Support
In December, some Fort Lewis soldiers who deployed to Iraq found a shipping container jammed full of about 50,000 golf balls. Although they were excited about their golf treasure, they only had two junior-sized clubs with which to hit the balls. When Kara Brevet, the club manager at the Oakbrook Golf and
Archives
When a runner hits the pavement, having the correct shoes and attire is crucial, but having the right running terrain and location is equally important. Every runner has a unique set of physical capabilities and preferences.For the runner who wants a specific type of running experience, there are Web sites
Deals
With the poor economy, many families have had to cut back on their trips and vacations. But the local Information Tickets and Tours (www.fortlewismwr.com) or (www.mcchordafb.us) have some deals that might help make trips and entertainment a little more affordable for active duty servicemembers and their families, retirees and their
Operation Family Support
When her husband Spc. Nigel Davis deployed, Brenda Davis prepared herself to deal with whatever happened during his absence. So when the family car broke down, a 1997 model, she went for assistance. She was directed to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that offers assistance primarily to privates through sergeants. As directed,
Military Life
Jennifer Smith, known to her friends as Jenn, works tirelessly in the Fort Lewis community to support soldiers and families not only in the 5th Stryker Brigade where her husband commands, but also as the president of the Officer's Spouses Club. The Ranger sat down with her recently to get a
News Articles
Frank Pastizzo used a keyboard, harmonica, a juggling lesson, drama, humor, and life experiences to captivate an audience of about 250 people at Madigan Army Medical Center. In one routine, he demonstrated how easy it is to get people to say what you want them to say. "Say SHOP," Pastizzo said. The audience
Operation Family Support
The Christmas holiday is over, and the budget is tighter this month, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. Although winter sports equipment can be quite expensive at the local resorts, there are some local on-post facilities that are offering good deals on rentals and trips. To rent equipment, check
Deals
The Christmas holiday is over, and the budget is tighter this month, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. Although winter sports equipment can be quite expensive at the local resorts, there are some local on-post facilities that are offering good deals on rentals and trips. To rent equipment, check
Operation Family Support
When Noah Schachter was 2 years old, his father, David Schachter, threw a whiffle ball to the youngster. To his father's amazement, Noah was able to hit the ball with a bat. "I thought it was really weird that a child that young could hit the ball with a bat," David Schachter,
Veterans
For starters, the father of six and grandfather of 11 served as an aerial navigator in the U.S. Marines for 12 years, including Vietnam. After being medically discharged in 1972, he worked as a general contractor, building single family residential homes for more than 20 years. Upon his retirement from
Operation Family Support
When their car broke down, Sgt. Nick Kirk and his wife, Jaime, had to use their rent and grocery money to repair it. Living from paycheck to paycheck, the couple, who support five children, had no choice. They went for help and were referred to an organization called Operation Homefront, a
Veterans
During his military service, the USO and the American Red Cross were Larry Smith's favorite volunteer organizations. The USO brought blankets to the airport when he and his family were stranded during a PCS move. The American Red Cross was always doing something for the troops, he said. "When I got out of
Operation Family Support
When soldier mom Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, 21, refused deployment orders last month bloggers left some sympathy crumbed between chunks of "it was her duty." And so a quest is born to unearth the resources available to single parents before reaching desperation and desertion, a compromise between complete commiseration and staunch
Focus
Even before Col. Jerome Penner III took command of Madigan Army Medical Center, a seed was planted in him to honor deployed medical and nursing soldiers and staff. Upon arriving at MAMC, Penner announced his plan to create a wall to honor deployed medical personnel. Shortly thereafter, a committee was formed
Operation Family Support
On New Year's Day millions of people will vow to lose that excess weight they spent the last year putting on. Some will opt for the privacy of their own living room floor with Denise Austin videos, while others will seek out a health or fitness club to reach their
Children
Helpful resources for the single parent are sometimes just a click or phone call away: www.militaryonesource.com - free articles, books and DVDs available as well as localized support referral and counseling; 1-(800) -342-9647 www.operationwearehere.com -- resources for family/loved ones of deployed personneln www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil - -military community and family programs. Follow "Troops and
Resources
When soldiers were first deployed to Iraq in 2003, they stood in line and made timed phone calls using calling cards. To use a computer, they waited in a similarly long line to get on the Internet to send an e-mail. Thanks to advances in technology, those days are long
Operation Family Support
Started in San Diego, in 2002, by a small group of military family members, Operation Homefront was founded to help lower ranking troops and their families during and after deployments. Today the non-profit group, which raised more than $32 million in donations last year, assists all branches of the U.S.
Deals
A few minutes, a little creativity, and a child, is all it will take to bring a little joy to a deployed soldier this holiday season. It's time to pull out the bins of craft materials and get your youngsters making crafts. Listed below are some ideas for crafts that your
Deals
During the holidays, people head to the malls armed with coupons they received in the mail from major department stores. However, these same people are often unaware that shopping local has a great impact on their local community, says Patricia Lecy-Davis, the owner of Embellish Multi-space Salon, (1121 Court East, Tacoma,
