Features

Service member spotlight: core values
October 17, 2013 — Lt. John LaMorte, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team assistant operations officer, is the joint base's featured service member of the week. LaMorte calls Marlton, N.J., home. Q: Why did you join the military?A: During my prior job aboard fishing vessels, I was often able to see firsthand the heroic job that the men and women of the USCG were... MORE

(U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo/Released)

108th Wing trains for disaster
October 10, 2013 — Clouds gathered in the distance, painting the sky an inky black. Thunder rumbled while lightning flashed on the scene of inhabitants fleeing the coastal towns of New Jersey. The fear of the crowd mounted, as Super storm Sandy brewed a storm so violent it decimated our beautiful shores. Those evacuees, forced from their beloved homes, felt helpless;... MORE

Members of the 108th Wing and 177th Fighter Wing participate in the annual Quick Response Force (QRF) training Sept. 29, 2013, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. QRF training teaches Guard members how to deal with disturbances when called to duty for civil support. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Adrian R. Rowan)

Service member spotlight: a successful team
October 10, 2013 — Petty Officer 3rd Class Hank M. Cline, 87th Force Support Squadron air department electronic technician, is the joint base's featured service member of the week. Cline calls Silver Spring, Md., home. Q: Why did you join the military?A: My grandfather was in the navy and I wanted the same training and discipline that made his successful in life.Q:... MORE

Service member spotlight: a 'standout' Airman
October 4, 2013 — Airman 1st Class Nilrukshi Jaywardena, 87th Communications Squadron server management technician, is the joint base's featured service member of the week. Jaywardena hails from North Ridge, Calif.Jaywardena is responsible for administrating 135 servers across Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, to include both non-classified internet protocol... MORE

(U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

FTU puts boomers in sky
October 3, 2013 — (Editor's note: This is part two of a three-part series on boom operator training. Part one was published Aug. 29, 2013.)After a three to 15 month period of fundamental courses, technical reviews, flight simulators and time in between classes, KC -10 Extender boom operator students earn the privilege of going on their first flight and performing... MORE

A KC-10 Extender from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., approaches its position for air refueling during a 305th Operations Support Squadron Formal Training Unit training mission Sept. 13, 2013. FTU incorporates boom operators, pilots and flight engineers at JB MDL to give them hands on experience with their jobs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe/Released)

All-Army wrestler sets sights on Olympics
September 27, 2013 — Army Capt. William "Billy" Simpson learned from an early age to never give up on his dreams. With that always on his mind, his dream to become a soldier and a world-class wrestler is now a reality.Simpson, a field artillery officer with 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division was recently... MORE

Service member spotlight: a part of something bigger
September 26, 2013 — Sgt. 1st Class Josue Rodriguez, 174th Infantry Brigade current operations noncommissioned officer, is the joint base's featured service member of the week. Q: Why did you join the military?A: I joined the military because I knew that it would challenge me. I wanted to do something that would improve myself as a person and I knew the military would... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Josue Rodriguez, 174th Infantry Brigade Current Operations noncommissioned officer, is the joint base's featured service member of the week.

McGuire's dog whisperer
September 26, 2013 — As the van rounded the corner into the vacant parking lot, five eager heads peered through the crack of its windows revealing large gaping eyes, the silhouette of wagging tails and a hyper-awareness of what was to come.When the door glided open, frantic paws paced the van floor never exceeding the door threshold as each anxiously awaited their turn... MORE

Lt. Col. Dean Owens, 514th Air Mobility Wing safety chief, and his five dogs enjoy a leisurely run Sept. 7, 2013, here. His brood of all rescue dogs run with their owner at various locations on base or local neighborhoods four times a week, drawing admirers and amazed spectators along the routes of their passages. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chelsea Smith/Released)

All-Army wrestler sets sights on Olympics
September 26, 2013 — Army Capt. William "Billy" Simpson learned from an early age to never give up on his dreams. With that always on his mind, his dream to become a soldier and a world-class wrestler is now a reality.Simpson, a field artillery officer with 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division was recently... MORE

Army Capt. William “Billy” Simpson, a field artillery officer with 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, competed in his first Armed Forces Freestyle Wrestling Tournament March 16-17 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Simpson, along with his teammates, earned the Armed Forces Freestyle Wrestling Championship. Simpson was also named the 2013 All-Army Freestyle Champion. (U.S. Army photo/Released)

Army Reserve Aviation Brigade participates in Army North's Vibrant Response
September 19, 2013 — Soldiers from the 244th Aviation Brigade departed Aug. 11, 2013, from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., to Camp Atterbury, Ind., to participate in Vibrant Response 13.2 as Task Force Aviation. Vibrant Response is an exercise under the Defense Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Response Force (DCRF) mission. This exercise is intended to... MORE