It's 3:21 a.m. and you're awake.

You've already, unwillingly so, opened your eyes at 12:48 a.m. and 2:34 a.m. As it is, you had a hard time falling asleep because you couldn't get your mind to stop racing, moving through to-do lists things to remember for the next day. When you finally do fall asleep, it's often a fitful one, laden with frenzied dreams of drill sergeants, night sweats and, ultimately, long periods of waking up and lying in bed with nothing to do, but think ... and wait to, hopefully, fall asleep again.

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Those who keep a flow chart on their refrigerators know this year has seen many a change in the command structure at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. If you have been keeping your ceremony invitations, you could construct an exhibit that would rival any holiday card display.

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Are you ready for a "V"-led acronym bonanza?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced the phased roll out of newly designed, more secure Veteran Health Identification Cards. The new cards are distinguished by additional security features and will have a different look and feel.

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This just in from the folks at NORAD:

North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights today as they practice intercept and identification procedures. The exercise will occur over northwestern Washington. Although they are scheduled for the morning, the flights could be delayed due to weather concerns.

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UPDATE: Operation Ward 57 received its free van from the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program at noon, Friday, Feb. 21 at Toyota of Tacoma. We captured the ceremony on video, which you can see below. ...

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GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MONRING REPORT FOR 2.20.14 >>>

Military can close bases without Congress's OK.

The Department of Homeland Security is warning airlines to be on the lookout for terrorists potentially targeting U.S. flights with shoe bombs.

The United States might have killed a dozen civilians in a wedding procession during a drone strike in Yemen last December, a human rights group claimed. 

Two American security officers have been found dead on a ship made famous when it was hijacked by Somali pirates.

After deadly clashes between protesters and police in Ukraine, the Pentagon urged the Ukrainian Armed Forces to "stay on the sidelines." 

Veterans with a 100 percent disability rating will get their Social Security claims processed faster, thanks to a change announced by the agency.

U.S. Army Europe and Installation Management Command-Europe announced force structure changes Thursday that will reduce the service's local national workforce by 579 positions. The changes also will result in a net increase of 44 U.S. civilian positions, while 89 military positions will be shed.

The U.S. Army is planning to buy new transport ships to replace dozens of its decades-old fleet of watercraft.

The Army ground force that rolled over Iraqi forces in 1991 and 2003 was actually designed and built in the similarly cash-strapped 1970s and 1980s.

General Dynamics has lined up the U.S. arm of Canadian simulation giant CAE to provide training solutions for its offering for the U.S. Air Force's next-generation trainer.

Let's read about soldiers training for the coveted Army Air Assault badge.

Air Force leaders announced a change to the officer reduction in force board, or RIF, originally scheduled to convene June 16 at the Air Force Personnel Center. 

Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell, 7th Infantry Division commanding general, spoke to more than 150 Soldiers during a division newcomer's brief at The French Theater on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Beekeepers in Mexico are fearful that GMO crops are killing the honeybee.

Are we moving towards a post clown society, or have the clowns morphed into trolls?

A map that shows which states have the longest and shortest sex.

Fox looks to have assembled the team for its Fantastic Four reboot.

Preview some numbers from the Heathers musical.

Good news: Killer Karaoke returns to TV tonight.

Looks like Rep. Graham Hunt (R-Orting) made the list with his list, if the list is about freshman legislators who sponsor bills that creat certified lists of veteran-owned businesses.

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GRAB A CUP AN DREAD THE MORNING REPORT FOR 2.19.14 >>>

The al Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed a twin bomb attack in Beirut today, saying such attacks would continue until Hezbollah forces withdrew from the fighting in Syria and its own fighters were released from Lebanese jails.

There was a singular moment late last year during a briefing for senior U.S. Army leaders on the service's just-concluded yearly war game when one general laid out the future challenges facing the force.

Mangum, McConville, McMaster, and Perna: Reading yesterday afternoon's announcement of generals nominated for three-star rank, the uninitiated might be forgiven for thinking the Army is robotically following alphabetical order. Far from it.

The Turkish government has demanded $183 million worth of penalties from Boeing due to major delays in the delivery of spy planes to the NATO ally.

The head of the U.S. military's counter-IED organization sees the group's mission possibly expanding despite the physical size of the organization declining in the coming year.

New video footage shows U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan coming dangerously close to a 500-pound bomb - allegedly dropped by fellow service members who mistook their position for the enemy.

Nearly 50 percent now say the Afghan war was a mistake, Gallup found.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said if Republicans win control of the Senate this year, he would want to be chairman of the Armed Services Committee. 

Congressman Duncan Hunter is calling on the Pentagon, in consultation with the State Department, to appoint a civilian leader to coordinate U.S. efforts to free Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only prisoner of the Afghan War. 

The Wisconsin National Guard has suspended a soldier from a funeral honors detail over two photos that sparked outrage and shock after the pictures were posted to social media.

It's no accident the US Army has chosen Huntsville, Ala., to host this year's Association of the United States Army symposium and trade show.

Starting this week, officials will send letters to affected TRICARE For Life beneficiaries notifying them of the pilot program.

It could be dangerous if we start injecting sulfate particles into the atmosphere to curb global warming and then suddenly stop.

If you love hockey, pick up some extra drinks and snacks for today's men's quarterfinals. 

Dave Grohl and Jello Biafra are part of a new supergroup.

Watch the first 12 minutes of new SundanceTV series The Red Road.

First full-length Guardians of the Galaxy trailer is awesome.

Peruse this True Detective reading list.

Finally: A chef has created a menu that corresponds with the tracks on Radiohead's Kid-A.

Sports Illustrated had a wonderful idea: Demonstrate how zero gravity works on muscular and fat body masses with Kate Upton in a bikini.

Sometimes, daddy jumping out of the birthday gift box is better than that bike you wanted so badly.

Bill Striegel, the Washington State Air Force Association vice president, just sent word the Puget Sound Military Support Coalition - AFA, AUSA and Navy League - has a bunch of PAC 12 Women's Basketball Tournament tickets for military personnel and their families, veterans and community partners. The tournament will be held March 6-9 in Seattle's KeyArena

"Last year about 1300 people were able to utilize this program and would like to increase that number this year," says Striegel. "If you have any friends and/or neighbors that are presently serving or have served please share this information with them."

The Seattle Storm played a huge part in making this free offer happen.

To get in on the action, click here.

TODAY IN MILITARY SPENDING >>>

Contract awards coming from the Pentagon dropped to $8.44 billion in January, the lowest point in nearly two years.

Within the next six months, up to $8 billion of frozen Iranian assets will be released.

With defense spending capped for 2015, it is unclear how Congress would substantially inflate the Pentagon budget to include most or all of the reportedly $26 billion in items slated for the unfunded lists.

The Washington National Guard has identified approximately $800 million in identified cyber threat risk.

The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base 16.4 megawatt solar array is the largest of its kind on any U.S. Department of Defense installation. It will provide approximately 35 percent of the base's electricity requirements, at an economically beneficial rate for 25 years, reducing base utility costs by an average of $500,000 annually.

Switching from a retail pharmacy to Home Delivery can save TRICARE beneficiaries up to $152 every year for each prescription.

And then there's this exchange of money ...