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Volunteering should be fun. Of course, it should be meaningful, too, but there's no denying that when we spend our free time helping others, it doesn't hurt to give back through organizations and activities that reflect our real interests. For those on the hunt for volunteer opportunities to keep them
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Most of us remember being 17 and impatient to graduate from high school and put chalky classrooms and tedious homework assignments far behind us. Most of us also remember the hard realization years after graduation that an education is seldom complete after high school. Nowadays, a college education has become
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Even though fall doesn't officially start until Sept. 22, there's already a crispness in the air and a rustling in the leaves at Joint Base Lewis-McChord that hint at the upcoming season. JBLM's Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) program is ready for the change in season, and it promises to
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Imagine it's a warm Friday afternoon at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) and you're in uniform, eagerly waiting for the clock to hit 5 p.m. so you can get off-post and head home for a weekend of fun. You're probably thinking about all the activities and excursions you've planned, and most
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Uprooting and moving across the country can be one of the most stressful components of changing duty stations for servicemembers and their families. The transition can be especially frustrating for school-age children who are forced to start over in a new city, at a brand-new school, among people they've never
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"Vital stories exist," says Michael Haeflinger. "And a lot of times, if you're not asked, ‘what is your story?' you'll be hesitant to tell it. We don't ask young people what they think or how they feel about things often enough, either. So, Write253 offers writing opportunities and spaces for
Travel
There are adventurers in the world who don't think twice about traveling without guarantees. Those travelers enjoy moving through the "unknown" and often consider missed flights or changes to the itinerary as simply a part of the travelling experience. For those people, especially military servicemembers, retirees and their families, travelling
Arts
Thurston County is all about "handcrafted" experiences and a DIY approach to ... well, just about everything. Shipwreck Beads knows all about that "handcrafted" approach, and the family-owned business will embrace it in all its glory at their upcoming, bi-annual Artisan Market Saturday. "This is a community-based event," said Kelsy Vincent,
Travel
It's a crisp, Saturday morning in Steilacoom. The sun is already shining, and you're sipping a hot coffee as you flip through the local newspaper sitting on your lap. From your window seat aboard the Amtrak Cascades train, you watch the water ripple along the beach. The train rumbles to
News Front
Feeling isolated is common after moving to a new duty station, especially for military families in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). EFMP families are acutely aware of what it feels like to have to build a support network back up from zero in a new, unfamiliar place. But at
News Front
Most city parks cannot hold a thousand people, let alone leave them with enough room to enjoy the experience. Yet somehow, the Puyallup-Sumner Subchapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) managed not only to draw in approximately 1,000 people to its 7th annual Salute to the Troops
Outdoors
There will be free swag, lots of swag, at The Fallen Outdoors' 3rd Annual Banquet Aug. 5. But that's really beside the point. The Fallen Outdoors (TFO) is a nonprofit organization that fosters veteran and servicemember support networks across the U.S. through hunting, fishing and camping excursions. This year's annual
News Front
After serving 34 years in the U.S. Army, retired Col. Stephen Myers refuses to slow down. He's not "taking it easy" like most people do after closing out a long, grueling career. Instead, he's jumping right back into serving his country, only this time, he's on the other side of the
News Front
With Air Mobility Command's premier exercise Mobility Guardian on the horizon at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, new 62nd Airlift Wing commander Col. Rebecca J. Sonkiss sat down with The Ranger newspaper to discuss what the exercise means to participating units and how it will affect total Air Force readiness.The Ranger: What
News Front
Joint-service units across Joint Base Lewis-McChord are geared up for one of the biggest Air Force exercises to hit its airfields to date: Mobility Guardian. If the name doesn't ring a bell, don't worry, because Mobility Guardian is the first of its kind at JBLM as a capability-based, joint-service and
Arts
Bold colors, long lines and rippling curves from one end to the other. We're not just talking about high-end cars, we're talking about high-end couture fashion as well. And on July 22, residents across the South Puget Sound will have the opportunity to appreciate the visual beauty of both at the
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Fireworks crackling overhead, food sizzling on the grill, and ice-cold beer to cool you off in the summer heat. Most people would agree that no 4th of July celebration is complete without all of these ingredients. And most beer enthusiasts will agree that you can't drink just any beer under
News
Who says fireworks are a waste of money? This 4th of July, they're anything but, as Washington state-based veteran outreach organization The Fallen Outdoors (TFO) raises money to support servicemembers through fireworks sales in Battle Ground, Washington. "We're constantly trying to find creative ways to raise money," said TFO president, Eric
Features
Long hours, physically demanding work and high-stakes decision-making are regular parts of a servicemember's work day. It's no wonder, then, that something as simple as a lunch break can lighten the mood while providing a much-needed energy boost. Servicemembers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) know all about that work-rest balance,
Arts
A decade ago, military doctors didn't prescribe yoga, massage therapy, chiropractic work or art therapy to servicemembers in pain, whether it was physical or psychological. Times have changed, though, and military doctors nowadays not only acknowledge the value of nontraditional treatment methods, but prescribe them, as well. Servicemembers at Joint