In college, 1st Lt. James Appel always wanted to compete in a triathlon, but he always found a reason not to.

Jennifer Sloan remembers a lot of things from the day she reconnected with the man she would eventually marry — how she got to the airport an hour early and waited in the car, his cargo shorts, the heavy Oregon rain.

When Don Whal was stationed at Fort Lewis 30 years ago, he and his buddies would frequently come out to the training areas outside the cantonment area. They’d admire the prairies, creeks and awesome views of Mount Rainier and never knew what they were missing.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — Two international officers assigned to the Air Force Safety Center’s Aviation Safety Division have bolstered their countries’ aviation safety programs by working side-by-side with their U.S. Air Force partners.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will celebrate Armed Forces Day May 19 with activities for the whole family. The installation will be open to the public to learn about the military and what the Soldiers and Airmen here at JBLM do every day.

Busy with spring cleaning?

FEDERAL WAY — When Tech. Sgt. Guy Dashnea stumbled upon outrigger canoeing for the first time in 2006 while stationed in Hawaii, he was merely searching for a new way to be active.

Quick question: Does your idea of video game fun involve barreling down a mountain at uncontrollable speeds while blowing things up and getting shot at? Yes? Well, Hi-Rez Studios has a deal for you. Their newest PC release, “Tribes: Ascend,” lets you do all of that, get this, for free.

Internationally acclaimed rapper and pop star Pitbull will perform a free concert for Joint Base Lewis-McChord Soldiers, Airmen and their families Thursday. The show will be held at Lewis Main’s Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Exchange stores and JBLM’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation are coordinating the show.

Just as lightning seldom strikes the same place twice, there are other things equally as rare to witness. For one battalion in the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, such an event has occurred. Two former first captains of the U.S. Military Academy’s Corps of Cadets have been added to the leadership of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment “Tomahawks” — simultaneously.

While the weather doesn’t seem ready to share warmer temperatures, it is technically spring, which for the South Sound means one thing: the Spring Fair in Puyallup.

Two popular Seattle-based bands are making the trip to Ellensburg, about an hour from Yakima Training Center in Central Washington, for a benefit concert for Wounded Warrior Project. The show, The Price of Freedom: A Concert for Wounded Warriors, is being put on by the Civil Engagement Center at Central Washington University. The two bands are Campfire OK and Curtains for You.

Like many who volunteer, Burney Huff has found that giving back has bonuses.

As they climbed aboard a C-17 Globemaster III for the first time, two local brothers could hardly hold back their excitement.

The yellow brick road is not the way to Washington’s Emerald City, Seattle. A drive up Interstate 5 will bring you to the most populous city in Washington. Home to the World’s Fair in 1909 and 1962, this waterfront city has grown tremendously from its pioneer days. There is a lot to do in Seattle, but a few tourist attractions give you a quick glimpse to the city and are a great launching pad for future visits.

McChord Collocated Club was packed Friday night with beer enthusiasts — those interested in learning more about beer, those that make beer and those that just enjoy drinking it. Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s fourth annual Brewfest featured a competition for best homebrew and samples from the competition and local microbreweries.

While it may be one of the larger islands in the Puget Sound at 28 square miles, Bainbridge Island is more like a small town. Only a 35-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle, this charming island is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway.

Peace in space is overrated. That’s the only conclusion you can arrive at after finishing “Mass Effect 3.”

For anyone looking for an RPG set on terra firma “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” is worth a look.

There’s been a lot of life on JBLM Lewis Main and Lewis North in the last 95 years. Since they began as Camp Lewis in 1917, the stories of thousands of service members and their Families have played out on the installation as they did everything from going to school to going to war.

An empty magazine strikes the dirt, a boot steps over it. Repeating movements that have been drilled into him over time, the Soldier raises his carbine rifle and engages two “enemy” targets and avoids a “friendly” one. The lane safety slaps him on the back, and he moves on to his next station. Alpha Company’s day has just begun.

Stand in the town center of Leavenworth and be transported to another country.

Having spent the last decade in the Army, Erica McLean is more than familiar with the act of rendering a salute. Having others salute her, however, might take some getting used to.

As 1st Sgt. Tauese Tupua strolled through an open stretch of training area Feb. 10 during a recent field exercise with his battalion, he summed up the near future of Army operations in his own words.

Anyone aware of the Phoenix Raven program mission knows Air Mobility Command aircraft and crews are in good hands, regardless of where the mission takes them.

While going through her email shortly after giving birth to her daughter, Army spouse Renee Parker was intrigued by a message from “Wheel of Fortune” Wheel Watchers Club. The popular television show was looking for contestants in the Seattle area, so Renee decided to submit the required video.

The distinctive Stetson and spurs have been worn by cavalry units since the American Civil War. That tradition continues with today’s cavalrymen, but they are never simply issued these items. They must earn them.

The sunshine seemed perfect for the day’s mood as wives and Family members came out to see what it was to be an infantryman, at least for the day.

The Town Center apartment that Pfc. Matthew Sanchez lives in with his wife Maelisa and their two children, 4-year-old Mallorie and 3-year-old Maverick, is more than their house. It serves as a home away from home for the many single Soldiers Sanchez works with at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.