UPDATE: According to its mission statement, "17th Fires Brigade trains and prepares for combat; on order deploys to any area of operations to plan, synchronize, and execute combined, and joint fires and effects; integrate attached ground and air maneuver forces and be prepared to function as a maneuver headquarters in support of full spectrum operations."

Change to the Thunderbolts means nothing.

So news of a change to its Friday night ball will probably be taken in stride.

Originally, Gen. Daniel Allyn, the 20th commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command, was the guest speaker for the event. But the general canceled today and will not be able to attend.

Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, the 7th Infantry Division commander at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will be the guest speaker and award presenter at the ceremony, which will still be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. 

Below is our original post on the 17th Fires Saint Barbara's Day Ball.

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It's a Saturday night in Lacey, Wash., and the JBLM Bettie Brigade are taking on the Grunge City Rollers' Sisters of Saint Anne on a rainy night. AC/DC and Nirvana are blasting on the loudspeaker. And the Betties have their hands full, trailing 101 to 108 at halftime. The night began with the junior varsity JBLM Bratz roller derby team pounding a much bigger Grunge City Juniors. Even though the Juniors towered over the Bratz, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord home-based team won 303 to 267.

New to roller derby? Here are the basics: Two skaters, called jammers, scramble through a pack of blockers who try to knock them down. If the jammers successfully break through the blockers, they sprint around the track and score a point for each person they legally pass. Think you have what it takes to be a Bettie?

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With the military downsizing and, as a result, the Defense Department's increased reliance on the Reserves, means many Guard and Reserve troops are donning their uniforms more often than ever before. Once referred to as "weekend warriors," many now find that their military jobs demand more of their time, whether it's to receive specialized training or to participate in exercises or real-life military operations.

Lt. Col. Kenneth "Rhino" Winslow, 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron flight nurse and director of operations - currently an occupational nurse practitioner in Issaquah - joined the Reserve out of persuasion from coworkers who were with 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, when he was an emergency department and helicopter nurse at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma nearly 27 years ago, reports Jake Chappelle with the 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs.

"I knew as a child, I wanted to continue this tradition," said Fisk - now an eight-year Air Force Reserve nurse with the 446th Aeromedical Staging Squadron here. "My grandfather suggested the Reserve after I graduated from nursing school as an opportunity to see the world and serve my country."

The Aeromedical Staging Squadron, the Aerospace Medicine Squadron and Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron - all part of the 446th Airlift Wing - have a collection of nurses who share a common passion - helping people.

Read Chappelle's full feature on these awesome nurses here.

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 2.14.14 >>>

Chief Warrant Officer Mark Colbert and Spec. 1st Class Andrew Busic each received a Silver Star in a 1st Special Forces Group (A) valor award ceremony Thursday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. They saved hundreds of lives after containing a Taliban breach at a NATO base in Afghanistan.

70 Soldiers from B Battery, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, performed live-fire Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar training.

The Obama administration has released a voluntary framework developed by hundreds of companies, several federal agencies and many international contributors as a how-to cybersecurity guide for organizations in the business of running the nation's critical infrastructure.

The United States will "help" the Philippines in the event that China occupies disputed islands in the South China Sea, the US Chief of Naval Operations said.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will outline the Pentagon's proposed budget for fiscal 2015 on Feb. 24, a week before its official release.

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh had a candid discussion about the future of the Army.

As the budget shrinks and as the active Army draws down to 490,000, elimination of excess infrastructure is needed, say leaders from Army Installations, Housing & Partnerships.

A Russian nuclear policy analyst is recommending getting rid of all land-based strategic missiles as a new move in international arms control.

The Association of the United States Army is pushing back against legislation that would create a commission to determine the future makeup of the Army.

Pentagon officials have compiled a summary of the effects a winter storm battering the East Coast today is having on the Defense Department.

The top U.S. Army aviator in South Korea completed his 33-year career.

Here are some tips on how to get the most out of Netflix.

Charlie Rose's Bill Murray interview

Morrissey has announced a U.S. tour.

For one day only De La Soul is making its entire catalog available for free.

In case you were wondering who will appear in Sharknado 2 ...

Happy Take Shots At Your Friend Friday!

The following Airmen and civilians were honored at the 62nd Airlift Wing/Team McChord Quarterly Awards Luncheon today - after the teriyaki beef and baked chicken were served, of course.

Civilian of the Quarter Category I: Judith Brown, 62nd AMXS

Civilian of the Quarter Category IIA: Brian Barbee, 62nd MXS

Civilian of the Quarter Category IIB: Eileen Rodriguez, 62nd OSS

Airman of the Quarter: Senior Airman Joshua Chambers

Noncommissioned Officer: Staff Sgt. Martin Harrison, WSA

Senior Noncommissioned Officer: Master Sgt. Preston Sims, 62nd MXS

Junior Company Grade Officer: 1st Lt. Joshua Jones

Company Grade Officer: Capt. Jonathan Robbins, WSA

Field Grade Officer: Maj. Ricardo Najera, 62nd OSS

Honor Guard Member of the Quarter: Airman 1st Class Jared Williams, 62nd MXS

The award winners and guests closed the ceremony by singing the "Air Force Song" in unison.

This just in from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs Office ...

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. - The 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) will be conducting a Valor Award ceremony Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in the Carey Theater, on JBLM Lewis-Main, to recognize Soldier's heroic actions while serving the nation. 

Multiple valor awards will be presented including Silver Stars, Bronze Stars with "V" (valor) devices, and Army Commendation Medals with "V" devices.  Medals will be presented by the Commander of the U.S. Special Forces Command, Brig. Gen. Darsie Rogers and the Commander of the 1st SFG(A), Col. Robert McDowell.

Firefighter Ashley Jeanes was awarded Volunteer Firefighter of the Year (2013) for her substantial efforts and contributions to the Bald Hills Fire Dept. in Yelm. Jeanes took advantage of a bit of free time in 2012 while her Joint Base Lewis-McChord active-duty husband, Sean, was deployed. According to a news release, "Firefighter Jeanes completed Firefighter I certification, Hazmat Awareness level certification, Hazmat Operations level certification, Firefighter II certification, as well as Fire Instructor I."

Oh, and besides the deployed husband, Jeanes is a full-time student with young children.

This just in from the 7th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office:

A 7th Infantry Division Soldier killed Feb. 6 in a traffic accident on Interstate 5 has been identified as Pvt. Reymon B. Tolentino, 28, of Skokie, Ill.

Tolentino was on a transport bus returning from the Seattle-Tacoma International airport when the accident happened around 4:30 p.m. in Pierce County.

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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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It was announced Tuesday, Nov. 6 that Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, who assumed command of I Corps in July 2012, would be moving on. Brown has spent the last 18 months redirecting I Corps' focus to the Pacific Rim. He also used his position on the base to work on suicide prevention, sexual assault prevention and to help transitioning soldiers acclimate to the civilian workforce. He's awesome.

Stepping into the role is Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, who took command of I Corps Tuesday. Lanza, a 33-year Army veteran, was commander of 7th Infantry Division since October 2012, when he worked with the Army to stand up the 7th ID.

Below is our Storify on how the whole I Corps change of command ceremony went down. ...

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