Gen. Mark Welsh III became the Air Force's 20th Chief of Staff in August 2012. Then, like his fellow Chiefs, he had to deal with Congress and budgets. About 150,000 of his civilians were furloughed. Sequestration forced him to pencil out modernization against readiness. Next, he had to deal with a nuclear force knee deep in drugs, cheating, gambling, drunkenness and incompetence. When all said in done, the Air Force plans to cut about 22,500 airmen, or 7 percent of its active-duty force, this year.

It's no wonder Welsh III hit the road.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service wants to know the vivid details of the homecoming celebration with your servicemember honey.

"We are excited to hear and share stories of support and homecoming," said the Exchange's Chief of Staff Col. Tom Ockenfels in a news release. "We are grateful for military families' service and sacrifices. We've been with service members on the frontlines and with their families on the homefront. No one is happier than us to celebrate as loved ones are welcomed home."

Oh, wait. It's a contest. The Exchange is hosting a contest to find the best homecoming stories and photos. 

Authorized shoppers can share their special moments from Feb. 7 to 28 by submitting a story in 150 words or less for a chance to win one of two LenoxThomas Blackshear sculpted figurines valued at $195. The two collectibles, a female version called "Home at Last" and a male keepsake titled "Coming Home," are available in black or ivory.

Five winners of the Exchange's Thomas Blackshear figurine giveaway will be notified on or about March 14. No purchase is necessary and entrants must include their name, email and home address, name of the nearest Exchange, daytime phone number, rank or occupation of sponsor. There is a limit of one entry per family.

OK, that's more cool than creepy. For complete details visit www.shopmyexchange.com/patriotfamily.  

Airmen and soldier put the "joint" in Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord last week when six McChord C-17 Globemaster III aircraft transported 12 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and more than 100 personnel from the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment to Schoonover, Calif., for a weeklong exercise to sharpen hands-on training in a simulated deployed environment to maintain readiness.

Airman 1st Class Jacob Jimenez of the 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs was on the story:

"These exercises expand our capabilities and prepare us to deploy in real world scenarios," said Army Staff Sgt. Gilbert Wood, Alpha Battery, 5-3 FA Bn., 17th Fires Brigade section chief.

Planning, which began months prior to the exercise, consisted of joint concept briefings to coordinate and plan the timeline for the exercise.

"The prep work, static load training and dry runs that take place before each mission are essential to the success of the exercise," Said Army Capt. Earl Dean, 62nd Operations Group ground liaison officer.

Read Jimenez's full report here.

LINK: Good news! 17th Fires has 185 photos from the HI-RAIN exercise on its Flickr page

This just in ...

Governor Inslee is deeply saddened with the death of U.S. Air Force Captain Christopher Stover, 28, of Vancouver, and directs that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff in his memory Sunday, February 9, 2014. He died January 7 during a training flight along the English coast.

Flags may be lowered at the close of business on Friday, February 6, 2014, and should remain at half-staff until close of business on February 9 or first thing Monday morning, February 10, 2014.

Air Force officials recently released the winners of the 2013 Air Mobility Command Safety Awards and Joint Base Lewis-McChord came away with a team and individual award.

The 62nd Airlift Wing won the AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award for large wings and Thomas E. Thompson, 62nd AW, won AMC's Nuclear Surety Individual of the Year.

Meet Thomas E. Thompson here.

Spring 2014 - AMC Flight Safety Awards

Director of Safety Aircrew of Distinction
Crew of Bolt 35, 6 AMW,
91 ARS, MacDill AFB, FL

Aviation Maintenance Safety Award
MSgt Chad P. Jensen
22 ARW, 22 MXG, McConnell AFB, KS

Safety Officer of the Year
Maj Anthony Mariapain
22 ARW, McConnell AFB, KS

Flight Safety NCO of the Year
MSgt Christopher L. Gill
19 AW, Little Rock AFB, AR

Other AMC Safety Awards

Risk Management Achievement Award
3 AS, 436 AW, Dover AFB, DE

Read more...

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Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is deeply troubled by the ethical behavior of servicemembers, following several recent Air Force and Navy investigations into drug use and cheating on qualification exams. Ya think?

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday unveiled a web site detailing the GOP's Benghazi probe amid mounting pressure from conservatives that he's not doing enough.

The threat of a toothpaste bomb targeting flights destined for the Winter Olympics in Russia is "very specific and credible," the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Wednesday.

A nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 bomber sortie over South Korea has endangered plans for reunions between families from the North and South of the country and risks triggering a further escalation of military tension.

The Taliban has released footage of what they claim is a U.S. military working dog allegedly captured during fighting in eastern Afghanistan in December.

The Navy receives likely boost as reports say former Navy Under Secretary Robert Work will take over as Deputy SecDef.

Locator beacons for Air Force ejection seats failing at "unacceptable" rates.

Defexpo 2014, the eighth biannual exhibition showcasing land, naval and homeland security systems, will focus on indigenous capabilities in line with new government procurement rules that favor homegrown weapons.

Analysts: U.S. should cut carriers, buy subs and work with allies.

Pentagon proposals to reportedly slice $1 billion from the annual commissary budget may not hinge on closing stores, but on raising prices for patrons.

The Army has announced changes to retention control points for soldiers in the ranks of corporal through sergeant.

More than 200 soldiers from around the force competed against each other and Mother Nature at the history-making 2014 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship.

Nine true facts that sound made up but are actually completely true.

Here's a map of the U.S. if every state's population matched its size.

Thirteen depictions of cities and towns gripped by miserable winters.

The trailer for the new James Franco movie, Maladies, is intriguing.

The goofy gag reel of Thor: The Dark World is a raucously good time.

Finally: Ice-T Records Dungeons & Dragons Audiobook.

Well played, Canada. Well played.

The U.S. Air Force's Key Spouse Program has nothing to do with helping military spouses retrieve keys inside locked cars or even unlocking the doors to the mainframe and end the war, thus freeing Zion. No, the program is an official unit/family program designed to enhance readiness and establish a sense of Air Force community. Key Spouses are trained volunteers that provide personal, peer-to-peer support for their squadron's families. It is a commander's program that promotes partnerships with unit leadership, volunteer Key Spouses appointed by the commander, families, the Airman & Family Readiness Center and other community and helping agencies. 

At the 36th Aerial Port Squadron, part of the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, its Key Spouse is about to face a challenge. Cindi Gosling, who has been able to hang out with her husband - Master Sgt. Mark Gosling, 36th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation operations center superintendent - for the first three years of their marriage is about to fac ea big challenge. The 36th APS has an upcoming deployment and Key Spouse Cindi has to set aside her anxieties and embraces her new role.

1st Lt. Lori Fiorello of the 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs recently chatted with Cindi.

"I know it's going to be hard because we're going to be apart for both of our birthdays, our anniversary, and my graduation this summer," said the master's in special education candidate who is expected to graduate from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minn. "But I'm used to it ... my dad deployed all the time when I was growing up."

Read Fiorello's full interview with Cindi here.

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On Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, Carroll's old-school football produced an old-school Super Bowl beatdown, something that was common in the 1970s and 1980s. The Seahawks won their first NFL championship by dominating the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII.

At Munich Security Conference, Secretaries Hagel and Kerry, as well as NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Breedlove and others wrestled with how to deal with Syria and other hotspots at a time when the public is growing weary of the war in Afghanistan.

Read more...

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Throughout the next 60 days, senior Air Force leaders will re-examine the way ahead for the Air Force's nuclear mission.

In a changing security and fiscal environment, the Defense Department will seek to collaborate more closely with European allies, especially to help build the capabilities of other global partners, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said this morning.

Four afghan soldiers killed in ambush.

Syria talks end first round, government not committed to return.

Marine units that specialize in crisis response could be based in Africa in coming years as military leaders work with host nations that have shown interest in the U.S. posturing troops in their countries.

The state of defense is solidly ill-defined and in flux. And the brass knows it.

Two House committees are holding hearings next week to examine al Qaeda's resurgence.

Report: Russia surges in global arms sales.

Joe Biden took a lot of grief for suggesting Iraq should be partitioned. He might just get the last laugh.

The Defense Department will provide security and entertainment for Sunday's Super Bowl at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Army is expanding its resilience training to include teenagers in military and civilian Army families.

Air Force singer headed to Hollywood stage on American Idol.

When two Dakar-based photographers recreated with some familiar on-screen moments,they created a response - and a backlash - they never imagined.

Turner Classic Movies' "31 Days of Oscar" screens Oscar-nominated flicks like Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington uninterrupted on TV - and that's just on the first day.

The heroic Bill Murray flew into the Late Show with David Letterman dressed as Peter Pan.

The 10 albums you need to hear in February.

Think stakes are already high for this year's Super Bowl between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks? Two craft brewpubs have made the game even more interesting.

What's best to drink with pizza and football?

See a street legal Little Tikes Car that can zoom up to 70mph.

Get ready for frustration!

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A new poll finds a majority of the public believes the United States failed to meet its goals in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

It's official: President Obama will nominate Vice Adm. Michael Rogers to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command.

The president also has nominated Mike McCord for Pentagon comptroller, Brian McKeon for principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for policy and others.

The U.S. Air Force should look at moving as much manpower into the Reserve and Air National Guard components as possible, according to a new report from a congressionally mandated panel.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is refusing to sign the bilateral security agreement negotiated with the U.S. And without it, U.S. officials say they'll have to consider a complete withdrawal of troops post-2014.

Veterans group says military suicide rate is "out of control."

A long-awaited complaint system, launched Jan. 30 by the Veterans Affairs Department in partnership with other federal agencies, offers students using military or veterans' education benefits a way to report unscrupulous schools to authorities with the power to stop them.

A former Canadian brigadier general and head of Canadian forces in Afghanistan is being detained in Afghanistan for alleged gun smuggling.

Premature weapons testing drains military budget.

Senior military commanders should not retain authority over sexual assault cases within their command, a congressionally-appointed panel said in a report released Thursday. 

What exactly is this secret Seinfeld project?

See a bunch of new photos from the upcoming season of Game of Thrones.

This week's episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee features Tina Fey.

Get nostalgic with these bizarre Super Bowl ads from now-defunct companies.

Sharknado 2 is on the way.

Finally: A ranking of 94 X-Men members.

First-person view of Felix Baumgartner's space jump