charged with
providing recommendations to the commander and staff, while carrying out
policies and standards on the performance, training, appearance, conduct
and welfare of its more than 500 enlisted personnel.     

The Sea Gals, the Seattle Seahawks' cheerleaders, will sign copies of their calendar from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Main P/X.

On Nov. 4, Tyee Park Elementary School students and staff will honor American heroes at their annual Veterans Day celebration.

This year's event theme is "Hurray for the U.S.A." In addition to songs from Tyee Park students, the program will feature a keynote address from retired U.S. Army Gen. Johnnie E. Wilson, and a performance from the 56th Army Band from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The program is scheduled from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the school's gym, 11920 Seminole Road SW in Lakewood.

Invited guests include retired Gen. John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Joe Jackson, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor; retired Brig. Gen. and Mayor of Lakewood, Doug Richardson; the Pearl Harbor Survivors, Tuskegee Airmen, veterans from local VFWs and American Legions and representation from all branches of the military. Members of a local Stryker Brigade Combat Team and state and local dignitaries are also expected to attend.

"This show is Tyee Park's way of thanking our military, both active and retired, for serving our country," said fine arts teacher Tracey Lundquist. "Many of our veterans do not consider themselves heroes,but in our eyes, they are America's treasures. We want to honor those individuals who work to preserve our freedom."

This from Air Force Times: For those mailing packages to friends and loved ones in the military overseas, Christmas comes early. And Hanukkah comes even earlier.

It depends on how you plan to send it, but if it's traveling the slowest way - parcel post - mail that package by Nov. 12 to get it there by Dec. 25, according to recommended holiday shipping dates provided by the Military Postal Service Agency.

Hanukkah begins Dec. 1 this year, so you'll need to send it 24 days earlier - by Oct. 19 - if it's going parcel post.

Read more here.

The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts in Tacoma brings military families an evening at the theater. The Broadway Center is hosting a "Welcome Home Heroes" event in conjunction with Jo Dee Messina.

To honor those serving the country, tickets are buy one, get one free when you show your active military ID at the time of purchase. The show is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m., and tickets run from $34 to $64.

For more details, click here.