WASHINGTON - The U.S. Forest Service, Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal organizations continue to ramp up efforts to protect life, public safety and aid in community recovery in response to devastating wildfires in Colorado and other western states.

WASHINGTON - As President Barack Obama thanked firefighters and volunteers, and met with impacted families in wildfire-devastated areas in and around Colorado Springs, Colo., he also vowed to marshal all federal resources -- including military -- to combat the fires.

WASHINGTON - Steady progress is being made in dealing with challenges in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A National Guard dual-status commander has been appointed to support wildfire response and relief efforts in Colorado.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act “has absolutely no impact on our TRICARE program,” a Defense Department spokeswoman said.

WASHINGTON - Sexual misconduct and sexual assault will not be tolerated in the military, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a Pentagon briefing in response to reporters' questions about recent allegations involving training instructors at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said conversations they’ve had with service members deployed in Afghanistan and talks with wounded warriors provide them with assurance of mission success.

WASHINGTON - All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal 2012 through May, Defense Department officials announced.

WASHINGTON - The nation’s military has logged historic achievements in the past 12 months, but faces a future clouded by financial threat, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters during a briefing.

ARLINGTON, Va. - President Barack Obama has nominated Army Lt. Gen. Frank J. Grass, deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command, to receive his fourth star and serve as the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau.

COBAN, Guatemala - Wrapping up Beyond the Horizons, a 90-day humanitarian and civic assistance mission, the commander of U.S. Army South said the projects left behind represent hope and opportunity, and a closer partnership between the United States and Guatemala.

FORT HOOD, Texas - The trial of an Army psychiatrist accused of killing 12 soldiers and a civilian employee on Fort Hood, Texas, in a Nov. 5, 2009, shooting rampage that left 30 others injured will start as scheduled Aug. 20.

LIVE OAK, Fla. - The Florida National Guard is supporting relief efforts in several counties affected by widespread flooding after Tropical Storm Debby dumped large amounts of rain during its slow journey across the state.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program distance runners Spc. Augustus Maiyo and Spc. Robert Cheseret, both Kenyan-Americans, advanced to the finals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meter run, respectively, at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force apprehended a Haqqani leader in the Sabari district of Khost province. The detained leader was responsible for building improvised explosive devices, purchasing weapons, and coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Eight military C-130 aircraft, each equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, will be operating out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to assist with firefighting efforts in the Rocky Mountain region.

STUTTGART, Germany - When U.S. Africa Command was garnering unprecedented international attention in October during its campaign to protect Libyan civilians against Moammar Ghadafi’s violent crackdown against a rebellion, the command achieved another, less headline-dominating victory.

WASHINGTON - Working closely with the Japanese government, the Defense Department will replace CH-46 helicopters used by the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa with MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for operations beginning in August.

WASHINGTON - Collaboration, as much as military might, should play a key role in national security, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during the 5th annual Dean Acheson Lecture on “The Practice of Partnership in the 21st Century” at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - During a 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade unit safety briefing, a soldier shot another member of the unit and then turned the weapon on himself. The shooter was injured and is in custody. A third soldier who was in the area was also slightly wounded in the shooting.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force has charged six basic training instructors with a range of alleged sexual misconduct offenses involving trainees and is investigating similar allegations against six other instructors, the senior officer in charge of Air Force training said.

WASHINGTON - A group of African-American Marines who broke the Marine Corps’ color barrier during World War II received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

WASHINGTON - In a call to the commander of U.S. Northern Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta commended Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. for leading the Defense Department’s effort to support the fight against Colorado’s raging wildfires.

WASHINGTON - Six months after U.S. combat troops withdrew from Iraq, long-term efforts there by the Defense and State departments have put strategic dividends within reach, the chief of staff to the undersecretary of defense for policy said.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader during an operation in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province. The detained leader, an improvised explosive device specialist, directed insurgents during attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Just two months into her first deployment, Air Force Airman 1st Class Rhiannon O’Leary is living the Air Force’s core values of integrity, excellence and service before self at work and off duty.

CHICOJL, Guatemala - Army Reserve Capt. (Dr.) Daniel Skirvin’s civilian career may have gone to the dogs, but at least during his mission in support of Beyond the Horizon 2012, his military career has taken more of a turn toward bulls, pigs and chickens.

POCOLA, Guatemala - Thousands of local residents in a remote mountain village in Guatemala are getting what for many is one of their first experiences seeing a doctor, nurse or dentist during a five-day medical readiness training exercise being conducted there during Beyond the Horizons 2012.

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deanie, discussed the challenges and benefits of military family relocations during an informal “fireside chat” at the National Military Child Education Coalition’s 14th national training seminar held in Grapevine, Texas.

WASHINGTON - Great strides have been made in treating service members with post-traumatic stress disorder, but progress must continue, the military’s three surgeons general and the Army’s senior sergeant major said at a PTSD Awareness Day conference.

WASHINGTON - For their savvy in tackling modern acquisition and improvement issues with an eye on cost control, 48 individuals and teams earned Defense Department recognition during the Value Engineering Awards ceremony.

WASHINGTON - This year’s Rim of the Pacific naval exercise will feature a larger group of participating countries seeking to develop better maritime cooperation, Navy Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of Naval Operations, told Pentagon reporters.

WASHINGTON - The Navy continues to evolve, making adjustments based on the U.S. defense strategic guidance, Navy Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of naval operations, told Pentagon reporters.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department leaders recognize that service members burdened with financial problems can’t reach full mission effectiveness, and they’ve made strides to help, a senior Pentagon official told a Senate committee.

WASHINGTON - The military’s logistics enterprise has done “miraculous things” in supplying two wars over the last decade, and in tackling the challenge of reversing the flow of equipment into Afghanistan, a senior leader said.

GRAPEVINE, Texas - The Defense Department recently awarded $60 million to three public schools on two military installations, the latest example of its efforts to invest in the education of military children, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at an education seminar.

WASHINGTON - In a National Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day commentary published in the San Antonio Express-News, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta asked Americans to join the Defense Department in its continuing efforts to address the unseen wounds of war.

WASHINGTON - Active duty service members and activated Guardsmen and reservists and their families are eligible to receive complimentary access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, national parks and wildlife refuges through a National Park Service program.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Four Defense Department C-130 aircraft under the control of U.S. Northern Command are helping to put out fires in Colorado at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons facilitator in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Finding the time to bond with your kids can be challenging in the highly demanding life of a Marine. But for Marine Corps Sgt. James W. Bridger, martial arts has given him the opportunity to bond with his eldest son, Christian.

EL RANCHO, Guatemala - Celebration filled a tiny mountain town as hundreds of residents pulled out all the stops to mark the opening of a new medical clinic and to thank the U.S. service members who built it as part of U.S. Southern Command’s Beyond the Horizons 2012 mission.

STUTTGART, Germany - An ongoing international effort to help African nations improve maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea represents one of U.S. Africa Command’s most successful programs, Africom’s director of strategy, plans and programs said.

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - Likening the global security environment to strong winds, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke about challenges buffeting the nation during a visit to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

WASHINGTON - Continuing her efforts to ease employment challenges from duty-related moves, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn in Chicago as the state became the 23rd to facilitate the transfer of military spouses’ professional licenses.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department held a panel discussion in honor of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month, with the Pentagon’s general counsel recalling how difficult it would have been just several years ago to believe that in 2012, gays could serve openly in the military.

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Koku Adzoble, from the West African nation of Togo, left his native country and joined the U.S. Army to make a better life for himself. Today, he serves as a model soldier for others.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan-led, coalition-supported force seized two caches containing chemicals, weapons and improvised explosive device-making components in the Ghazni province.

STUTTGART, Germany - Strengthening the defense capabilities of African countries and encouraging them to work together to confront common security threats and challenges is one of the primary goals of U.S. Africa Command, the United States’ newest combatant command focused on the continent.

EUGENE, Ore. - The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program will send what it describes as its strongest contingent of athletes and coaches ever to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was joined by Gen. Ray Odierno, Army chief of staff, as they led a Pentagon celebration for wounded warriors who competed in Paralympic sports during the 2012 Warrior Games.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing on Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., joining the battle against the Colorado wildland fires.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has commended Egyptian Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, the country’s top military officer, and his staff for supporting a secure, free and fair election there, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have set a goal of collecting 1.5 million pounds of nonperishable food and household products during this year’s annual voluntary food drive known as “Feds Feed Families.”

WASHINGTON - In his latest "Chairman's Corner" blog post, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks about the importance of trust in civil-military relations and the profession of arms.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta shares the State Department’s deep concern over the June 22 shootdown by Syrian forces of a Turkish F-4 fighter and two Turkish pilots, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, U.S. Africa Command’s top military officer, detailed existing and emerging threats from extremist organizations on the continent in a speech at the African Center for Strategic Studies.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Marine Corps Pfc. Thomas S. Breiter, a 22-year-old Oregon native, did not let obstacles in his personal life prevent him from serving in the military.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s and crews equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System will provide support to wildland firefighting efforts in the Rocky Mountain region.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban explosives expert in the Gardez district of Paktia province.

POCHEON, South Korea - More than 2,000 U.S. and South Korean troops and 38 military units participated in a recent large live-fire exercise to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Korean War at a range close to the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted the sacrifices and dedication of modern-day service members during his remarks at the American Gold Star Mothers 75th annual national convention gala.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials held a director-level meeting at the Pentagon with officials from the Japanese Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide an update on MV-22 and CV-22 Osprey aircraft issues, according to Pentagon Press Secretary George Little.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta formally welcomed three recently Senate-confirmed leaders to the Defense Department as undersecretaries of defense during a Pentagon ceremony.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition airstrike killed Nabi Rahman, a Taliban leader and explosives expert, during an operation in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province, military officials reported.

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay - Whether helping to reunite pets with their owners, or setting up a perimeter for a monk seal, the Game Warden’s Office on Marine Corps Base, Hawaii, is ready to provide support for the base’s animals, large and small.

WASHINGTON - As part of an effort to regionally align Army forces with specific unified combatant commands, a Kansas-based brigade will begin serving in March as the go-to force for U.S. Africa Command, Army officials said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department and International Security Assistance Force officials have condemned the brutal attack in Afghanistan on the lakeside Spozhmai Hotel west of Kabul in which terrorists killed civilians and took hostages.

WASHINGTON - Officials celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, an agency considered to be the linchpin of the nation’s sustainment of an all-volunteer military.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs is making progress in suicide prevention, adding staff and programs to treat the “invisible scars” carried home from the war by service members and veterans.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta described a four-part strategy against what he termed “perhaps the most frustrating challenge I’ve come across” as head of the nation’s military forces: service member and veteran suicide.

MIAMI - Putting lessons learned from the 2010 earthquake response in Haiti into practice, U.S. Southern Command has entered this year’s hurricane season ready to provide timely, effective aid should another disaster strike the region.

WASHINGTON - The Exceptional Family Member Program assists service members with exceptional family needs by providing local support during duty relocation moves, said Rebecca L. Posante, deputy director of DOD’s Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs.

STUTTGART, Germany - The U.S. military is just one part of a larger, multinational effort to help four African partner nations bring rebel leader Joseph Kony and senior members of his brutal Lord’s Resistance Army to justice, said Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, the commander of U.S. Africa Command.

WASHINGTON - During his acceptance speech for the Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said the nation’s long-term security and prosperity depend upon a sound budget strategy and diplomatic ties.

WASHINGTON - Rather than taking off to enjoy his own honeymoon, newly married Ben Harris, brother of deceased Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael Warren Harris, flew to Washington D.C. to share his brother’s story and offer life-saving tips to attendees of the joint Defense Department / Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Conference.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan national security forces are making tremendous strides and look to be ready to assume security control of the country on schedule, Defense officials told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Reforms in the personnel security clearance process have improved the speed and efficiency of background investigations and adjudications with a direct, positive impact on the Defense Department’s ability to carry out its mission, a senior defense official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. will continue to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s regime and it encourages Syrians to resist, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - Senior Defense Department officials will brief a Japanese delegation at the Pentagon on recent incidents involving U.S. MV-22 and CV-22 Osprey aircraft variants, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Theories about suicide motives abound, but as one presenter noted at the annual suicide prevention conference sponsored jointly by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, not much data exists on the question.

WASHINGTON - Work taking place under the 16-month-old new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and Russia fosters transparency and predictability for the world's two largest deployed nuclear arsenals, federal officials told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - The 11th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation recommends changes to combat, special and incentive pays while saying current military pay rates are about right.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department supports legislative proposals that would provide increased career support and homeowner protections for military members and veterans, a senior defense official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Homeowners with military transfer orders are eligible for short sales under new guidance to mortgage servicers that may help tens of thousands of military homeowners, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officials said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined the Military District of Washington Sergeant Audie L. Murphy Club in a wreath-laying ceremony to pay tribute to the American war hero.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kinzie is credited with helping to save the life of a Virginia State Trooper shot in the line of duty.

WASHINGTON - Human to human interaction is basic to mental health care, but smartphones can extend therapy’s reach and help potential suicide victims stay alive, a presenter said at the annual suicide prevention conference sponsored by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.

STUTTGART, Germany - Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Africa Command, says he’s committed to working with African partners to confront violent extremists and eliminate terrorist safe havens and support groups in the country.

WASHINGTON - An International Security Assistance Force aircraft made a forced landing in eastern Afghanistan. There were no civilian or ISAF fatalities, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said his agency is working with the Defense Department to end veteran homelessness and to identify possible contributors to service member and veteran suicide.

WASHINGTON - Vigilance is among the key actions leaders should employ to prevent service member and veteran suicides, Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of the TRICARE Management Activity, told attendees at the annual DOD and Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention conference in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - As part of the Defense Department’s ongoing efforts to maintain assured, affordable access to space through 2030, the Atlas V rocket successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral.

WASHINGTON - An investigative team from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command arrived in Alaska to investigate an apparent aircraft crash site in the state’s Knik Glacier area.

WASHINGTON - The investigation into allegations that U.S. service members improperly destroyed religious material in Afghanistan in February is now with the military services for disposition, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - “Feds Feed Families,” now in its fourth year, is under way through August, and the Defense Department encourages military and civilian employees to participate by donating nonperishable food.

WASHINGTON - In the nine months since being given the legal right to serve openly in the military, gay service members are increasingly speaking out about the double lives they led under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

WASHINGTON - An International Security Assistance Force official charged with leading the transition to an Afghan led security force says the plan is proceeding on schedule along with the anticipated completion of the NATO mission by the end of 2014.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Michael G. Vickers, undersecretary of defense for intelligence, is among few people whose actions during their government career have inspired a major Hollywood movie and shaped the course of U.S. history.

MIAMI - Several military exercises that just wrapped up or are under way exemplify U.S. Southern Command’s robust exercise program, one that officials consider integral to regional stability and U.S. national security.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani leader responsible for conducting attacks in the Tsamkani district of Paktiya province.

WASHINGTON - Officials have completed reviews of a Joint Forces Staff College elective course and a larger review of professional military education ordered by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon officials announced.

WASHINGTON - As fiscal constraints reshape priorities, the military’s strategic guidance will reflect a shift to a leaner force but one still able to provide the nation’s leaders with options, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, shed light on her message of rallying support for military families with a presentation before one of the world’s largest gatherings devoted to national service adn volunteerism.

WASHINGTON - Despite the threat of insider attacks in Afghanistan, coalition forces continue to apply pressure against insurgents in the country, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little and Navy Capt. John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman, said.

WASHINGTON - A Russian cargo ship reportedly carrying attack helicopters to Syria turned back when its British insurer canceled coverage, but a Defense Department spokesman said three other Russian vessels will carry supplies to the Russian naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus.

WASHINGTON - Some 8,600 homeless veterans will benefit from $15 million in grant money for job training through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is on target to meet the aggressive efficiency goals set in the fiscal year 2012 budget with savings for the year totalling just under $20 billion, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will lead a delegation representing the United States to offer its sympathies to Saudi Arabia following the death of Crown Prince Nayif bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud.

CHRIST CHURCH, Barbados - On a grassy hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, a handful of U.S. Marine reservists recently taught law enforcement techniques to military and civilian members representing a group of Caribbean nations during Exercise Tradewinds 2012.

STUTTGART, Germany - Five years since the standup of U.S. Africa Command, its commander has called Africa a land of great opportunity, and has said the continent presents threats not only to the immediate region, but to the United States and its interests as well.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader responsible for sniper and improvised explosive device attacks in Helmand province.

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter visited service members in the coastal low country of South Carolina, urging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who serve the nation at Joint Base Charleston to think about the future.

WASHINGTON - Amanda J. Dory, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, said that U.S. defense efforts in sub-Saharan Africa closely follow the White House’s newly announced strategy for that region while addressing the audience at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ senior leader seminar.

WASHINGTON - Millions of Egyptians voted to elect a new president democratically, but the military’s last-minute amendments to the country’s constitution concern the Defense Department, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - The military leadership at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., renamed the base’s C-17 aircrew training building after Retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen during a dedication ceremony in honor of the legendary “Berlin Candy Bomber.”

MIAMI - Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, commander of U.S. Southern Command, regularly tells members of Congress, audiences around the region and members of his command that events in South America, Central America and the Caribbean affect U.S. national security.

WASHINGTON - The NATO intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance community kicked off a first-of-its-kind technical trial in Norway to help in preserving gains made during the past decade of conflict and to build on them for the future.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province detained one of the senior Taliban leaders for the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - A renowned Civil War historian spoke at the Pentagon about Stonewall Jackson's successful Valley Campaign, describing how a great success can boost a military leader’s reputation to the point that it has a major impact on his future operations.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called the leader of Egypt’s ruling military council and encouraged him to move forward with a political transition in that country, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - As part of executive branch efforts to keep the U.S. Congress and the American people informed about the activities of the U.S. military, President Barack Obama has submitted a report to Congress about deployments of the U.S. armed forces.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta thanked and praised military fathers for their selfless service to the nation in his Father’s Day weekend message.

WASHINGTON - A high school math teacher at the Defense Department’s Baumholder Middle-High School in Germany has been chosen to receive the 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department announced the release of a mobile device strategy that identifies information technology goals to capitalize on the full potential of mobile devices.

WASHINGTON - A two-day naval exercise set for next week involving the United States, South Korea and Japan carries a message for people in the region, the Admiral in charge of the U.S. Pacific Command said.

WASHINGTON - In response to a May 11 call to action from the Office of Management and Budget, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter has directed DOD officials and managers to reduce spending on travel, conferences and other agency operations.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden paid tribute to military families at a high school graduation ceremony in Virginia Beach, Va., where many students and staff are connected to the services.

WASHINGTON - The Law of the Sea Convention is one avenue toward peacefully resolving competing maritime claims that could otherwise lead to conflict, said Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

WASHINGTON - More than half a century after his plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, the heroism Air Force Capt. Francis Gary Powers displayed while piloting his U-2 aircraft was finally recognized with his posthumous Silver Star medal.

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Thanks to quick thinking and action on the part of three members of the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron who were spending the day at Atlantic Beach, N.C., a 49-year-old man still has his life.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed Haqqani commander Eid Mohammad and multiple insurgents during an operation in the Sharan district of Paktika province.

WASHINGTON - Detroit’s Cobo Center will host three major U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-sponsored events June 26-29, aimed at attracting thousands of job-seeking veterans, business owners and federal employees.

WASHINGTON - Representatives from every military service and their counterparts from 11 other nations are wrapping up an exercise designed to improve their ability to work together to more effectively engage targets while minimizing the risk of friendly fire.

STUTTGART, Germany - Operation Odyssey Dawn, the U.S. Africa Command-led U.S. mission in Libya last year, imparted important lessons the Defense Department’s newest combatant command is applying as it welcomes a new African partner to the fold while still dealing with some of the residual challenges left by the former regime, said Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, Africom commander.

WASHINGTON - The pursuit of equality is fundamental to the American story, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in a video message thanking gay and lesbian service members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civilians for their dedicated service to the nation.

FORT MEADE, Md. - Department of Labor officials are reaching out to let transitioning service members and veterans know about the department’s many training programs to give them a successful path to employment.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s sexual assault prevention and response office will seamlessly transition from one experienced leader to another this month as incumbent director Air Force Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog prepares to retire, a senior Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - With U.S. credibility and, ultimately, national security at stake, now is the time to join the United Nations’ Law of the Sea Convention, military leaders told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-South Korea alliance is a force for peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the world, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at the start of the “Two-Plus-Two” talks with South Korea.

WASHINGTON - Accession to the longstanding United Nations Law of the Sea Convention will have a positive impact on U.S. operations across the maritime domain, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

WASHINGTON - In a message congratulating the Army on its 237th birthday, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta praised soldiers who built the service’s legacy and those who now carry it forward.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Temperatures can reach more than 100 degrees in Afghanistan, but one Marine battles the heat to keep things cool for his fellow troops.

MIAMI - With the Defense Department now embracing broader, “whole of government” approaches to national security challenges, officials at U.S. Southern Command have taken the paradigm to the next level to encompass what they call “whole-of-society solutions.”

WASHINGTON - An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force killed the Taliban commander, Fayez Jan, and one additional insurgent during an operation in the Daman district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - The United States, South Korea and Japan will conduct a two-day, trilateral naval exercise June 21-22 in the waters south of the Korean Peninsula.

WASHINGTON - Ten Navy ships, including USS Fort McHenry, are commemorating Flag Day at Fort McHenry in Baltimore harbor, the site of the historic battle that inspired the national anthem.

WASHINGTON - Army and Air Force senior leaders said they remain confident that industry partnerships will help develop large-scale renewable energy projects on the services’ posts and installations.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama sat down for lunch with Army 1st Lt. Bill Edwards and Army Capt. Joubert Paulino, both active-duty soldiers and fathers, in honor of the upcoming Father’s Day weekend and as part of a new “Fatherhood Buzz” campaign.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Citizen-soldiers and airmen from five states are working alongside civilian first responders as they continue to battle wildfires in Colorado and New Mexico, National Guard officials said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told a Senate panel the NATO alliance is crucial to American security, but that NATO countries need to spend more on defense.

WASHINGTON - The 21-year-old program to reduce weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union is shifting focus from nuclear to biological threats and from Russia to Southeast Asia and Africa, the assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - The increasing threat of cyber attacks against the nation’s computer networks requires a commensurate growth in resources dedicated to protecting them, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Calling service members key to U.S. national security, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta along with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged Congress to do right by them and their families.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned against dismantling the strategic framework that supports the fiscal 2013 defense budget request while testifying before members of Congress.

WASHINGTON - Combined Afghan-coalition forces seized 1,180 pounds of hashish during operations conducted over the past two days in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province, military officials reported.

STUTTGART, Germany - Two new task forces being stood up by U.S. Africa Command have set their sights on one of the biggest killers on the continent: the mosquito.

CLEVELAND - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Pearson and his military working dog, Books, garnered many young fans who were amazed at Books' abilities during Marine Week in Cleveland.

FORT IRWIN, Calif. - Army Col. Michael Getchell, commander of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, is participating in U.S.-Afghan leader meeting exercises at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., as he and his brigade prepare for deployment to Afghanistan in the fall.

WASHINGTON - The violence in Syria is “deplorable and disgusting,” and another indication that the Assad regime has to go, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters during a press briefing.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs clinicians offer a comprehensive review of the health concerns of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and practical management guidelines for primary care providers in a new article published in the "Journal of General Internal Medicine."

WASHINGTON - U.S. military leaders will take extra steps to ensure innocent Afghan civilians are not killed or hurt in combat operations, but U.S. forces will retain the means of self-defense, Pentagon Pentagon Press Secretary George Little and Navy Capt. John Kirby, Pentagon spokesman, said during a press briefing.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Forces Korea is working with U.S. service chiefs to ensure all the capabilities needed to defend South Korea are in place and that American might on the peninsula remains at the highest levels of readiness.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C. - Marine Corps Pfc. Coty Thomas, an aircraft technician assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, uses his flair with paint to motivate his fellow Marines and give them a sense of pride in their unit.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. James L. Terry took command of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command from Army Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti during a change of command ceremony held at the ISAF Joint Command headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta congratulated Israeli President Shimon Peres on his nomination for the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama before discussing security issues and the strength of the U.S.-Israel defense relationship during meetings at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta reaffirmed the U.S.-Turkish alliance and pledged further support for shared security goals during his keynote remarks at the 31st Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish Relations dinner hosted by the American Turkish Council in Washington, D.C.

STUTTGART, Germany - The United States has no plans to seek permanent bases in Africa, and, in the spirit of the new defense strategic guidance, will continue to maintain a “light footprint” on the continent, said Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, U.S. Africa Command's commander.

WASHINGTON - The Haqqani network’s top leaders still seek to re-establish some control in Afghanistan, a senior International Security Assistance Force commander said, but transition to Afghan-led security is proceeding well.

WASHINGTON - Though a team of U.S. negotiators is returning home after several weeks of discussing reopening ground supply routes in Pakistan, the talks are not mired, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

STUTTGART, Germany - After a year of significant change sweeping the African continent, U.S. Africa Command is using the new defense strategic guidance to shape its engagement in the theater.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan - To serve his country, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Lamar Jackson decided to follow in his father’s footsteps.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and their five-year-old granddaughter, Natalie, shared their first-hand experiences on how the deployment of a military parent can impact children during a USO-hosted book reading at the District of Columbia National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., to provide remarks at the graduation ceremonies of his alma mater, John S. Burke Catholic High School, located in Goshen, N.Y. Dempsey urged the school's graduates to always strive for excellence and to serve in endeavors larger than themselves.

FORT MEADE, Md. - The military judge trying the case of alleged WikiLeaker Army Pfc. Bradley Manning rejected a defense motion to throw out 10 of the 22 charges against him.

WASHINGTON - As elite commandos from across the Western Hemisphere compete this week in a grueling counterterrorism and special operations skills competition, the commander of Special Operations Command South said they’re building the relationships required to confront transnational organized crime gripping much of the region.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department remains focused on efforts to return the only U.S. service member known to be in Taliban captivity to his family, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, in an internal memo written last month, called the issue of military suicides one of the most complex and urgent problems facing the department, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - The commander of International Security Assistance Forces visited Afghan officials and the families of civilians reportedly killed during a June 6 airstrike and issued an apology for the attack, a senior Pentagon official said.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter sat down with some of the U.S. Military Academy's leading thinkers on military strategy, doctrine and history here this week to gain their insights into the Army's past and future.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Considered by others the "go-to person" because of his dedication for his job, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Zachary G. Harrison is out to learn as many military skills as he can while helping the fellow members of his squadron in the process.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader during an operation in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Ghazni province.

WASHINGTON - Despite the prospect of major defense cuts early next year, the Defense Department remains committed to resale programs that provide valuable benefits to uniformed members and employment for family members and veterans, a senior department official told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey joined Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta in expressing unhappiness with Pakistan’s progress in battling the Haqqani network’s use of safe havens in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Just back from his first major trip to Southeast Asia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he laid out the context and rationale there for the Defense Department’s rebalance to a region that is of strategic consequence to the world.

WASHINGTON - The military’s senior officer welcomed nearly 700 U.S. and international students from the National Defense University back into the fighting force and encouraged them to build relationships for success.

MIAMI - U.S. Southern Command continues to move full steam ahead on its array of theater engagement programs while exploring new and more efficient ways to conduct them and to maximize their impact.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during a firefight while searching for a Haqqani leader in the Tsamkani district of Paktiya province.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - The demanding exercises that are part of the physical therapy regimen at the Officer Candidates School’s branch clinic on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., help to keep Marines healthy and in tip-top shape.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The United States is reaching the limits of its patience with Pakistan serving as a safe haven for terrorists attacking American forces in Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in Kabul.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived in Afghanistan to meet with NATO and Afghan leaders, visit with American troops, and assess the situation on the ground.

FORT MEADE, Md. - Accused WikiLeaker Army Pfc. Bradley Manning returned to the courtroom at Fort Meade, Md., as lawyers wrangled over the release of documents associated with what’s considered the largest intelligence leak in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON - For students whose parents are in the military or work for the Defense or State departments, sometimes just getting to school is a challenge.

WASHINGTON - Defense and Interior Department officials presented this year’s Secretary of Defense Environmental Award to 10 teams and installations for excellence in advancing environmental initiatives.

WASHINGTON - Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Creating thinking, adaptable leaders not only within U.S. forces but also with partner nations is key to maintaining readiness against future threats, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, set out May 29 for a week’s travel in the Asia-Pacific pledging to listen to partners’ perspectives on the new U.S. security strategy that rebalances forces toward the region.

NEW DELHI - The dream of the 21st century is a world that shares in prosperity, security and peace, and by reaching out to other nations, the United States is taking the best path to make that dream a reality, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters in New Delhi.

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. - Three years after starting her career, Air Force Capt. Susan Marchiano has been named the service's best flight surgeon, credited with saving 82 lives and notching more than 130 combat flying hours.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government has confirmed the death of Abu Yahya al-Libi, the second in command of al-Qaida, a senior White House spokesman said.

SAINTE-MÈRE-EGLISE, France - U.S. and Allied veterans of World War II, including 87-year-old Eugene Cook, joined currrent service members in France to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings of June 6, 1944.

MIAMI - A U.S. Southern Command program employs science and high-tech equipment to strengthen support to Colombia’s war on drugs and drug cartels.

NEW DELHI - The U.S.-India relationship must deepen and grow to truly provide security for the Asia-Pacific region and the world, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi.

WASHINGTON - Safety measures put in place last month on F-22 Raptor flights have had no impact on operations, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby told reporters.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. strategy to rebalance military forces toward the Asia-Pacific region focuses on the region as a whole and is not targeted at any one country, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby told reporters.

WASHINGTON - NATO has reached agreements with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to allow troops and equipment to transit these Central Asian nations to and from Afghanistan.

DELARAM DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan - When he was living a simple life in a small Midwestern farm town, Michael Montgomery recalled he felt he had to serve his country in a time of war.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force detained a Taliban leader and several suspected insurgents in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, military officials reported.

MIAMI - When the Louisiana National Guard announced its new, official bond with the Haitian military earlier this year through the State Partnership Program, many of its members felt like they were simply formalizing an already-solid relationship.

NEW DELHI - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met with key Indian leaders to explain how the U.S. strategic guidance will shift American focus to the Asia-Pacific region.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - A group of wounded warriors put Charles Barkley’s basketball knowledge to the test during his recent visit to the Center for the Intrepid medical facility at Fort Sam Houston.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Geostrategic location and global commitment, paired with a maturing military and a growing economy, make longtime U.S. ally Thailand an attractive prospect for even greater bilateral cooperation, said U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, has turned her family’s own experience with military deployment into a picture book for children she hopes will add to the general public’s understanding and support of service members and their families.

NEW DELHI, India - Military-to-military relations between the United States and India have gotten so good there is literally nothing leaders cannot talk about, including an increased Indian role in Afghanistan, U.S. defense officials said in New Delhi, India.

BANGKOK - U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Thailand for his last visit of a week-long Asia tour that focused on strategy and featured engagements with many key allies and partners in the region.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ended a visit to the Philippines confident the long-standing bonds between Philippine and U.S. forces, forged in battle during World War II, will only deepen in years to come.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Providing comfort to wounded airmen and offering a shoulder to lean on for the medical staff that care for them is all in a day’s work for Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Brian Bohlman.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained several insurgents during a search for a Haqqani facilitator in the Khost district of Afghanistan’s Khost province.

HANOI, Vietnam - The Vietnamese government will open three areas to help resolve the fate of Americans missing in action from the Vietnam War, DOD officials said.

HANOI, Vietnam - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Vietnamese Minister of Defense Phuong Quang Thanh have returned personal artifacts -- including a diary and letters -- of service members from both nations during the Vietnam War.

HANOI, Vietnam - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phuong Quang Thanh have discussed the improving relationship between the two nations in the 17 years since the United States and Vietnam normalized diplomatic ties.

CAMP NAVARRO, Philippines - U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with U.S. special operations and other troops during a visit to the Philippines.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The littoral combat ships that will soon begin rotational deployment to Singapore are an example of the increased military engagement called for under the U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

MANILA, Philippines - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Manila, Philippines, for a visit that will include a meeting with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The United States’ allies and partner nations in the Asia-Pacific region have an “appetite and eagerness for us to remain a Pacific power,” the senior U.S. military officer said.

CAM RANH BAY, Vietnam - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said his visit to Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay, which served as a major port, airfield and logistical center during the Vietnam War, symbolizes how far the two countries have come since the end of that war.

SINGAPORE - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will become the most senior U.S. official to visit the former U.S. naval base at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam since the Vietnam War ended.

SINGAPORE - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with leaders from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia and host-nation Singapore to discuss defense issues during the Shangri-La Dialogue.

SINGAPORE - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Philippine National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin met in Singapore and discussed regional issues and ways the Philippine and U.S. military can exercise, train and operate together.

SINGAPORE - The U.S. Congress created a self-imposed crisis in the national budget that they must now resolve, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

SINGAPORE - There is no choice but to pursue a mature relationship between the United States and China, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told attendees of the 11th annual Asia security conference, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

SINGAPORE - The United States is a Pacific power and will remain engaged in the region, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a speech delivered at the 11th Annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. has fine-tuned its methods to promote responsible use of space and strengthen international partnerships, Ambassador Gregory L. Schulte, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, said during the 2012 Women in Aerospace Conference in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Two middle school students from Defense Department schools received a coveted spot on the stage of this year’s National Spelling Bee and National Geography Bee.

WASHINGTON - The convergence of crime, terrorism and insurgency and its threat to U.S. national security is a growing concern for the Defense Department, whose role in the fight began in the 1980s and continues to evolve, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama announced a new presidential initiative aimed at preparing service members for civilian employment.

SINGAPORE - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Singapore’s defense officials and visited the island nation’s military facilities.

MIAMI - An active theater engagement program at U.S. Southern Command is making notable progress in promoting respect for human rights within regional militaries, the command’s human rights coordinator said.

OKINAWA, Japan - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Belk, a motor vehicle mechanic, devised a system to recycle vehicle batteries to cut costs on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A major retirement savings tool available to all service members and DOD civilians is the Thrift Savings Plan, and soon there will be a new way to save for retirement -- the Roth TSP, a senior Defense Department official said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani leader and several other insurgents during an operation in the Sarobi district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

SINGAPORE - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he disagrees “in the strongest possible terms” with an Army major general’s characterization of suicide as a selfish act and has been in touch with Army leadership to discuss his concerns.