During intense testing an evaluator yells, “If it ain’t raining we ain’t training,” as Soldiers threw simulated grenades, cleared weapons malfunctions, assaulted positions and treated simulated casualties.

As McChord Field eases into motorcycle season, the safety office urges the 187 motorcycle riders throughout the 62nd Airlift Wing to remember that safety is the No. 1 priority.

BRUSSELS — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff wrapped up a two-day visit to Afghanistan Tuesday and said he’s encouraged by what he saw and heard there.

WASHINGTON — Senior Defense Department officials Monday said they hope more service members who are victims of sexual assault report the crimes as a result of a policy change Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced last week.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — U.S. Army science and technology leaders need to deepen their relationships with the doctrine and warfighter communities so that together they can better define the Army’s science and technology priorities, senior leaders said April 18 during a panel discussion.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The U.S. Army Forces Command was presented Tuesday with the Army Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army’s Army Headquarters Safety Award for its outstanding safety record and initiatives in fiscal year 2011.

A wounded warrior reached a career milestone last week that appeared impossible five years ago. With the passing of the NCO sword, Command Sgt. Maj. John Blue assumed responsibility as the commander’s chief enlisted adviser for 2nd Battalion, 357th Infantry Regiment, 189th Infantry Brigade. Command Sgt. Maj. Dwight Altheide relinquished responsibility to Blue at a ceremony April 17.

Employees in seven more Civilian Career Programs now have access to Army Career Tracker, the Army’s first comprehensive leader development and career management tool that integrates training, assignment history, education and experiential learning into one personalized, user-friendly online interface for all Army personnel.

Forward Observers from 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division “Raiders” were stationed on three outposts at Joint Base Lewis-McChord April 9 to 13. They scanned their sectors before calling in missions to a fire direction center as part of the Raider Brigade’s “Fires Week,” a training certification and competition. It recognized top performing howitzer sections, FDCs, and fire support teams (FISTs) through a certification process which allowed Soldiers to build core competencies in their crafts.

Most of us have experienced the occasional workday that goes up in flames. For Peggy Auerbach, however, that’s a normal occurrence.

WASHINGTON — An Army doctor has helped develop a vaccine that he believes will prevent cancer, or at least its recurrence.

With the summer moving season just around the corner thousands of Airmen and their families can now use a new housing website to help prepare for their move.

Colonel Bruce Bowers Jr., 446th Airlift Wing commander, Col. Peter Stavros, Western Air Defense Sector commander, and Col. Wyn Elder, 62nd AW commander, were welcomed April 12 by members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. The meeting took place at Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma.

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Air Force chief of staff visited Airmen from the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing and the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Monday at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, to talk about current Air Force issues.

WASHINGTON — Recent heightened interest in the Bronze Star Medal has led Air Force Central Command and Air Force Personnel Center leaders to further explain the criteria and approval process for its recipients. Colonel Scott Arcuri, AFCENT director of manpower, personnel and services, said candidates can expect a consistent and rigorous review process for BSM, Meritorious Service Medal or higher award packages submitted from any service through the organizations’ channels.

LOS ANGELES – Operation Rising Star winner Army Reserve Sgt. Melissa Neal and husband Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nate Neal cherished attending the Grammys and EMI Music’s after-party earlier this year at the Capitol Records Building.

As 13-year-old Kyle Smerer waited for the Seattle Mariners’ home opener against the Oakland A’s to start April 13, he was hoping that his dad, 1st Sgt. Steve Smerer, of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, was watching the game from Afghanistan.

The commute is about to change for a lot of Joint Base Lewis-McChord commuters — and not the ones on Interstate 5.

Few ever expect to see a roughly 10,000-pound, 45-foot metal bridge flown overhead, but to the engineers of 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, it was just their latest innovative way of providing mobility for their brigade.

Air Mobility Command has honored two Reservists from the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron for their outstanding work as associate wing maintainers.

Due to roadwork along A Street on JBLM Lewis North, the D Street Gate will be closed from April 23 to May 31. The gate allows access to the post from Dupont and Steilacoom. An alternate access point will be opened at H Street and East Drive. Directorate of Public Works advises drivers that travel times may increase, so plan accordingly. There will be detour signs in place to direct traffic to the temporary access point.

Soldiers in gas masks and dull gray chemical hazard suits line up to be scrubbed down and rinsed off at adjacent stations set up like an assembly line. They are the 547th Area Support Medical Company, role playing personnel who have been exposed to hazardous materials.

Five Airmen from Joint Base Lewis-McChord were awarded Bronze Stars Monday at JBLM Lewis Main for their work during two deployments to Afghanistan. The Airmen, from the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron, were deployed with joint operations forces during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010 and 2011.

With exactly 200 days until Election Day, there’s plenty of time left to register to vote — no matter what state you’re from.

Fisher House Foundation announced plans to rally the community around Joint Base Lewis-McChord to help raise awareness about the home here and plans for a second to be built in the coming years.

Everyone who’s been through a Washington winter knows that when it’s sunny, it’s time to get outside — but proceed with caution.

Unit pride and esprit de corps reigned April 12 when members of the I Corps Command Honor Guard from Joint Base Lewis-McChord received Congressional Gold Coins for their roles in a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony earlier this year.

Frequent deployments, tours of duty, humanitarian missions and training flights may lead loved ones to ask, “What are they doing up there?”

What is folic acid? When found naturally in foods, folic acid is known as folate; while folic acid refers to the man-made form of folate.

Did you know a child as young as 1 year old can show signs of autism, according to Autism Speaks?

There are times when military teens just want something non-military.

Clover Park School District, in partnership with Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is building two new elementary schools. Both schools, Carter Lake Elementary, located on JBLM McChord Field, and Hillside Elementary on JBLM Lewis Main, will be built at their current locations and are slated for completion in the fall of 2013.

For Staff Sgt. John Ahern, April 6 stood out as the highlight of his Army career – the apex of his eight years of military service.

“You have been called to active duty status in the U.S. Air Force Reserve per Presidential Order 10-2011 Bravo. You are activated effective 31 March 2012 for one year.”

The 46th Aviation Support Battalion conducted a situational training exercise at Training Area 8 to evaluate Soldier skill level one tasks March 26 to 30.

While in Afghanistan in 2010, a roadside bomb attack took away both of Erin Schaefer’s legs.

Like a fine wine, Gloria Bennett’s 33-year career exemplifies a distinct taste of character and expertise, with a full body of experience and leadership. Her palate developed a unique affinity: caring deeply about the well-being of her enlisted Airmen.

DARAFSHAN VALLEY, Afghanistan – By showing presence within the community, the Afghan National Police are building an effective bond of trust and cooperation.

For some, a single day might be enough to give back to the planet they live on — but not at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The sun was out this year for Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s annual Kids’ Fest celebration at JBLM Lewis Main. The afternoon event allowed parents and children to spend time together during spring break.

The Finance Corps Regimental Insignia includes the words, “to support and serve.” Usually this manifests itself in making sure Soldiers are paid properly and on time as well as helping to make sure Soldiers deployed to hazardous areas can get to their funds.

Firefighter Anthony Taylor crawled down into the C-17 wing and maneuvered himself into a cramped space. With his arms and legs in various holes within the wing, he was ready — to be rescued.

Military children, dressed in bright Easter clothes, dashed from the 20-yard line in an attempt to gather as many eggs as their little hands could carry to the finish line.

More than 500 Soldiers and their Families, assigned to the 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, participated in the unit’s Medicine Warrior Day April 4 at Cowan Stadium and the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 2000).

The “Month of the Military Child” is underway. This year’s theme, developed by the Army Teen Panel, is “Military Kids: Heroes for the Future.”

Soldiers assigned to the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade trained on new equipment used by signals intelligence analysts in preparation for deployment.

There’s carpooling — and then there’s vanpooling.

FORT POLK, La. — The 109th Military Intelligence Battalion’s participation in the Joint Readiness Training Center Rotation 12-05 last month made it the vanguard of its parent unit, the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

Colonel Barry Huggins, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division commander, told Joint Base Lewis-McChord his “Lancer” Brigade will defend America far from her shores and return with honor in remarks at Watkins Field last week. His speech highlighted a morning colors-casing ceremony for approximately 4,000 Lancer Brigade Soldiers who will deploy to Afghanistan in upcoming weeks.

On canvas a clown touches a window pane. Visible through it stands the home he can’t touch. Painted by a Vietnam veteran, the face paint represents his struggles with post-traumatic stress, the glass symbolizes his alienation, and out of reach beyond it is home, the place he loves the most.

The annual Air Force Assistance Fund kicked off March 26 and will run through May 4.

Construction is underway along the Banana Belt on Lewis Main and so far seems to be moving along swiftly according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractor Bristol Alliances of Companies.

“During the last fiscal year, the Army lost 45 Soldiers to motorcycle accidents,” Ed Cartwright, 593rd Sustainment Brigade safety officer, said. “One is too many.”

There have been well recognized battles in all wars. The war in Iraq had its Fallujah and Afghanistan has Marjah.

Laughter and music echoed in the background as an aroma permeated the air filled with the finest of spices, vegetables and personalized selections of meat that brewed in the courtyard.

The U.S. Army Ordnance Corps regimental command sergeant major recently visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord to talk with the large number of ordnance Soldiers stationed here.

The next time you’re faced with a delay, consider practicing mindfulness rather than losing yourself in impatience.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Tax Center has been filing away since January and because April 17 is looming, it doesn’t mean they’re slowing down. In fact, they’re seeing an uptick in customers as the deadline approaches.

It was a night of firsts at the Warrior Zone. Joint Base Lewis-McChord DFMWR’s entertainment complex hosted the most dedicated of JBLM’s gamers March 29th at the Better Opportunities for Single Service members Team Shooter Competition.

Many Soldiers can vividly remember their experiences of that first trip through the gas chamber in basic training. It evokes memories of burning eyes, runny noses and a sense of fear.

A group gathered at Grandstaff Memorial Library Joint Base Lewis-McChord on March 28 for a discussion of the U.S.-Japanese security alliance and the regional dynamics of East Asian Security.

As Spc. Michael Gonzales tried to calm a dummy lying motionless on the ground, asking it questions and receiving no answers, he set the stage for a scene that might amuse an outsider.

There may be no experience more emotionally painful than being excessively overweight as a child. However, it is this common scenario which provides the personal backstory for the triumphant and healthy lifestyle of 1st Lt. Paula Beer.

Two Soldiers from Madigan Healthcare System’s Warrior Transition Battalion were selected to represent the Army at the third annual Warrior Games.

Fresh flower buds aren’t the only thing popping up this month at JBLM. The newly opened Army Family Covenant Skate Plaza is primed for grinding and its gaps are ready to be ollied over.

FORT BENNING, Ga. — Major General Robert B. Brown has been tapped to command I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — The Army’s second highest-ranking officer arrived with a group of Army senior staff members at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Friday to ensure its leaders had every available resource at its disposal.

Changing duty stations is hard for Mark Conatser. Like a lot of 15-year-olds, he’s thinking about college and getting ready to start driver’s ed, and a shift in his routine complicates all of that.

Specialist Ryan Tremble has watched his 9-month-old daughter, Jade, grow up like most other parents do – a little bit at a time.

Tri-fold presentation boards were lined up on the tables that spanned Pacific Lutheran University’s Olson Auditorium Saturday afternoon.

For most of his career, Garin Tentschert has both led and learned by example.

Jason McKennon was sweating after Wii Step Aerobics. While the game required stepping up and down at a slow pace, something that the Army sergeant would normally find simple, the extra 35 pounds of an empathy belly was not only weighing him down but also throwing off his balance.

Colonel Theresa Schneider, commander of the 62nd Medical Brigade, began her speech at the annual Joint Base Lewis-McChord women’s history month observance with a chilling directive.

When the snow hit in January, a lot of people at Joint Base Lewis-McChord were caught off guard, including those in the Army Community Services Exceptional Family Member Program office.

Sixteen iPod Touches. Eight hundred and thirty-three bags of Flaming Hot Cheetos. Eleven pairs of Uggs footwear. Nineteen pairs of Air Jordans. Sixty-two movie dates with popcorn and drinks.

It didn’t matter if they had ties to Ireland or not, everyone was Irish March 17.

During a routine visit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord March 15 and 16 to meet with the installation’s brigade-level commanders, Gen. David Rodriguez, commanding general, U.S. Army Forces Command, said actions allegedly carried out by a JBLM-based staff sergeant March 11 in no way reflect the climate here.

Reservists with the 446th Airlift Wing, in partnership with their active duty brethren from the 62nd Airlift Wing have completed a record-setting season for Operation Deep Freeze. ODF C-17 airlift support began Aug. 20, 2011 and ended with the return of McChord Field Airmen to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, March 4.

As part of an ongoing project to improve traffic conditions on Interstate 5, the Washington State Department of Transportation has installed seven traffic cameras from State Route 510 in Lacey to Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Main Gate.

The Soldiers in a closed formation bang their batons against their shields in cadence as an angry mob approaches.

Providing airlift support to the National Science Foundation is the primary mission of the 446th and 62nd Airlift Wings in Operation Deep Freeze. Providing support to the community of Christchurch, New Zealand is the mission at the heart of the men and women of McChord Field.

Your shift doesn’t end for another two hours and your stomach is growling so loudly that you can hear it over the aircraft engine.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Earlier this year, Army Emergency Relief (AER) announced the addition of several new categories that are now eligible for assistance. New categories include Family member dental care, basic furniture needs, rental vehicles and replacement vehicles.

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord community garden doesn’t look like much right now — but that’s about to change.

Take a moment to recall your childhood. Do you remember the game “Red Light, Green Light?” This game involves running toward an object or person while obeying commands similar to that of a stop light.

The Army will soon begin expanded testing of Soldiers for unauthorized prescription drugs, in addition to currently tested illegal substances.

When Sharon Freeman’s husband urged her to clean out her closet, she knew exactly what to do with her old clothes and shoes.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta issued statements last week marking the one-year anniversary of the “3/11” earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that devastated Japan.

Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing recently completed the first continental C-17 Globemaster III airdrop using a piece of technology designed to deliver cargo with pinpoint accuracy in even the most hostile environments.

Waste may arguably be the most unavoidable, undesirable and destructive bi-product of life. Frustrating to most, waste brings pollution and devaluation to any environment.

A team of Soldiers provides 360-degree security outside of a two-story shanty house. Meanwhile, another team lines along the front gate and yells for the occupants to evacuate the building. This was the scene at Leschi Town, after the Soldiers completed an air assault drop to conduct counterinsurgency operations at the simulated Afghan village here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

An air raid siren rang out from speakers, its wailing tones were nearly drowned out by the sounds of a ferocious firefight taking place all around them.

Last week the Defense Department released an implementation plan for cutting energy consumption in military operations.

Fourteen students from Rogers High School in Puyallup visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord March 9 to learn about careers in the medical field offered through the Army.

Any bookworm will tell you there are few things as great as spending some time with a good book.

WASHINGTON — A panel of two senior executive service Army civilians, an Army major general, a colonel and a sergeant major, all of whom are women, shared their personal stories on what drove them to be in the positions they are today.

“Please teach your Soldiers this when you get over there, because your lives depend on this stuff.”

Operation Baby Shower will be the first of this new semi-annual event put on by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. A joint effort between DFMWR, AAFES and other local businesses, the event is designed for new and expecting parents to get information about services available to them on and off base. There will also be door prizes, food, and mocktails available for the March 24 event at JBLM McChord Field’s Collocated Club.

Their offices look like your typical workspace: binders and folders on shelves, diplomas and certificates on the walls, but Margie Winters-Harris and Carl Newhouse don’t have typical desk jobs. They are Employee Assistance Program Coordinators at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. They help active duty spouses, civilian employees and retirees and their families with anything from substance abuse issues to conflict resolution. Their offices are a place for their clients to vent and map out options to improve their lives.

WASHINGTON — The Army will soon begin expanded testing of Soldiers for unauthorized prescription drugs, in addition to currently tested illegal substances.

When most people think “spring cleaning,” they conjure up images of throwing open windows or dusting hard-to-reach corners.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord leadership held a town hall meeting March 1 and Col. Thomas Brittain, the installation’s commander, was glad the community stayed home.

Construction along Pendleton Avenue has a new start location and date after numerous setbacks due in part to January’s winter storm and other ongoing construction in the area. The new plan slates construction to begin Thursday on 2nd Division Drive between Pendleton and Bennett avenues, as well as Pendleton Avenue between 41st Division Road and 4th Division Drive.

More than 120 Airmen from McChord Field’s 7th Airlift Squadron were greeted by family and friends Feb. 29 after a 60-day deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Nearly 11 years in the making, Fire Station 106 opened Tuesday with a cutting of a windshield frame with power scissors by Joint Base Lewis-McChord commanders Col. Thomas Brittain and Col. Valerie Hasberry. The new station primarily serves the McChord housing areas; prior to a second station, firefighters could not respond to calls in housing in the required five-minute time frame from the original station at the airfield.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Army’s chief of staff has said the Army will attempt to provide better support to combatant commanders — the Department of Defense-level commands responsible for U.S. military interests across large swaths of the globe.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Selfless service and an uncommon sense of duty took the form of 86 raised right hands as Maj. Gen. William E. Rapp administered the oath of reenlistment to the Task Force Rugged Soldiers assembled before him Saturday at Camp Leatherneck.

The Montgomery GI Bill and Reserve Tuition Assistance are the two most commonly used education benefits for Reservists, yet can’t be used at the same time.

Shoplifting doesn’t pay was the message at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Lewis Main Exchange Feb. 29. Officials from Directorate of Emergency Services’ Crime Prevention program joined forces with Army and Air Force Exchange Service to spread the word during an information fair, DES’ first in 2012.

Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs and Trefoils—these classic cookies are often what people first think of when they see Girl Scouts, but on the 100th anniversary of the worldwide organization, scouts on Joint Base Lewis-McChord are doing more than selling their signature treats. Scouts have been participating in environment-friendly projects this year, including planting trees and tossing salmon carcasses into the Nisqually River, helping the river’s ecosystem.

The Aircrew Standard Evaluation Visit is scheduled from June 18 to July 2. However, examiners from Air Mobility Command began “on-the-spot” evaluations, better known as SPOT EVALs, Feb. 19.

Army Emergency Relief provides much-needed assistance to Soldiers, retirees and their Families throughout the year. But they cannot accomplish their goals of financially assisting Army Families during emergencies without the help of other Soldiers and community members contributing to the non-profit every year. This year’s fundraising campaign began March 1 and runs until May 15.

On Feb. 28, 1992 a dedication ceremony was held in the Medical Mall at Madigan Army Medical Center where more than 400 people watched congressmen and generals dedicate the new, $280 million structure we now operate in known as Madigan.

Guy Dashnea has been a gym rat his entire life.

When the building housing the Lewis Army Museum was finished in 1919, its telephones and hot and cold running water made it state of the art.

The 10th Airlift Squadron deployed Thursday in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

Harley Backes, 8, said one of many great things about her father, Sgt. Justin Backes, is “wherever he is, he knows where we are.”

The authorized Joint Base Lewis-McChord newspaper and a small army (and air force) of its contributors and broadcast specialists received awards for excellence in journalism in February.

Normally, training comes as often for the 67th Military Police Company as it does for any other Army unit, but this year its Soldiers will be lucky to make it to the field once.

The McChord Collocated Club was packed to the brim with approximately 400 Joint Base Lewis-McChord service members and community members Feb. 21 for the annual African-American Black History Month Observance hosted by the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade. This year’s theme celebrated Black Women in American Culture and History. Guest speaker Col. Valerie L. Hasberry, deputy JBLM commander and commander of 627th Air Base Group, spoke about the many African-American women who have paved the way for her, as well as the military and country as a whole.

Politicians have made the military and its budget a central issue of the political debate this year. Unlike most years, however, service members have a chance to make their voices heard by participating in the primaries and presidential election later this year.

With the snow, rain and ice, Soldiers of the 110th Chemical Battalion might have been relieved to suit up in Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear recently to train on their Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives mission at Joint Base Lewis- McChord.

The 110th Chemical Battalion held an intimate deployment ceremony for one of their teams preparing to leave for Korea Feb. 24. Bravo Team 2 is headed to Camp Hovey to participate in Operation Foal Eagle, a combined training mission with the Republic of Korea Army.

February 21 at McChord Field, a hat was transformed into a fish.

Looking to take a vacation but not sure where to go? Then head over to Leisure Travel Service’s Passport to Travel Show on Wednesday. This one stop shop will host local visitors’ bureaus, as well as trip providers and resorts from around. No matter if you are looking for a weekend getaway or a vacation overseas, start at Passport to Travel.

“The Army is looking to retain those who exceed expectations,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler III said recently. “Specifically, being a part of tomorrow’s Army will require a willingness to stretch beyond one’s comfort zone in order to grow as a competent Soldier and leader.”

Morning formations have been sources of information for military members for generations. At Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest military installation on the West Coast, it would take Seattle’s CenturyLink Field to house a communitywide formation — or just a Facebook account.

Colonel Barry Huggins, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division commander, spoke to the media Feb. 17 following an announcement from the Pentagon the day before that his “Lancer” Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan this spring. This projected nine-month deployment, as the centerpiece of “Task Force Lancer,” will be the first time the brigade serves in Afghanistan under its almost two-year-old flag.

First Lieutenant David A. Johnson was remembered by his 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division colleagues, friends and Family for his strong morals, willingness to serve, and warming smile Feb. 15 at JBLM Lewis North Chapel. Johnson died Jan. 25 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered while encountering an IED.

The 62nd and 446th Airlift wings and 627th Air Base Group conducted a mobility exercise Feb. 10 through 17 to improve the ability to survive and operate, solidify mobility processes and strengthen the ability to complete missions under adversity in preparation for an Operational Readiness Inspection in October.

LAKEWOOD — A crowd that defined diversity, representing a variety of ages, races and occupations, filled a local school auditorium recently to witness history unfold in stories, melodies and dance.

In the two years since it launched, the Confidential Alcohol Treatment and Education Program has seen a lot of changes — but the biggest change might be to the Army itself.

When you think of the Neighborhood Watch Program, images of beleaguered homeowners patrolling streets in the dark might come to mind — and if that doesn’t appeal to you, you’re not alone.

Before Sgt. Sarah Harper deployed to Afghanistan, she wanted to sell her car. She gave the 2003 Audi an outrageously good price and posted an ad on cars.com, promising ice cold air conditioning and delivery — free of charge — to anywhere in the United States, just as soon as a payment had been made via Amazon Payments.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) receives thousands of reports each year from taxpayers who receive suspicious emails, phone calls, faxes or notices claiming to be from the IRS. Many of these scams fraudulently use the IRS name or logo as a lure to make the communication appear more authentic and enticing. The goal of these scams - known as phishing - is to trick you into revealing your personal and financial information. The scammers can then use your information - like your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers - to commit identity theft or steal your money.

Reiki, massages, reflexology, bath salts and healthy food took center stage Saturday at the McChord Collocated Club for the fourth annual Operation Care Fair.

In a show of support for the Soldiers of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division currently deployed to Afghanistan, family readiness groups are planning to walk locally 6,750 miles, the distance between Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Afghanistan, before the brigade returns later this year.

Today’s Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines are not free from the influences of poor dietary choices and reduced physical activity while deployed. Nutrition and the overall health of service members play a critical role in both readiness and daily life during a deployment.

After feedback from patients, Madigan Healthcare System’s Behavioral Health services have reorganized in order to provide a one-stop shop for all behavioral health needs for both service members and their Families effective Feb. 7.

FORT LEE, Va. — Twenty Soldiers made history by being the first to graduate from the brand new Stryker Systems Maintainer military occupational specialty Feb. 16.

To the untrained eye a C-17 Globemaster III may appear indestructible because of its sheer size. Air Force loadmasters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord know differently. Their aircraft is 170 feet long and about the same distance from wing tip to wing tip. When it flies, it is a moving symphony of weight, dimensions and payload, all balanced at 50,000 feet.

A traditional Irish saying claims “The tree remains, but not the hand that planted it.” Soldiers who live by the creed of De Oppresso Liber, or “to liberate the oppressed,” know that truth all too well.

The 62nd Airlift Wing Safety Office recently earned the 2011 Air Mobility Command Safety Office of the Year Award.

After dedicating almost 33 years to the Air Force Reserve, Chief Master Sgt. Gloria Bennett, 446th Airlift Wing command chief, will retire and pass on her duties to Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Mack, March 31.

“Keep the best Soldiers, lose the rest,” echoed through the ranks as a warning of a looming cut of 49,000 Soldiers. It was a stern message by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, published in Army Times, Jan. 7.

Soldiers of the 56th Mobile Medical Battalion conducted field training exercises Feb. 6 through 10 in preparation for taking part in a Defense of Civilian Support Agencies mission.

Years ago, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Suicide Prevention Coordinator Arthur Wienandt remembers sitting across from an officer who had just completed an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training program.

The newly reopened McChord Gateway Center hosted an open house Feb. 8 at its Joint Base Lewis-McChord McChord Field facility, to bring awareness to its new services. The center now offers part-day preschool, daylong Strong Beginnings and after-school SkiesUnlimited classes.

Looking for a free way to relax and learn about local businesses to help your overall health and wellbeing? Then check out Operation Care Fair Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the JBLM McChord Club/Community Center on McChord Field.

The sounds of hammers and saws will soon be replaced with that of iron being pumped and workout classes as the Jensen Family Health and Fitness Center prepares to open its doors this spring. For now, work continues so that the facility will make its April grand re-opening.

The Seattle Seahawks might be in their offseason, but CenturyLink Field isn’t sitting dormant.

FORT BENNING, Ga. — Soldiers who use social media must abide by the terms outlined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

WASHINGTON — The Army announced its intent today to open six occupational specialties and more than 13,000 positions to women.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Military recruits who wear glasses won’t be issued S9s or “birth control glasses” anymore — the nickname given to the iconic BCGs because many service members believe that while wearing the frames, it is impossible to appear attractive.

WASHINGTON — Servicemembers now will receive imminent danger pay only for days they actually spend in hazardous areas, Pentagon officials said here today.

AFC Arena on Joint Base Lewis-McChord was filled with young girls in roller skates on Jan. 30 — but while girls and roller skates have been commonplace for decades, this night had a twist.

LAKEWOOD — When Jan Muri’s husband earned his master’s degree 24 years ago, he attended a graduation ceremony in a theater on what was then Fort Lewis. The event was quiet and dim, with a crowd of graduates and well wishers hardly overflowing the venue.

After the January snow and ice storm, 1st Lt. Alex Wingate, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, knew that the ranges his 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division unit was scheduled to train on in February were going to be a mess.

The radar truck moved into position on top of an observation point overlooking sparse ground that has been pock marked with impacts from artillery shells. A team of Soldiers poured out of the vehicle to set up their equipment.

Over a hearty breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon and French toast, about 400 Joint Base Lewis-McChord servicemembers, civilian employees and retirees, came together to pray at the annual National Prayer Breakfast Wednesday at the McChord Collocated Club. For the third year in a row, the Air Force and Army have jointly hosted the annual JBLM breakfast.

Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation might have always been synonymous with serving troops, but the staff at Joint Base Lewis-McChord might have taken it to a new level.

The M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon came to life as Karissa Thompson shot targets in the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000. January 24 was not another day of training for the Soldiers on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but an opportunity for members of the Puyallup Chamber of Commerce to bond with their military neighbors. JBLM hosted 25 business leaders and city officials from the Puyallup/Sumner area on a day-long orientation to JBLM. The group toured the new Bud Hawk Education Center on JBLM Lewis North followed by a discussion with Col. Thomas Brittain, JBLM commander, about joint base operations.

NATICK, Mass. — Maybe it looks like a camouflage money belt on steroids, but it could save Soldiers’ lives. The new Individual First Aid Kit, or IFAK, being developed at the Natick Soldier Systems Center eventually will be carried by every Soldier in a combat environment.

According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, noise-induced hearing loss is among the most common disabilities affecting veterans. The VA pays more than $1.2 billion annually in compensation costs for hearing loss and tinnitus. In an effort to make a difference in hearing loss prevention and education, the VA and the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research are funding a research project to test community-based hearing kiosks for screening and education.

FORT BENNING, Ga. — The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Resiliency Goals Book, previously released as an app for iPhones and iPads, is now available for Android users.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Air Force Specialty Codes on the fiscal 2012 career job reservation constrained list were updated effective Feb. 1, Air Force officials announced. Four AFSCs were added to the constrained list, and three were removed.

WASHINGTON — In this time of strategies for military downsizing and dropping promotion rates, the first impression you make on a promotion or selection board can make or break you, and it’s made through My Board File. Soldiers have the power to manage their board files so their true merit is obvious to members of the board. Don’t leave anything to chance.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Warrior Transition Battalion teamed with Coastal Steel, Inc., to conduct a “Topping Out” ceremony Jan. 27, to mark the placement of the final structural steel beam in the new Soldier and Family Assistance Center/Warrior Transition Battalion Administration Building.

Thanks to hiring actions and the implementation of the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, Soldiers going through the disability evaluation process with Madigan Healthcare System have seen a quicker result in the medical evaluation board process.

It’s 25 degrees, 10 with the wind chill. You’ve lost control of your car and have landed in an embankment just off of the Nisqually.

When thousands of people were without power on Joint Base Lewis-McChord during the snow and ice storm two weeks ago, civilians and military personnel hustled to restore it.

You’ve just fought your way through the payday madness at the commissary and all the groceries have been put away. You’ve got the kids settled with a bowl of popcorn and their favorite movie, and you’re just opening the book you’ve been trying to finish for the last week, when all of a sudden the power goes out.

Over a hearty breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon and French toast, about 400 Joint Base Lewis-McChord servicemembers, civilian employees and retirees, came together to pray at the Annual National Prayer Breakfast Wednesday at the McChord Collocated Club. For the third year in a row, the Air Force and Army have jointly hosted the annual JBLM breakfast.

Sergeant 1st Class Shvoda Gregory remembers a time in the Army when new sergeants coming up in the world learned to care for their Soldiers the hard way — by making leadership mistakes.

Servicemembers entering the civilian workforce are sharing in the nation’s current economic slump. The U.S. Department of Labor reported in 2010 an 11.5 percent unemployment rate for those who’d served in the military any time after September 2001.

It’s common sense to make sure your fire alarm is in good working order. But have you been keeping tabs on your carbon monoxide detector?

The 50th Combined Federal Campaign pledge drive brought in the second highest dollar amount ever for the South Puget Sound, but the campaign isn’t just about the money.

WASHINGTON — The decisions behind the fiscal year 2013 defense budget request Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced last week represent the department’s priorities of maintaining capability, keeping military pay and benefits fair, and managing risk, the nation’s top military officer said today.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley received a warm welcome from the community Jan. 27 during remarks at the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce to approximately 40 local community, military and business leaders.

WASHINGTON — The Army will become more capable through its planned drawdown of 80,000 Soldiers and at least eight brigade combat teams, its chief of staff said Jan. 27.

Servicemembers, civilians and their families continue to rebound from a winter weather wallop that hit Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with the greater Puget Sound region last week. Since the storm arrived early Jan. 18, troops and civilians worked around the clock to restore operations to an installation that had closed to non-essential personnel through Jan. 20.

As snow and ice pummeled the Puget Sound last week, Joint Base Lewis-McChord sprang to action to clear snow and fallen limbs from the road, as well as restore power to the installation.

WASHINGTON — Some Soldiers will need to make a reenlistment decision by Monday or they won’t get to stay in the Army.

WASHINGTON — Airmen will play an important role in the joint team’s effort to achieve the priorities laid out in the new defense strategic guidance, according to the Air Force’s top uniformed officer.

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord community was reminded of the power inherent in social media sites like Facebook in sharing timely information during a massive winter storm that swept across Western Washington last week.

The snowstorm that blew through Joint Base Lewis-McChord last week has caused a 45-day delay in the next phase of construction on Pendleton Avenue.

WASHINGTON — The Army released a study this week on behavioral health and reported that the number of suicides decreased this past year and more Soldiers are seeking treatment for their problems.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — Saving the lives of combat wounded is one of the main objectives at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Research on prehospital care devices like the tourniquet has proven to save lives in battlefield wounds to the arms or legs, which was once the most common cause of preventable death.

WASHINGTON — The Army is now one step closer to selecting a new set of camouflage patterns that could replace what Soldiers are wearing now in most places.

WASHINGTON — A new report confirms a concern defense and military leaders have long recognized: There’s a growing disconnect between Americans and their military.

Fort Bliss, Texas — Since the start of current combat operations in 2001, deployments have become all too common for many military families. While it may be easy at times to explain to adults that duty calls them away for an extended period, it can be very complicated to convey that message to children.

On an ever-growing military installation, it’s important to look to the future.

Did you know that cervical cancer was once a leading cause of cancer death in American women?

PHOENIX — Tricare West Region beneficiaries can make managing their health care easier and support military Families at the same time — just by choosing paperless options as part of TriWest Healthcare Alliance’s “Go Green and Give” campaign.

Your smartphone can now be used for more than texting friends or flinging birds. With TriWest’s mobile account tools, you can get closer to your health care.

The “fighting knife” that’s seen in the U.S. Army Special Forces crest is said to represent a “silent” weapon that represents “straight and true” Special Forces troops.

A winter snow storm didn’t prevent about 50 people from celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Tuesday at the McChord Field Collocated Club.

The Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center, Dover Air Force Base, Del., has the sole duty of fulfilling the country’s commitment of ensuring dignity, honor, and respect to fallen U.S. troops and the care, service, and support to their families. Since 1996, Reservists from the 446th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight at Joint Base Lewis-McChord have helped support the Air Force’s mortuary mission.

After a record breaking year saving Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldiers and retirees over $1 million on filing their tax returns and generating $16.6 million in refunds from the 7,800 federal and state returns, the JBLM Tax Center is preparing for another busy year. However, servicemembers may see fewer refunds this year due to changes in the tax codes including the expiration of the Making Work Pay Credit and in most cases, the First Time Homebuyers Credit. Officer in Charge Capt. Sean Flood hopes to continue Lewis-McChord’s accuracy track record while saving servicemembers money.

On a cold and snowy day, there are few things cozier than an open fire. But there can be dangers, too. This winter, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fire and Emergency Services are hoping to prevent as many as they can.

Since October, police instructors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Directorate of Emergency Services’ Law Enforcement Training Section have rearranged some of their training curriculums. Successful long before October, the details remain the same for how civilian law enforcement personnel are trained, but one police instructor said something has indeed changed.

SCOTT AFB, Ill. — Select passenger terminals across Air Mobility Command are establishing Facebook pages to provide passengers more predictability when it comes to space-available and -required passengers.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord is about to cut the ribbon on a new alternative fuel station — but this one has a twist.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army Soldiers in Afghanistan are now firing an 84mm, reusable, recoilless shoulder-fired conventional munition able to destroy enemy targets hidden behind rocks, trees and buildings , service officials said.

WASHINGTON — The American military will be leaner in the years ahead, but it will remain lethal and without a match in the world, President Barack Obama said at the Pentagon Jan. 5.

By most accounts, it’s been a mild winter here in the Northwest. In December, only rain has fallen at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. But the winter season is still young, and conditions can change rapidly. Military members shouldn’t lessen their vigilance against accidents and unsafe conditions.

Not long after the Air Force Safety Center released that last year’s motorcycle deaths had risen more than 150 percent compared to the previous year, Senior Master Sgt. Robert Cutchin felt the need to flip that statistic by having military motorcycle riders commiserate and stress traffic safety, while having fun and serving the community at the same time.

Another year has passed and 2012 has arrived, along with it comes New Year’s resolutions. One of the most popular resolutions every year is the goal to lose weight and get in shape. Many will start a crash diet to lose the extra pounds only to gain them back later. Others will start the year off strong with motivation and ambition to lose weight and fail simply because of how they approached their goals.

The 42nd Military Police Brigade’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company cased its colors Jan. 4 in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

More than 120 Airmen from McChord Field’s 4th Airlift Squadron were greeted by Family and friends Jan. 4 after a 60-day deployment in support of three operations — Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Phone calls are welcome breaks in a war zone, but more common today than in previous conflicts. But a 17th Fires Brigade NCO received one in Afghanistan recently that she will never forget — from the White House.

The federal government has awarded the Washington state Department of Transportation a $15 million grant to improve traffic flow on Interstate 5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

There are sergeants, and then there are noncommissioned officers.

“Sykes’ Regulars” Soldiers with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, assumed command of one of the most kinetic areas in Afghanistan Jan. 3, from 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment “Pale Riders,” at Forward Operating Base Pasab, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON — Two changes made to a set of programs will make participation easier for officers wanting to expand their military careers with opportunities such as fellowships and scholarships.

Beginning Wednesday, the main entrance to the emergency room at Madigan Army Medical Center was closed as the renovations of the Emergency Department enter the next phase. Patients are now being directed to an alternative entrance to the building by large signage.

Once the holidays have come and gone, it’s time to reflect on you and where you want to be in the coming year. If you’ve tried to quit tobacco before or have been contemplating quitting for a while, now is the time to do it — not for your mother, not for your spouse, not for your significant other. This is the time to do it for you.

If you want to minimize your chance of injury while running, you choose a shoe based on your foot shape, right? Wrong.

On any given day, more than 150 homeless veterans wander along the streets and highways near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

BAGHDAD — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived here today to join Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in ceremonies marking the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq.

The process for ending Soldiers’ terms of services is about to get a lot longer. In fact, eventually it will start almost as soon as they enter the Army.

The end is near in so many ways. It’s end of the year, the end of America’s substantial military presence in Iraq, and the end to Reserve aircrews serving on long-term orders.

WASHINGTON — With the Army leaving Iraq by the end of the month and large drawdowns coming in Afghanistan, officials said the service may shrink by 50,000 over the next few years.

Like the CD players and VCRs of yesterday, a human voice for Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s base operator (967-1110) has gone away, and overall service from Network Enterprise Center is better for it said Everett Armistad, JBLM NEC’s Logistics Support Branch chief.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Nearly one-third of active-duty servicemembers smoke, and that figure increases among troops in a combat zone, according to the 2008 Department of Defense Survey of Health-Related Behaviors.

WASHINGTON — Air Force senior leaders are looking at ways to balance the ratio of regular and reserve component Airmen to create the most effective and efficient combat capability in austere budget times.

PHOENIX — Tricare West Region beneficiaries can make managing their health care easier and support military families at the same time — just by choosing paperless options as part of TriWest Healthcare Alliance’s “Go Green and Give” campaign.

On a recent humanitarian mission to El Salvador, a team of Madigan Healthcare System staff members provided hundreds of life-changing procedures that helped local citizens see, sometimes for the first time in years. During that mission and the many others Madigan staff has participated in, Army medicine benefitted from training and the local citizens benefitted from medical assistance they would not have been able to afford otherwise.

According to one U.S. Soldier, when the 1st Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian unit, deactivated at Menton, France in 1944, “some of the toughest SOBs broke down in tears."

An investigation continues into a Monday evening crash of two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters in a remote Joint Base Lewis-McChord training area near the town of Rainier.

“Sykes’ Regulars” Soldiers with the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, will soon be assuming command of one of the most kinetic areas in Afghanistan, when they begin the next chapter of their storied legacy in every war that the U.S. has fought since the American Civil War.

Racquetball players, weight lifters and other gym goers may have to alter exercise routines as the McChord Field Fitness Center begins an estimated six-month renovation project in early January.

A Soldier in a bomb suit walked slowly toward a smoking vehicle on Joint Base Lewis-McChord last Thursday. A rope trailed behind him, and two other Soldiers kept pace at his side.

A small child peeks over the back seat of his family vehicle. His bright face peering through duffle bags to his father, pulling the gear that will sustain him over the next year from the trunk of their SUV. While he’s unconcerned with events he doesn’t understand, the mother next to him looks more concerned. Her husband leaves tonight, but he’s not the only one facing a year of challenges.

With the slowdown of Overseas Contingency Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many Army units are adding training events to their calendars that focus on skills that were not used very often during the last 10 years.

Thirty two years may not be old in Sun City, Ariz., but it certainly is in San Antonio. However, that didn’t stop an Airman 1st Class who broke his basic training squadron’s record for pushups and situps Nov. 9 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

MANAS, Kyrgyzstan — After three years of working with the National Security Service of Kyrgyzstan working dog program, the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer is preparing to return to the States.

If the latest child development center reopening is any indication of what the community members can expect from upgrades on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, chances are they will not be disappointed.

Despite accelerated training preparation and an abbreviated deployment, the Soldiers from A Battery, 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment can now consider changing its unit motto to “mission accomplished.”

The holidays are inevitably one of the busiest times of the year, but it is not the time to put fire safety in the back of one’s mind. To ensure a safe and risk-free holiday, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fire and Emergency Services recommends making safety a priority in everything you do this season. A few extra minutes and attention to detail can go a long way in making the holidays a most enjoyable time.

WASHINGTON – As the United States wraps up operations in Iraq and looks to scaling back its force in Afghanistan, a senior defense official emphasized the importance of ensuring that Iraq’s and Afghanistan’s national security forces have the maintenance and logistics capabilities they’ll need.

WASHINGTON — The amount of explosives used in improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan is increasing, while at the same time, the number of attacks are at “historic highs.”

A disgruntled patient and his supporters launched an attack against Madigan Healthcare System Dec. 6 in a mock scenario, setting off a homemade bomb near the emergency department before multiple shooters terrorized the command area and the hospital tower.

A Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook helicopter descended to the ground outside of a walled compound, its twin rotors kicking up a huge cloud of dust. A platoon of Soldiers streamed from the helicopter’s ramp and moved toward the objective. Soldiers took positions near the compound’s two entrances. Machine gun teams set up positions to the north and south, over watching a nearby road. The area was isolated; no one would be able to enter or leave.

Today’s Army barracks are much different than the days where two Soldiers lived in one room with bunk beds and foot lockers and shared one bathroom on each floor.

They first jumped together 67 years ago over the seas of fire which were World War II, and they returned to do it again Dec. 8.

Captain Gregory McCrum has quite a Christmas surprise for his two children: he is home seven months early.

The holidays are full of special tree lightings, but few of those trees might demand the same attention and respect as one that stands inside Waller Hall on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The growth of Comprehensive Airman Fitness continued to be felt at Joint Base Lewis-McChord when most Airmen were able to put down the work of the day and focus on each other, themselves, and the value of resiliency during Wingman Day, Dec. 2.

KABUL, Afghanistan — There was no romantic getaway, candlelit dinners or walks on the beach during this honeymoon. There was, however, plenty of camouflage, tents and concrete barriers awaiting New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher and his actress wife, JoAnna Garcia Swisher.

The 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, held an award ceremony last week at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to present the unit with a Meritorious Unit Commendation and recognize 13 Soldiers of the 504th MP Bn. for service, valor, injures suffered in combat and saving the life of a military Family member while on patrol.

Lieutenant Colonel Doug LeVien and Maj. Kenneth A. Willeford, commanders of the 593rd Special Troops Battalion and the 22nd Human Resources Company respectively, cut a ribbon, ceremoniously opening the 593rd Sustainment Brigade’s post office Dec. 1 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Sergeant 1st Class Patrick Huntley was viewed as the “go to guy” for advice by many of his Soldiers. But his willing ear and wise counsel are gone. An accident took his life Nov. 7.

Look out, waistlines! There’s a new tool for keeping Airmen ‘Fit to Fight,’ changing the eating habits of Team McChord each day.

Exchanging gifts and spending time with family and friends traditionally makes the holidays brighter. But to some, giving to those less fortunate is more meaningful than receiving gifts.