CAMP DENALI, Alaska - An Alaska Army National Guardsman is one step closer to competing in the Iditarod, Alaska’s famous 1,150-mile sled-dog race.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, aided by their U.S. partners, detained suspected criminals, seized illegal weapons and found and destroyed a “sticky bomb” in Jan. 28 operations, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers should have full confidence in the quality of a particular series of Army-issued body armor plates that has come under recent scrutiny, Army officials said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces in Afghanistan killed four militants and detained eight suspects during operations to disrupt Taliban bomb makers and militants in Kandahar.

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi air force demonstrated its capability to view polling stations and other potential critical-incident locations from above in preparation for the provincial elections.

WASHINGTON - The presence of partner nations and the newly formed task force to reduce the number of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden seem to be working, the commander of Combined Task Force 151 said.

WASHINGTON - Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special April 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet this afternoon with the U.S. military’s senior enlisted advisors at the White House, a senior Defense Department official said.

BAGHDAD - With coalition soldiers watching, Iraq’s provincial elections got off to a smooth start as the country’s security forces, hospital patients and detainees had a chance to vote early.

WASHINGTON - Advanced ocean-bottom mapping technologies have enhanced the Navy’s ability to navigate safely throughout the world and have helped support disaster assistance and humanitarian relief operations, the Navy’s oldest active diver said.

BAGHDAD - In anticipation of the nationwide provincial elections, Iraq’s Center for Military Values, Principles and Leadership Development hosted a conference for senior military leaders on the role of the military in a democracy.

WASHINGTON - A major health care provider in the Washington, D.C., suburbs is teaming up with the Defense Department to help military members and spouses pursue medical careers.

CONVOY SUPPORT CENTER SCANIA, Iraq - An Army chief warrant officer found his freedom in America and fights so Iraqis may enjoy what he now cherishes.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - The commander of U.S. Southern Command reaffirmed the United States’ strategic partnership with Honduras and praised the bilateral and interagency cooperation that is delivering tangible success.

WASHINGTON - The military commissions system created in 2006 to try accused terrorists held at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, must comply with President Barack Obama’s directive to suspend all legal proceedings there, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The Army is committed to finding out why more soldiers committed suicide in 2008 than ever recorded.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces, having helped their Iraqi counterparts for more than a month prepare for the country’s Jan. 31 provincial elections, are now stepping back, confident their planning and practice has paid off.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials released a report to Congress detailing its core competencies and missions and establishing a framework for similar reviews every four years.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is expected to present the Pentagon’s proposal for a U.S. troop increase in Afghanistan to President Barack Obama in the near future.

WASHINGTON - Iraqis of all backgrounds are preparing to vote during their country’s first election since 2005.

WASHINGTON - Joint operations by Iraqi and U.S. soldiers in Iraq’s Maysan province led to the capture of five suspects accused of planting and detonating a roadside bomb.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines cleared a route between two Afghan districts, aiming to improve safety and encourage commerce in the area.

WASHINGTON - From fighter jet flyovers to military performances at halftime shows, the National Football League and U.S. military have shared more than 40 years of Super Bowl history.

WASHINGTON - The Kenyan government has agreed to try pirates captured by the U.S. military, a senior Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - Anticipating threats is the key to readiness, the chief of the combatant command responsible for the military role in homeland defense said.

WASHINGTON - Some Air Force fighter pilots may miss out on watching Super Bowl XLIII, but for a worthy cause. They will be flying to protect the skies around Raymond James Stadium during the Feb. 1 game in Tampa, Fla.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - A program in Iraq is helping deployed soldiers bond with their children back home through books.

WASHINGTON - The Armed Services Blood Program director expressed gratitude for the more than 165,000 donations from Defense Department military, civilians and their families in 2008.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers from varied backgrounds and specialties are helping to ensure the continued success of the Iraqi army as mentors and members of a military transition team.

WASHINGTON - A former Marine who suffered a broken back in Afghanistan hopes to use his burgeoning music career to help other wounded warriors.

WASHINGTON - In his first visit to the Pentagon as commander in chief, President Barack Obama thanked U.S. troops and pledged to provide the resources they need to accomplish their missions.

ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard troops were activated in two states as a major winter storm spread ice and snow from Texas to Maine.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops and civilians are seeing the fruits of their labor in Iraq, where they are celebrating completed projects and humanitarian efforts that build both infrastructure and relationships.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force has assumed its new role as the Army component for U.S. Africa Command, an effort in part to build relationships with African army organizations.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Iraqi security forces will make their vote count twice -- once through their own ballots, then again through the people they serve.

WASHINGTON - Iraq and Afghanistan likely will be among the discussion topics when President Barack Obama makes his first visit to the Pentagon to meet with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team traveled to Baghdad schools to observe preparations for Iraqi provincial elections.

TAJI, Iraq - Coalition members transferred the 4,000th armored Humvee to the Iraqi government. The program provides mission-capable Humvees to Iraqi security forces and on-the-job training to Iraqi mechanics.

ADHAMIYAH, Iraq - As a two-time Olympian shouted instructions, two boxers sparred to celebrate the reopening of the Adhamiyah Sports Complex in Baghdad.

BAGHDAD - Nearly 500 new Iraqi policewomen graduated from the Baghdad Police College, marking the largest female class ever to graduate from the school.

HEIDELBERG, Germany - The first of about 8,000 soldiers began cycling through Installation Management Command Europe's high-adventure, adrenaline-pumping Warrior Adventure Quest recreation program.

WASHINGTON - Gayle Lucas’ volunteer efforts began when she opened her home to two cats after their owner, a soldier, was called to active duty.

WASHINGTON - Chris Jackson, a civilian journalist, received a top Navy honor for his heroism in saving a Marine’s life. "Chris forgot about being a reporter that day and became one of our brothers," said Sgt. Courtney Rauch.

BISMARCK, N.D. - A Vietnam War veteran who overcame great odds to become a National Football League player shared his message with the North Dakota National Guard.

WASHINGTON - The most challenging security threat troubling the United States lies in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and it will take cooperation from throughout the region and support from much of the world to reach success, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Even as military efforts increase in Afghanistan, coalition forces reach out to Afghan civilians with humanitarian aid, job training and other supportive efforts.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is forming a civilian expeditionary workforce that will be trained and equipped to deploy overseas in support of military missions worldwide.

WASHINGTON - The status-of-forces agreement between the United States and Iraq is a “watershed” in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - One of the main challenges facing the Defense Department is how the department acquires goods and services and manages the taxpayers’ money, Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Pete Geren has approved adding legal personnel to help combat sexual assault among soldiers, which he deemed "repugnant to the core values" of the Army.

WASHINGTON - The National Guard must be able to meet its domestic responsibilities in addition to its operational missions, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers in Iraq are seeing their daily activities change from operational to humanitarian missions as the Iraqis take more control of their security.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard members offered hands-on CH-47 Chinook helicopter training to Canadian air force aircrews readying for deployment.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces and U.S. soldiers detained suspected criminals and seized weapons in Baghdad's Rashid district.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan poses the greatest military challenge to the United States today, and President Barack Obama has made that country a top priority for the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - As deployed U.S. troops watch the Arizona Cardinals take on the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLIII, there’s likely to be a special sense of commemoration at Forward Operating Base Tillman in Afghanistan.

TRIANGLE, Va. - The National Museum of the Marine Corps has maintained its position as a top Virginia attraction, with more than 500,000 visitors recorded in 2008.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The 10th Mountain Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team is taking positions in Afghanistan that have had little coalition presence.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - An Army first sergeant’s role is not unlike that of a performer attempting to keep several plates spinning atop poles, a deployed enlisted leader said.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - For the members of a National Guard unit out of Patchogue, N.Y., the job begins well before helicopters at Camp Striker, Iraq, begin their flight.

WASHINGTON - Robots are helping to save warfighters’ lives as they bring incredible new capabilities to the battlefield, but probably won’t ever replace humans in combat.

AT SEA ABOARD USS MAHAN - The crew of guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan is coordinating efforts of more than a dozen nations deterring piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - An extensive vaccination drive targeting polio has started in Afghanistan's Konar province, thanks to the efforts of the provincial reconstruction team and government officials from the province.

CAMP ECHO, Iraq - Military dogs have served in the U.S. armed forces and deployed to combat theaters since World War I, and continue to protect servicemembers and civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq today.

ISTAQLAL, Iraq - From California shores to Iraqi deserts, Army Spc. David Denson has had a desire to serve others.

WASHINGTON - Besides their regular military duties, U.S. forces in Iraq oversee many building and humanitarian projects.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s 2010 defense budget request will be delayed, possibly until April, White House and Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - As Iraqis prepare to choose their provincial leadership in their first nationwide elections in three years, an Army colonel near the end of a 14-month tour told Pentagon reporters he’s amazed by the progress the country has made.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department program is transforming military health care during deployment by enhancing communication and teamwork skills among health care professionals.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division marked five years of reconstruction progress in Iraq with more than 4,400 projects completed and turned over to the Iraqi government.

WASHINGTON - Greatly reduced violence in Iraq over the past year has aided in the completion of a multitude of reconstruction projects that benefit the Iraqi people, a senior U.S. military officer posted there said.

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti - In an effort to save three Americans from a capsized sailboat, servicemembers from U.S. Africa Command's Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa participated in a three-day international rescue operation 260 miles off the coast of Madagascar.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. forces become more engaged with the enemy in Afghanistan, there may well be a rise in American casualties, Vice President Joe Biden said.

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. soldiers are building roads to remote areas in eastern Afghanistan to lead to a better way of life.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Soldiers serving in remote locations who suffer dental pain can look forward to a visit from the "Dentist in a Van."

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces joined Iraqi civic leaders to commemorate the opening of the Doura Public Library.

ALEXANDRIA, La. - At 38 years old and with a 15-year-old daughter, Angela Fry took on the challenge of basic training and the possibility of deployment.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The first class of National Military Academy of Afghanistan cadets has graduated, becoming what the Afghan president called “the heartbeat of the entire nation.”

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces in Afghanistan killed 15 Taliban militants and detained one suspect during an operation in Laghman province.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi soldiers and police, “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members and U.S. soldiers seized several weapons caches and arrested two suspected roadside bombers during raids conducted throughout the Baghdad area.

WASHINGTON - Air Force safety officials said they’re well-versed on the dangers of bird strikes and aggressively are working to prevent them.

WASHINGTON - Officials of the International Association of Fire Chiefs have signed an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve statement of support.

WASHINGTON - As the Defense Department prepares plans to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, defense officials acknowledge the possibility that released detainees could return to the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - Missile Defense Agency officials announced the newest addition to the agency’s “flexible target family” after a successful rocket motor test.

MORONI, Union of the Comoros - The commander of U.S. Africa Command delivered an unwavering message of assistance during his recent travels to African nations.

WASHINGTON - Each U.S. military service secretary has agreed to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ request to stay in office for at least several weeks to help ensure the Defense Department’s smooth transition under the Obama administration, Pentagon officials said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces detained nine suspected militants during an operation aimed at the Haqqani terrorist network in Afghanistan’s Khowst province, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A cable television home improvement show has brought the comforts of home to soldiers deployed in Kuwait.

WASHINGTON - As part of the Obama administration’s assessment of the strategy being employed in Afghanistan, the U.S. military will focus its efforts on achieving shorter-term goals there.

WASHINGTON - A troop-support group is helping wounded servicemembers like Army Spc. Sergio Trejo own homes they couldn't have dreamed of buying on their own.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. and Afghan officials met to discuss the status of security in the area and future security initiatives.

BAGHDAD - A new water treatment facility will deliver much-needed fresh water to the people of northeastern Baghdad.

SUFFOLK, Va. - As U.S. Joint Forces Command pursues capability improvements over the long term, its experimentation chief is keeping one eye focused on current needs -- as defined by warfighters themselves.

BAGHDAD - When Army Spc. Andrew Winscombe deployed to Iraq, he figured he’d be heading straight into combat. What he found was a different kind of role for infantrymen.

WASHINGTON - Among the military options being considered by President Barack Obama involves a plan to remove most U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

WASHINGTON - Top administration officials are calling on other branches of government to do their part in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has named former Maine Sen. George Mitchell as the special envoy for Middle East peace and Richard Holbrooke as the special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Severely wounded troops returning home now have fewer bureaucratic barriers between them and their veterans’ benefits.

WASHINGTON - In light of the growing salmonella outbreak linked to products containing peanut butter, servicemembers are being urged to use caution should they receive these types of snacks in care packages.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s decision to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has made a positive impression in the world community, and that will assist America in its fight against global terrorism, the Defense Department’s top official said.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has signed off on the Capstone Concept for Joint Operations, a document the military will use to help determine future capability development for the joint force in 2016 through 2028.

WASHINGTON - The members of agricultural development teams in Afghanistan are living examples of the symbol of the National Guard: a Minuteman with a musket in one hand and the other hand resting on a plow.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called for the closing of the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within one year.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition forces killed six armed Taliban militants and detained another during an operation to disrupt the Taliban's foreign-fighter and roadside-bomb networks in Afghanistan's Zabol province.

WASHINGTON - Rich Glasgow and his son, Robert, served in different military services at different times, but they know what it’s like to deal with the same psychological enemy. And both have recommendations for the military.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar - The commander of U.S. Africa Command reaffirmed his commitment to a security partnership with Madagascar during his first official visit to the island nation.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama directed key defense and military officials to come up with plans for “a responsible military drawdown in Iraq.”

RAMADI, Iraq - U.S. military officials signed over Camp Ramadi to the Iraqi government, signifying another step toward increased Iraqi responsibility and control.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The people of Afghanistan’s Panjshir province are reaping the benefits of being a poppy-free province.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Army Sgt. Craig Priest, on his third deployment to Iraq, knows the rainy season and its effect on vehicles better than most.

WASHINGTON - Wyoming’s committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has been preparing businesses that will be hard-hit by the largest reserve deployment in state history.

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state.

WASHINGTON - As Wyoming prepares for the largest National Guard deployment in state history, much of the planning has gone into helping those who will be left behind for a year in communities scattered across the rural state.

WASHINGTON - The daughter of an Air Force officer stationed in Belgium got a close look at President Barack Obama's inauguration.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces and U.S. troops seized multiple weapons caches and arrested 12 suspects in and around Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's administration moved quickly to make its positions on defense and other issues available around the globe, posting agendas on the White House’s official Web site minutes after he took the oath of office.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has promised to deliver the care and benefits the nation’s military veterans deserve while transforming the Department of Veterans Affairs into a 21st century organization.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed 22 armed militants, including two Taliban leaders, and captured 11 in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan, “dwell time” at home stations between deployments and the health of the force are at the forefront of concerns the Defense Department must address, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Responding to a presidential directive, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates ordered a suspension of active military commission proceedings at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

AT SEA ABOARD USS SAN ANTONIO - Navy and Coast Guard boarding teams are working together to ensure safe operations in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Indian Ocean as part of a multinational counter-piracy task force.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama spent part of his first full day in office meeting with his National Security Council, including Pentagon and military leaders with direct responsibility for operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military has learned it takes more than infantrymen and “trigger-pullers” to win a counterinsurgency fight.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama saluted U.S. troops and their families, paying special tribute to wounded warriors and families of the fallen, during an inaugural ball.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Members of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province visited Zirat village to assess the effectiveness of completed projects and to develop ideas for future initiatives.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Coalition and Iraqi leaders discussed programs to improve Iraqi women’s rights and a vision for a more united future during a Women’s Initiative Seminar at Camp Liberty, Iraq.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Soldiers working with dogs have taken on the dangerous duty of finding weapons and explosives in the combat zones of the Middle East.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The inauguration of the 44th president marked the Guard’s largest contribution to a presidential inauguration since Minutemen gathered for the First Muster in Massachusetts more than 372 years ago.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - The U.S. military bid farewell to the outgoing commander in chief during a stirring and emotional departure ceremony in which he called leading men and women in uniform the highlight of his presidency.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama pledged a “prudent use” of military power as the nation works toward “ushering in a new era of peace” in his inaugural address to the nation.

ARLINGTON, Va. - With a footprint four times larger than in any prior inauguration, the National Guard's support to the new commander in chief on Inauguration Day requires extraordinary coordination and cooperation.

WASHINGTON - During the nation’s 56th presidential inauguration today, some 9,300 members of the National Guard will be working to provide transport, traffic control and medical and logistical support, as well as performing in the parade.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - Air Force airmen on Andrews Air Force Base, Md., began Inauguration Day before sunrise preparing to march in the inaugural parade.

WASHINGTON - America’s most senior defense leaders hosted a luncheon for 43 Medal of Honor recipients who will be honored guests at the presidential inauguration.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces and U.S. soldiers seized weapons caches and arrested a suspected criminal in the Baghdad area, military officials reported.

REISTERSTOWN, Md. - About 100 Maryland National Guard members provided support in Baltimore during President-elect Barack Obama’s “whistle-stop” train tour from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Wyoming National Guard officials have traveled throughout the states to help communities prepare for the largest deployment in the state’s history.

WASHINGTON - More than 10,000 National Guard members will support President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, the Guard’s largest contribution to an inauguration in its 372-year history.

WASHINGTON - Not only is it fitting that the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band play “Hail to the Chief” during the Jan. 20 inauguration ceremonies, it’s tradition.

WASHINGTON - The transition from the Bush administration to that of President-elect Barack Obama has been remarkably smooth, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Jeh C. Johnson, the nominee for the Defense Department’s general counsel, said he would foster collaborative relationships between himself and military lawyers at all levels to best advise the defense secretary.

WASHINGTON - Michelle A. Flournoy, the president-elect's pick for undersecretary of defense for policy, vowed to rebalance U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and advance U.S. security interests in other parts of the world.

WASHINGTON - Robert Hale, president-elect Barack Obama’s choice to be the Defense Department’s chief financial officer, said his first priority would be to help the department obtain the resources to meet the country's national security objectives.

WASHINGTON - William Lynn, the nominee to be deputy defense secretary, promised the Senate Armed Services Committee he will do his utmost to improve processes in the “sometimes vast and unwieldy bureaucracy” of the Defense Department.

WASHINGTON - Decisions about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor aircraft programs are expected early in President-elect Barack Obama’s administration.

BAGHDAD - Army Spc. Jessica Opper is taking care of animals in Iraq, a tradition that goes back to childhood.

WASHINGTON - Instead of deploying to Kuwait, about 500 Navy Seabees will deploy to Afghanistan beginning next month.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Army aircraft maintainers with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment’s 4th Squadron can be called upon to find downed aircraft anywhere in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi partnerships are stronger than ever, and they are taking advantage of the improved security situation to further reconstruction efforts in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - During his farewell address to the nation, President George W. Bush singled out military members for their selfless service.

WASHINGTON - The pilot who crash-landed a crippled airliner in New York’s Hudson River, saving 155 lives on board, is an Air Force Academy graduate who received his pilot training in the Air Force.

WASHINGTON - Cadets and midshipmen from the service academies are making final preparations before marching in the inaugural parade to pay tribute to the commander in chief they will serve as future officers.

WASHINGTON - As the Wyoming Army National Guard ramps up for the largest deployment in the state’s history, leaders say getting a year and a half’s notice has helped better prepare soldiers and families.

WASHINGTON - A new patrol in the U.S. Central Command is working to make it unprofitable to be a pirate.

WASHINGTON - While he hasn't served in uniform, President-elect Barack Obama has a family history of military service and priorities to shape the U.S. military.

WASHINGTON - The ultra-precise technology that enables NAVSTAR Global Positioning Systems and Internet communication soon may resolve the measure of time to 100 trillionths of a second.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - As part of an ongoing effort to enhance the Iraqi army’s combat effectiveness, the U.S. military has turned over thousands of armored Humvees.

WASHINGTON - On the heels of a fact-finding trip to the Middle East, Vice President-elect Joe Biden praised the American troops he encountered there.

WASHINGTON - Military planners are hard at work preparing options for drawing down troops in Iraq and moving forward in Afghanistan to present to President-elect Barack Obama after he takes office.

WASHINGTON - A new outreach center will provide more resources for troops' psychological health problems and traumatic brain injuries.

WASHINGTON - As Pentagon employees celebrated what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 80th birthday, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told them about an early participant in the struggle for equal rights, a young African-American sailor.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, with the assistance of U.S. soldiers, detained 16 suspected criminals throughout Iraq.

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi police has graduated its second class of former citizen security guards into its ranks.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - At the groundbreaking for a new school for 1,400 girls, members of the provincial government spoke about the opportunities created by education.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Army Spc. Susan Fautner has found that her ability to multitask and be flexible has served her well in the military and as a deployed, single parent.

WASHINGTON - Operation Gratitude is joining forces with Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and thousands of volunteers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to assemble care kits for troops overseas.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The 372-year-old National Guard has provided inaugural support for every American president since George Washington. This year won’t be any different.

SUFFOLK, Va. - Leaders preparing to deploy to Djibouti are participating in a training exercise at U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Joint Warfighting Center.

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs promised senators at his confirmation hearing that he will transform the department into a 21st-century organization.

KIGALI, Rwanda - The U.S. Air Force has begun airlifting Rwandan peacekeeping equipment and supplies to Sudan’s Darfur region as part of a United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission.

WASHINGTON - Two students who attend Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe will attend the 47th U.S. Senate Youth Program’s “Washington Week” in March.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have launched "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military," an online radio show.

WASHINGTON - With Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President-elect Barack Obama advocating closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, the Defense Department is working to protect the American people and treat detainees properly.

WASHINGTON - With violence levels greatly reduced, meddling from outside influences is a concern surrounding upcoming Iraqi elections, a U.S. commander in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be top priorities for President-elect Barack Obama’s administration, said New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama’s nominee to be secretary of state.

WASHINGTON - The lack of essential services has replaced security as the major concern in Iraq, pointing to the progress the country has been making, according to a Defense Department report.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force is “all in” with regard to unmanned aerial systems, and next year will field more UAVs than manned aircraft, the commander of 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern said.

BAGHDAD - A senior Sunni sheik is encouraged by displaced people returning to their homes, and he wants the people of Iraq to know about it.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq - A Carbondale, Ill., native serving in Multinational Division Baghdad leads an Iraqi work force that ensures daily maintenance and improvement for soldiers and others occupying a small northeastern Baghdad base.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Every Friday, 60 to 70 Afghan children get shoes and socks at Forward Operating Base Kala Gush.

WASHINGTON - A solution for closing down the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that has vexed Defense leaders will remain a challenge during President-elect Barack Obama’s administration, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - It seems fitting that it was a former Marine who captured the measure of retired Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace in the official portrait that now hangs in the Pentagon with those of others who have served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

WASHINGTON - Four people nominated to serve in the Defense Department in President-elect Barack Obama’s administration are to appear before the Senate Armed Forces Committee on Jan. 15 for confirmation hearings.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advocated a “whole-of-government approach” to foreign policy in a speech, urging more funding for nonmilitary departments’ roles overseas.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested suspected criminals and, while working with U.S. soldiers, seized multiple weapons in operations in Iraq.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Sick and injured Afghans will get treatment faster thanks to a coalition command’s donation of ambulances.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Improved security has enabled an economics team to step up its efforts to help Iraq move forward.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Air Force Maj. Kevin Mantovani has been recognized for his work in building Afghanistan's air force. The assignment has been the highlight of his career, the major said. “I don’t know if I will have the opportunity to do this level of work again,” he added.

SAN ANTONIO - More than 750 people from the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and private enterprise -- including social workers, chaplains, researchers, and family members – are attending a suicide-prevention conference.

WASHINGTON - The largest U.S. Army fife and drum corps ever assembled will take part in President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration Jan. 20.

WASHINGTON - December was a recruiting success for all active-duty and reserve-component U.S. military services, which all met or exceeded their goals.

WASHINGTON - A coalition of federal departments, led by Veterans Affairs, has launched a research and awareness program to curb motor vehicle fatalities among veterans who return from deployments.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi forces in Iraq’s Diyala province are preparing for rising violence amid upcoming provincial elections.

MONS, Belgium - Teenagers are learning to navigate the road safely thanks to new driver’s education simulators at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux, Belgium, and nine other locations throughout the region.

FORT VALLEY, Ga. - Army Reserve soldiers conducted an airborne jump for a group of civilian employers during the first Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve “Boss-lift” event for the 421st Quartermaster Company, 143rd Sustainment Command.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. soldiers and Iraqi National Police detained suspected criminals and seized weapons in operations in Baghdad yesterday and Jan. 10, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A project engineer from the Balad Resident Office in Iraq was selected as one of the 2009 “Top Five New Faces in Engineering” for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

WASHINGTON - Whatever decisions President-elect Barack Obama makes regarding Iraq and Afghanistan, the military is prepared to carry them out, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview on the CBS-TV show “60 Minutes.”

WASHINGTON - A former basketball star from Chicago’s inner city who served in the Army and was injured in Iraq has learned that time does really heal wounds.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers are seeing positive results from their increased presence at the newly built Combat Outpost Terminator in the Maywand district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - A troop-support group is gearing up for the early part of the new year, collecting Valentine, Easter and St. Patrick Day cards and gifts for servicemembers and the health professionals who take care of them.

WASHINGTON - The recent reopening of an Olympic-standard sports complex in an impoverished Baghdad neighborhood is providing more than recreation for residents.

WASHINGTON - The military is used to change-of-command ceremonies, but none compare to the ceremonial and security role servicemembers have played in presidential inaugurations dating back to the beginning of the republic.

WASHINGTON - From providing musical performances to acting as key personnel during the swearing-in process, hundreds of servicemembers gathered around the nation’s capital to support the 56th Presidential Inaugural rehearsal.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained eight suspected militants, including two wanted men, during operations in Afghanistan’s Khost and Kandahar provinces Jan. 9, U.S. military officials in Afghanistan reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi police, Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers seized multiple weapons and munitions caches in Baghdad Jan. 10, officials in Iraq reported.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Richard B. Cheney said Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida chief who masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is no longer an effective leader.

WASHINGTON - President George Bush said that as he prepares to swap a presidency defined by the Sept. 11, attacks for the quiet life in Texas, he’ll miss heading up the military.

WASHINGTON - The United States must remain vigilant to defend against terrorists and other potential threats such as Iran, President-elect Barack Obama said on ABC News’ "This Week.”

WASHINGTON - Vice President-elect Joe Biden traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan, to meet with Afghan and U.S. military leaders and thank deployed U.S. troops serving there for their service.

WASHINGTON - With traditional pomp and circumstance and its namesake on hand, the last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush, was commissioned in Norfolk, Va.

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush said he’s had no higher honor during his eight years as president than serving as commander in chief to the “brave patriots” of the U.S. military.

WASHINGTON - Army officials are creating a new way to speed the delivery of force-protection products, such as mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, to deployed soldiers in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - A fluorescent protein discovered in jellyfish has enabled scientists to visualize molecular and cellular events in real time, a leading U.S. biochemical researcher said.

WASHINGTON - More than 40 photographers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard are among the troops serving as part of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee. They'll capture the activities behind the scenes and on Inauguration Day.

FORT MYER, Va. - Four military police dogs will have their day when they help provide security for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration.

WASHINGTON - The Army’s adjutant general apologized on behalf of the Army for a printing error that resulted in delivering 7,000 letters without a by-name salutation to family members who lost a soldier in operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is developing a national “cyber range” to test cybersecurity technology and reduce the vulnerability of government computer systems to networks attacks.

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama has announced his choices for the nation’s new top intelligence official and CIA chief.

WASHINGTON - The coalition will follow through with its commitment to place members of “Sons of Iraq, ” a civilian security group, into permanent jobs.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. soldiers, Iraqi police and “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members seized several weapons caches in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed 37 armed militants and captured four others in operations targeting bomb networks in Zabol and Laghman provinces in recent days.

WASHINGTON - Afghan journalists are ganining a better understanding of coalition operations, including close-air support, through coordinated "media days."

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is committed to providing the best care for military members with post-traumatic stress disorder.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Despite rolling his truck on a snowy road while driving to the 2009 U.S. National Bobsled Championships, Vermont Guardsman John Napier won the two-man crown in Lake Placid, N.Y.

WASHINGTON - Peace and stability in Afghanistan are incomplete without improving relations among the country and its neighbors, the top U.S. military commander in the region said.

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama has announced his choices for four key Defense Department positions: deputy defense secretary, two undersecretary positions and general counsel.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Iraqi farmers, struggling after decades of neglect, are finding a friend in Army Capt. Suzanne Todd.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is pleased by progress in improving care and support for wounded warriors, but plans to implement more, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials need to bolster internal management systems that address nuclear weapons issues, the leader of a special task force said.

WASHINGTON - Iraq has witnessed “some remarkable milestones” already this month, with more on the horizon, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

FORT RILEY, Kan. - Troopers of the 1st Infantry Division Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard will ride in the presidential inaugural parade.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces and U.S. soldiers prevented terrorist attacks and seized weapons in operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained five suspected militants during operations to disrupt the Haqqani and Taliban terrorist networks in Afghanistan’s Khowst and Kandahar provinces.

CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The men and women of the Alaska National Guard are credited with saving 167 lives around the world in 2008.

WASHINGTON - A former military spouse has created a foundation of photographers that offers free photography sessions to deploying and deployed families.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - The Huda Girls’ School in Tarmiyah, Iraq, officially reopened its doors in a ceremony that featured speeches, poems and songs.

MANAMA, Bahrain - A new multinational task force is focusing on counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s increasing role in global health is essential in improving security in troubled nations and minimizing conflict in others, the Pentagon’s top medical official said.

WASHINGTON - The United States has the opportunity to successfully conclude the American effort in Iraq and gain a long-term democratic partner in the Middle East, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Several Army National Guard soldiers with recent bobsled wins have strengthened the U.S. Bobsled Team for the 2009 World Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y.

WASHINGTON - Some dedicated ladies in Philadelphia are using their skills to embroider dozens of ceremonial flags for the new presidential team.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - The U.S. Air Force band is preparing to march in the presidential inauguration parade. “We play for a lot of important functions, but this is as important as it gets,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Bowers.

NEW ORLEANS - A massive reconstruction of the historic Louisiana National Guard headquarters is under way and inching closer to its projected completion date of January 2010.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces and Afghan commandos killed 38 militants and seized multiple weapons caches during operations to disrupt bomb networks in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi forces detained two suspected criminals and seized several weapons caches in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Disney vacations have become more affordable for military people and their families.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Chaplain (Capt.) David Curry is accustomed to multitasking, from serving in the war on terror to counseling soldiers to advising the commander.

INDIAN HEAD, Md. - A highly specialized unit tasked to respond to domestic chemical or biological incidents recently dealt with a mock disaster during training at the Naval Support Facility in Indian Head, Md.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. soldiers are training new Afghan security guards to boost their effectiveness at traffic checkpoints.

WASHINGTON - After months of evaluating the criteria, Defense Department officials have decided against the notion of awarding the Purple Heart to military members who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

WASHINGTON - Top Defense Department leaders honored President George W. Bush at a farewell ceremony for his deep commitment to the men and women in uniform and their families and the trust he instilled as he led them through challenging times.

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush reflected on a list of “lasts” that includes his final weeks as the commander of U.S. military forces.

KIRKUK PROVINCE, Iraq - U.S. forces transferred the Riyadh, Iraq, train station to Iraqi control in a move local officials say signals a return to normalcy for the area.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan National Police and coalition forces seized four suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Khowst and Zabol provinces.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised President George W. Bush as a patriot who has championed America's military members while standing up to terrorists who threaten the United States.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Africa Command is laying plans to airlift heavy equipment to Sudan to support African Union and U.N. peacekeepers involved in the country’s Darfur region.

CAMP LIBERY, Iraq - Army Sgt. Timmothy Boyd has developed a reputation for exceeding expectations. Boyd is working on his master’s degree in computer science, but makes time to help friends with computer problems.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Marines raised the American flag during the dedication ceremony for the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker declared “a new era” for Iraq and the Iraqi-U.S. relationship.

BAGHDAD - Army Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, commander of Multinational Division Center, and more than two dozen soldiers met online in a division chat room to discuss a variety of topics.

WASHINGTON - The search is on for three Department of Defense Education Activity students to represent the department’s schools at the 2009 Research Science Institute.

WASHINGTON - The new strategic agreement in Iraq is having minimal impact on troops operating in provinces already under Iraqi control when it took effect.

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-coalition military campaign that deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the spring of 2003 has placed Iraq in a much-improved situation today, Vice President Richard B. Cheney said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces nabbed two bombing suspects, as well as nine other suspected terrorists.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. soldiers are teaming up with Afghan National Police to bring security to a key area of eastern Afghanistan by reaching out to residents and coordinating with leaders about their needs.

BAGHDAD - Inspired by his sons who joined the Marines, Army Maj. (Dr.) Robert Sexton returned to military service after a 38-year break. "I'm still physically fit," Sexton said. "I thought I could make a contribution."

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. forces in Baghdad seized two stockpiles of enemy weapons and detained four bombing suspects.

WASHINGTON - The number of U.S. military fatalities in Iraq in 2008 fell two-thirds compared to the previous year, underscoring an improvement in security amid upcoming provincial elections.

WASHINGTON - The Pakistani military is making good progress against militants who have threatened a major supply route running from Pakistan into Afghanistan, U.S. officials said.

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - An Air Force recruit from Silver Spring, Md., has lost 160 pounds in a major life change aimed at continuing his family's tradition of military service.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous enemy fighters, captured terrorism suspects and repelled two attacks against bases in recent days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces detained numerous terrorism suspects and seized stockpiles of illegal weapons in various operations this week, military officials reported.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan leaders and coalition members celebrated the opening of a bridge in Uruzgon province that promises residents a vibrant new connection to surrounding communities.

JOINT SECURITY STATION SAB AL BOUR, Iraq - The national symbol of Iraq was raised over the governance center in Sab al Bour, northwest of Baghdad, symbolizing the transition of control of a security station from the coalition forces back to the Iraqi government.

WASHINGTON - The United States formally transferred the Republican Palace back to the Iraqi government, a concrete symbol of the continuing improvement in the country.