Hakan Persson held an anti-tank missile launcher and smiled like a new father.

"You can fire this one inside a building with no problem," said the product manager for Saab Bofors Dynamics, a Swedish weapons manufacturer. "It's called at AT4 CS because CS stands for 'confined space.'"

Several soldiers gazed at the display at tubes and rockets and nodded. At a nearby booth in Fort Lewis’ American Lake Community Center, police officers admired the latest sniper rifles Remington had to offer. And a few soldiers from 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division agreed to be on the receiving end of a Taser.

It was all part of the SpecOps West Warfighter Expo, a three-day event featuring more than 70 vendors selling a range of equipment targeted at military and law enforcement. On display were rifles, knives, heavy weapons, communication gear, customizable notepads and sunglasses. This is the event’s third year in Pierce County; the previous two shows were at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. As many as 2,000 people are expected to attend this week.

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Got this release from the Border Patrol folks:

CBP Apprehends U.S. Army Deserter At Sea-Tac Airport

SEATTLE – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport apprehended Earl Wayne Weeks on an outstanding NCIC Army desertion warrant out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina last Thursday, June 11.

Weeks had entered Canada in October, 2008 at Carway, Alberta as a visitor. He had made the decision to leave the U.S. military without proper discharge. On May 31, Weeks turned himself in to Edmonton, Alberta Police, requesting to be returned to the United States. Subsequently, he was turned over to Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers in Edmonton, Alberta contacted CBP officers at the U.S. Pre-clearance office at the Edmonton Airport, who confirmed the outstanding warrant on Weeks. CBSA officers from Canada escorted Weeks to Sea-Tac Airport on June 11 under a prearranged agreement, and turned Weeks over to CBP officers and the Port of Seattle Police.

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Lt. Col. Danny Dudek paced the dew-covered grass of Fort Lewis’ Watkins Field, inspecting his troops during a ceremony marking a change of command for his unit.

The sight of an officer marching past with the aid of hand crutches was not lost on the hundreds of wounded and injured soldiers of the Warrior Transition Battalion whom Dudek now commands.

"The Army has to make a deliberate decision to let a paralyzed lieutenant colonel command a battalion," the 40-year-old said. "That doesn’t happen often."

Dudek, previously the battalion’s executive officer, took command from Lt. Col. K.C. Bolton on Wednesday morning. Dudek now is responsible for about 600 soldiers with long-term or complex medical issues, one of 39 such units across the military.

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Col. Bruce Antonia, the former commander of 3rd Stryker Brigade's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Division will take command of 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division at a ceremony this week in Fort Polk, La., the Leesville Daily Leader reported.

From the story:

Antonia’s previous duty assignments include commander of 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and battalion operations officer and executive officer of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

His many awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with V-device and one Oak Leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters. He has earned the Ranger Tab, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Expert Infantryman Badge.

He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy.

Sgt. Lucas Miller, a medic with 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, was named Special Operations Command noncomissioned officer of the year, the command announced.

Here's what's involved: "The competitors faced a 3-day-long challenge testing both their mental and physical capabilities. The event began with a physical fitness test, followed by rifle marksmanship qualification, and day and night land navigation courses. On the second day, the contestants’ skills were tested with common tasks ranging from calling indirect fire to treating a casualty on the battlefield. The final day of competition consisted of an oral board made up of each command sergeant major from the major subordinate units of USASOC."

Miller won prizes from the event's sponsors, including almost $3,000 in cash and gift certificates, a dress blue uniform and a Glock pistol.