WASHINGTON - Language and culture are “almost inextricably intertwined,” and military personnel must be knowledgeable in both to be fully effective when operating overseas, the director of a military language school said.

WASHINGTON - What happens in Afghanistan affects all nations, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said during international talks, as she called for renewed, but patient, international support for the country.

WASHINGTON - Next to a small village in Afghanistan’s fertile Jalrez Valley, a platoon of U.S. soldiers make the most of their small outpost on the front lines.

WASHINGTON - Executing President Barack Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan is the U.S. military's top priority, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told defense leaders from Central Asia.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s decision to send 4,000 extra U.S. military trainers to Afghanistan to mentor that country’s soldiers and police signals the United States’ commitment to bolster security there.

WASHINGTON - The security and political situation in Iraq continues to improve, but ethno-sectarian agendas and other obstacles remain, according to a Defense report.

KABUL - Afghan and coalition forces killed one person and detained four known militants and eight suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Khowst province.

WASHINGTON - A meeting of defense leaders re-emphasizes the shared commitments of Central Asia and the United States to security and stability in the region.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - What sets Air Force Maj. Alan Brown apart from other airmen in the gym on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, isn't his workout routine. It's his right leg.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi special operations forces and their air force partners teamed up recently to conduct their first joint medical evacuation from the Iraqi capital.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers serving overseas will receive care packages thanks to the hard work of volunteers and the generosity of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Seriously injured veterans get to test their athletic skills at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Colorado, and learn from each other about how to cope with disabilities.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Thousands of Afghans are improving their basic reading and math skills, and local teachers are receiving training under a U.S.-funded program.

TBILISI, Georgia - The United States and Georgia will continue to work on a strategic partnership over the coming years, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during his visit to the former Soviet republic.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq have helped reopen two schools and trained former “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members for new jobs in recent weeks.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Northern Command continues to coordinate Defense Department support to federal state and local authorities in North Dakota and Minnesota supporting disaster operations in response to flooding in North Dakota.

WASHINGTON - A program aimed at helping servicemembers and their families adjust to deploying to and returning from combat held its inaugural meeting at the Pentagon.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Governors in six upper Midwestern states have sent more than 2,400 National Guard members and some much-needed equipment to help fight flooding for a second week in North Dakota.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today recognized eight civil servants for their positive impact on national security and their efforts in support of the Joint Staff throughout the past year.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces are working to provide a better life for the citizens of Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan will include unprecedented integration of military and civilian activities, two key leaders in the effort said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed 11 insurgents in separate firefights in southern and western Afghanistan, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Capt. Ladonna Singleton was the only Air National Guard member to mentor students in the program that brings young people to the nation’s capital.

BAGHDAD - U.S. paratroopers work daily with Iraqi counterparts to ensure Baghdad highways are safe.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Bagram Airfield is a safer place thanks to the teamwork of soldiers of the 101st Airborne and the Afghan National Police.

WASHINGTON - One of three American contractors who survived five and a half years in a Colombian jungle likened their captivity to being on the “planet of the apes.”

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki praised and encouraged the more than 400 participants as he opened the 23rd annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo.

WASHINGTON - The United States’ short-term goal for Afghanistan may have been refined, but the long-term goal has stayed the same, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said his strategy for what he calls “America’s war” is intended to focus on the heart of the matter in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - A great strength of the Afghanistan-Pakistan policy review President Barack Obama unveiled today is its regional approach, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The Afghanistan-Pakistan policy review President Barack Obama unveiled refocuses the U.S. mission, the Pentagon’s top policy official said.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said a possible North Korean satellite launch could violate United Nations sanctions against nuclear testing by the government in Pyongyang.

WASHINGTON - The pending deployment of U.S. military trainers to Afghanistan to instruct Afghan soldiers and police is a key component of President Barack Obama’s Afghan-Pakistan strategy.

WASHINGTON - The president’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan is more likely to succeed because it is a more comprehensive approach, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 240 Wardak province residents became the first to graduate from the new Afghan Public Protection Force program designed to enhance security.

WASHINGTON - The Afghanistan-Pakistan interagency policy review stresses the need for the United States to step up the counter-insurgency fight, a Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of National Guard and U.S. Northern Command members are helping communities fight flooding, assist stranded motorists and deliver supplies in several states in the upper Midwest.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan National Army soldier reportedly killed two coalition servicemembers and wounded one in northern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Two ship seizures in the Indian Ocean in recent days appear to indicate that pirates have broadened their focus beyond the heavily patrolled Gulf of Aden.

PATROL BASE HILLA, Iraq - The Iraqi army’s 31st Brigade chose its best and brightest soldiers to attend the first “Sergeant’s Time” training hosted by U.S. soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed 13 militants, detained one suspected militant and seized weapons caches in operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A civilian painter helped honor the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for their efforts during World War II, including moving 90,000 pieces of backlogged mail in three months.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps’ first expeditionary fighting vehicles –- 17-passenger armored vehicles -- are slated to be delivered to the Marine Corps for testing in May 2010.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama outlined his administration’s Afghanistan-Pakistan policy review, calling for increased aid to both countries and a need for more civilian and international support.

DENVER - Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. and 11 Denver employers signed on to the Army Reserve Employer Partnership Initiative.

WASHINGTON - More than 80 percent of Iraq’s revenue comes from the sale of oil channeled through two platforms in the Persian Gulf, and defense of those resources is critical to Iraqi national security.

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Army Staff Sgt. Josh Olson never dreamed he would become an internationally ranked shooter.

WASHINGTON - Richard Lyons and his wife Debbie Frederick have a new job they're proud to perform -- bringing honor and respect to the troops who never returned from the Vietnam War.

WASHINGTON - The founder of the Vietnam Memorial has unveiled a glimpse of his next project -- an education center near The Wall -- designed to honor the courage of those who served during America's longest war.

ARLINGTON, Va. - About 1,200 National Guard members are fighting against time to ready Fargo, North Dakota, for possible record-setting Red River water levels, while fellow Guardmen try to control the effects of flooding in three other northern states.

WASHINGTON - A number of African nations are learning how to make their ports, waterways and offshore areas safer and more secure, thanks to a Navy-led, multinational maritime partnership program.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Military and civilian officials gathered March 23 to commemorate the 10,000th surface shipment of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, known as MRAPs, to the U.S. Central Command area of operations, which includes Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama promised during an online town hall meeting to ensure returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan receive the benefits and support they deserve.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The United Services Organizations honored members of the U.S. military and those who support them during an event that recognized selfless service and volunteerism.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, told a Senate committee today he'll assume the ambassadorship there with a clear recognition that success in both Afghanistan and Pakistan is vital to U.S. national security.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have placed an emphasis on the rule of law as they serve as mentors for the Afghan army’s military justice system, a senior officer involved with the effort said.

BAGHDAD - Baghdad residents welcomed U.S. and Iraqi forces as they delivered much-needed medical supplies.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Airmen who control unmanned aerial vehicles over Afghanistan want to make clear they are operating more than "drones" in a war zone.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - A dedicated group of servicemembers is helping to restore the Scouting movement in Iraq, one child at a time.

FARGO, N.D. - National Guard members fighting floods in North Dakota are finding a common item they used in Iraq to shield against shrapnel -- Hesco barriers -- makes for effective dams.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - She's only 2 years old, but has saved scores of troops from deadly bomb attacks in Afghanistan, sniffing ahead in danger zones and signaling to her partner when trouble is near.

WASHINGTON - The National Military Family Association will host more than 9,000 military children at “Operation Purple” youth camps across America this year.

WASHINGTON - The United States has been in close consultation with NATO allies as it completes an evaluation of the strategy in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - A group of Navy submariners are practicing wartime operations off the coast of northern Alaska as part of Ice Exercise 2009.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force F-22A Raptor fighter jet crashed about 35 miles northeast of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates hosted Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Pentagon as the two discussed the mission in Afghanistan and the importance of Australia’s support there.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama made an unannounced visit to Arlington National Cemetery, surprising Medal of Honor recipients at a ceremony.

WASHINGTON - The Russian invasion of Georgia last year, the first such attack since the Cold War ended, did more than debunk long-held assumptions about stability in the former Soviet bloc, a U.S. commander said.

WASHINGTON - Transformation of the Chinese military has gained speed, but U.S. officials hope to see China become more transparent about military and security affairs, according to a report to Congress.

WASHINGTON - Three four-star officers from Europe and the Pacific shared their most pressing concerns during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 1,200 National Guard members have been called up to help several states deal with an early spring storm and flooding.

WASHINGTON - The amount of insurgent- and crime-related violence in Iraq continues to drop as security improves, a senior U.S. military officer said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan National Police arrested two Taliban commanders and three other militants in southern Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province, military officials reported.

UMM QASR, Iraq - USS Chinook departed Umm Qasr, Iraq, marking the first overnight port visit to Iraq by a U.S. ship.

WASHINGTON - Ten servicemembers and civilians were honored as part of the Defense Department’s Women's History Month Observance and Awards Program.

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq - For one Washington Army National Guard soldier, the leadership of a noncommissioned officer can be measured in the miles and missions his soldiers have logged since last October.

BAGHDAD - The Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq unveiled two initiatives that will expand Iraqi businesswomen’s ability to gain work with the division.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BRASSFIELD-MORA, Iraq - Scores of Samarra civilians joined provincial and community leaders at a concrete barrier removal ceremony -- a sign of improved security.

PONCE, Puerto Rico - The capabilities of more than 500 Guard members to react to disasters were put to the test during Vigiliant Guard 2009.

WASHINGTON - Upwards of $40 billion dollars in savings could be realized by eliminating wasteful programs in the Pentagon’s procurement budget, President Barack Obama said during his nationally televised news conference.

WASHINGTON - With broad recognition that success in Afghanistan will require more than military might, the State Department is preparing for what’s expected to be an expanded role there after the U.S. Afghanistan strategy review.

FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard has stepped up its flood-fighting efforts in the Red River Valley in North Dakota.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s top commander called for NATO nations to beef up their efforts in Afghanistan to support security and rebuilding efforts there.

WASHINGTON - Two Air Force medical officers, one of whom suffered a traumatic brain injury himself, highlighted military efforts to identify and assist troops with TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder.

WASHINGTON - The threat of terrorist attacks from al-Qaida and their affiliates “is not a threat that’s going away,” President Barack Obama said at the White House. “We have to take it seriously.”

WASHINGTON - Military couples participating in the Army's 'Strong Bonds' marriage retreat learn how to communicate better with each other -- even in a cacophony of noise and while walking through a foam-toy "minefield."

BAGHDAD - Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston visited Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers March 22 during a battlefield tour in Iraq and discussed topics such as stop-loss, dwell time, and changing benefits.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security is “still considering” the use of National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border, along with several other initiatives, the DHS secretary said in a White House press briefing.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is launching a new program soon that’s designed to assist transitioning servicemembers in accessing help for mental health issues, a U.S. Public Health Service officer announced.

MIAMI - A baseball team representing U.S. Southern Command will begin a 25-day “friendship tour” to five Latin American nations to play in exhibition games and conduct free clinics for aspiring players.

CAMP TROY, Iraq - When an improvised explosive device is detected, most people run and take cover, but a team of servicemembers in Iraq heads straight to the site to start the crime-scene investigation.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. and Afghan forces conducted a three-day traffic control operation to restrict Taliban movement and to reduce the number of bombs.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Coalition troops are training Iraqi police on all aspects of explosives investigations, moving them closer to self-sufficiency.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - At 59, Army Reserve Lt. Col. Jeff Wallace is in Iraq on his first tour to "pay back" his country.

WASHINGTON - The Army can mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder by training solders to be more mentally resilient before combat, an Army doctor said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Almost 500 Army and Air National Guard troops from North Dakota and Minnesota are working to help stem the flow of floodwaters from the Red River near Fargo, N.D.

WASHINGTON - A brain injury expert explained how therapies that have assisted comatose patients regain consciousness may be used on a greater scale to treat troops with traumatic brain injuries.

WASHINGTON - The future of missile defense requires a new way of thinking that will benefit the American taxpayer and help America stay ahead of foreign threats.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan must “put the Afghan people at the center,” as the United States and coalition provide them the support they need to build their country.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi security forces are performing high-level and fast-paced operations in Basra, making progress in other areas possible.

WASHINGTON - The force drawdown in Iraq, even in light of increased troop strength in Afghanistan, will enable the military to build more dwell time into deployment cycles.

WASHINGTON - Being assigned to Korea soon will be the same as being assigned to Japan or Europe, as tour normalization begins.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces have killed six enemy fighters and detained 14 others in operations in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A recent increase in mail addressed to “Any Servicemember” has prompted the Military Postal Service Agency to remind the general public not to send mail or packages addressed that way.

FORWARD OPERATING WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq - The food that finds its way onto the tables of Iraqi residents has its origins somewhere, and Team Borlaug researchers are on a mission to see where that journey begins.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. and French artillerymen recently teamed up to teach their Afghan counterparts how to operate American artillery weapons.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - U.S. Army officials filed a formal complaint March 11 in the Central Criminal Court of Iraq in an effort to bring 12 suspects to justice for their roles in an ambush near Yusifiyah, Iraq, two years ago.

WASHINGTON - A New York-based troop support group is helping mark Women's History Month by sending support to deployed female troops.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Spc. Timothy Currie serves double-duty in Afghanistan as a warfighter and combat medic.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called his decision to add 17,000 troops to Afghanistan the toughest so far in his presidency, but told CBS' "60 Minutes" that the mission there is critical to protecting the United States and its interests.

WASHINGTON - New systems and procedures within the Iraqi Interior Ministry have decreased corruption and increased professionalism in several divisions, a Navy officer said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have released a list of 3,000 projects that the economic stimulus legislation will fund, including two new military hospitals and energy research.

WASHINGTON - Myriad construction programs under way in Afghanistan are helping to improve security and provide a better future for the people of that war-torn country.

WASHINGTON - A group of leading diplomats, military officials and scholars were treated to a joint performance by brass quintets from the U.S. Army Band and the Russian National Orchestra.

WASHINGTON - The Army, Navy and Air Force nurse corps are highly trained, capable and critical to the wartime mission of each service.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Amputee Golf Association’s First Swing program is helping military golf instructors learn how to work with wounded warriors and encouraging wounded warriors to get back into the swing of an active lifestyle.

WASHINGTON - Army Sgt. Edmund Perez, from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is bringing his talents to a new TV cooking series, “Microwave 101,” on The Pentagon Channel.

WASHINGTON - Aspiring filmmakers in the military community have the chance to flex their creative muscle and play a part in the “It’s My Benefit 2” video contest.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers serving in Multinational Division Baghdad continue to help their Iraqi partners work toward solidifying security gains in and around the Iraqi capital.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed 36 enemy fighters and detained eight suspects in operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi soldiers and police, along with U.S. soldiers, seized numerous enemy stockpiles in Baghdad and in southern Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - More and more employers sign on every month for a program that helps them hire qualified reservists, despite gloomy hiring predictions.

WASHINGTON - The number of attacks in Afghanistan is likely to rise with the influx of additional U.S. forces there, an International Security Assistance Force commander said during a Pentagon briefing.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of middle school students have passed through the halls of the National Museum of Health and Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as part of a Brain Awareness Week effort to educate them about anatomy and military medical history.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Special operations troops in Afghanistan delivered gifts from Americans to Afghans that some say are as important as their combat missions.

WASHINGTON - Fifteen sailors suffered minor injuries when a U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship collided in the Strait of Hormuz, Navy officials said.

WASHINGTON - In April 2004, at the height of the insurgency in Iraq, five female soldiers unwittingly found themselves fighting alongside Marines in the battle for Ramadi and Fallujah. A documentary called "Team Lioness" tells their story.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has dropped a proposal to bill veterans’ private health insurance for combat-related injuries, the White House press secretary said.

WASHINGTON - The federal economic stimulus package will provide $621 million to build a new military hospital at Fort Hood, Texas, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - After years of downsizing, the U.S. Navy has nearly achieved its end-strength goal of 329,000 sailors.

WASHINGTON - Almost 56 years past the armistice that ended the fighting on the Korean peninsula, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has turned into a lynchpin for stability in Northeast Asia, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq have put an emphasis on training in recent days, providing training in a wide range of operations that include detainee processing, mortar systems and the use of military working dogs.

WASHINGTON - Deterrence remains as central to America’s national security as it was during the Cold War, U.S. Strategic Command’s top officer said.

WASHINGTON - About 614,000 servicemembers are saving for retirement in the federal Thrift Savings Program, which was opened to military members in 2002.

WASHINGTON - The United States has made “some real headway” in improving relations with China, but “the relationship isn’t where we want it to be,” the top officer at U.S. Pacific Command told senators.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Each woman serving in the military has broken barriers, so now there are fewer to overcome, said Army Maj. Tammy Duckworth, who is an Iraq war veteran, helicopter pilot, and double amputee. “In that cockpit, it didn’t matter if I was male or female; it only mattered that I supported the mission,” she said.

WASHINGTON - Improving the maritime capabilities of West and Central African navies is just one of the key focus areas for the ongoing Africa Partnership Station.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Servicemembers at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, may not be on the front lines, but their life-saving actions still make them heroes.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces are paving the way for a better quality of life in Afghanistan, including showing Afghan soldiers machine gun techniques.

WASHINGTON - Prospects for the Iraqi people “get better every day,” with the Iraqis now solving their problems “politically, and not with guns,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said as Operation Iraqi Freedom marks its sixth anniversary.

WASHINGTON - The more than 1,000 major facilities that make up the Defense Department’s medical infrastructure are key strategic national assets, the department’s top medical official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Military veterans and spouses in the New Jersey area are getting help finding jobs from a troop support group.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Army Staff Sgt. Henry Baez Jr. is humble about the recognition he’s received for leading soldiers through dangerous work in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - One servicemember suicide “is too many,” and each military service now has programs designed to combat the problem, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - The wishes of the families will be the overriding principle guiding any media coverage of fallen warriors’ remains arriving at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Aided by U.S. forces, Iraqis are making vast strides toward sovereignty as they assume responsibility for everything from public works operations to joint security stations.

WASHINGTON - The Army will phase out use of the so-called “stop-loss” policy that allows the involuntary extension of servicemembers’ active duty past the scheduled end of their term of service, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Africa Command will intervene in conflicts on the continent only after warring countries have shown a political will to reconcile, the Africom commander said.

WASHINGTON - Sesame Workshop continues to find unique and creative ways to reach out to the very youngest in military families, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said during a sneak preview of a new primetime Sesame program.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced his recommendations that President Barack Obama re-nominate Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a second two-year term.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military must continue to develop its capability to wage irregular warfare for the foreseeable future, the chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government is using the Defense Department’s Foreign Military Sales program to rebuild and strengthen Iraqi security forces.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - The Baghdad Bad Boys, a musical group composed of soldiers, performed together for the last time at Camp Victory, Iraq, before heading home.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Soldiers need to move a little closer into each other's personal space after deployments to help prevent problems that may lead to suicide, the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel said.

WASHINGTON - A high school student and prospective Marine Corps recruit from Lewisville, Texas, has turned his respect and admiration for servicemembers into award-winning art.

WASHINGTON - The operation in Afghanistan “is absolutely winnable and will be won,” the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan said on PBS’s “Jim Lehrer Newshour.”

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - U.S. Army Maj. Michele P. Harper became a pioneer of the sky when she graduated from flight school in Fort Rucker, Ala., 16 years ago.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has released a congressional report that examines sexual assault allegations in the military services and sets policies for reducing incidents.

WASHINGTON - Much progress has been achieved in Iraq, but there’s still work to be done because the gains are "still fragile" in some areas.

WASHINGTON - Iran is increasing its presence in Latin America, and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization it sponsors, is making inroads in drug trafficking in Colombia, the commander of U.S. Southern Command told Congress.

WASHINGTON - As the Afghan people work to develop their infrastructure, U.S. forces are offering their assistance on a number of fronts.

WASHINGTON - The United States is working to speed up delivery of equipment and training to help Mexico to better confront violent drug cartels, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said.

WASHINGTON - The global financial crisis and the threat of nuclear proliferation and persistent warfare in the Middle East and Central Asia are playing a major role in determining future national security capabilities, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled to Dover Air Force Base, Del., to pay his respects to four servicemembers killed recently in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The nascent U.S. Africa Command is promoting stability and security on the continent through military-to-military activities and a host of other programs, the Africom commander said.

WASHINGTON - The continuing terrorist threat against the U.S. homeland “is real,” the commander of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services as he outlined an aggressive defense program aimed at preventing another Sept. 11-type attack.

WASHINGTON - Acquiring a new fleet of Air Force tankers is imperative, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military officer for Latin America and the Caribbean reported positive developments in the region over the past year.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed seven Taliban militants and detained three others during operations to disrupt a bomb-making cell in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - Though U.S. forces in Iraq have focused on building the nation’s self-sufficiency, they have not lost sight of the need for humanitarian aid.

BELADIYAT, Iraq - A month after a Colorado boy collected his toys and sent them to Iraq, a group of U.S. Army paratroopers distributed the items to children in an eastern Baghdad neighborhood.

CAMP ECHO, Iraq - A large crowd of Iraqi girls and women, ranging from teenagers to grandmothers, gathered at a youth center in Diwaniya, Iraq, for a graduation ceremony and to mark International Women’s Day.

BAGHDAD - Army Spc. Eileen Flynn seemed like an unlikely recruit for the military. Once a teacher with two degrees, she now loves jumping out of an airplane.

WASHINGTON - Caring for veterans is a responsibility and duty for all Americans, and the employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs are those who are charged with repaying “that debt of honor,” President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - As security continues to improve in Iraq, civil affairs units and provincial reconstruction teams become more effective.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s stateside military child care system took first place in the categories of quality oversight and standards for a second time as part of a national child care advocacy group’s report

WASHINGTON - Military engineers have made great strides in improving infrastructure and governance capabilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq are equipping Iraqis with the skills they need to assume a greater role in their nation’s security.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will undertake a comprehensive review of the National Security Personnel System to ascertain whether it is fair and transparent to participating employees.

WASHINGTON - Coalition jet fighters shot down an Iranian drone that was hovering over Iraq late last month, Multinational Force Iraq officials confirmed.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The engineers of the 10th Mountain Division's Alpha Company, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, detect roadside bombs to ensure safe passage for infantry units.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces arrested two suspected terrorists, seized weapons and destroyed thousands of pounds of explosives in operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. forces move from Iraq’s urban areas, they’ll be better positioned to target insurgents where they operate.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed 11 militants, detained suspected militants, and netted drugs and weapons in operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will remain in Washington to tend to Defense Department budget issues during the NATO Summit in Europe.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Spouses of soldiers in the 18th Airborne Corps have a better idea of how to reconnect with their other halves upon redeployment, thanks to the Army’s Battlemind reunion training.

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - Air Force Airman Derrick Bell found a lot of determination and a little support from friends helped him meet a hefty goal: lose more than 115 pounds so he could return to military service.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq increasingly are working on civil affairs projects to develop the country, while continuing to provide security so that progress can happen throughout, military officials report.

WASHINGTON - Providing security for Afghan people until they can provide their own will help set the conditions needed to move the country forward, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a Public Broadcasting Service interview.

WASHINGTON - American high school students from around the world toured the Pentagon as part of a weeklong visit to the nation’s capital.

WASHINGTON - A foreign exchange program, drivers' education and help with airfare to visit their overseas family topped the wish list for a group of military teens who presented ideas for policy changes at the U.S. European Command Quality of Life Conference.

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials are keeping a close watch on the current unrest in Pakistan, a country that is key to NATO’s efforts in Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The documentary film, "Brothers at War", which opens this weekend in select locations, gives viewers insight into the commitment of military members and their families -- and gave the filmmaker a better understanding of his own brothers who wear the uniform.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - The social stigma against mental health treatment is like a deadly toxin that must be eliminated through education programs, a top Defense Department mental health expert said.

WASHINGTON - First lady Michelle Obama, having just returned from meeting with military families at Fort Bragg, N.C., reiterated on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” her commitment to ensuring they get the support they deserve.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - U.S. forces and Iraqi officials are working together to restore ancient monuments in Iraq.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Two soldiers, once on opposite sides of Sudan's civil war, stood together to become U.S. citizens during their deployment in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Deployed servicemembers in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Kuwait will not miss out on Girl Scout cookies this year, thanks to the troop-support group “Hugs for Our Soldiers.”

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - Air National Guard civil engineer squadrons comprising hundreds of construction and repair experts will involuntary deploy overseas in historic numbers and scope over the next two years, senior Air Guard officials said.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - In her first solo trip as first lady, Michelle Obama visited one of the U.S. military’s busiest communities and stressed the importance of reaching out to support soldiers and their families.

WASHINGTON - The National Guard's noncommissioned officers should be proud of the leadership they provide in the nation's combat zones, the National Guard Bureau's senior enlisted leader said.

WASHINGTON - In her first solo trip as first lady, Michelle Obama visited one of the U.S. military’s busiest communities and stressed the importance of reaching out to support soldiers and their families.

MIAMI - Three U.S. defense contractors held captive for more than five years by Colombian narcoterrorists received the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart during a military ceremony.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated Christopher R. Hill as ambassador to Iraq and Army Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry to serve as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama used the dedication of a hall on one of the nation’s oldest military installations to talk about the new threats confronting America.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Central Command praised the Army medics and Navy corpsmen whose courage on the battlefield protects the lives of fellow servicemembers.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the Iraq war experience likely will make future presidents more cautious about authorizing a pre-emptive strike based on intelligence.

WASHINGTON - Information is a critical element of national power, and public affairs personnel have a role in how the government and military employ that element, the outgoing principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama considers deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to control escalating violence.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A National Guard unit from Nebraska has deployed to Afghanistan to assist and educate farmers on better farming techniques.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with coalition support, captured a man wanted for bomb attacks and nine others, dismantled two makeshift bombs, and seized weapons caches in Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - More than 100 Afghan women and girls celebrated their accomplishments during an International Women’s Day event in Panjshir province.

WASHINGTON - The war in Afghanistan poses the biggest challenge to the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, but he expressed confidence that Iraq “is in a better place” than two years ago.

WASHINGTON - Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq is assuming more of a support and advisory role as Iraq moves toward self-sufficiency.

WASHINGTON - In the midst of working through today’s global issues, leaders should not forget to foster tomorrow’s generation to carry on their efforts, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - First lady Michelle Obama will meet with military families and several organizations that support them during a visit to Fort Bragg, N.C.

NAPLES, Italy - The USS Robert G. Bradley has completed the first Africa Partnership Station mission to East Africa, signifying the U.S. commitment to helping African nations achieve stability and prosperity.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - A 44-year-old soldier is serving in Iraq for the second time, an experience he says is considerably different from his first.

MUSTANSIRYA, Iraq - Local leaders, Iraqi security forces and coalition paratroopers celebrated a school renovation focusing on an art facility in eastern Baghdad.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq - The U.S. military has made its last payment to “Sons of Iraq” civilian security group members in Kirkuk province’s city of Sudayra.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 100 friends, relatives and military members turned out at Arlington National Cemetery to pay homage to fallen military medical personnel.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq increasingly fill their days with something not thought of as a traditional military role: taking part in meetings.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will await the results of a thorough review process before making decisions about major defense systems, keeping U.S. security interests at the forefront.

WASHINGTON - The United States “is fully supportive” of the Afghan government’s attempts to reconcile with Taliban members, as long as the Taliban accept the will of the people who elected that government.

WASHINGTON - The harassment of the USS Impeccable is serious enough to merit face-to-face discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials.

WASHINGTON - An effective, honest police force is vital to security progress in Afghanistan.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - "Get a good night's sleep" is advice professionals offer as part of a program for redeploying soldiers who might have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan commandos, aided by coalition forces, detained 19 suspected bomb makers in eastern Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq - Two Army chaplains are building much more than the faith of their soldiers on a remote base near the southeastern border of Iraq.

BASRA, Iraq - Iraqi children soon will benefit from a traditional-style school built partially out of reeds to reflect their marsh Arab culture in Rota village.

WASHINGTON - Building a nation takes time, and progress shouldn’t be measured through Western standards, a senior coalition commander said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The provincial reconstruction team in Nangarhar province joined local leaders to break ground on a women’s resource center.

WASHINGTON - The United States won’t let the Taliban threaten the Afghan government and re-establish safe havens in Afghanistan.

TAJI, Iraq - The first M1114 Humvee to be completely rebuilt at the National Maintenance Depot in Taji, Iraq, has rolled out of the facility.

WASHINGTON - Health care practitioners at the largest Air Force medical center on the West Coast are using state-of-the-art, interactive human patient simulators to improve medical care.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget proposal is necessary to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs into the 21st century organization he envisions.

WASHINGTON - Despite recent harassment incidents, the United States will continue to sail ships on missions in international waters, a Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - Calling Navy Capt. Michael “Scott” Speicher “an American hero,” Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter announced his decision to change the status of the first Operation Desert Storm casualty from "missing/captured" to "missing in action.”

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces are providing the building blocks of a bright future with the opening of a new police station and upgrades to public water and electricity.

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - An all-female Marine team is interacting with Afghan women -- a task culturally off-limits for male Marines.

WASHINGTON - Though reconciliation with the Taliban is worth exploring, decisions in that regard should be left to Afghanistan’s people and government, Vice President Joe Biden said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured 10 suspects during operations to degrade terrorist networks in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense Education Activity has suspended the use of the Reading Recovery program in its European schools for the school year that begins in the fall.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi soldiers detained a criminal suspect and seized a large cache of illegal explosives in northwestern Baghdad

WASHINGTON - NATO is not winning the war in Afghanistan, but it is far from lost, Vice President Joe Biden said in Brussels, Belgium.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials announced across-the-board recruiting and retention successes in February, with every service meeting or exceeding its goals.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Iraqi doctors from the Karama Hospital in Kut, Iraq, discussed surgery procedures, techniques and some health care challenges they face with members of the 848th Forward Surgical Team.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Iraqi police officers jumped out of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters as they received air-assault training from U.S. soldiers on Camp Cedar, Iraq.

NASSAU, Bahamas - Coast Guardsmen trained troops from partner nations in boarding procedures in Tradewinds 2009, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise to increase maritime security.

CAMP DENALI, Alaska - An Alaska Army National Guardsman cited as a "real contender" is running in the grueling 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race under way in Alaska.

WASHINGTON - As the Army Reserve prepares to deploy more troops to Afghanistan, its top officer said he anticipates no near-term decrease in the need for reservists in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Five Chinese vessels aggressively maneuvered close to the USNS Impeccable in the South China Sea.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan - Coalition forces along Logar River are sending a forceful message to insurgent fighters that the coalition will go wherever it wants.

WASHINGTON - Military leaders have begun working to achieve President Barack Obama’s goal of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2010.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq increasingly are putting down weapons to build schools, giving some of Diwaniya's brighest female students new opportunities.

WASHINGTON - The United States must provide adequate security forces to ensure Iraq’s national elections proceed as smoothly as recent provincial elections.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President Barack Obama have been discussing the situation in Mexico and the military capabilities that could assist the country.

WASHINGTON - With provincial elections in Iraq complete and the U.S.-Iraq security agreement in place, the way ahead in Iraq continues to be more clearly defined.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. Army soldiers are equipping Afghan soldiers with the skills they need to save lives.

WASHINGTON - Three U.S. defense contractors held captive for years by Colombian narcoterrorists will receive the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart award.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BRASSFIELD-MORA, Iraq - The Iraqi government has completed installation of a new water purification system on the Rassassi Canal, bringing clean drinking water and optimism.

MANAMA, Bahrain - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell left Karachi, Pakistan, after a four-day port visit to participate in the international naval exercise Aman 2009, marking the first time a U.S. ship has pulled into Pakistan since May.

COMBAT OUTPOST MEADE, Iraq - Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers gave 14 new tractors to sheiks from the Lutifiyah Nahia area.

McCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Thompson has a job that leaves no room for error: helping to protect the nation's nuclear arsenal.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan killed 16 enemy fighters in several operations.

DIYALA, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi soldiers uncovered a weapons cache in Iraq’s Diyala province.

BAGHDAD - Two Army brigades leaving Iraq in the next six months due to drawdown won’t be replaced.

WASHINGTON - The combined capabilities and military cooperation between Mexico and the United States can defeat the drug cartels that plague both countries, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took time from a busy schedule of meetings with Mexican military and naval leaders to visit the Mexico City National Cemetery, where 1,563 Americans are buried.

WASHINGTON - Portable electronic devices such as iPods and cell phones have provided U.S. adversaries in Iraq and Afghanistan with lethal capabilities

WASHINGTON - The Army has created a suicide prevention task force as part of its month-long “stand-down” to address suicides among soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Just as the armed forces paved the way for integration decades ago, the Defense Department hopes to prevent sexual assault in the military and throughout the nation.

WASHINGTON - A key strategy of enemy efforts in Afghanistan seems to entail taking advantage of the porous border region between that country and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - The United States will provide South Korea missile defense against a “very real threat” from North Korea as the South Koreans boost their own ballistic defense capabilities.

WASHINGTON - General officers from the United Nations Command called North Korean assertions that its army could not guarantee the safety of commercial aircraft flying near North Korean airspace “entirely inappropriate.”

WASHINGTON - U.S. and NATO allies showed “unity of purpose” during discussions about their shared mission in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Travel System has expanded its reach and gained ground in customer satisfaction.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE AIRBORNE, Afghanistan - The 10th Mountain Division troops are helping legitimize the provincial government and pumping much-needed money into the economy.

WASHINGTON - Insurgents in Afghanistan employ intimidation and barbaric acts in attempts to cow Afghan civilians to submit to their will, a U.S. military officer said.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Iraq seems a lot closer to home for two brothers from New York who are lucky enough to be in Iraq at the same time -- and actually see each other every week.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s internal intelligence community is making the transition from wartime to peacetime operations.

WASHINGTON - As the Obama administration continues reviewing its Afghanistan strategy, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay met in Washington to discuss the allies’ commitments in the NATO effort.

BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's ongoing struggle against narcoterrorists holds lessons for nations around the world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Gratitude toward Canada, policies in Afghanistan, North Korea and Mexico, and the federal budget all were discussed at a Pentagon news conference.

BALTIMORE - The USNS Comfort is preparing to leave next month for a four-month humanitarian mission through Latin America and the Caribbean.

WASHINGTON - The root cause of maritime piracy resides on land, and halting it requires an international solution, the Defense Department’s head of African Affairs said.

WASHINGTON - The obesity trend that is putting many Americans' health at risk also is taking a toll on recruiting, Pentagon officials say.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan National Army continues to improve as it assumes more security responsibility, the U.S. commander in charge of the training effort said.

WASHINGTON - The Tricare military health plan is ensuring patient safety for its 9.2 million beneficiaries through a revolutionary drug utilization program.

MONS, Belgium - NATO’s top military officer noted improving relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and he expressed the hope for continued progress.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one militant and detained four others during operations to disrupt the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist group networks in Afghanistan’s Kandahar and Khowst provinces.

WASHINGTON - More than 90 percent of servicemembers with traumatic brain injury have concussions and recover quickly, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said.

COMBAT OUTPOST AL-GHARRAF, Iraq - Combat Outpost al-Gharraf, formerly named Joint Security Station Jenkins, signifies the transition from coalition to Iraqi control.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers deployed in Afghanistan are improving the Afghan National Army’s ability to respond to enemy activities through various joint training exercises at Combat Outpost Pegasus.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Injured by a roadside bomb, Army Sgt. 1st Class John “Mike” Fairfax is the first amputee soldier to complete the Army’s Jumpmaster Course.

NASSAU, Bahamas - More than 400 U.S. servicemembers, as well as security forces and officials from the Caribbean nation and British Royal Marines, were on hand for the opening ceremonies of the 25th annual Tradewinds exercise.

LIMA, Peru - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited a Navy medical research unit that is working with Peruvian military and civilian leaders and agencies to benefit the country, the region and the globe.

BAGHDAD - More than 250 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from 65 countries became American citizens.

WASHINGTON - Fred Baker III, an American Forces Press Service reporter, is traveling in eastern Afghanistan. View his latest video reports on the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - Along with 250 other servicemembers, Army 2nd Lt. Memorina Edwin Barnes recited the Oath of U.S. Citizenship in Iraq and fulfilled her dream of becoming an American citizen.

BALTIMORE - The commander of U.S. Northern Command described the relationship between Northcom and the National Guard as "boring" because they work so well together.

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard is used to being in high demand, overworked and underequipped, but efforts to modernize during economic uncertainty is the real challenge.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq are contributing to the health and welfare of Iraqis through events such as medical outreaches and business and job fairs.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama pledged to ensure the security of the American people while trimming fat from the Defense Department budget and reforming government contracting.

WASHINGTON - The Army National Guard is over strength and the Air National Guard has met its target end strength for the first time since 2002. “This is a new era for us,” said Army Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force reserve unit in Massachusetts does its utmost to support family members of deployed troops.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans of Foreign Wars will sponsor eight Purple Heart recipients in the Annual Veterans Golf Classic.

WASHINGTON - The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is helping military spouses become accredited as financial counselors.

LIMA, Peru - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said one reason he's visiting Peru is to reinforce America's commitment to strong relationships among the nations of the Western Hemisphere.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Task Force Spartan soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, have been working closely with residents and security forces in Afghanistan’s Vardak province.

LIMA, Peru - U.S. military-to-military engagement in Latin America will require a change in thinking and in the culture within the armed services, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Three contractors suffered minor injuries in a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack near Bagram Airfield, Combined Joint Task Force 101 officials said.

WASHINGTON - The 2010 defense budget being finalized by the Obama administration will maintain priorities such as quality-of-life improvements and acquisition reform as it caps other defense spending, the Office of Management and Budget director said.

SANTIAGO, Chile - As Chile works toward building a joint force, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shared insights from U.S. history and emphasized the importance of the process to students from the Chilean War College.

WASHINGTON - If Iranian missile programs would cease production, the United States would not need more missile defense capabilities in Eastern Europe, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - First lady Michelle Obama received a tip from a retired female Air Force general: Keep modeling herself after her World War II-era predecessor, Eleanor Roosevelt.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai’s sudden call to move up the country’s elections from late summer to early spring may be in response to a concern regarding the legitimacy of his office after his term ends.

WASHINGTON - As the United States reviews its Afghanistan strategy, President Barack Obama said he’s confident Great Britain will remain its strongest partner in putting that strategy into effect.

WASHINGTON - Determining a timetable for withdrawing U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan right now is “impossible,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Camaraderie and caring are among the reasons why Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24 was honored by the Defense Department.

BALTIMORE - Living up to the National Guard’s motto of “Always Ready, Always There” requires a full spectrum of capabilities, a senior National Guard official said at the Domestic Operations Conference.

SANTIAGO, Chile - The “umbrella crisis” in the financial world is complicating an already complicated world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told students at the Chilean War College.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services wants to talk to sexual assault victims about their experience with the military’s response to the incident.

WASHINGTON - Recognizing the likelihood of defense budget cuts, senior defense and military leaders urged Congress to protect incentives they call critical to recruiting and retention.

KABUL, Afghanistan - As U.S. forces and their NATO counterparts were thinking about ways to win the trust and cooperation of local people, village elders suggested a sporting competition.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi forces deterred several potentially deadly incidents by confiscating two large weapons caches and dismantling a homemade bomb, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - West Africa has seen an “absolutely shocking” increase in drug trafficking, U.S. Africa Command's top civilian said.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers serving their third deployment find keeping active helps them deal with the stress of being away from home.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A provincial reconstruction team treated more than 120 people during a medical mission.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq are contributing to a new system of law and order there, equipping police stations with the latest investigatory equipment and building courthouses.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - One Army officer spends his off-duty time teaching criminal justice and military science courses to soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Troops serving overseas will get a little bit of “Christmas in May,” thanks to a troop-support group that is collecting gifts and snacks to be mailed to them on Armed Forces Day, May 16.

IPIRANGA, Brazil - The Brazilian defense minister showed Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an unusual, but informative, time during a visit with units of the Amazonia Military Command in Brazil.

MANAUS, Brazil - In his first visit to Brazil, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with top leaders and emphasized the importance of military-to-military cooperation as part of the overall U.S.-Brazilian relationship.

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard rescued a boater whose vessel capsized in the Gulf of Mexico, and continues to search for two National Football League players and a third man.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers are making a difference in the lives of Iraqis, following building renovations and the opening of a senior center, school and orphanage.

WASHINGTON - The United States could increase its military support to help Mexico fight drug cartels that pose an increasingly alarming security risk, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Officials from the North Korean army and the United Nations Command held their first talks in nearly seven years inside the Demilitarized Zone.

WASHINGTON - As the Louisiana National Guard wrapped up its “precedent-setting” law enforcement mission in New Orleans, the Texas National Guard dispatched helicopters to combat wildfires torching Central Texas.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials announced replacement units scheduled for 12-month deployments later this year to Iraq and Afghanistan.

KIRKUK, Iraq - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is part of a joint, multinational effort to provide solutions for city officials on what to do with the 900 tons of trash residents in Kirkuk, Iraq, generate daily.

BESMAYA COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Iraq - Iraqi army field engineer regiments are training with an electronic countermeasure system designed to prevent remote triggering of roadside bombs.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The hope for a healthier life is growing stronger in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province, thanks to the care of health care workers from around the world.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - "Human terrain teams" are becoming a large building block for victory in Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan - A reporter is impressed with the food offerings at a dining facility nicknamed "Olive Gardez" at a forward operating base in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered a munitions cache during a patrol northwest of Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces engaged several militants, killing four, while conducting operations in the Maywand district of Afghanistan about 50 miles northwest of Kandahar.

WASHINGTON - As the United States reviews its Afghanistan strategy, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s gratified by Pakistan’s growing recognition of the importance of eliminating extremist safe havens along the country's border.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will conduct “a very different mission” in Iraq after combat troops withdraw in August 2010, with troops slated to remain there through 2011 serving primarily as trainers and advisors, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the president’s decision to redeploy American troops from Iraq is the responsible one.