You want to know who knows all the gossip on Joint Base Lewis McChord? The barbers at the JBLM North Fort Barber Shop chat with soldiers all day long. Sgt. James Bunn of the 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment dropped in on the barbershop to chat with the barbers and snap photos. He created a video from the experience. Check it out below.

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

If you have been living in a cave the last few days, a) you're probably in bad shape due to the cold weather and b) you might notice something different about Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza.

First, Lanza has been promoted to lieutenant general.

Second, he's probably a little haggard from going through a change of command vortex.

Tuesday afternoon, Lanza transferred command of the 7th Infantry Division to Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell during a ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. We were there.

Today, newly promoted Lt. Gen. Lanza was back at the podium, grabbing the I Corps command from Lt. Gen. Robert B. Brown during a ceremony at Lewis-McChord. We were also there, but we are still writing the story in longhand and developing film.

While you wait for our curriers to grab the story, below is video of today's I Corps change of command ceremony, courtesy of the fine folks at Lewis-McChord.

The 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord is at at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif, participating large-scale, conventional warfare training with offensive and defensive operations.

A NTC first happened during the 3-2 SBCT's rotation. Soldiers assigned to the 20th Support Command (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives or CBRNE) were in the house. The 20th CBRNE Command out of the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland was challenged with integrating into a maneuver force and brigade combat team, including a training scenario included engaging opposition forces that deployed mustard gas.

According to Guy Volb from the Fort Irwin Public Affairs Office, the CBRNE Response Team teamed with the Stryker BCT's 2-3 Infantry Battalion to secure an objective area and facilities suspected of housing chemical weapons.

Once successfully secured, the CRT moved in to assess, characterize, and exploit the site - a small aluminum-sided warehouse containing "chemical processing equipment, artillery shells and large tanks used to store mustard gas."
"There were several objectives, but basically we're charged with systematically locating, characterizing, and securing or destroying WMD programs, networks and related capabilities," said Stremlau.
At depth that means preventing looting or capture of WMD and related material by enemies, while exploiting program experts, documents and other media found on such sites to prevent proliferation of material, technology, or personalities associated with the WMD network.
"There are four phases of WMD elimination," the major stressed. "Isolation, exploitation, destruction, and monitoring/redirection; but first we have to safely shut down operations at each site, take samples, and mitigate associated hazards."

Read Volb's full story on the exercise here.

>>> Pfc. Kim Landicho, 24, monitors a soldier for possible "chemical weapons" contamination during a WMD elimination exercise held at Fort Irwin's National Training Center Jan. 31. Landicho, in the green gloves, said she hasn't been deployed during her first year in the Army so "every training scenario teaches me something new." Photo credit: Guy Volb

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...

It was announced Nov. 6, 2013, that Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, who assumed command of I Corps in July 2012, would be moving on to the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., which educates and develops Army leaders. Stepping into the I Corps command role would be Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, who would take command of I Corps. Lanza, a 33-year Army veteran, has been the commander of 7th Infantry Division since October 2012, when he worked with the Army to stand up the 7th ID, which is now in charge of seven of the 10 brigades stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and includes close to 23,000 soldiers.

In December, Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, whose decorations include the Silver and Bronze Star medals, was named as the new commander of the 7th ID at JBLM.

This afternoon, the 7th ID hosted the change of command ceremony where Ferrell assumed command of the 7th from the current commanding general, Lanza. Below is video of the ceremony, which was held inside due to snow.

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.

Marvel "true believers" grew up thrilling to the adventures of the mighty Thor, a Norse demigod who bashed supervillains from the Nine Realms with his Asgardian war hammer, Mjolnir. Later, millions of young geeks volunteered their services to the American armed forces, but some never lost their childhood love of comic book heroes.

For the last eight years, Marvel Entertainment has given back to the military community by offering limited-edition comic books exclusively to servicemembers through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. This year, in 32 action-packed pages, writer William Harms and penciler Tom Grummett advance that tradition by launching Thor into battle against the bloodthirsty Frost Giant, Ymir. This special issue, "Deep Freeze," features a cover by Walt Simonson, a legendary artist whose efforts on Star Slammers, Thor, and Fantastic Four have been collector favorites for decades. Its frozen battleground: Stark Tower in New York City. Its all-too-mortal protagonist: former British airman Edwin Jarvis, now employed as a butler by that stalwart band of heroes, the Avengers. Excited yet?

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service offers quality services and merchandise at low prices, while funding operations in support of military morale, recreation, and welfare. "All of us at Marvel owe a debt of gratitude to our real heroes, the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces," Marvel editor Bill Rosemann acknowledges. "(This is) the least we can do for the men and women who bravely fight for the freedoms we all hold so dear." Thor: Deep Freeze is suitable for kids six and older, and available free of charge to service members and their families at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Movie sequel Thor: The Dark World arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Feb. 25.

I Corps Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl honored Mrs. Joan Shalikashvili with induction into the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Civilian Hall of Fame at a ceremony Jan. 30. Dahl cited her lifetime of service and thousands of volunteer hours, including her current role on the board of directors at the USO Northwest "Shali" Center.  Shalikashvili is the 21^st inductee into a group of civilians who have contributed greatly to the welfare of the Soldiers, Airmen and families on JBLM. 

Read J.M. Simpson's interview with Joan Shalikashvili in the News section.

Just the other day Team Walkie Talkie was discussing the lack of veteran-related apps. We came up with several ideas, then went back to our day job of writing snarky preview blurbs.

When, what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a new veteran app originating across the Cascade mountain range. Central Washington University says it's the first university in the United States to use a special web and mobile application to help military veterans connect to colleges to earn degrees.

That's cool.

Here's an excerpt from the news release:

Key components of the Veterans App (VAPP), developed by Edmonds-based Operation Military Family, are a lockbox for online storage of military service records and the ability of users to browse veterans' service providers by major categories. The VAPP platform also provides a checklist of required steps needed to transition out of the military.

CWU is also specifically highlighted on the first-of-its-kind VAPP Checklist pilot program, a web-only application, limited to active service members at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) as they transition out of the Army. As a select sponsor of VAPP, CWU anticipates veteran recruitment and enrollment, both at Ellensburg and at CWU's campuses statewide, will grow.

"More than 20,000 veterans from JBLM will be going through the Active Duty Transition Process in the next two years. And those who investigate education through the VAPP checklist process will always see CWU's Preferred Sponsorship Logo linking to our VAPP Web page," said Swiney, adding that VAPP is formatted for both Web and mobile devices.

The Veterans App is available at www.vapp.com. The link can also be found on CWU's web site under Services, and on Admission's and the Veteran's web pages under Related Links.