BAND OF BROTHERS

Soldiers watch troop movements during Green Flag-West 13-2 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Nov. 7, 2012. The soldiers, assigned to the 1st Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo., took part in a three week pre-deployment training exercise. U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Daniel Hughes

DAUGHTER DELIGHT

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Richard Winstead hugs his daughter during a homecoming celebration on Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan, Nov. 17, 2012. Winstead is assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 141, which completed a deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Smelley

PIER REPAIR

Marines and sailors work to repair a pier damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Hoboken, N.J., Nov. 3, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

ADDRESSING SOLDIERS

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter talks to a group of soldiers at Green Ramp during his visit to Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 29, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel A. Carter

AIRBORNE BRIEF

Sgt. 1st Class Walter Veazey, a jumpmaster with the Army's Advanced Airborne School briefs Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter on the equipment used during airborne operations during Carter's visit to Fort Bragg, N.C., Nov. 29, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel A. Carter

PHOTO GIFT

Lt. Gen. Charles T. Cleveland, commanding general of the Army's Special Operations Command, presents Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter with a commemorative photo taken in the memorial plaza in front of the command's headquarters building during his visit to Fort Bragg, N.C., on Nov. 29, 2012. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel A. Carter

ART ADMIRER

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta speaks with Army Capt. John Rutledge, one of 12 winners in the Art in Embassies contest best in show awards ceremony at the Pentagon, Nov. 30, 2012. The contest, titled "Serving Abroad ... Through Their Eyes" in honor of Veterans Day, was sponsored by the Defense Department and the State Department's Office of Art in Embassies. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

FIREFIGHTING TRAINING

Sailors train in fighting a flight deck fire at the Center for Naval Engineering Firefighting School at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., Nov. 27, 2012. The sailors are assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Farrington