KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - U.S. and other international troops in Afghanistan recently provided training in critical patient care and blood processing to Afghan doctors that they hope will spread throughout the country.

WASHINGTON - Military competitors showed off their speed, agility and dedication to physical fitness in the Pentagon Athletic Center’s Ultimate Fitness Challenge.

CAMP BUNDELA, India - U.S. soldiers deployed to India to train with the army there, and ended up learning some valuable lessons off the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - The Bold Quest 2009 exercise seeks to identify emerging technologies that can be used to save military and civilian lives during combat operations.

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq - The Iraqi air force has significantly enhanced its air defense capabilities with the arrival of a digital air surveillance radar system.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces detained several suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Paktia and Helmland provinces, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. forces advisors, detained several terrorism suspects in Iraq in recent days, including one believed responsible for the Oct. 11 bombing in Ramadi.

WASHINGTON - Search efforts continue after two military aircraft collided off the California coast, but a Defense Department official said it’s unlikely there are survivors among the nine people aboard.

WASHINGTON - As shipments of some 3.7 million doses of H1N1 vaccine ordered by the Defense Department continue to arrive from the manufacturer, more than enough will be available for all military personnel and their beneficiaries, military medical experts say.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Army Sgt. Nicholas Raia said it was a sense of duty that made him leave the good life as a Penn State student and weekend National Guard musician to serve in Iraq.

HOLYOKE, Mass. - The United States has the values, wealth, and support of its leadership to end homelessness among veterans, the top military officer said as he accepted an award for his efforts to stop what he said is a nationwide problem.

WASHINGTON - By promoting “total fitness" Defense Department officials hope to build on what many say already is the most resilient force in U.S. military history.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is sending additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as the most advanced drones and new platforms such as the MC-12, to counter deadly assaults in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department expects U.S. forces in Afghanistan to continue to be targeted by improvised explosive devices while it seeks ways to counter the threat.

WASHINGTON - The annual joint Empire Challenge demonstration explores how to improve dissemination of vital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to battlefield commanders.

WASHINGTON - The office of the Pentagon's director of defense research and engineering must balance the needs of today's warfighters and the needs of servicemembers a generation from now.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Defense Department has acquired enough doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine to immunize all 460,000 members of the National Guard.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, arrested several terrorism suspects in Iraq, military officials reported.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan National Police officers are developing their engagement skillls so they can build trust and relationships with the people they serve.

SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi airmen moved parts of a wrecked C-130 Hercules transport from Sather Air Base to New Al Muthana Air Base, Iraq, where they will be used as training aids for Iraqi aircraft maintainers.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A simulations analyst at Camp Lejeune, N.C., has turned his passion for martial arts and magic into a crowd-pleasing show.

WASHINGTON - Since 2002, Program Executive Office Soldier, better known simply as PEO Soldier, has been the Army’s dedicated organization in developing, enhancing and fielding soldier capabilities.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed the fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act during a ceremony at the White House.

WASHINGTON - The wives of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden praised servicemembers, veterans and their families during a visit to a Veterans Affairs hospital in New York City.

WASHINGTON - If not for the logistical capability and other unique assets the U.S. military has at its disposal during times of crises, the American population would suffer significantly, federal health officials said.

WASHINGTON - With President Barack Obama’s signature on the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, a controversial pay-for-performance personnel system was abolished.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. Postal Service officials have announced recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to U.S. servicemembers serving in Afghanistan and other overseas locations.

WASHINGTON - Former Army Staff Sgt. Joe Beimfohr credits innate stubborness and the examples of other wounded warriors with helping him after losing his legs.

KABUL - U.S. military authorities have determined that the cause of an MH-47 helicopter crash in Afghanistan’s Badghis province Oct. 26 was a combination of factors caused by very low visibility.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard first enjoyed worldwide visibility when he played a Soviet pilot who challenged actor Tom Cruise to a dogfight in the 1986 movie, "Top Gun." Today, Willard's job entails keeping the peace in half the world.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Spc. Meirong Wang, who was not in the United States long before she decided to serve, says she's inspired by the dedication of her fellow soldiers.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Army medics in Iraq are taking a major step forward in normalizing the training of Iraqi army medics by matching curriculum to clinics’ real-time needs, which for now, is treating colds and flu.

CAMP BUNDELA, India - About 250 U.S. soldiers completed a training exercise with their Indian counterparts in which the two armies swapped soldiers and traded war stories.

WASHINGTON - The security situation in southern Iraq is stable with Iraqi forces continuing to show courage and improvement, and American and Iraqi commanders said they expect security gains in the region to continue.

WASHINGTON - Breaking the cycle of "on-again, off-again" U.S.-China military-to-military relations is of primary importance to the two nations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told his Chinese counterpart.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is building a cadre of officers who each will serve a multi-year assignment dedicated to a narrow piece of the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - International Security Assistance Force members recovered the remains of three civilian crewmembers and the wreckage of an aircraft missing for two weeks in the rugged mountains of northeastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested seven suspected terrorists while searching for terrorist network leaders, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Eight U.S. troops and an Afghan civilian working with NATO forces were killed in multiple “complex” bomb attacks in southern Afghanistan.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Members of Afghan legal rights departments and police came together with U.S. personnel Oct. 11 to discuss the strategy for improving the legal system in three northeast provinces.

HAIDARI, Iraq - A project that began last year came to fruition when the village of Haidari celebrated the official opening of a newly renovated school.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gary Mishoe went from a lucrative job on a Ford assembly line to keeping vehicles rolling downrange in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Strengthening the collaboration on mental healthcare is imperative because “there is urgency in addressing the mental baggage of war,” the Veterans Affairs secretary said during a speech at a mental health summit in Washington.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama thanked U.S. military members for their service and sacrifice during his visit to a Florida Navy base. “You are the best-trained, the best-prepared, the best-led force in history,” he said.

WASHINGTON - Defense and Veterans Affairs Department health care professionals began a three-day workshop aimed at improving psychological health care for troops and veterans.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, conducted a series of operations resulting in the arrest of 11 suspects in vehicle-bomb networks operating between Baghdad and Mosul.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The American Academy of Ophthalmology presented military ophthalmologists with its Distinguished Service Award for their ongoing service and contributions to vision care.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Warfighters from the United States and 10 allied nations will assess coalition combat identification systems during a U.S. Joint Forces Command exercise Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The 11.25-mile road to economic success and increased security in Kunar province is paved, and a new bridge will link both sides of the Kunar River.

BAGHDAD - The Army Corps of Engineers has completed more than $1 billion in projects in Iraq this year, with none more critical than a new water treatment plant in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and NATO forces have removed dozens of insurgents from fighting in Afghanistan, including a long-sought-after Taliban commander.

WASHINGTON - Terrorist bombings that struck Baghdad demonstrate the security challenges that exist there, a senior Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed a national emergency declaration on H1N1 influenza over the weekend to accommodate American health care facilities’ ability to address the pandemic.

BAUMHOLDER, Germany - Army Sgt. 1st Class Chris Edwards can't perform all the physical duties of other NCOs, but he makes up for it with other key attributes for leading troops.

KABUL - Separate helicopter incidents have claimed the lives of servicemembers in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. basing in Japan, Japanese help in Afghanistan and regional and global challenges were among the issues the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed in Tokyo.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.,implements requests for forces and will play a key role if more U.S. troops get sent to Afghanistan -- or anywhere else.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The first mine–resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles designated for southern Afghanistan arrived by air transport, giving servicemembers safer and easier travel .

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama issued a statement commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Oct. 23, 1983, terrorist bombing of a Marine barracks that killed 241 U.S. Marines, soldiers and sailors in Beirut, Lebanon.

KABUL - A combined Afghan and international security force killed enemy fighters and wounded another yesterday after forcefully entering and searching a series of compounds in Afghanistan’s Wardak province.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi police and soldiers, working with U.S. advisors, arrested seven terrorism suspects in Iraq over the last two days, military officials reported.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Aided by U.S. forces, Iraqi soldiers gained skills ranging from first aid to Humvee maintenance during a course on Camp Mirra, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - As Iraq’s lawmakers craft new election rules prior to January polling there, U.S. officials are confident that both the U.S. troop drawdown and the elections will be accomplished on schedule.

WASHINGTON - As South Korea’s military transitions to full operational control, it’s important to remember the past 60 years of U.S. commitment to the country and to not waver in that support, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - “Drug Free is the Key” for the Defense Department’s Red Ribbon Week as it works to raise public awareness to combat tobacco, alcohol and drug use among military personnel, civilians and families.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Artillerymen are serving a critical role using illumination rounds to keep forward maneuvering units from getting ambushed at night and to provide fire support when patrols come into heavy contact.

WASHINGTON - Scientists at the Army Research Lab are working to reduce soldiers' loads where a battery pack can weigh as much as 35 pounds and basic body armor 45 pounds.

WASHINGTON - One military member was killed and eight were injured last night after an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a Navy ship off the coast of Fort Story, Va., just north of Virginia Beach.

WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of last month’s devastating earthquakes in Indonesia, rapid response and cooperation led to a successful humanitarian relief effort there, a Navy commander said.

WASHINGTON - The American Red Cross again will sponsor a national “Holiday Mail for Heroes” campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to servicemembers, veterans and their families in the United States and abroad.

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve's top enlisted soldier, Sgt. Maj. Leon E. Caffie, retires this month from an Army vastly different from the one he was drafted into almost 40 years ago.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - NATO defense ministers are expressing broad support for the new U.S. approach to missile defense in Europe and the opportunity it may offer to make Russia a partner in the effort, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s encouraged by unofficial endorsements NATO defense ministers are expressing for Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s strategy proposals for Afghanistan, along with indications they’re considering additional resources to support the mission there.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his fellow NATO defense ministers meeting in Slovakia will hear from the commander of the alliance’s International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden speaking in Bucharest, Romania, said the United States relies on its Central European allies to help confront 21st century challenges and praised the region for its post-Cold War progress.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has signed new legislation that creates predictable funding for veterans’ health care.

WASHINGTON - Violence in Iraq has dropped to the lowest levels seen since 2003 as the Iraqi people prepare to vote in new legislative and general elections slated for January, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and international security force detained almost a dozen suspected militants in Afghanistan, including a Haqqani terrorist organization commander.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Emond aids soldiers by providing Internet access in Afghanistan. "I'm supporting the warfighters at ground zero," he said.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION GARRYOWEN, Iraq - Fourteen soldiers deployed to Iraq from Fort Polk, La., take care of one of the smallest comforts of life: clean clothes. They wash and fold an average of 2,200 pounds of clothes per day.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s headed to a NATO defense ministers meeting in Slovakia confident there’s enough to discuss about Afghanistan even without a U.S. decision on the strategy there.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A California Army National Guard noncommissioned officer diagnosed with breast cancer is cancer-free today -- a fact she credits to early detection.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reaffirmed the United States’ “unwavering commitment” to its alliance with South Korea, assuring it will continue to provide extended deterrence against North Korea and other threats.

WASHINGTON - Senior Defense Department officials recognized contributions made by disabled contract employees like Alvin Ramlu, a retired Army specialist, during a Pentagon ceremony.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is well on schedule to meet President Barack Obama’s withdrawal timeline from Iraq, despite much work that remains, Pentagon officials told Congress.

NORFOLK, Va. - At the U.S. military nerve center responsible for coordinating the deployment of troops and equipment downrange, the neurons are likely to fire faster with the addition of a new, state-of-the-art command center.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will implement a new program this week to compensate former and current servicemembers for each month they involuntarily served from Sept. 11, 2001 to Sept. 30, 2009, a defense official said.

WASHINGTON - A military institution designed to provide emergency communications has moved to new quarters in the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. forces advisors, arrested two terrorism suspects and a murder suspect in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Seven families, one from each of the uniformed services, have been selected as National Military Family Association’s 2009 Military Families of the Year for the roles they play in their communities and the way they embrace the military lifestyle.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. and Afghan officials joined local residents in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province to officially open a spur connecting the historic Daraband pass to the main road in the Panjshir River valley.

RICHMOND, Va. - Twenty-two years in the Army wasn't enough to stop Darren Costine's urge to be in the fight. He volunteered for more -- this time as a civilian in the Middle East.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 17th Fires Brigade and the 14th Iraqi Army Division conducted their first joint medical military-civic operations clinic at Basra Operations Center, drawing about 150 people.

SEOUL, South Korea - It’s in the United States’ long-term interest to engage more closely with China, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, and his new top officer in the Pacific said he’s looking forward to the role he hopes to play in the dialogue.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on South Korea to assume a larger security role on the Korean peninsula and beyond.

TOKYO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised a close collaboration between the military and the White House in examining the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, dismissing news reports of a rift.

TOKYO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates re-emphasized in meetings with Japanese leaders the need to move forward with a previously agreed-to realignment plan for U.S. forces.

WASHINGTON - Getting the Army’s personnel aspects right is the most important job for its leaders, Army Secretary John M. McHugh said less than a month into the job.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama expressed gratitude for Veterans Affairs employees and their dedication during a visit to the department .

WASHINGTON - More than 11,000 soldiers from three units – two from the active duty Army and one from the Army National Guard -- will rotate into Afghanistan in the spring, summer and fall of 2010.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama applauded Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s consent for a second round of elections next month, calling the decision “an important step forward” for the country.

WASHINGTON - The importance of holding the Iraqi elections on time in January and furthering Iraqi-U.S. economic ties were at the center of discussions between President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the White House.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama paid a long-overdue tribute to the Vietnam War-era soldiers of Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden.

WASHINGTON - The security situation in northern Iraq has improved greatly in recent years, the deputy commanding general of U.S. forces there says.

WASHINGTON - Even as leaders in Washington struggle with the next steps in Afghanistan, troops there are moving to better protect the Afghan people and secure the border that country shares with Pakistan, NATO and Pentagon officials said.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested seven suspected terrorists today in northern Iraq, military officials reported.

KABUL - Afghan and international security forces killed militants, detained several suspects and seized weapons today in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Officials at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, are working to improve the quality of life for more than 20 tenant commands there, including Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.

HERAT, Afghanistan - Afghan soldiers and medical personnel, with the help of Italian, Spanish and U.S. forces, treated some 900 people during a three-day medical outreach in western Afghanistan last week.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, are working with the provincial reconstruction team and local government in Muthanna, Iraq, to bring clean water to residents who struggle with basic needs.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Sgt. Jonathan Taylor, an Army reservist, has had much to be proud of in his career, especially his recent work in Afghanistan’s Zabul province.

TOKYO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates plans to urge Japan's new government during meetings in Tokyo to leave intact security arrangements that have been years in the making.

EN ROUTE TO TOKYO - Questions about the legitimacy of Afghanistan’s national elections are a complicating factor, but President Barack Obama’s strategic review doesn’t hinge on the outcome, and ongoing military operations aren’t being affected, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over a change-of-command ceremony as Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating passed the U.S. Pacific Command helm to Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard.

EN ROUTE TO TOKYO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is on his way to Japan, where he will discuss a broad range of defense issues as the first Cabinet-level U.S. official to visit the new Japanese Democratic Party government since it took office last month.

WASHINGTON - Authorities are still looking for the wreckage of an Air Force F-16 fighter jet that crashed with its pilot into the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina’s coast.

WASHINGTON - Military commanders of the future should be proficient at managing high-tech communications networks and also should know how to wage conventional, irregular and hybrid warfare, a senior U.S. Navy officer said.

NEW YORK - Alison Buckholtz has turned her experiences as a Navy wife into a book aimed at offering civilian America a glimpse into the inner workings of a military family, and military families a chance to realize they're not alone.

WASHINGTON - An Army brigade slated to deploy to Iraq in January was relieved of its deployment orders without current plans for a new mission, Pentagon and Army officials said.

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Twelve special tactics airmen walked more than 800 miles through five states in a memorial march to honor their fallen comrades.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - An Illinois Army National Guard unit uses a “push crew” to make sure every mission takes off on time and each aircraft gets back to mission-ready status as soon as possible.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, arrested suspected terrorist cell leaders, detained other suspected terrorists and seized weapons in Iraq.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers are using the Raven, an unmanned aerial vehicle, as their "eyes in the sky" in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces killed multiple militants and detained several suspects in operations in Afghanistan.

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - Though she's personally paid a high price, Air Force Master Sgt. Lisa Peele plans to become a first sergeant so she can continue to "pay it forward."

WASHINGTON - Today’s reserve forces have made tremendous progress transforming from a strategic to an operational reserve, even as they continue to support two wars and hundreds of other missions around the world, a senior Defense Department official said.

HONOLULU - As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates travels to Japan and South Korea before heading to a NATO defense ministers conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, he’s expected to ensure the issue of support for Afghanistan remains solidly on front burner.

WASHINGTON - Despite testing anomalies cited in a Government Accountability Office report on body armor, the program executive officer for the organization that fields new equipment to soldiers said the armor plates in question are safe.

BAGHDAD - The commander of Multinational Corps Iraq has approved the findings of an internal investigation into the security of behavioral health facilitiesafter a May 11 shooting at the Camp Liberty combat stress clinic here in which five soldiers were killed.

OSHKOSH, Wis. - With the first shipment of the newly designed all-terrain mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles fielded in Afghanistan, several government agencies are now working with the manufacturer to ensure proper maintenance of the critical vehicle.

WASHINGTON - Scientists at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are working to turn science fiction into science fact to support warfighters on the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - Coast Guard searchers found crash debris believed to belong to a missing Air Force pilot’s F-16 jet that collided with another F-16 near the South Carolina coast, an Air Force spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates accepted the prestigious Marshall Foundation Award, calling George C. Marshall his hero and inspiration as defense secretary.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - In a world full of choices, Army Spc. Timothy Markle took a few wrong turns before finding his focus, first in football, then in the military.

WASHINGTON - The services could more effectively power unmanned vehicles, underwater monitoring sensors, ships and aircraft if Naval Research Laboratory scientists achieve their goals of harnessing solar and sea power to fuel the military.

WASHINGTON - American and United Nations officials are urging the Iraqi parliament to move quickly on legislation to allow Iraq to hold national elections in January.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is closely monitoring the situation in Pakistan, following a series of terrorist attacks there that have killed or injured scores of innocent people, a senior Pentagon spokesman said.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces killed militants in a clash in which a woman and child died in the crossfire, killed several more enemy fighters in a separate operation, and arrested more than a dozen militants who had set up an illegal checkpoint in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, working with U.S. advisors, arrested six terrorism suspects in four operations in Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The Joint Enabling Capabilities Command is going a long way to provide command and control capabilities to joint headquarters commanders worldwide.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Colorado Army National Guard joined rescue efforts for a 6-year-old boy believed adrift in a homemade hot air balloon.

NEW YORK - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen drew quite the laughs at the expense of political elites at the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation dinner, but still managed acclaim for the 2.2 million military members in his charge.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama vowed to make the voices of U.S. military families heard in the nation’s capital, and called on Americans to recognize the sacrifices made by those in uniform and their loved ones.

WASHINGTON - Dr. Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, knows what it feels like to say goodbye to a son heading off to war. She joined Marine families at Camp Lejeune, N.C., as they bid farewell to their loved ones headed to Afghanistan.

NEW YORK - Deborah Mullen, wife of the nation’s most senior military officer, had a message for military families while on the Sesame Street TV set in New York: servicemembers and their families have a wealth of support behind them.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials stress that no matter what computer you use, you need to take cybersecurity into account.

WASHINGTON - Two Air Force bomb technicians discussed IEDs and other threats in Afghanistan during a “DoD Live” bloggers roundtable.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Pakistan, vowing continued U.S. support to help Pakistan combat violence.

NEW YORK - As filming for Sesame Workshop’s latest “Talk, Listen, Connect,” video got under way, it became clear that while it’s not always sunny on Sesame Street, ultimately the clouds can be swept away.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - In a country where fewer than 30 percent of people are considered literate, U.S. forces are working to help in rebuilding Afghanistan’s education system.

WASHINGTON - With more than 1.1 million active and reserve-component soldiers in the U.S. Army, some may wonder how the service could be stressed, as is commonly discussed and reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 15 suspects in a variety of operations in recent days.

KITGUM, Uganda - When Staff Sgt. John Okumu joined the Army five years ago, he never dreamed he would one day deploy to Africa, the continent he once called home.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces killed and detained multiple suspected militants in operations to interdict Taliban activity in Afghanistan’s Zabul and Wardak provinces in recent days.

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard cutter Legare has returned from a 120-day mission in support of the Navy's 6th Fleet along Africa’s west coast.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will welcome China's second-ranking military officer to Washington in late October as part of an effort to foster a strategic bi-lateral dialogue.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will kick off a whirlwind around-the-world trip this weekend that will begin with a change of command ceremony at U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii.

SAQLAWIYA, Iraq - The 82nd Airborne's 504th was the first infantry regiment in the Army to be designated airborne; now it is part of the newest tool in the Army’s arsenal developed for an advise-and-assist brigade.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have been straightforward about the number of U.S. troops flowing into Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department continues its efforts to provide the best support possible to the nation’s military veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a House committee.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt - U.S. Marines and sailors were part of a four-nation coalition that stormed the beaches near Alexandria, Egypt, during a major amphibious assault demonstration as part of Exercise Bright Star.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - U.S. troops and reconstruction team members in Iraq’s Basra province distributed 20 wheelchairs to children with special needs.

WASHINGTON - Congress has reached agreement on a $680.2 billion National Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal 2010.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, working with U.S. advisors, apprehended a bribery suspect and an associate of an alleged extortionist in Mosul, Iraq.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines in Afghanistan's Helmand province helped local farmers with free veterinary care for their goats, sheep and cows.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ - Farmers in Iraq’s Ninevah province are turning to “Farmer Fred,” an American helping them extend the growing season with greenhouses.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Both components of the National Guard reached the dual goals of recruiting new troops while reducing the overall force to meet a congressional mandate for fiscal year 2009.

WASHINGTON - The military services’ active and reserve components notched record recruiting numbers and signed up the highest-quality recruits ever in fiscal 2009, senior defense officials said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, with U.S. advisors, have made numerous arrests of suspected terrorists.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces have disrupted several terrorist networks in Afghanistan, including a major drug operation.

WASHINGTON - In an executive order issued Oct. 1, President Barack Obama banned federal employees from text messaging while behind the wheel on government business.

WASHINGTON - A new Department of Veterans Affairs ruling will soon relieve Vietnam veterans suffering from three specific illnesses from the burden of proving their ailments are linked to Agent Orange exposure to receive VA health care and disability payments.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s top civilian official for Guard and Reserve matters and uniformed reserve-component leaders pledged to support employers of the nation’s Guard and Reserve members at a Pentagon ceremony.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army’s top military officer and civilian leader underscored the service’s commitment to Army families at last week’s annual meeting and exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army.

QUANTICO, Va. - Paul Mann, credited with the quick delivery of the mine-resistant, armor-protected vehicle to Afghanistan, is the inaugural recipient of an award named for a man known as the father of the Navy's Aegis weapons system.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - The 17th Fires Brigade and the provincial reconstruction team in Iraq’s Basra province are dispersing $97,500 in small-business grants to entrepreneurs.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Officials at Joint Sustainment Command Afghanistan are reaching out to the community as they establish the second humanitarian assistance yard.

WASHINGTON - Army Brig. Gen. Ed Cardon, deputy commandant of the Army Command and General Staff College, says military and interagency cooperation in training and education will become more vital as future deployments involve stability operations.

WASHINGTON - A solar-energy array at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is saving money for the Air Force and decreasing the service’s reliance on fossil fuels.

PHILADELPHIA - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the man for whom the USS Wayne E. Meyer guided-missile destroyer was named during the ship’s commissioning into the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense Education Activity has reason to be proud of 12 students this year -- the students are national scholarship semifinalists, able to compete for millions of dollars in scholarship funds. The Activity's director said the students "also distinguished themselves in the ways they give back to their communities."

WASHINGTON - NATO’s International Security Assistance Forces have completed their repositioning from two combat outposts in Nuristan province to other areas in eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Scientists are working to create energy self-sufficiency for the Defense Department, the nation’s largest single consumer of energy, a defense expert said.

WASHINGTON - Cooperation is growing between navies and commercial shipping interests, Navy Rear Adm. M. Stewart O'Bryan, director of Navy’s maritime domain awareness, told bloggers in Rhode Island during the 19th annual Seapower Symposium.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he'll accept the Nobel Peace Prize as a "call to action" for the international community to work together to confront common challenges, while also recognizing his responsibility for U.S. security.

WASHINGTON - The USS Ingraham was among the first responders providing humanitarian relief in American Samoa following a tsunami.

KADENA AIRBASE, Japan - Airmen with the 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Airbase are supporting humanitarian relief operations in the aftermath of earthquakes near Padang in western Indonesia.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Army Chaplain (Maj.) Michael J. King is determined to provide spiritual and emotional support to all soldiers under his care in Iraq.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - As he focuses on a new approach to supporting the fight in Afghanistan, the new 10th Mountain Division commander said he also intends to volunteer his soldiers to serve as an operational test-bed for the Army’s long-term modernization efforts.

WASHINGTON - As the Defense Department reforms its buying process, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official seeks to strike a balance between improving the system and keeping it efficient, he told an international audience.

WASHINGTON - The proposed U.S. missile defense system for Europe will provide better defense against existing and longer-range threats, the assistant secretary of defense for international security said during an interview with defense writers.

WASHINGTON - Army leaders say they are making progress in their efforts to prevent soldier suicides, despite a growing number of reports.

WASHINGTON - More than 800 celebrities turned out for the annual USO Gala, but it was the servicemembers who stole the show.

WASHINGTON - An Army armored cavalry unit and three brigade combat teams will deploy to Iraq next summer as part of annual troop rotations there, Pentagon officials announced.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is developing an advanced “bunker-buster” bomb that should be ready for deployment this summer, senior Pentagon officials said.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - With five of the 10th Mountain Division’s six brigade-size elements deployed, returning from deployments or en route to new deployments, their new commander said he’s focused on ensuring their wellness and resiliency and that of their families.

WASHINGTON - Attacks committed by al-Qaida and other insurgents in Baghdad and its environs continue to drop three months after U.S. combat troops moved out of Iraqi cities, a U.S. brigade commander posted in Iraq says.

WASHINGTON - Several military operations in southern and eastern Afghanistan resulted in insurgents killed and captured, military officials reported.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Providing better care for survivors of fallen servicemembers is a concern near and dear to the hearts of lawmakers and military leaders, but maybe to none more so than the Army chief of staff.

WASHINGTON - The price was right for former game show host and naval aviator Bob Barker, who donated $3 million to help warriors suffering traumatic brain injuries.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq - U.S. soldiers recently provided humanitarian aid to Iraqis in an area locals refer to as the “Lost City.”

BUTLERVILLE, Ind. - Civilians from a U.S. State Department provincial reconstruction team readied for an assignment in Afghanistan with help from a Marine unit at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana.

FORT GORDON, Ga. - A sudden accident may have cost Army Staff Sgt. Luis Elias his hand, but it hasn't stripped him of his positive attitude or impacted his service career plans for the future.

WASHINGTON - NATO and Afghan troops detained several militants and destroyed weapons and drug caches in separate operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Future U.S. military weapons are going to have to be relevant, adaptable and affordable, the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer told defense contractors.

WASHINGTON - As President Barack Obama and senior defense and national security leaders reconvened meetings on the way forward in Afghanistan, they did so with the addition of Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s list of requested resources.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for military families, the director of the department’s Family Advocacy Program said in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department needs to balance the needs of today’s wars with tomorrow’s requirements, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics said.

LIBREVILLE, Gabon - Nearly 200 people from 26 countries and three international organizations came together in Gabon to participate in Exercise Africa Endeavor.

WASHINGTON - Portable satellite-communications sets, water purifiers, electricity generators, solar-cooking devices and more are on display until Oct. 9 at Fort Lesley J. McNair as part of an international program co-coordinated by National Defense University.

WASHINGTON - International cooperation is the currency of naval power today, the chief of naval operations said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - As the president continues to review his Afghanistan strategy, the commander of U.S. Central Command said the decision is likely to hinge on one of three approaches to reversing the insurgency’s gains.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised Iraqi President Jalal Talabani at a White House meeting for his work toward promoting national unity in Iraq and conveyed continued U.S. support for the country's progress.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - U.S. troops joined residents of Basra, Iraq, for the opening of a new school for advanced learners that the school's principal called "an educational beacon" for the city.

WASHINGTON - Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, appearing on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," told his TV host that women soon will serve on submarines, suggesting a reversal of the service's long-standing ban on female submariners.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - As a noncommissioned officer with a combat aviation brigade, Army Sgt. William Altman ensures excellence at his operations center in Iraq, even during the slow times.

WASHINGTON - The Army must structure itself to face a future of persistent conflict as it takes on a long-term struggle against terrorism and militant extremists, the service’s top officer said.

WASHINGTON - The Army plans to deploy 17 of its Stryker combat vehicles to India for the first exercise of its kind in the country.

WASHINGTON - David Dominguez has set up a nonprofit organization called "Freedom is Not Free" to remind people of the sacrifices being made on their behalf.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised members of the U.S. intelligence community, pointing out that the terrorist attacks they’ve foiled have saved countless American lives. "For that, America is in your debt," he said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, arrested a terrorist leader and other suspected terrorists in operations in Iraq.

RAMADI, Iraq - Iraqi forces disrupted a kidnapping organization and saved a young kidnapping victim.

WASHINGTON - American and Korean veterans of the Korean War gathered with U.S. Army and South Korean leaders to pay tribute at the National Korean War Memorial.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Two football fans are using a deep-seated rivalry as a way to spur people back home to send donations for the people of Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - American Forces Press Service, the Defense Department’s vehicle for news and feature content on the Defense.gov Web site, has unveiled a “widget” for photographs.

BAGHDAD - Senior Iraqi leaders and members of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq gathered for Iraq's second human rights conference.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Army aviator Maj. Anthony Meador made a tough decision while evacuating a patient in bad weather in Iraq.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Carolyn Louise Herring Moore, a playwright and military spouse, has created a drama about her experiences with an abusive husband to help others address domestic violence.

WASHINGTON - Withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan before accomplishing the mission there would greatly embolden Islamic radicals worldwide, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates paid a personal tribute to noncommissioned officers while speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army conference.

ZURBATIYAH, Iraq - Work to improve commerce and security in Iraq continued as a cargo transload area opened along the Iraq-Iran border.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s decisions on the next phase of the Afghan war will be among the most important of his presidency, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who vowed to faithfully execute his orders. Gates spoke to the Association of the U.S. Army.

WASHINGTON - As the U.S. military continues to provide assistance to victims of storms and earthquakes in the Philippines and Indonesia, tsunami relief operations in American Samoa are tapering off.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Hawaii National Guard’s medical mission in American Samoa wrapped up over the weekend, but 14 Guardsmen with the state’s civil support team will remain there to conduct joint hazardous-material and damage assessment operations.

WASHINGTON - National Security Advisor Retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones said current discussions about Afghanistan revolve around an overall strategy that includes economic development, strengthening the government, and building up Afghan security forces.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and NATO troops killed or detained numerous militant fighters throughout eastern and southern Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Army Staff Sgt. Tyler Fosheim is a history buff who uses common sense and the Army’s legacy for insight and inspiration in his duties as a platoon sergeant.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested several suspected terrorist leaders in Iraq in recent days, military officials reported.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Children in Kunar province are watching their future being built as U.S. Army engineers and Afghan contractors build a school outside their classroom tent.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Pacific Command continues to help in coordinating humanitarian relief operations in American Samoa, Indonesia and the Philippines, the command’s top officer said.

WASHINGTON - The National Cyber Security Alliance – sponsors of Cyber Security Awareness Month – has some tips to help protect you and your family from information meltdown.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Safety Oversight Council is working to reduce preventable accidents in the military, which affect operational readiness and cost the department more than $3 billion annually.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A physician assistant with the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing described the damage he witnessed in American Samoa: "A very beautiful spot...absolutely devastated."

WASHINGTON - The Navy is merging its information technology, intelligence and communications operations into one organization to remain dominant in the "Cyber Age," the Navy's top officer said.

WASHINGTON - the Homeowners Assistance Program is expanding to help more servicemembers and federal employees forced to take a loss on their homes due to required relocations.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - Personnel with the 779th Aeromedical Staging Facility at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., provide wounded warriors -- 5,230 so far this year -- with better care than some say they ever could imagine.

WASHINGTON - The Army’s new Comprehensive Fitness Program aims to improve all aspects of soldier fitness, for physical and mental toughness.

WASHINGTON - The medical support situation in American Samoa has stabilized amid ongoing U.S. relief efforts after a massive tsunami devastated the area this week.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP BUTLER, Japan - The U.S. military is providing critically needed disaster-relief supplies to mitigate suffering and prevent further loss of life in the wake of Tropical Storm Ketsana, which struck the Philippines on Sept. 25.

BAGHDAD - Some people turn to the Internet for a lesson in military history, but Army engineers in Baghdad need only to turn to their co-worker, Pat Riley.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A Kansas National Guard agribusiness team is working with farmers in Afghanistan's Laghman province to introduce the ancient saffron plant as an alternative to growing poppies.

BETHESDA, Md. - Bonnie Carroll, co-chair of the congressionally mandated Suicide Prevention Task Force, is working to remove the stigma in seeking mental health care.

WASHINGTON - The deployments of about 1,600 U.S. troops in Iraq could be extended in the weeks following the national election slated to occur in January.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is getting the ground-level perspective on Afghanistan, and soon will address the strategy and resources needed in the country, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Sometime around Thanksgiving, some troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will receive boxes filled with gifts from a women’s group in Alexandria, Va.

WASHINGTON - The war in Afghanistan can be won if forces there change the way they fight, said U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top military commander on the ground there.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department schools are stressing studies in science, technology, engineering and math in keeping with 21st century needs, the head of the Department of Defense Education Activity’s science program said.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn said the department’s culture regarding cyber security issues must change, and become more robust to ensure safety of information networks.

WASHINGTON - Members of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force met with Helmand province village elders after reports civilians were killed in an engagement between ISAF forces and insurgents.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, have arrested an alleged terrorist financier and recruiter, as well as five suspects in a roadside bomb network.

WASHINGTON - The adoption of a new U.S. missile defense approach does not represent a departure from earlier objectives nor was it influenced by U.S.-Russian relations, top Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - In response to Federal Emergency Management Agency requests, National Guard assets from Hawaii continue to provide air-cargo operations and other support to tsunami victims on American Samoa.

WASHINGTON - A soldier stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., who died Sept. 10, possibly is the first H1N1-related death suffered by the U.S. armed forces, Army officials said.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel in northeast Afghanistan were satisfied with a recent flyover assessment of ongoing construction projects.

BAGHDAD - When Spc. Ikram Mansori enlisted in the Army, she signed up to be a truck driver. Now the native Moroccan who speaks five languages has found her niche as a linguist.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - The Iraqi air force is a step closer to using their own pilots and resources to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions across southern Iraq.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - When an Army training team delivered children’s medicine and candy to the people in Iraq’s Maysan province, the kids were elated – at least for the candy.