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.

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More than 800 soldiers are under criminal investigation for gaming a National Guard program that paid hundreds of millions in bonuses to soldiers who persuaded friends to sign up during the darkest years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been holding secret talks with Taliban officials in an effort to bridge peace with his government,

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Look what we found floating around the Internets:

The Washington State Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is seeking to fill its state chair position. ESGR is a Department of Defense sponsored, all-volunteer organization comprised of business, community and military leaders dedicated to helping the nation field a strong, prepared and valued National Guard and Reserve force. Chairs are responsible for all aspects of state ESGR operations, including organizing, leading, directing, supervising and motivating members with various backgrounds, abilities and interests.

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As more servicemembers transition out into the civilian workforce there will continue to be a need for corporations and businesses to hire veterans, unless of course that veteran wants to own their own small business, like the opportunity being offered through Seattle-based Veterans Promise Coffee.

According to statistics on VPC's website, it is estimated that 250,000 veterans will be transitioning out of military service and entering the civilian job market and small business community every year through 2031.

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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.

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As you read in the After Action report in this week's Ranger newspaper print edition, the Rangers from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, are conducting a military training exercise at Fort Hunter Liggett and neighboring Camp Roberts, of the California National Guard. The exercise runs through Feb. 5, and includes units from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, from Fort Campbell, Ky., and Air Force Special Operations Command from Hurlburt Field, Fla. Rangers are being tested on their combat skills in a simulated urban environment similar to those they may find during combat missions. This is a routine military exercise conducted periodically to maintain a high level of combat readiness for the Rangers.

The U.S. Army has uploaded several photos of the 2-75thRanger Regiment at Fort Hunter Liggett on its Flickr page.

>>> U.S. Army Rangers, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, advance toward their objective during Task Force Training on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Jan. 22, 2014. Rangers conduct rigorous training to maintain their tactical proficiency. Photo credit: Spc. Steven Hitchcock

>>> 2-75th Rangers prepare to provide suppressive fire for an assault element advancing on the objective during Task Force Training on Fort Hunter Liggett, Jan. 22. Photo credit: Spc. Steven Hitchcock

>>> 2-75th Rangers exit a cleared building after a live fire exercise on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Jan 23. The dry climate along with the intense training was the cause of this Ranger's nosebleed. Photo credit: Spc. Steven Hitchcock

Click here to see more awesome photos of the 2-75th.

LINK: Walkie Talkie Flickr

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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!

The Army announced today that it will release three public service announcements over the next year to increase awareness of DoD-issued gold star and next-of-kin lapel pins. The first PSA will screen on Fox Sports a half-hour before kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII

According to an Army IMCOM release, "The pins are designed to signify the loss of a loved one in support of our nation. Although the gold star pins have been in existence for decades, many Americans are unfamiliar with their meaning. The PSAs were developed to help educate and inform the public of the significance of the pins."

"It's heartbreaking to think that a mom wearing a gold star might have someone ask her, 'What a beautiful pin, where do I get one?'," said Donna Engeman, a gold star wife who manages the Survivor Outreach Services program for the Army.

"We decided we had to do something to ensure the nation-the world-recognizes what that pin really signifies," Engeman said.

For the full story on the DoD-issued gold star and next-of-kin lapel pins, click 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.