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Senior Airman Scott Saldukas

Capt. Christopher Kaighen, left, braces Tech. Sgt. Michael Docodcil, while Pathfinder Jacob Boshop, right, supervises as they hook an 1,800 pound A-22 cargo bag to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during slingload training at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Kaighen is a JBLM Reservist with 86th APS.

451st Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Joint coalition team peers into a dark, moonless sky in preparation for a night time helicopter slingload mission, planned by a Joint Base Lewis-McChord officer. All of their other senses are heightened to compensate for the reduced visibility as a UH-60 Black Hawk approaches the site.

Published: 01:02PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 02:44PM June 18th, 2013

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.

Published: 03:16PM June 18th, 2013

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

Published: 03:00PM June 18th, 2013

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.

Published: 02:50PM June 18th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:45PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:41PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:36PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:03PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:33PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:27PM June 13th, 2013

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

Published: 12:25PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:22PM June 13th, 2013

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

Published: 12:14PM June 13th, 2013

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.

Published: 11:58AM June 13th, 2013

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

Published: 12:07PM June 13th, 2013

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

Published: 12:00PM June 13th, 2013

Earn digital forensics certificate

Published: 12:36PM June 13th, 2013

Clover Park School District sets summer session dates, times

Published: 12:35PM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:30PM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:24PM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:00PM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 11:37AM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:20PM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 11:45AM June 6th, 2013

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

Published: 03:45PM June 7th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:08PM June 6th, 2013

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

Published: 11:57AM June 6th, 2013

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.

Published: 12:06PM June 6th, 2013

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.