WASHINGTON - The risks associated with overturning law and policies to allow gays to serve openly in the military are low, if defense officials and military leaders allow the proper amount of time to train troops on the change, leaders of a Pentagon working group on the issue said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said a Defense Department’s report on the impact of the possible repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law is proof that the nation “can transition to a new policy in a responsible manner.”

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command is transforming conceptual science into valuable battlefield capabilities for warfighters.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have released the Comprehensive Review Working Group’s plan for implementing a possible repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that calls for a phased course of action.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged the Senate to repeal the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law this year after fully studying the potential impact on military readiness and performance.

WASHINGTON - Some 400 Afghan soldiers are fully trained to run the detention center in Parwan, said the U.S. commander of an interagency detainee task force.

WASHINGTON - A newly released Defense Department report on the impact of a possible repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law focused "rightly on those who would most be affected," said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - A change in the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military can be implemented without irreparable harm, the co-chair of a Pentagon working group that studied the matter said.

WASHINGTON - NATO officials have confirmed that a Taliban leader was killed in a recent gun battle with Afghan and coalition forces in the Paktiya province.

WASHINGTON - Recognizing and finding ways to accommodate the changing needs of troops and their families with regard to the military workplace should be a priority for leaders, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indiana National Guardsman recently demonstrated his commanding skills in another kind of battle - on a chess board in a NATO - sponsored competition.

WASHINGTON - Agreements reached at the NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, represent a blueprint the alliance must follow with “long-term construction projects,” said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Just seven months after her son was killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq, and with her husband still serving in Afghanistan, Sheila Patton is facing the holidays with a determination to help others.

WASHINGTON - The recent WikiLeaks release of classified State Department documents constitutes an attack not only on America, but also on the international community, said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama proposed a two-year federal pay freeze to aid in reducing the federal deficit, starting with saving $2 billion over the rest of this fiscal year. The president's proposed pay freeze would not include military members.

WASHINGTON - National Guard soldiers and airmen are making a big difference to civilian law enforcement officers working along the U.S. southwest border.

WASHINGTON - A gunman in an Afghan Border Police uniform turned his weapon against coalition forces during a training mission, killing six NATO servicemembers.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Through weekly tutoring sessions in algebra, Air Force Maj. Jim Dorn helps deployed airmen turn their academic struggles into success.

WASHINGTON - The military can prove to be a demonstration of patriotism, a college payment plan, or just a way to get out of town and start adulthood. For Ryan Berkshire, it was all three.

WASHINGTON - Government officials condemned the publication of hundreds of thousands of sensitive, classified State Department cables by WikiLeaks - the website's third such publication - and detailed efforts to prevent future leaks.

WASHINGTON - The United States is “very committed” to begin drawing down its forces in Afghanistan in July, but large numbers will remain, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - The only thing predictable about the North Korean regime is its unpredictability, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a televised interview.

WASHINGTON - Movements of troops in South Korea and ships in the Yellow Sea are part of long-planned exercises and shouldn’t be seen as a response to North Korea’s Nov. 23 attack on Yeonpyeong Island, the commander of United Nations Command said.

WASHINGTON - NATO in Afghanistan confirmed through operational reporting and the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan that none of its aircrafts crossed the border into Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Military veterans gave up the comforts of "normal" life to serve their country, said Lisa Reed, an Air Force veteran.

WASHINGTON - A counterinsurgency campaign is a lot like a roller coaster with many ups and downs, said Army Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and deputy commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

INDIANAPOLIS - Army Pfc. Alyssia Brown, a member of the Indiana National Guard, graduated at the top of her class from the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

WASHINGTON - As a third-generation Navy man, John Gainer knew what kind of commitment and dedication it would take when he accepted a commission in 1992.

WASHINGTON - Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have at least two things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: lowered violence in Iraq and a schedule that has them home before Christmas.

WASHINGTON - North Korea’s artillery assault on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island is an issue of concern in a region that wants stability, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said on ABC’s “The View” television show.

WASHINGTON - The recent NATO summit enhanced the organization’s interaction with Russia and the strategic partnership with Afghanistan as well as furthering progress on European missile defense, the top U.S. military commander in Europe said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy Surgeon General has received Djibouti’s highest honor for work performed in that country by the men and women of Navy medicine to enhance infectious disease surveillance there and in the region.

WASHINGTON - South Korean officials have announced that two of the four dead in the unprovoked attack by North Korea were civilians. Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity, U.S.- South Korean naval exercises will go on as planned.

WASHINGTON - Times are tough for the Air National Guard, but Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt III sees many "great" opportunities for his 106,700-member force to excel in the future.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan have confirmed the deaths of two Taliban leaders killed in recent airstrikes.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the Army National Guard's senior enlisted leader, said soldiers must adopt the “New Norm” policy, which makes asking for mental health assistance a priority.

WASHINGTON - Many military families have grown accustomed to frequent holiday separations after multiple deployments and nearly a decade of war, but that repetition doesn’t make it easier over time, just more routine.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expresses his personal thanks to members of the armed forces and their families and wishes all a happy Thanksgiving. The profound commitment and sacrifice of U.S. servicemembers and their families continues to inspire the nation, he said.

WASHINGTON - Thousands of U.S. servicemembers are spending their Thanksgiving in a combat zone, far from family and friends. And for most, after a nearly a decade of war, this holiday will be far from the first they’ve missed.

WASHINGTON - If John McAllister didn't join the military, he wouldn’t have met his wife, or developed the lifelong friendships only the service’s camaraderie can foster.

BAGHDAD - Army Staff Sgt. Jason Motes is now among an elite brotherhood within the United States Armor Association - The Order of St. George, symbolizing bravery, dedication and decency.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates condemned the attack by North Korea on the small South Korean island of Yeonpyeong in a morning call to the South Korean defense minister, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force’s senior civilian said the Air National Guard leads the way in providing "maximum combat power when and where the nation needs it, with the absolute best value for each and every taxpayer dollar."

WASHINGTON - Progress across Afghanistan remains uneven, with modest gains in security, governance and development in key areas, according to a Defense Department report sent to Congress.

WASHINGTON - Military efforts in four northern Afghanistan provinces are yielding progress in security and development that links people and government.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents this morning and last night during operations throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - With almost all the 101st Airborne Division deployed to Afghanistan, military spouses here have their hands full taking care of each other. Their chaplain warns they must remember to care for themselves.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said it is “significant” that the South Korean air force itself is leading that nation's air defenses at a time when North Korea has become increasingly provocative.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan government has the lead role in reconciliation talks with the Taliban, Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told MSNBC. U.S. troops only provide safe transportation for people meeting with Afghan leaders, he said.

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Two Air Force captains have set their sights to conquer the 16,076-feet-high Vinson Massif, Antarctica’s highest mountain, as part of their physical fitness goals.

WASHINGTON - Nine wounded warriors joined Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden for an early Thanksgiving dinner in their home at the U.S. Naval Observatory.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers and veterans savor the friendships they make with comrades during wartime, said John Teetz, an Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department affirmed its alliance with South Korea and is closely monitoring the situation on the Korean peninsula in the wake of the North Korean artillery attack on South Korea.

WASHINGTON - The White House condemned the North Korean artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong which killed two and injured 15.

WASHINGTON - The United States is a Pacific power and will remain committed to security and stability in Asia, said Michele Flournoy, the undersecretary of defense for policy.

WASHINGTON - The new headquarters staff of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa is training to deploy to Djibouti for duty in January.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia - Transparency in defense spending breeds trust among nations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a defense ministers' conference in Bolivia.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, at a conference in Bolivia, gave a strong endorsement of a proposal that would improve international cooperation among Western Hemisphere nations in disaster relief efforts.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents, found weapons and uncovered drug caches during operations today in southern and eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Afghan soldiers are in for a surprise when they meet their instructor, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Tricia McBride, the first female Marine assigned to advise local forces.

WASHINGTON - Recruiting and retention numbers for October are on target, defense officials said as they announced a change in the way they report numbers.

WASHINGTON - Arlen Bliefernicht received Purple Hearts for his service during the Vietnam War, but says his most important achievement was coming home alive.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - A rigorous training regimen is paying dividends for 101st Airborne Division soldiers deployed to Afghanistan as part of the troop surge.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia - Opportunities to expand military cooperation highlighted discussions Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had during meetings with two of his South American counterparts in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia - Nations that want to have a relationship with Iran should be careful because of its habit of ignoring U.N. Security Council Resolutions, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - After years of fighting the war in Afghanistan without enough NATO or U.S. forces, new agreements reached at the NATO Summit have brought unity to the multinational effort in that nation, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia - A report on the ramifications of repealing the law banning gay men and lesbians from serving openly will be released Nov. 30, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia - The NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, was a “tremendous success” from the U.S. standpoint, with agreements secured on issues such as missile defense, NATO reform and Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Iraq has made tremendous progress, but the country still needs American support, Vice President Joe Biden said.

WASHINGTON - Revelations that North Korea has secretly built a uranium enrichment facility validate long-standing concerns about that nation’s nuclear intentions, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, said.

WASHINGTON - The NATO-Russia Council Summit that took place in Lisbon, Portugal, offers another step toward the reset of relations between the United States and Russia, President Barack Obama said.

SANTIAGO, Chile - The Chilean military can offer a wealth of experience in disaster relief operations to the United States and other nations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff outlined the Defense Department’s efforts to strengthen families, bolster education opportunities and ensure a good future for its veterans -- and he asked for help.

WASHINGTON - Saint Silver has suffered from several disorders since the Vietnam War, but says serving in the Army was the best thing that ever happened to him.

WASHINGTON - The new NATO Strategic Concept adopted by alliance leaders at the Lisbon Summit takes the lessons of the Balkans and Afghanistan and joins them with the core values of the pact.

WASHINGTON - Representatives of those who are fighting together in Afghanistan to restore that nation’s security and governance formalized their partnership as the NATO Summit closed in Lisbon, signing declarations that affirm their long-term commitment.

SANTIAGO, Chile - Any U.S. forces remaining in Afghanistan past the end of 2014 would be there in a training or “advise and assist” capacity, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

SANTIAGO, Chile - “Serious consequences” could result if the Senate fails to ratify the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and Russia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at a news conference in Santiago, Chile.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama used his weekly address to the nation to stress the importance of ratifying the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty this year, calling the treaty fundamental to national security.

SANTIAGO, Chile - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' trip to Santiago, Chile, is intended to reinforce an already strong military relationship between the two countries, and find solutions to shared interests such as a regional disaster relief.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said decisions NATO heads of state have made in Lisbon have fully aligned the alliance’s vision and approach to collective security for the 21st century.

DALLAS - The nation’s wounded warriors and veterans face extraordinary challenges in the years ahead, the military’s top officer told members of the World Congress on Disabilities in Dallas.

WASHINGTON - Everyone’s life is a story, and the Defense Department helped 10 servicemembers and one Army spouse tell their stories to America in a Web event sponsored by TED, a nonprofit organization.

WASHINGTON - A final investment in the transition to a civilian-led U.S. presence in Iraq will produce enduring results and create a stabilizing force in the region.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s International Security Assistance Force may be able to start transitioning security of some Afghan provinces to Afghan control as early as January, Vice President Joe Biden said.

WASHINGTON - An advisory council will provide survivors with options for how they receive life insurance compensation for fallen servicemembers and deceased veterans.

WASHINGTON - Troops in Afghanistan’s Regional Command–Southwest will receive 14 M1A1 Abrams tanks to aid in the fight against the Taliban.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - The 101st Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team soldiers operating in Afghanistan are keeping motivated and focused on their mission thanks to their “Currahee spirit” and support from the home front.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces uncovered several weapons caches during operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand, Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces.

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Maj. Lisa Reaver, an Air Force reservist with the 477th Fighter Group, found out what she was made of when she traveled to Africa to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro.

WASHINGTON - When Robert Mowl graduated from high school, he knew he was going to join the Army. But he didn't realize it would become his career for 21 years.

WASHINGTON - When the nation’s senior military officer spoke to a Harvard University audience, students at the nation’s senior university spoke back.

WASHINGTON - The end of 2014 is the aspirational goal for turning all security responsibility over to the Afghan government, and American leaders expect that goal to be blessed at the NATO Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to South America this weekend, first to meet with his counterpart in Chile and then to attend a meeting of Western Hemisphere defense ministers in Bolivia.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - The commander of the last combat brigade deployed to Afghanistan as part of the troop surge reports that from his vantage point the multipronged counterinsurgency strategy is working.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama stressed the importance of ratifying the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty this year, calling the treaty imperative to national security.

WASHINGTON - The report of the working group looking at the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law will be released in full Dec. 1, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition patrol repelled an insurgent attack while conducting a patrol in the Sar Kani district of Kunar province.

WASHINGTON - A new Defense Department agency employs combined medical expertise to track health, illness and injury across the military services, much the way the Centers for Disease Control protect public health.

WASHINGTON - The United States is confronting security threats that are complex, unremitting and compelling, said Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler, the nominee to become the chief of U.S. Strategic Command.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next commander of U.S. Africa Command, outlined his objectives during a confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee.

BABIL PROVINCE, Iraq - Peter Higgins has spent the past three years ensuring that 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment soldiers operate their equipment in a safe manner.

WASHINGTON - A pilot program that eases medical separation and speeds benefit payments for servicemembers soon will roll out to the entire force.

WASHINGTON - Former Navy Commander Chris Harris didn’t see the military as an end, but rather as a means to another end, when he accepted an ROTC scholarship.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - During his 42-year military career, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has come to the conclusion that military power may prove to be the best first tool of the state, but it should never be the only one.

WASHINGTON - Continuing the job of resetting the relationship with Russia is among the United States’ highest priorities, said Alexander Vershbow, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

WASHINGTON - Medal of Honor recipient Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta refused to take sole credit for his actions in October 2007 on a remote mountainside in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, when he risked his life to save the lives of wounded comrades.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised his Israeli counterpart for improving U.S.-Israeli military-to-military contacts during his term of office.

WASHINGTON - Defense leaders are taking steps to bring defense industrial and domestic partners under an umbrella of protection from cyber attacks, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Everyone’s life is a story, and the Defense Department will help 10 servicemembers and an Army spouse tell their stories as part of a Nov. 19 Web event sponsored by TED, a nonprofit organization.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised the courage and valor of Medal of Honor recipient Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta as the Afghanistan war veteran was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces are redoubling their efforts to remove insurgent leaders from the fight in Afghanistan, and Afghan security forces are showing more operational leadership.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Army Col. Michael Herman knew he wanted to serve in Afghanistan in some capacity. He now is helping to develop the Afghan National Army.

WASHINGTON - Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Roy Penman said patriotism induced him to fight in Vietnam and years later, deploy for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s goals in attending the NATO Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, are to underscore the U.S. commitment to Europe and NATO while discussing the way forward in Afghanistan, White House officials said.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Nighttime raids in Afghanistan are conducted only under strict guidelines and approval, with stringent attention paid to preventing civilian casualties.

WASHINGTON - Even in a time of budgetary constraints, the United States must maintain its military might to address the security challenges of today and the future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council.

WASHINGTON - Affordability, incentives and productivity growth are the ingredients to get the most out of the next Defense Department budget, Undersecretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta for the soldier's heroic actions in Afghanistan in October 2007.

WASHINGTON - Young children from military families are more likely to seek mental and behavioral health care when a parent is deployed than when a parent is at home.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps needs to be like a middleweight boxer –- agile, quick and deadly, the commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command said.

WASHINGTON - Security forces captured more than 20 insurgents in their search for terrorist network leaders operating in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Sgt. James T. Schmidt said the service and experiences of soldiers in past wars helped him decide to devote his career to the military.

WASHINGTON - When Frank “Irish” Healey was in Vietnam, he was a walking dead man. At least that’s what infamous broadcaster “Hanoi Hannah” said of Healey and his fellow Marines.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces detained numerous insurgent fighters in at least a dozen operations conducted throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have shared a productive discussion on security and economic issues, and will address Russia-NATO cooperation later this week.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reiterated their call to the Senate to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and stressed the national security objectives the new treaty will advance.

WASHINGTON - Army Staff Sgt. Brian Willette had the chance of a lifetime to have his son, Army Pvt. Kevin Nieves, pin on his Purple Heart during a ceremony in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Nick Gillen thought the day he left for Vietnam in 1967 would be the last he saw his country. Today, he takes pride in the brotherhood he created with his fellow soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Michael Tripp is a certified public accountant in East Providence, R.I. He’s also one of the most famous faces from the Vietnam War.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has condemned the unauthorized release of draft findings of a working group studying the impact of a potential repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, and he has ordered an investigation into the source.

PALO ALTO, Calif. - The United States needs to develop new ways of looking at deterrence for the 21st century, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The services will update their policies and procedures to better assess internal security threats in response to last year’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas.

PALO ALTO, Calif. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff delivered the military argument for Senate ratification of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START, and talked about the future of deterrence.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning gays from serving openly in the military will stay in place while the case moves through the federal appeals court process.

WASHINGTON - Members of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury “Real Warriors” campaign are working to deliver the message that resources and tools are available for veterans seeking treatment for invisible wounds of war.

WASHINGTON - Though he never expected he’d have a military career, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the people he has served with are the reason he stayed in the service.

WASHINGTON - Final preparations are under way for the commissioning of the Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, to be named for Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Cpl. Jason L. Dunham.

WASHINGTON - A NATO airstrike targeting a district-level Taliban command and control center in the Now Zad district of the Helmand province left seven insurgents dead.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Army Maj. Trenia Coleman not only had her family attend her promotion ceremony, but also watched her father, a Vietnam vet, finally receive his Purple Heart.

WASHINGTON - When Betty Ann Patterson joined the Army in 1952, she knew she wanted to make a difference. Her career spanned the Korean and Vietnam wars.

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and his wife, Deborah, served as grand marshals of the San Fernando Valley's Veterans Day parade, reminding onlookers from their hometown area to embrace servicemembers and veterans.

WASHINGTON - Mission Serve has created more than 20 Veterans Day volunteer events matching veterans with community projects in cities around the nation.

WASHINGTON - David Fike was in his third year of law school when he joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War. Years later, both his sons would serve as Marines in very different circumstances.

WASHINGTON - Veterans who served and sacrificed for America are the "heart and soul, the very spine of this nation," said Vice President Joe Biden during ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetary.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama marked Veterans Day in South Korea where he told U.S. troops they have his unending support while also recognizing the sacrifices of military families.

LOS ANGELES - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the eve of Veterans Day yesterday, asked the civilian world to reach out to veterans returning home from the wars.

LOS ANGELES - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said he agrees with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that if the so-called Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law is to be changed, it is much better changed by Congress than by the courts.

LOS ANGELES - After years of under-resourcing the war in Afghanistan, the coalition has put in place the pieces needed to win the counterinsurgency battle in the country, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Three provinces in eastern Afghanistan are “prime for transition” in the near future for self-governance, a task force commander in the region said.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed their cooperation with each other and answered questions about countering global terrorism in a recent television interview.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The White House review of the strategy in Afghanistan will be tremendously useful as a report card, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave an optimistic view of the war in Afghanistan and of U.S. leadership overall during a television interview in which he reflected on his four decades of public service.

WASHINGTON - In his Veterans Day video message, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reaffirms the Defense Department’s commitment to the nation’s past and present warriors and urges Americans to honor the sacrifices of troops and their families.

WASHINGTON - In proclaiming the Veterans Day holiday, President Barack Obama expressed hope that the observance would strengthen the bond between the American people and the troops which defend them.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, notes that Veterans Day is a time to honor today's and yesterday's military veterans for their selfless service to the nation.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban leader and facilitator during an intelligence-driven operation in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Only four years after forming, members of the American Attitude hard-rock band have a recording deal, write original material and play in Las Vegas.

WASHINGTON - A new, state-of-the-art Web portal is being introduced to help veterans, reservists, their families and wounded warriors land civilian jobs.

WASHINGTON - Buster Adams worked for the Army Signal Corps during World War II. A cryptologist, he would go on to serve more than 30 years of federal service.

WASHINGTON - Troubled troops, veterans and family members have a round-the-clock, free resource for locating the help they need to deal with psychological health problems and traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama should receive a report on a review of his Afghanistan policy next month, a senior official said.

WASHINGTON - The Global Strike Command, the Air Force's first new major command in 27 years, is bringing attention back to the nuclear enterprise.

WASHINGTON - The coming year will focus on growing, supporting and professionalizing the Afghan army and police forces, said Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, salutes the U.S. Marine Corps for its countless contributions to the nation as it celebrates its 235th birthday Nov. 10.

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service offers its last free-admission day of the year to honor U.S. veterans and active-duty servicemembers on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces have captured multiple Taliban leaders involved in enemy operations throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force is taking the necessary steps to move forward in meeting cyberspace and cybersecurity missions.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - It will be up to the Iraqis, if they believe it necessary, to ask the United States to keep troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during his visit to Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The United States has strong friends in the global fight against al-Qaida extremists, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during his visit to Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Malaysia, including ways to expand a 25-year military partnership that benefits both countries and the entire region.

WASHINGTON - After graduating from college, World War II veteran Jessie Clark joined the Navy to serve her nation. She became a hospital corpsman, caring for troops.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Distance apart has never been a problem for twin sisters Spc. Paulette Dabney and Spc. Georgette Steele, who both joined the Army in 2008 and now serve together in Iraq.

NUKU’ALOFO, Tonga - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the island nation of Tonga to thank its people for their efforts to promote peace and stability in the world and fight terrorism.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Malaysia to acknowledge contributions that the nation is making in the region and beyond, and to explore ways to broaden the two countries’ military-to-military relationship.

WASHINGTON - With all U.S. troops scheduled to be out of Iraq by 2012, forces are working to secure the country against insurgents, an official said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces completed a deliberate clearing operation aimed at disrupting the Taliban’s freedom of movement in Helmand province.

MELBOURNE, Australia - The group looking at how the Defense Department should respond to a repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is on track to deliver its report Dec. 1, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Stephen Sanderson flew helicopters in Vietnam and still is flying today as a pilot for the Vermont Army National Guard.

WASHINGTON - The day Bill Sumner graduated from high school, he joined the military to serve in World War II - marking the beginning of a life of service.

MELBOURNE, Australia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he hopes the Taliban think July of next year is an end date for U.S. and NATO operations in Afghanistan.

MELBOURNE, Australia - The United States is seeing signs that sanctions against Iran are starting to have an impact, and, while working to strengthen its relationship with China, will maintain the right to navigate in international waters, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

MELBOURNE, Australia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates signed a partnership agreement with his Australian counterpart that will provide improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

MELBOURNE, Australia - Asia’s security environment presents a new and complex mix of challenges that make the U.S.-Australia alliance as critical today as any time in its history, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote in a jointly by-lined opinion article published in an Australian newspaper.

MELBOURNE, Australia - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen has called the 21st century the “Pacific century,” and U.S. interests in the region will be underscored there when he and other leaders hold talks as part of the annual Australian-U.S. Ministerial.

MELBOURNE, Australia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence that the new Congress will support his efficiency initiatives, while expressing hope the lame-duck Congress will pass the new arms reduction treaty and repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

MELBOURNE, Australia - Arriving in Melbourne, Australia, for a summit aimed at strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called it part of a broader, inclusive U.S. effort to strengthen security relationships throughout the region.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Enhanced military activities, closer cooperation in space and cybersecurity, and possibly a larger U.S. military presence in Australia are expected to be on the agenda as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen head to Melbourne, Australia.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was awarded the 2010 American Patriot Award last night for outstanding contributions to the intelligence, national security, and defense communities.

WASHINGTON - John Reep almost missed out on his chance to serve in World War II when he was mistakenly diagnosed with tuberculosis the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He would make up for lost time later, though, in the European theater.

WASHINGTON - USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, stands ready off the southern coast of Haiti to assist with disaster relief support, if requested, as a result of Hurricane Tomas.

WASHINGTON - In his latest "Chairman's Corner" blog post, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen writes that although many doors have opened for women in the military, too many others still are closed.

WASHINGTON - Two former top U.S. leaders in Iraq said that even if the war there is over, work is not yet done.

WASHINGTON - Extremist networks are melding together, unsafe technologies are rapidly increasing, and the United States must stand vigilant in the face of these threats, the undersecretary of defense for policy said.

RENO, Nev. - One of the Nevada Air National Guardsmen called to duty in 1990 for Operation Desert Shield was a young lieutenant colonel, recognized today Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons.

WASHINGTON - More than $38 million in Defense Department grants to public schools serving military children will encourage studies in science, technology and other areas.

WASHINGTON - Though American combat operations in Iraq have ceased, the fighting there is far from over, as terrorist groups remain a threat, a top U.S. officer said.

NEW ORLEANS - At the Jackson Barracks Military Museum, Wednesdays are a time for reminiscing and restoration for the members of the 122nd Bomb Restoration Squadron Unit.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force captured the Haqqani terrorist network’s shadow governor for the Spera district of Khost province.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Lt. Col. Ed “Hertz” Vaughan is spending 50 days in colder conditions than most will ever experience to promote scientific research, braving temperatures below minus 20 degrees Farenheit.

WASHINGTON - One year after a tragic shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, left 13 people dead, the military is working at every level to apply lessons learned to protect the force against an increasingly complex threat.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - A gunnery sergeant promoted a Marine to the rank of staff sergeant in Afghanistan, but the first time they met was under completely different circumstances.

WASHINGTON - Although he had a good job, John J. Kushwara chose to join the Marine Corps in 1944 and went on to battle the enemy, and the weather, in Okinawa.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III paid tribute to eight top civilian employees for innovations in technology, foreign languages, unmanned aircraft and other areas.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is taking a whirlwind trip to Australia and Malaysia, where he will reinforce the U.S. commitment to the region with a longstanding U.S. ally and an increasingly close partner.

WASHINGTON - The July 2011 target to begin handing over territory in Afghanistan to Afghan security forces is a marker for the Afghan government, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said

WASHINGTON - Task Force Falcon has prevented the enemy from amassing combat power near U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, said the task force commander.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama urged the Senate to ratify the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty before it goes out of session in December, and DOD officials echoed that call.

WASHINGTON - As Tropical Storm Tomas bears down on Haiti and other islands in the Caribbean, U.S. forces are leaning forward to help, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Women are rising through the ranks, but the military does not yet understand the unique challenges of women in uniform, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - With Veterans Day around the corner, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and his wife, Deborah, sat down with reporters this week to raise visibility on issues important to military families and veterans.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed numerous insurgents while attempting to detain a senior Taliban leader in the Kajaki district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Duty with Joint Task Force Guantanamo is one of the most demanding military assignments, but troops recognize its importance and strategic implications for the United States.

WASHINGTON - Ralph Cupper enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 1944, preferring not to wait until he was drafted to serve his country.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - Air Force Master Sgt. Fred Campos moved to the United States from El Salvador when he was a child, and overcame many obstacles to join the Air Force.

WASHINGTON - Space has become “congested, contested and competitive,” requiring a shift in the military space community’s thinking and practices, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has awarded a $315 million one-year contract with a one-year option to Gibraltar-based Mina Corp. Ltd. to supply 96 million U.S. gallons of jet fuel to the U.S. Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan, which serves as a key logistical hub for the war effort in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he hopes the current U.S. Congress will resolve the uncertainty about whether gay men and lesbians can serve openly in the military, and that the law will be repealed.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents and detained others in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Marie Peckham is a big fan of the Marine Corps. Her father, brothers and husband were Marines, and so was she, beginning in 1943.

BAGHDAD - “Go big or go home” is what Army Sgt. Ashleigh Berg told her husband, Army Sgt. Matthew Berg, when they decided to re-enlist for four more years while deployed to Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents during an intelligence-driven overnight operation targeting a Taliban leader.

WASHINGTON - Spurred by the 21st century’s first flu pandemic, the Defense Department has developed new, faster ways to make vaccines that could save lives around the world.

WASHINGTON - The Navy’s recent test of a riverine command boat is one step the service is taking to create a greener footprint.

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - A Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, officer who lost much of his right leg after a boating accident got word that he’ll soon return to pilot training.

WASHINGTON - The so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy will stay in place while the Justice Department appeals a federal judge’s ruling that the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly is unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON - The nation has not begun to comprehend the long-term consequences of protracted war, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He stressed the need for veteran and military family support.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is taking steps to stop bullying of all kinds, whether it's a shove in the confines of a locker room or slander posted on the Internet.

WASHINGTON - Ray Palumbo, Frank Zaccharo, Ralph Alfaro, Bill Crouch and Fred Kapanos served together as the first crew of the USS Oklahoma City, which arrived to accept Japan's surrender in World War II.

WASHINGTON - John Gunther Dean fled the Nazi government for America and joined the U.S. Army to serve a cause bigger than himself. He ended up with 39 years in the U.S. Foreign Service.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is helping Yemen to address security and counterterrorism after packages rigged to explode and mailed from that country were intercepted last week.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard Bureau is reviewing pay programs after learning that several states may have given enlistment bonuses to people who didn't qualify.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Army reservists and their spouses who attended a reintegration event in San Juan, Puerto Rico, found help with a myriad of challenges that troops and their families contend with after a deployment.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, the Army Reserve’s top-ranking officer, called on military spouses to help teach their soldiers, who take pride in "we will not quit" philosophies, that it's OK to get help for PTSD.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces protected women and children as they killed a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The top Army Reserve general praised the professionalism his troops are demonstrating at Guantanamo Bay, where most serve as guards at the detention center. He also promised to press for innovative training methods.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force's 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is training Afghan soldiers to operate in their country's fledgling air force.

WASHINGTON - Thomas Wiglesworth is one of the civilian teachers the Department of Defense Education Activity is sending to Afghanistan to teach English to Afghan soldiers.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has signed a proclamation spotlighting military families for special recognition in November. He calls on all Americans to honor military famlies through private actions and public service for their contributions.