Joint Base Lewis-McChord leaders announced the implementation of workplace furloughs mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, which will affect about 10,000 civilian Department of Defense employees on the installation.

Soldiers from across the country migrated to JBLM to compete for the title of I Corp’s Best Soldier and Best Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, June 10-13. Representatives from Colorado, California, Kansas and JBLM came here ready to see who was going to be the best and move on to represent the corps at the Forces Command Best Soldier and NCO of the Year.

Perhaps no leader is as influential to the training and mentoring of enlisted Soldiers as their first sergeant.

Children like to talk about what they will be when they grow up. Most change their minds. Only a driven few realize their childhood dreams as lifelong goals.

An engineer stands on a bridge gathering dimensions using a tape measure and lengths of cord. After a frustrating few hours he yells to the other engineer, “there has to be a better way.” It appears his dreams may have been answered.

Staff Sgt. Michael Simpson’s teammates always called him the unquiet professional. That’s because, contrary to the unassuming disposition of most Special Forces Soldiers, his association with the Army’s elite Green Berets was often the first thing Simpson wanted people to know about him.

Exiting service members worried about their transition to the private sector can relax a little. An entire coalition is working to help them, and it’s only growing. In other words, at ease.

TITLOW BEACH, Wash. — It is a Wednesday morning in the Puget Sound. The quiet drizzle is interrupted by the whistles of passenger and cargo trains passing as they gather near the shore. They are a group of local veterans and wounded warriors, united in their shared military service and their love for scuba diving.

TACOMA — Like their major league parent in Seattle, the Tacoma Rainiers Triple-A minor league baseball club hosted its annual Salute to Armed Forces Day Sunday at Cheney Stadium.

The 593rd Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, held a seminar to develop personal and professional knowledge, and build esprit de corps among unit NCOs and commissioned officers during leadership development week, May 28 to 31.

Every time a service member is called away, family members can encounter problems that need assistance.

Soldiers are defined by their creed. As trained professionals, they know their mission and how to accomplish it with honor. But some days when they take off the uniforms, they might find conflicts they haven’t trained for at home.

Now that high school’s over, it’s time for Mitchell Baird to find a good, steady job. And Mom agrees.

When it comes to resumes, Ken Hunter often has the most trouble writing objective statements. Lucky for him, the one-liners hirers see up front that tell them what potential employees are looking for in a job are quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Health is important to maintain for active duty service members, including dental health.

There have been multiple bear sightings on Joint Base Lewis-McChord training areas, recreational hiking and walking trails in the past two weeks.

Earn digital forensics certificate

Clover Park School District sets summer session dates, times

After months of warnings about potential furloughs and preparations by Department of the Army employees for a significant cut in pay, the first furlough notification letters were distributed May 30 to Joint Base Lewis-McChord employees.

Staff Sergeant Robert Bales pleaded guilty Wednesday to 16 counts of premeditated murder for a deadly attack on Afghan civilians in the early morning hours of March 11, 2012, in two separate compounds outside Village Stability Platform Belambay, his combat outpost in Afghanistan.

After he thanked Joint Base Lewis-McChord headquarters, sister units, Families and local communities, outgoing 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division commander, Col. Barry F. Huggins, remarked that he only had three words to offer his wife, Michelle, and daughter, Jennifer, at his relinquishment of command ceremony on Tuesday.

A thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket when looking at the overall cost of a medical degree from a state university. But to Chante Mack, a grand is still enough to make the honors classes and extracurricular activities well worth the effort, despite robbing her of considerable time and sleep.

Mud was no match for 7th Infantry Division Soldiers training last week at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on recovering battle-damaged and broken military vehicles. Soldiers from a mix of brigades in the Bayonet Division attended training organized by recovery specialists from 17th Fires Brigade.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate conducted a rigorous operational test recently on the new Military Free Fall Advanced Ram-Air Parachute System, a non-developmental item to replace the nearly 20-year-old MC-4 parachute system for all service branches, according to the test officer.

Constant moves can make some things difficult for military children, inhibiting their ability to focus and learn effectively.

LACEY, Wash. — The loud echo of combat boots hitting the floor could be heard as the Soldiers entered the building and hustled down the hallways. They moved in pairs, upon reaching their assigned rooms, knocked on the door and entered swiftly. They weren’t on a room-clearing mission but something a little less dangerous. Smiles and excited chatter erupted from young students as they gazed at their helpers for the day.

Service members enjoy a good laugh, whether it’s from a world-renowned comedian who visits their base or the jokester in their unit.

Mykayla Runckel enjoys a good puzzle. The junior at Lakes High School likes to use her hands to figure out how things work, and how to fix things that don’t.

Some say you learn everything you need to know in life in kindergarten, but Col. James Danna III lives by his own adaptation of the sentiment.