Stories for Ft. Lewis
2nd Stryker Brigade troops host G.I. Jane Day Friday
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The Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team will host a G.I. Jane Day, Friday, Feb. 3 to give Soldiers’ spouses, as well as other family members, a fun, yet challenging look into some of the ways their Soldiers train. Leaders from Company B, 1-17 Infantry, hope the G.I. Jane day will strengthen the bond between Soldiers and their families while helping them better understand what it means to be a Soldier.
Schedule of Events:
- 11 a.m. “Battle-Rattle” Dash
- 12 noon M4 carbine rifle and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon firing
- 1:30 p.m. Stryker rides and static display
Joint Base Lewis-McChord late night firing announcement
Posted by | CommentsJoint Base Lewis-McChord will be conducting late night firing on the following dates:
| DATE | TIME | FIRING OF |
| 1-3 February 2012 | Day & Night | Demolitions, C4 and 120mm, 60mm Mortars |
| 7-10 February 2012 | Day & Night | 120mm, 81mm and 60mm Mortars |
Increased levels of activity will be noticed during the evening hours, and firing will be conducted from numerous firing points on base.
January 31 Flag Lowering to honor fallen Marine
Posted by | CommentsGovernor Chris Gregoire has directed flags at all Washington State agency facilities be lowered to half-staff Tuesday, January 31, 2012, in memory of U. S. Marine Corp. Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, who died of injuries suffered in a helicopter crash January 19 in Afghanistan.
Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Tuesday, or first thing Wednesday morning, February 1.
Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.
JBLM schedules Warrior Zone grand opening for Friday
Posted by | CommentsThe JBLM Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation agency will host a grand opening this Friday at 2 p.m. for the new multi-million dollar Warrior Zone on JLBM Lewis North, adjacent to the Wilson Sports and Fitness Center. The ceremony will include a ribbon cutting, followed by a gaming tournament, food sampling and barbecue.
JBLM releases additional information about 3-2 Stryker Brigade Soldier
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According to the Dept. of Defense, 1st Lt. David A. Johnson, 24, of Horicon, Wis., died Jan. 25, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device (IED) while conducting a dismounted patrol. 1st Lt. Johnson was a platoon leader assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
According to unit records, Johnson was commissioned in 2010 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and he is a graduate of Evangel University, Springfield, Mo. In 2011 he attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August 2011, and was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December. This was 1st Lt. Johnson’s first deployment.
Chili feed will raise money to honor returning single soldiers from war
Posted by | CommentsDoing something about the high number of suicides among young soldiers and airmen, the local chapter of the Association of the United States Army is spreading the love the moment single service members return home to base. AUSA provides welcome home baskets in the rooms of each returning single soldier and airman to Joint Base Lewis McChord. Prior to this program, it was common for returning warriors to spend their first night back from war in an empty barracks room without their possessions (because they travel in a different shipment), devoid of even sheets and a shower curtain. Typically, only those married soldiers and airmen with families living here are greeted by loved ones after stepping off the airplanes back in the South Sound. Our single troops' families usually don't travel for this homecoming because arrival dates are too last minute to coordinate flights. It is also too expensive for some families to travel here. Finally, these troops often arrive after duty hours, so food services are closed down on the base.
Tuesday early release, Wednesday late arrival authorized for JBLM personnel
Posted by | CommentsDue to projected poor weather and road conditions, JBLM service members and civilian employees who are not designated as mission essential (Air Force level Bravo) or critical (Air Force level Alpha) are authorized an early release today, Jan. 17, beginning at 3 p.m..
In addition, due to projected poor driving conditions on Wednesday morning, JBLM military and civilian personnel who are not designated as mission essential (Level Bravo for Air Force personnel) or critical (Level Alpha for Air Force personnel) are authorized to report for work up to 2 hours later than usual, but no later than 10 a.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord late night firing announcement
Posted by | CommentsJoint Base Lewis-McChord will be conducting late night firing on the following dates:
| DATE | TIME | FIRING OF |
| 17-28 January 2012 | Day & Night | 155mm Howitzer |
| 17-20 January 2012 | Day & Night | Demolitions and C4 |
| 18-19 January 2012 | Day & Night | 60mm, 120mm Mortars |
Increased levels of activity will be noticed during the evening hours, and firing will be conducted from numerous firing points on base.
SFAC/WTB Headquarters’ construction “topping out”
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Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Warrior Transition Battalion will conduct a “Topping Out”** ceremony Tuesday, January 17, at 10 a.m. to mark the placement of the final structural steel beam in the new Soldier and Family Assistance Center/Warrior Transition Battalion (SFAC/WTB) administration building.
The new SFAC/WTB administration building is being constructed adjacent to the 408-Soldier WTB barracks facility that was opened in August 2011.
During the “Topping Out” ceremony, leaders and Soldiers from the SFAC & WTB and the Joint Base Garrison, and leaders from the Seattle District Corps of Engineers will sign the steel beam before it is hoisted and set into place (weather permitting).
New Warrior Transition Battalion newsletter is out
Posted by | CommentsHappy New year 2012, here is a link to the newsletter for the WTB. This is a great way to let you all know what is going on at the WTB, thank you for all your assistance and support that you gave to the WTB, look forward to a great year 2012.
Four NCOs inducted into JBLM Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
Posted by | CommentsFour Non-Commissioned Officers were inducted this afternoon into the Joint Base Lewis-McChord chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
The new inductees are:
- Staff Sgt. Masasinge (mah-sah-sing-ah) Hadley, Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility
- Staff Sgt. Allister Hawkins, 42nd Military Police Brigade
- Staff Sgt. Melissa Snow, Henry H. Lind NCO Academy
- Staff Sgt. Hector Valadez, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Family, friends welcome 4th Airlift Squadron home
Posted by | CommentsMore 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 Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. The 4th AS Airmen were deployed as the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in two overseas contingency locations in the Middle East.
Lt. Col. Anthony Angello, who also serves as the 313th Airlift Squadron commander under the 446th Airlift Wing, led the mission. This deployment marked the first time a Reservist commanded an active duty squadron.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord late night firing announcement
Posted by | CommentsJoint Base Lewis-McChord will be conducting late night firing on the following dates:
9-12 January 2012 Day & Night 155mm Howitzer
11-12 January 2012 Day & Night Demolitions and C4
JBLM Sergeant Audie Murphy Club induction ceremony
Posted by | CommentsThe Joint Base Lewis-McChord chapter of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club will induct four Non-Commissioned Officers during a ceremony on Friday, January 6, at 1:30 p.m. Each inductee has been recommended by their non-commissioned officer chain-of-command, and has passed the club’s rigorous board examination process.
The ceremony is in the Henry H. Lind NCO Academy on JBLM Lewis-Main.
Marines in Blue Dress uniform affiliated with Toys for Tots King County will collect more than $8,000 in toys purchased at the Lakewood Walmart on Fri., Dec., 16. The Walmart Foundation awarded $25,000 to Toys for Tots in Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties to help children who might otherwise go without toys this holiday season. The money is being equally divided between the three counties and the Lakewood Walmart is offering an addition 10 percent discount on toys purchased for Toys for Tots.
JBLM identifies helicopter crash victims
Posted by | CommentsJoint Base Lewis-McChord officials have released the names of the four 16th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers killed in Monday night's crash of two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters inside the southwest training area at JBLM, in Thurston County.
University Place shares its sorrow for the loss at JBLM
Posted by | CommentsThe City of University Place is grieving the untimely death of four aviators from the Combat Aviation Brigade (16th CAB).
The tragic helicopter crash on Monday at Joint Base Lewis McCord (JBLM) has struck a particularly personal chord with the U.P. community. Just five days before the accident, University Place rolled out the red carpet to welcome the command staff and their spouses from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade at a holiday reception in the new Civic Building. The 16th CAB, recently located from Alaska to JBLM, had been designated as the Community Connector Partner for University Place and its soldiers had recently worked alongside U.P. citizens on several community projects, including Playground by the Sound.
