Focus
The Executive Leader Readiness Program, or XLRP, creates a time for senior commanders, command sergeants major, eligible GS-15s, and their significant others to pause and reflect on their personal and families' holistic health and fitness. The program director is Lt. Col. Lisa Buckles, a nurse practitioner; the co-director is Dr. Karen
Health
The mission of US Family Health Plan (USFHP) is to ensure that all eligible military beneficiaries (active-duty, retirees and their family members under the age of 65) make educated decisions about their healthcare. "I enjoy educating military members about their benefits, which allows them to make the best decisions about their
News Front
Recent changes to the Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP, give savers more investment options and easier access to their accounts. The TSP is a retirement account that is similar to a 401(k) plan; it is also at the heart of the Blended Retirement System (BRS). Service members who joined after January
Health
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. To this end, there will be a Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm on the first floor of the Madigan Army Medical Center Mall. All
Family
The Chaplain Family Life Center (CFLC) is dedicated to ensuring family readiness. "The mission of the CFLC is to provide highly specialized education, consultation, and resources for unit chaplains to conduct pastoral counseling," explained Chaplain (Lt.Col.) Collin Grossruck, the center's director. Near the Madigan Army Medical Center, the center has been co-located
News Front
The newly expanded and upgraded Joint Base Lewis-McChord Exchange celebrated its Grand Reopening Sept. 28. "The modern look and name brands in the main store, mall and food court make the complex look and feel like a shopping center our customers would see outside of the gate," stated Keiana Holleman, a
Focus
Major Abram Staten used the words "life giving" to describe his ministry to the soldiers of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. "Chaplains serve under their own religious calling," he began, "and they help others to excel in life by modeling the tools needed to succeed in life." Growing up in Winnsboro, South
Focus
One of Pfc. Joseph Cifreo's two big toes stopped working. "I ruptured a tendon that controls movement in my left big toe during a Scout Spur Ride," explained the soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division. During the challenge, troopers faced a number
Health
Nexudoc is an app designed to help military members receive their medical benefits upon separation from service. "This is a mobile app that was developed to help service members take control of their own military medical records," began Dan Frazee, a certified physician associate with a doctorate in medical sciences. He and
Jobs & Education
Next year the Department of Defense will initiate a program which puts military spouses into paid fellowship positions with corporations that will keep them employed past their next PCS move. More details about the program will be forthcoming, said Eddy Mentzer, the DoD's associate director of Military Community Support Programs, during
News Front
The Army's recruitment goal of 485,000 soldiers is almost 20,000 short for fiscal year 2022 according to a memo written in July by Gen. James McConville, Army Chief of Staff. In it he said that a general lack of interest and a sense of distrust in the Army contributed to the
News Front
The new DVHA1 Stryker is an example of the Army's commitment to force modernization. By maintaining its superiority over any adversary by providing force with the speed, range and cutting-edge technologies, the DVHA1 is vital to the success of any near future fight while preparing for the demands of a distant
News Front
An estimated 1.76 million young people in this country have a parent in the military. It is also well known that these youth face a battery of stressors due to their parents' military service to include frequent moves, separations during deployments or training, and fear of harm to their family
Focus
SSgt. Rebecca Trujillo's desire to be different has led her to being the youngest advisor with the 5th Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB). "Growing up, I was outspoken and loved to be the one that was different from the rest of the group," said the native of Plattsburgh, New York. This sense
News Front
The Army announced Sept. 2 that the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will deploy this fall to Korea, following through on a change in unit type the service announced earlier this year. The brigade will replace the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (1st ABCT)
News Front
David Holtom recalled learning of the ultimate sacrifice his son, Sgt. James Holtom, made on Feb. 8, 2007 in Iraq. "It seems like it was just yesterday that we learned of our son's death," he said. "I have no regrets about where he was, and who he was with, and what
Focus
Until she attended high school, 1Lt. Amber Thompson was introverted, but creative and focused on her studies. During this time, she had grown up believing her father was her father. Informed that he was not, she learned who her biological father is and reunited with him. "I was in my freshman
News Front
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade (known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization) - which eliminated federally guaranteed access to abortion - has raised questions among some congressional and service members. The decision has left the right to an abortion up to the states to decide, thus
Focus
Chaplain (Captain) Aybu Laari is a devout Muslim who believes that diversity and open-mindedness toward others should be embraced. "If you are open-minded, you can respect and accept the views of others and believe that each and every other person has something to bring to the table," began the Imam assigned
Focus
In the delicate work of maintaining and strengthening relations with this nation's military partners that the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade advises, small things matter. Activated in May 2020, the brigade's approximate 800 volunteer soldiers conduct security force assistance (SFA) missions in the Indo-Pacific Area of Operations (AOR) to advise and
