Focus
Mud rocks. For the eighth year in a row, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation department hosted its signature 5K Down & Dirty Mud Run. "We've really worked hard to make this event fun and safe," Tara Ricci, race director, said as over 500 competitors poured into the
People Rule
Garrett Stanley is not your typical 16 year old. He's an outstanding community college student, a licensed glider pilot, a leader in the Peninsula Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in Bremerton and now the recipient of the General Carl A. Spaatz Award. At the McChord Field Officers' Club today,
People Rule
Eric Olsen joined the Army in 1995 knowing he would make a career in service to this country. "I knew I would stay in," the 1st Sgt. of HHC, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division said as we sat in his small but squared away office. "The recruiter didn't have to work hard
Rocket Science
Flying from south to north in a clear blue sky over Merrill Drop Zone, a C-130 - call sign "Teton 37" - disappeared into the glare of the early summer sun. A moment later, it reappeared. Half a minute later and from over a mile high, nine soldiers serving with C
Military Policy
Civilian workers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are about to face the consequences of sequestration. About 10,000 of them will stay home or work elsewhere for 11 Fridays this summer. "It's easy to talk about budget cuts," Col. Chuck Hodges, base commander, said during a news conference early Monday afternoon. "It's another thing to
People Rule
Capt. Michael Simpson has no problem jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. "I made my first jump about six years ago during airborne school," said the plans officer at the 17th Fires Brigade. "From that point on I was hooked. It is such a mind clearing experience." Since that first jump,
Military Life
Ultra long distance runners are strong-minded individuals. Capt. Richard Kresser fits this description. "I run to challenge myself," the native of Iowa said. "I want to see if I can do it." An engineer assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Kresser said he was an average track and cross-country runner in high
People Rule
Complete strangers can do the nicest things for people they've never met. "I've never met any of the people who are here and working out there," Barbara Gilbert, an 80-year-old Lakewood resident and wife of a deceased Air Force veteran, said. "It's absolutely wonderful what they are doing in order to help
News Front
Here's one hero who believes in the power of simplicity. "If I keep things simple in a panic situation, the answers come," Staff Sgt. Brian Guzman said during a telephone interview on Monday afternoon. "I am calm; people understand simplicity." Assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Guzman was recognized as the Army's
Health
The Military Pathways website is worth a look. The Department of Defense has partnered with Screening for Mental Health, a non-profit organization, to create Military Pathways. The program is available online, over the telephone and at events held at military installations worldwide. Free and anonymous, Pathways provides mental health and alcohol self-assessments for
News
Saturday, April 20, past and present histories intersected with precision. During World War II, Lois Auchterlonie volunteered to serve this country as a Women's Airforce Service Pilot, or WASP. "I just wanted to fly," the former captain said in a 2008 interview, "and if I could I would go back and do
Kids
Kalie Wright does not let life's challenges stop her from pursuing her dreams. "I believe I have to do more to be successful," the 15-year-old freshman at Clover Park High School said recently as she enjoyed a caramel macchiato at a local coffee shop. "I take the lessons learned to turn
Focus
There is a theology of combat. At a recent 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment award ceremony, the unit's chaplain said during the invocation, "You are used by Him to fulfill the mission on earth to rid the world of evil." That Protestant chaplain is Capt. John McDougall, and he is a warrior
Focus
Spc. Lucas Nieddu finished the 27-question land navigation test. He seemed pleased with himself. "The hardest part of the day for me so far has been getting up," he said with a big, confident smile. "But hey, we're getting the hard part of our work done early." Nieddu - along with Pfc.
Jobs
Christine Yazzie believes in opening her own door of opportunity. "Doing something different in your life opens many doors, and for me there is so much to do in aviation," she said as we talked in a classroom at Clover Park Technical College's Aviation Branch at Thun Field. Yazzie's attraction to aviation
Focus
A bit of history landed at McChord Field yesterday morning. "There's a great deal of symbolism here," Lt. Gen. Darren McDew said moments after landing McChord Field's last and newest C-17 after a 2.3 hour flight from Long Beach, CA. "This is a big day for this kid with a 9 year
Focus
Rangers routinely enter the uncertain and then prevail. Since the beginning of the War on Terror, Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment has deployed 15 times to Iraq and Afghanistan. "You are used by Him to fulfill the mission on earth to rid the world of evil," Chaplain (Capt.) John
Business News
Northwest Harley-Davidson knows how to host a party. For the fifth year, the Lacey dealership featuring America's premier motorcycle hosted its free and biannual Ladies Garage Party March 22. "It's a great opportunity for women of all ages to get up close and personal with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle," Tina Torfin, guest
Focus
While it is often said that cats have nine lives, one feline has given a Soldier a new outlook on life. On Dec. 8, 2010, a Taliban suicide bomber in Afghanistan hit a patrol assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Two Soldiers were killed; the rest were wounded. Staff Sgt. Jesse
Focus
Matt Gillooly found his retirement gift in the form of a rusting hulk of an automobile in a farmer's pasture in Alberta, Canada. "There were bullet holes in it; it had been used for target practice," Gillooly, a targeting officer with the17th Fires Brigade, said with a smile. That's just the half
