News Front
With I Corps' mission transitioning from the Middle East to the Pacific Rim, its new commander will be a veteran Army officer with 34 years of military experience, giving him the background and the "perfect preparation" needed to help lead Joint Base Lewis-McChord into the future. Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, whose
News Front
As Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza relinquished command of the 7th Infantry Division in Tuesday's ceremony, he first thanked those that have helped him. Then he praised the man that's replacing him - Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell. "Today, I'm honored to hand over the reins to a tremendous leader and a wonderful Army
People Rule
As Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell is about to move into his new command position at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the best way to see what he'll do as the new commander of the 7th Infantry Division is to look at what he's done. In Ferrell's last assignment, he talked about the importance
Military Resources
Facing budget cuts, Brig. Gen. John Cho is studying how to do more with less and still provide quality health care for the military by streamlining and partnering. Cho, the commanding general of the U.S. Army's Western Regional Medical Command, said part of the solution is found in cooperative efforts, partnering
News Front
Whether Jason Truskowski was in the back of an ambulance racing to an accident, or standing in front of a group of women teaching self defense, or putting away tables and chairs at an annual hunter's breakfast, he always had the same feeling - satisfaction. It's the payment of volunteering. And that
News Front
Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, whose decorations include the Silver and Bronze Star medals, has been named as the new commander today of the 7th Infantry Division at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Ferrell will replace Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, who was named the 7th ID Division commander nearly 14 months ago. Lanza
Jobs & Education
First, Col. Charles Hodges Jr. thanked the soldiers for their service. Then the commander of Joint Base Lewis-McChord did the unexpected Monday at an achievement ceremony for 22 soldiers who are transitioning to civilian life. He gave the 22 servicemen who had completed a 16-week Microsoft IT certification program one final
People Rule
They're what he called the "heart behind the shield." And Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza wanted to make sure that they - the volunteers who have worked with the 7th Infantry Division - were recognized and thanked. "I think it's important that we take a moment of our time to just say two
News Front
When Col. Charles Hodges Jr. became the commander of Joint Base Lewis-McChord 14 months ago, he put together his must-do priority list. His top priority was what he calls "customer service," or meeting the needs of the soldiers' families. "Our service members and families have sacrificed a heck of a lot since
Recreation
As a football coach at West Point, Charlie Blake has been on the game's biggest stage. As a soldier, he understands the importance of the annual Army-Navy game. "It's THE game," Blake said. "It's the game you point to all season. This is it." For three years in the 1980s, Blake was the
News Front
Sticking with the premise that Joint Base Lewis-McChord is "not a military island," Col. Charles Hodges talked Tuesday about the base's master plan of the future. He emphasized that deciding that future is a cooperative effort, one that includes input from the base's surrounding cities. "The plan that we're going to unveil
People Rule
Certain his legs were cut off below the knees, Lt. Brian Giroux quickly tied tourniquets around both legs to stop the bleeding. A roadside bomb on a dirt road in southern Afghanistan flipped the Stryker he was riding in. His lower legs were trapped beneath the armored vehicle. "I thought my legs
News Front
A smiling Dustin Hancock proudly held his 6-month-old son in his arms for the first time. And Liz, Hancock's wife, beamed. "It's been a long time coming," Liz said, holding back her tears. "Having a baby and him not being here to hold him was hard." Hancock, along with 249 other soldiers, received
News Front
As a tribute for their ultimate sacrifice, a memorial honoring 29 military police killed in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003-2011 was unveiled Friday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's memorial park. It was a tearful ceremony as 10 families of the fallen soldiers were at the 42nd Military Police Brigade memorial. The names
Jobs
Even though he's a long ways from the spotlight today, a long ways from beating Ray Mansfield across from him and running down Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw, Otis Sistrunk couldn't be happier with his life. He's no millionaire, like so many NFL players are today. He drives a Buick. Not
News Front
A 25-year-old nurse from the Madigan Army Medical Center was killed Sunday along with three other soldiers by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Lt. Jennifer Moreno, who was on her first assignment to Afghanistan, was killed during an attack in the Zhari District of Kandahar. After graduating from San Diego High School
People Rule
After retiring, Roy Sowerby, under his wife's orders, needed a reason to get out of the house. "I needed to find something to do," he said with a chuckle. "My wife said." And Bob Jeffrey, the Red Cross volunteer coordinator, had just the thing. Jeffrey needed help with volunteers handing out prescription
Military Life
And then there was Kiari Mhoon, the last singer standing. Mhoon, with his entertaining assortment of R&B love songs, won the Joint Base Lewis-McChord's ninth annual Operation Rising Star, a three-week talent competition that started with more than 40 singers. "He's very good," said Elizabeth Thunstedt, manager of the base's Warrior Zone.
Music
Got a voice? Like to sing? Then sign up for the ninth annual Operation Rising Star. It's the military's version of American Idol. The competition for singers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord begins with an audition at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 on base at the Warrior Zone. "I'm amazed each year how much
Health
Bill Moore discovered something about playing bongo drums when some friends asked him to play with them. It helped relieve his stress. "By the end of the evening, I said, ‘I don't remember feeling so relaxed,'" Moore said. Moore, a Gulf War veteran in the early 1990s, had been suffering from the Gulf
