Steilacoom resident and Air Force spouse Joan Brown will sign copies of her new book, "Move And Other Four-Letter Words," from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 9) at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in the Lakewood Towne Center.

Brown, who's husband spent three years stationed at McChord from 1976 to 1979, details through her own experiences the everyday challenges faced by military wives throughout the world and different branches of the service.

The book is a collection of humorous stories and chronicles the family's more than 20 moves. 

Copies can be purchased here, Barnes and Noble or other local bookstores. 

According to one 62nd Airlift Wing deputy commander, this is the busiest season yet of Operation Deep Freeze at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. 

Crews from both the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings are fully entrenched in the mission, which supports the National Science Foundation's research.

Read more about this year's mission here.

Here's an interesting story that ran in The New York Times about how the Air Force is handling all the data obtained by the continued use of drones to monitor hostile areas in Afghanistan.

It's an interesting read. 

This year's Northwest Pacific Joint Service E-9 Ball will be sponsored by the Air Force.  The ball is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 6 in Hangar 9 on McChord. All E-9s, including active duty, reserve, guard, retired, and their guests are invited to attend. Attire is mess dress or service equivalent for military members and formal for civilians. To sign up, contact one of the following service representatives no later than Jan. 20.

For Air Force, call Chief Master Sgt. Charles Bell at (253) 982-0064; Army: Sgt. Maj. Robert Carmel at (253) 948-2968, Coast Guard; Master Chief Petty Officer John Dunn at (206) 220-7192, Marines; Sgt. Maj. Richard Smith at (360) 265-5248, retirees; Harry Schreiber at (253) 661-9064.

McCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -

Two C-17 cargo planes from McChord Air Force Base are on their way to assist in Haiti relief efforts.

The planes left Sunday morning, one for Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and the other to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. They'll pick up specialized teams and relief supplies to bring to Haiti, which was devastated by a magnitude-7 earthquake Tuesday.

Two other C-17s and four aircrews remain on alert at McChord for additional humanitarian relief missions.

The Olympic Flight Museum in Olympia hosts the 10th annual Paper Airplane School & Contest from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 13. The event is open to participants of all ages, and will focus on various types of folding and flying paper airplanes - from simple examples to the "cutting edge" in paper airplane technology.

Experts will be on hand to guide participants from construction, first flight and advance maneuvering. A distance and spot landing contest will begin at 2:30 p.m., with prizes awarded in various categories. Admission for flight school participants is $7, which includes professional instruction, all construction materials and a snack. Spectator and general admission is $5. Children 6 and younger are free.  The Olympic Flight Museum is located at the Olympia Regional Airport. 

For more information, visit www.olympicflightmuseum.com or call (360) 705-3925.

(From the 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs)

Airmen assigned to the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron depart for Haiti late tonight to bring specialized airfield operations skills and equipment to the humanitarian relief effort at Port-Au-Prince's Toussaint L'Ouventure International Airport.

The 15-airmen APS team is made up of experts in airfield operations and allows critical relief supplies to be unloaded from cargo aircraft with aircraft engines still running. This allows faster ground times for all aircraft bringing in relief supplies and departing with evacuees.

Prior to the earthquake, Haiti's single runway airport averaged three takeoffs and landings per day; under current U.S. Air Force operation, the airfield is averaging more than 170 takeoffs and landings daily in support of ongoing humanitarian efforts.

"It's a privilege to participate in this operation and help the Haitian people," said Air Force Master Sgt Jason Aven, 62nd APS air transportation operations center, senior NCO in charge.  "Engine running off-loads and on-loads are one of the most specialized skills the Air Force brings to this humanitarian airlift operation; it allows us to safely download cargo in minimal time to rush aid to the Haitian people."

The Seattle Times' Hal Bernton wrote an interesting piece on McChord's Operation Deep Freeze mission.

Read it here.

First Lady Michelle Obama spoke Tuesday at a Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives club banquet at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., offering her support for military families.  

Read the complete story on the Air Force's Web site here.

Baseball fans rejoice, for spring training is right around the corner and Opening Day will be here sooner than you think.

The Seattle Mariners released details about the club's 8th annual Salute to Armed Forces Night. 

(This from the 446th Airlift Wing PA.)

The Seattle Mariners professional baseball team is hosting its 8th annual Salute to Armed Forces event April 17. The Seattle Mariners will be playing the Detroit Tigers in a game that starts at 6:10 p.m.  Salute to Armed Forces begin at 5:30 p.m., with a special pre-game program honoring the United States Armed Forces, service veterans and support organizations.  

This year the 446th Airlift Wing will represent the Air Force in on field activities, to include first pitch and accepting a plaque honoring the Air Force. 

Reservists can obtain discounted tickets through the 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs office.  Order and pay for your tickets by April 5,  by stopping in at the PA office, Bldg. 1214, Room 110 during duty hours. 

Discounted tickets are: View Reserved seats are $10, Field seats are $25 and Terrace Club seats are $30. Reservists who'd like to go as a group should buy their tickets at the same time. Checks will only be accepted. Please make them out to "446 Orientation Tour."  For more information, call (253) 982-3330.