Resources
Soldiers such as 1st Sgt. Abby West ensure that troops on the front line get the supplies they need. "I transport supplies, personnel, ammunition ... anything that needs to keep our soldiers in the fight," said West as she sipped a cup of water. "We're not just dumb truck drivers; we're
Focus
Enjoy. We'll post John's next update Wednesday afternoon, plus another photo album at the end of the week. Look inside the Ranger newspaper on Thursday for more stories and photos. If photos are a ? below, click on them, they work.
Focus
Lt. Col. Jon Neumann and Sergeant Major Peter Smith, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, know how to thank those who have helped their soldiers out of a number of tight spots. "I can't begin to tell you how much we owe the guys in the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry," said Smith
Deals
Talk about getting the boot. Except this one is all about supporting wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. "It's a real good deal," commented Regis Jackson as he held up a My Good Dog's Chewy toy. The toy features a red, white and blue shoe sole with an attached throwing/tugging lanyard. Quabaug Corporation
Focus
William Carroll exudes a "just the facts, please" attitude as he goes about his responsibilities as an Army reservist and college student. A non-commissioned officer (NCO) assigned to drill sergeant unit in Renton, Carroll served six years on active duty and served two tours of duty in Iraq. He knows the value
Health
Understanding TRICARE medical benefits is a difficult task at best. Surveys document that most service members and their families are confused by TRICARE. "I was active duty for eight years," commented Rebecca Zimmerman, "and I never understood what it was all about." What follows is a general primer designed to help active duty
Focus
Friday, December 11, 2009 With over 20,000 soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines at Kandahar Air Field from 17 different countries, Kandahar Air Field (KAF) is a multicultural mix of languages, food and customs. For example, one of the dining facilities, otherwise known as a DFAC, caters to the British. Another eating-place, called
Focus
Monday, December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day I spend most of the day with First Sergeant Henry Ortega of Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 402nd Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. A quiet but strong and very intelligent leader, Ortega outlined for me what the BSB's mission is as
Focus
Updated Christmas Eve To Mark & Debbi Mullenioux: Happy Anniversary and Happy Holidays. Spc. Kasey Mullenioux To Phil & Rosi Holden: Merry Christmas. I love you very much. How's my swoop? Pfc. Jayson Holden To Sue Hall & Nia Offerman: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I love you. SFC Brandy Offerman To Family
Focus
Master Sgt. Tabatha Bennett is fair, honest, tenacious and keenly aware of the fact that she sets an example for enlisted service members to follow. “I lead by example,” said the recruiting office supervisor for the Washington Air National Guard (WANG) as she sat with her daughter in a local coffee
Archives
A person who is the model of perfection - either spiritual or secular - is called a saint. Regardless of an individual's beliefs, saints offer believers a means by which to find a sense of safety. It is this sense of comfort, a belief that everything is going to work out
Focus
Sgt. Rachel Strong exemplifies the finest qualities of what a citizen-soldier contributes to society. “She’s an outstanding soldier,” wrote Lt. Keith Kosik, a Guard spokesman, in an e-mail. “She is an outstanding example of the citizen-soldier.” Serving for the past five years with the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, 96th Troop Command, Washington
Education
Sione Potoa'e is the epitome of the student-athlete. He is also a first class gentleman. In the classroom, he carries a 3.0 grade point average. When he graduates from high school, he aspires to continue to play football and earn his college degree in a business related field. A standout defensive end of
Veterans
There is a parallel between the Vietnam War and the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I served in Vietnam," said Jake Myers, an Army veteran and area businessman, during a telephone interview. "I also think we should be willing to help those who are now serving in harm's way." To that end,
Resources
A campfire can help to heal the wounds of war. "It's where the closure began, where soldiers could talk to other soldiers who understood what each other was saying," explained Chuck Spoerer. Closure for Spoerer meant coming to grips with the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) he suffers since serving as an infantryman
Education
Learning is a lifelong process, and Pierce College, a comprehensive, public two-year community college, is able to help soldiers and their family members achieve their educational goals. The college has two campuses, the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom site and the Pierce College Puyallup site. Moreover, the college has a Fort Lewis
Focus
When Staff Sgt. Emily Suhr attempted to enlist in the Army, she was told not to bother.The Air Force and Navy said the same thing.The Marine Corps, however, said otherwise.“The Marines were my last choice, and they took me,” said Suhr as she sat with her husband, Mathew. After six
Veterans
For families with loved ones deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan, this weekend’s Deployment Fair should not be missed. The event will be held at the Evergreen Elementary School from 9 to 5; dependents must bring the service member’s name and address to enter.With approximately 17,000 soldiers from Fort Lewis
Focus
Staff Sgt. Shannon Harris is an important soldier.She is the noncommissioned officer in charge of Madigan Army Medical Center’s central material services. In other words, she oversees the work of 13 soldiers and 15 civilians to ensure that all surgical implements used at MAMC and 68 clinics are sterilized.“The tasks
