FROM ARMY TIMES ...

Selected majors of the basic line branches and health services branches will be considered for active-duty promotion to lieutenant colonel by boards that convene at Fort Knox, Ky., in February.

Basic-branch officers promoted to major from April 1, 2004, to Sept. 30, 2006, will be in the primary zone of consideration, as will Medical Corps and Dental Corps majors with dates of rank in fiscal 2007.

Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps and Medical Specialist Corps officers promoted to major Oct. 2, 2005, through Sept. 1, 2006, also will qualify for primary-zone consideration, along with Veterinary Corps majors with dates of rank of Aug. 2, 2005, through July 1, 2006.

Board dates, officer evaluation report submission deadlines and My Board File availability dates are:

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40,000 troops to leave Afghanistan

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FROM ARMY TIMES...

The Senate voted Wednesday to ensure military chaplains are not forced to perform gay marriages if they oppose that for reasons of conscience.

However, wording of the measure could make this a more far-reaching piece of legislation. It makes no specific reference to gay marriage, but instead says that a chaplain, "who as a matter of conscience or moral principle does not wish to perform a marriage, may not be required to do so." That could apply not only to gay marriage but to other situations that might involve conscience and principles.

The chief sponsor of the legislation, however, has been clear about the intent.

"This amendment will allow the chaplains of our armed forces to maintain the freedom of conscience necessary to serve their nation and their religion without conflict," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. "Protections for military chaplains should be guaranteed in any policy changes being implemented."

The measure was approved by voice vote and with no debate as an amendment to the Senate's version of the 2012 defense authorization bill.

Wicker's amendment is a more moderate approach to the issue of gay marriage and the military than taken by the House of Representatives in its version of the defense spending bill. The House bill would flatly prohibit chaplains from performing any same sex-marriage. Where Wicker's amendment passed with no discussion as part of a package of non-controversial amendments, the House was divided on a 236-184 vote in July.

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40,000 troops to leave Afghanistan

New Facebook page for JBLM singles

And a Facebook page for JBLM Families.

FROM AP...

PUZEH, Afghanistan -- In this dusty village in southern Afghanistan a small team of elite U.S. Marines is nudging Afghans toward rejection of the Taliban insurgency, a mission that is emerging as central to the U.S. and NATO exit strategy but is little known beyond the rugged brown hills of the upper Helmand River Valley.

Sixty-three U.S. troops, led by a team of bearded special operations Marines, operate from a small compound in the center of remote Puzeh, where they mingle with villagers and confer with local power brokers in an effort to create the beginnings of a homegrown militia that could eventually stand up to the Taliban.

Time is running out on the wider counter-insurgency effort in Afghanistan, with U.S. and NATO combat operations scheduled to end in 2014 and the Taliban showing little interest in peace talks. In Puzeh the special operations Marines, working with Afghans, are at the forefront of a strategy designed to undermine the appeal of the Taliban as U.S. troops begin leaving by the thousands next year.

In Puzeh they have only seven men trained for a local force, with 19 others to come. It's been slow going, but the Marines, who could not be quoted by name under ground rules meant to shield their identities as members of the secretive U.S. Special Operations Command, said they are optimistic.

It's risky business in a volatile area, but on a brief visit here on Thanksgiving Day, the Marine Corps commandant, Gen. James F. Amos, encouraged the special operations Marines, praised their courage and marveled at the dozens of young boys scampering up and down the town's main dirt road.

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40,000 troops to leave Afghanistan

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BY NPR...

The U.S. military has spent more than $42 million to test every service member's brain to find out who suffered a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. But an investigation by NPR and ProPublica has found that military leaders are refusing to carry out the testing program as Congress ordered. Partly as a result, the program that was supposed to fix things has hardly helped any of the troops.

On a recent morning, four dozen soldiers who were about to be deployed to Afghanistan filed into a squat wooden building at Fort Lewis, in Washington state. For the next 20 minutes they would sit at rows of laptop computers clicking through the automated neural psychological assessment metrics computer program known as ANAM.

Enlarge Joaquin Sapien/ProPublica

Felix Rios, a contractor with the Office of the Surgeon General, helps administer the ANAM test at Ft. Lewis, in Washington state.

Congress ordered the military four years ago to test all service members for cognitive brain functions at least twice - before they go to war, and again when they return.

"One of the best ways to tell if something's affecting you is to know how you were before it happened. That's what you do here with ANAM. You'll take ANAM, and it's going to be your baseline," says Felix Rios, a contractor with the Office of the Surgeon General who helps administer the test.

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We do this every day...

Here are some unique places to shop in the Pacific Northwest. 

Fremont

Robson

Gilman Village

Pearl District

Antique Row

Victoria

In today's joint-service culture, Army green and Navy blue might not be as competitive as they once were ... unless you add a football.

For the 12th time in as many years, with support from Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will face off against sea service foes from Navy Region Northwest in the Army-Navy flag football game, maybe better known as the Puget Sound Classic. The game will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Silverdale Stadium on the West Sound.

Rear Admiral Douglas Biesel, Navy Region Northwest commander, said whether it's the local rivalry or the 120-year old college football classic between the service academies, he knows Army-Navy football history is on the blue side.

"Navy has won seven out of 11 games so far, and we are looking forward to making it eight," he said. "Having athletic talent is one thing. Our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen also demonstrate extraordinary teamwork, intelligence and heart."

With respect for the admiral, Col. Thomas Brittain, JBLM commander, said the Army's appreciation for their cohorts in blue won't get in the way of a victory for his Soldiers in the annual grudge match.

"This is Army's year to sink Navy," Brittain said, and he plans to be in attendance to see it happen. "We have great respect for our outstanding Navy brothers and sisters here in the Pacific Northwest, and we're thankful for the courage and professionalism they demonstrate every day. With that said, I can't wait to eat roasted Navy goat after we win."

Lonnie Meredith, a coach for the Army team, has been affiliated with this Army-Navy game since 2001, when he was a Soldier here. He said Brittain's confidence in the players isn't unfounded.

"These Soldiers hustle and go all out," he said. "Nobody is going to be able to fault their effort and energy."

His team has worked hard on fundamentals and execution, Meredith said, and the Soldiers will need to dig deep for a victory in Navy country tomorrow.

"With deployments last year we have a few returnees, but not many from last year's team," he said. "But that's the challenge of coaching. A lot of these guys are young Soldiers; they desire to play, and they want an opportunity to represent their service and compete. They're going to get that chance."

While the score will be kept and the history will continue, Biesel said he felt in the big picture of military service, the victors won't be who scores more points tomorrow, but instead who "gave it their all," an ideal that is not service specific.

"After the game, we are all part of the joint military service, working side by side in defense of our country," he said. "I encourage everyone to come on out to the game and support their favorite team."

Brittain added that after the dust settles, the tradition of the game will be remembered far longer than any final score. His senior enlisted adviser, Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Barnes, who also predicted a road victory for the Army squad, said while pride in a military team is a great thing to have, pride in America's military team trumps all the rest.

"Over the last four years, I have been privileged to witness this tradition and to see our Soldiers, who are part of the world's greatest ground forces, and our Sailors, themselves part of the world's greatest navy, clash in the Puget Sound classic," he said. "In the end, we are all part of one team - our United States armed forces."

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BREMERTON, Wash. - Army traveled to Bremerton Naval Station Nov. 12 to take on Navy's finest for the 13th annual Army vs. Navy Commanders Cup Rugby Championship. Within two minutes of the opening kickoff Army scored on its first try of the match and never looked back, winning 70-7.

There were a total of 11 tries by Army (five by the forwards and six by the backline) with eight successful conversion kicks. Navy never really challenged Army on third and four phases throughout the match.

Army's first 15 for the match included very experienced and seasoned players, many of them veterans of the rivalry with All-Army and civilian club experience. From the kickoff, Army displayed its ability to move the ball at will against an outgunned Navy scrum as well as an inexperienced back line.

Navy showed glimpses of collected efforts to move the ball, however Army's defensive experience and continuity proved too much for the overmatched Navy side. Army's mid-field tackling and mauling by both forwards and backs created consistent frustration for the Navy team.

Navy never really challenged Army on third and fourth phases of the game throughout the match. However Navy was able to score mid-way through the second half on an intercepted pass in the Army backline, scoring from 50 meters out. Navy converted the kick for its only points of the match.

The experienced Army forwards aggressively moved the ball against a Navy team that had little to counter Army's powerful pack led by Albert Harmon (at No. 8) and Brit Cleveland (tighthead loose forward). The backs for Army were led by Cliff Richardson, who traveled from Fort Hood, Texas, to play in the annual match.

Richardson's speed was unparalleled in slicing through the Navy defense on numerous occasions to set up his fellow backs and forwards for break-away runs and scores. Richardson scored three tries and had a hand in two other Army scores.

This year's game marks the 12th win for Army in the competition. Navy's lone win came in 2009.

The Army team looks forward to hosting a 2012 spring match against Navy.

Nick Punimata, 1st Special Forces Group, contributed to this report.

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JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - Today's Army barracks are much different than the days where two soldiers lived in one room with bunk beds and foot lockers and shared one bathroom on each floor.

Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, who reside in the barracks, moved into a new barracks building on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Nov. 28. The 3-38th is one of many units who are moving their soldiers to improve the quality of life in today's Army.

"The transition was pretty easy," said 1st Sgt. Benjamin Boyce, 3-38. "We started and finished moving yesterday."

Some of the improvements in the new barracks include each room having its own stove, washer, dryer and a full bathroom. Two soldiers share a kitchen and bathroom common area but have their own sleeping area with a walk in closet.

"Having a bathroom right here and not having to walk all the way down the hall in the middle of the night is my favorite part of the new room," said Spc. Kyle Wilhelmi, a gunner for B Company, 3-38th.

The 3-38th's old barracks had community bathrooms, showers, kitchen and communal areas. Now, soldiers have all of these amenities in their own rooms. This makes their living arrangement similar to living in an apartment. This change is intended to increase the morale and quality of life for soldiers in the Army.

"This levels the playing field between the quality of life of married and single soldiers," said Sgt. Ross Downey, team leader, B Company, 3-38th. "I think this is the Army pursuing its promise to raise the quality of life for the single soldiers."

The 3-38th's new barracks is one of six new buildings in the complex. Over the past few years, new barracks have been built in several different locations across Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Along with the modern living conditions, the new buildings are environmentally friendly. They are designed to save power and built with Eco friendly materials.

"It's good for the soldiers to live more like adults to prepare them more for when they get out," said Downey. "The only thing they're missing now is paying the bills."

FROM ARMY TIMES...

Veterans whose genitals have been severely injured as a result of trauma are now eligible for a lump-sum payment under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury program, or TSGLI.

For males, the loss of one testicle would result in a $25,000 payment; of both, $50,000. The anatomical loss of a penis - or damage to the organ so severe it results in the complete loss of the ability to have sex - a $50,000 payment.

Women who lose external sexual organs, their uterus or vaginal canal would receive $50,000. Loss of one ovary would result in a $25,000 payment; of both, $50,000.

The VA announced the changes to the TSGLI schedule of losses Dec. 2. The change is due in part to the increase of these injuries among Afghanistan combat veterans, who conduct foot patrols and are vulnerable to attack from trailside improvised explosive devices.

Since 2009, the number of troops arriving at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center with major injuries to their reproductive organs nearly doubled from 4.8 percent to 9.1 percent. Since 2001, 570 service members have sustained these traumas, known as genitourinary injury, according to Defense Department statistics.

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FROM ARMY TIMES...

Congress' failure to make a deficit deal could cut the number of soldiers by up to 25 percent, leaving the smallest Army since just before World War II.

That, in turn, means you stand a good chance of deploying more often. You will do so with older gear, weapons and vehicles, and your pay and benefits - which are protected right now - are likely to see changes in the near future. For military leaders, the choice comes down to cutting soldiers, cutting programs or reducing pay and benefits.

The "doomsday" scenario predicted by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is here.

The 12-member so-called supercommittee had until Nov. 21 to overcome partisan politics and create a deficit reduction plan. An automatic cut of $600 billion to defense spending over 10 years went into effect when the deadline passed. These cuts are on top of $450 billion in cuts already ordered by the Obama administration.

Some analysts and lawmakers remain confident that Congress will work out a solution before the painful cuts kick off. Lawmakers from both sides have said they will introduce legislation to block automatic defense cuts.

Others lack such confidence. Legislation will have to go through bipartisan committees, pass the Senate and House, then be signed by the president - and this during a hotly contested election year, when President Obama has vowed to block legislation that would exempt the Pentagon. Still other analysts feel such massive cuts are exactly what the national budget needs to get back in the black.

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