WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has informed companies interested in bidding on the KC-X aerial refueling tanker contract that if the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co. formally expresses an intention to compete, the bidding deadline would be extended 60 days.

ARLINGTON - More than 1,500 National Guard members in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are waging a war against rising flood waters after several days of rain combined with melting snow.

WASHINGTON - The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families kicks off its second swing through the United States on April 17 at Fort Knox, Ky.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama announced a series of energy initiatives, including plans to expand off-shore drilling, aimed in part at bolstering national security by weaning the United States off foreign oil.

WASHINGTON - The first woman chosen to lead a major U.S. intelligence agency believes that the nation will be able to draw upon more resources if more women join the intelligence field.

KABUL - Afghan and international security forces detained several suspected militants.

WASHINGTON - Defense and USO officials joined military families at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington to celebrate the launch of a new DVD to help military children cope with a parent’s deployment.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marine Corps Cpl. Dana Hineline stays awake for more than 24 hours during an annual walkathon to raise money for cancer patients, part of her efforts to "better this world."

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - About 400 disabled veterans attending the 24th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., are expecting miracles.

KABUL - The coalition record on civilian casualties has improved significantly with a new strategy in Afghanistan, but American leaders continue to hammer home how important it is to avoid killing civilians.

KABUL - After visits to U.S., coalition and Afghan forces in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kandahar provinces, U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that “never has our partnership … been stronger, or the challenges we face, clearer.”

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with community leaders in the governor’s palace in Kandahar, Afghanistan – a building that used to be the headquarters for Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban.

MARJA, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, toured Marja, Afghanistan, visiting with local and provincial Afghan leaders and U.S. Marines to get a feel for how operations in this southern Afghanistan city are going.

WASHINGTON - With 2010 suicide numbers slightly above last year’s and coming off the worst January on record, the Army National Guard is emphasizing resilience, transition programs and the importance of asking for help.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan are laying the groundwork for their much-anticipated efforts to combat extremists in Kandahar, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military command responsible for moving troops and cargo around the world will receive recognition for its role as one of the Defense Department’s unsung heroes, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials have adopted several new initiatives and programs aimed at bolstering patient safety at all levels — from the caregivers on up to the hospital leadership.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki hopes this year's National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colo., will encourage others to "step into the unknown" as their Paralympic comrades did.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces killed several militants and detained numerous suspected militants.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen writes about the importance of partnerships during humanitarian efforts describing a partnership he formed three decades ago with a Brazilian officer.

WASHINGTON - While the world searches for more efficient ways to power automobiles and create usable energy, Air Force scientists are looking for cleaner, more efficient ways to fuel the military’s aircraft.

WASHINGTON - In less than five years, Navy Ensign Kara Sartain has risen in the ranks from enlisted sailor to naval officer through a combination of hard work and sheer determination.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Afghan forces killed and detained militants and discovered weapons in operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Roughly 40,000 Pakistani troops are conducting operations against militants in the country’s North Waziristan region near the Afghan border.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - More than 96 percent of the people of Afghanistan oppose the Taliban and they want a corruption-free government, a senior NATO military official said speaking on background.

WASHINGTON - Members of the board of the directors for the International Military Sports Council kicked off their annual weeklong meeting at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki called an abandoned row of wheelchairs at the National Disabled Americans Winter Sports Clinic a testament to the clinic’s success.

MANAMA, Bahrain - The crew of the USS McFaul saved 30 men, women and children off the coast of Somalia.

ARLINGTON, Va. - As North Dakota reduces the number of National Guard members fighting floods, at least three other states are calling up personnel to combat rising water.

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq - An Iraq-deployed U.S. paratrooper and his stateside wife celebrated the strength and resilience of America’s wounded warriors with synchronized 50-mile runs.

WASHINGTON - Two military journalists who participated in a NATO project to traverse Afghanistan and file daily reports recapped their experiences.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expresses his confidence in the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, which "dramatically" reduces the stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki opened the 24th Annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., encouraging participants to conquer the mountain and prove to themselves what they’re able to achieve.

SHANNON, Ireland - Training Afghan security forces is a priority for coalition forces, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he intends to meet with coalition and Afghan leaders to assess that process.

SHANNON, Ireland - Kandahar is the center of gravity for operations in Afghanistan for at least the rest of this year, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said to reporters traveling with him to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama underscored his administration’s continuing partnership with Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government while also pressing for greater reform.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan, delivering a message of praise to American servicemembers on behalf of the United States.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama traveled to Kabul to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military commander in the Pacific region expressed hope that North Korea would resume six-party talks aimed at addressing the country’s nuclear program.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces will be prepared to transition wartime operational control to the South Korean joint chiefs of staff as scheduled April 17, 2012, Army Gen. Walter “Skip” Sharp told the House and Senate Armed Services committees.

WASHINGTON - Revisions in the way the Defense Department applies the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law include protecting doctor-patient, therapist-patient and lawyer-client communications from being used in a separation inquiry, the Pentagon's top lawyer said.

WASHINGTON - The United States and Russia have agreed to a new arms reduction treaty that will slash each of their nuclear arsenals by a third and improve the way the terms of the agreement are verified, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has notified Congress that eight countries will receive special funds from the department this year.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces detained suspected insurgents in Marja and found weapons caches.

WASHINGTON - The suspected Baghdad area leader for al-Qaida in Iraq was killed during a combined security operation in the northern part of the Iraqi capital.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A synthetic fuel partially made from plants and animals got the thumbs up from the A-10C Thunderbolt II jet pilot who tested it.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps weather specialists ensure that the “boots on the ground” get a tactical advantage through detailed knowledge of the environment.

OXON HILL, Md. - U.S. Northern Command and its sister command, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, are inextricably linked to the National Guard.

RONKONOMA, N.Y. - Chief Warrant Officer Herb Dargue, an Army helicopter pilot with the New York Army National Guard, retires after 43 years of service and 21,000 flying hours.

U.S. ARMY GARRISON HUMPHREYS, South Korea - Camp Humphreys is transforming from a quiet aviation base off the beaten track from Pyongtaek into U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, a major hub for U.S. forces in South Korea.

U.S. ARMY GARRISON HUMPHREYS, South Korea - Troops stationed in South Korea -- from the top general officer to the newest privates -- call the new tour normalization policy a huge boost for military families, particularly when they’re so often separated during combat deployments.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged senators to quickly approve a $37.5 billion supplemental budget request to fund ongoing operations.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan National Army’s air corps is critical to NATO’s mission to grow and empower security forces to fight the Taliban and other insurgents.

WASHINGTON - National Guard leaders went to Capitol Hill with a message to Congress from Guardsmen: “We want to remain an operational reserve.”

WASHINGTON - Perhaps no other weapon platform has more significantly transformed the way the U.S. military wages war in recent years than unmanned aerial aircraft.

FAIRFAX, Va. - Doctors once told wounded Air Force veteran Matthew Bilancia that playing sports and competing in athletic competition would be difficult, if not nearly impossible.

WASHINGTON - Though the number of trainers for Afghan security forces has increased significantly, the process is a work in progress and the American people must have patience, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced changes to the Pentagon’s regulation on homosexuals serving in the military that he said make the Defense Department’s enforcement of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law “fairer and more appropriate.”

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces captured several suspected militants.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested 15 terrorism suspects in various security operations.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of Army paratroopers continue to provide humanitarian aid to earthquake survivors in Haiti, even as they prepare to return home.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A U.S. military health care provider serving with a reconstruction team in Afghanistan’s Paktika province said the austere conditions that exist there fail to deter his commitment to helping the Afghan people.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will recommend that President Barack Obama nominate Navy Vice Adm. David J. Venlet to oversee restructuring of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told a congressional panel that while on a Cabinet-level visit to Mexico City, he assured Mexican military leaders that he’ll look into ways to speed up equipment deliveries to support their fight against drug cartels.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is pushing new guidelines and numerous research initiatives to the front burner to aid in early detection of traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - This summer will mark the first time since 2003 that the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will overshadow the American presence in Iraq, the top U.S. military officer told Congress.

PHILADELPHIA - The Defense Logistics Agency’s supply center in Philadelphia is ensuring servicemembers have Passover meals available for the upcoming Jewish holiday.

WASHINGTON - The stakes in Afghanistan are “too high for failure,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress, as he and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged quick passage of funding legislation supporting operations there.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces captured a Taliban subcommander and several other militants in operations in Nangarhar and Helmand provinces.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces with U.S. advisors arrested five men suspected of carrying out attacks for two terrorist groups operating in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Some military installations are consolidating and getting new names as joint basing becomes a reality.

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Army Spc. Ryan Spurgeon, an Indiana native, won a competition to represent his home state at a re-enlistment ceremony for select Army Reserve soldiers in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen met with their Mexican counterparts in Mexico City to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico military partnership in the fight against drug cartels there.

WASHINGTON - Talks between Pakistani and American officials seek to strengthen, broaden and deepen the ties between the two countries, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - A suspected al-Qaida in Iraq explosives cell leader was killed and a suspected terrorist was arrested.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces detained several suspected militants, including a Taliban commander, and seized weapons.

WASHINGTON - Military officials want to harness technology for a more flexible and adaptive defense architecture, James N. Miller, principle deputy undersecretary of Defense for policy, said at the 8th Annual U.S. Missile Defense Conference.

WASHINGTON - The end of the Cold War made effective missile defense possible, Ashton Carter, the undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, said at a missile defense conference in Washington.

RICHMOND, Va. - The Defense Supply Center Richmond, Va., is conducting a phased realignment plan that will merge aviation supply and repair personnel from the Navy, Air Force and Army.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A pioneering National Guard Bureau attorney who was instrumental in founding the Youth ChalleNGe Program retired after serving more than 35 years at the bureau.

WASHINGTON - Modern missile defense requires the U.S. military to strike a balance between offensive and defensive capabilities to meet today’s changing threat, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - A month into a maiden voyage that has seen a trio of drug-smuggling attempts thwarted, the commander aboard the Navy’s first littoral combat ship described the vessel’s performance to date as “exceptional.”

WASHINGTON - Ballistic missile defense has come out of the world of the controversial and improbable and now is in the realm of the accepted and possible, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - International Security Assistance Force Joint Command officials provided details on various operations.

WASHINGTON - Some deployed servicemembers will not be charged for rest and recuperation leave under a new Defense Department policy.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The ability to coordinate and collaborate were important elements in humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti, the operation's U.S. commander said in his blog.

KOREAN DEMILITARIZED ZONE - The Kaesong Industrial Park in North Korea, located six miles north of the demilitarized zone, opened in 2003, is part of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung’s “Sunshine Policy” promoting reconciliation between the two Koreas.

FARGO, N.D. - A visit by North Dakota’s adjutant general to the emergency operations center set up for flood response at the North Dakota Air National Guard base in Fargo, N.D., came with a surprise for one guardsman.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his Canadian counterpart, Peter MacKay, discussed bilateral defense issues, including Canada’s future role in the NATO mission in Afghanistan, during a meeting at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested eight suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members and members of a terrorist group believed to be making bombs.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marine Cpl. Amy Gentry, a member of the military police who has deployed to Iraq twice as a machine gunner, exemplifies the changes for women in the Marine Corps.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - An agreement between the Defense Logistics Agency and the Air Transport Association of America will promote widespread commercialization of environmentally friendly aviation fuels.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department program is giving high school students the support and resources to design and conduct original research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

WASHINGTON - The Tricare military health plan meets the standards set by the health care reform bill passed by the House of Representatives, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a statement.

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Patriot Academy, the military’s first accredited high school, graduated its first class at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will travel to Mexico City as part of a U.S. delegation focused on helping the Mexican government fight drug-trafficking cartels and other security threats.

WASHINGTON - The Marja operation has served as proof of principle for operations in Afghanistan, and commanders are working to adopt the principles in other areas in the country, a senior military official said.

WASHINGTON - A former White House staff photographer who started photographing Iraq in 2003 said that comparing old images to recent ones presents a picture of staggering economic growth there.

WASHINGTON - Three of the four services and all of the reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for February.

WASHINGTON - A company that had been partnering with Northrop Grumman before it withdrew from the KC-X tanker competition has asked for additional time to submit a proposal.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is working with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that all military personnel are counted in the 2010 census.

WASHINGTON - The Society of Human Resource Management affirmed its commitment to employment opportunities and benefits for citizen servicemembers.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces detained numerous suspected insurgents and found stockpiles of weapons.

BAGHDAD - A suspected senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader was killed and six other suspected associates were arrested in Mosul.

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - An A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot recalled a harrowing mission she flew in Iraq, safely landing despite bullet holes in the fuselage and tail section, for an audience at a Women's History Month luncheon.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A new threat environment means a transformed National Guard should maintain its force after drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military relations with Japan remain strong despite disagreements over basing and other aspects of the bilateral security agreement, the Pentagon’s head of East Asian relations told Congress.

WASHINGTON - U.S. senators applauded the National Guard’s domestic and overseas contributions at a Capitol Hill breakfast sponsored by the Senate National Guard Caucus.

WASHINGTON - The nation depends upon women, both military and civilian, at all levels of the Defense Department, from the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan to the upper echelons of military command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Despite historic recruitment rates since the end of the military draft, the Defense Department continues to take measures to ensure prolonged recruitment successes, a senior Pentagon official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Troops at the forward edge of the battlefield in Afghanistan soon will be able to tap into massive stores of intelligence, including full-motion video gathered from unmanned aerial vehicles, to plan and conduct their missions.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested suspected al-Qaida in Iraq and Kataib Hezbollah terrorists during three operations with U.S. advisors.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces killed several militants and detained numerous other suspects.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Air Force Staff Sgt. Gary Graf is teaching Iraqi servicemembers the ins and outs of communication theories, cable splicing and fiber optics.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military continues to support relief efforts in Chile in the wake of a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the country Feb. 27.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers should be spending twice as much time at home than they do deployed by 2011, the Army's vice chief of staff said on Capitol Hill.

WASHINGTON - One of the U.S. military’s greatest advantages over its adversaries is its ability to move an enormous amount of people and equipment quickly anywhere in the world, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces detained several suspected insurgents and seized illegal drugs and enemy weapon stockpiles.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. and NATO have established military academies, officer candidate schools and specialty programs but the NATO training mission needs more trainers to build a high-quality Afghan military.

WASHINGTON - More than 300 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., for the Military Health System’s 2010 Remembrance Ceremony dedicated to fallen military medical personnel.

WASHINGTON - Several conclusions drawn from a nearly complete review of the nation’s nuclear posture already have been incorporated into the Defense Department’s fiscal year 2011 budget request, a senior Pentagon official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Joint Forces Command is providing military leaders with valuable insight for the future of the military.

WASHINGTON - The military’s practice of training and equipping indigenous forces to counter terrorism in their home countries is effective in fighting global terrorism, the commanders of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command told a congressional panel.

WASHINGTON - The commander of NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan said he is pleased with the progress in the country so far while acknowledging that much more needs to be done.

WASHINGTON - A newly introduced Defense Department social media policy opens doors that can provide a morale boost for families and troops serving in a war zone.

WASHINGTON - Wounded Army combat veteran Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister has endured some of the most grueling conditions on the planet as he continues to climb some of the world's highest mountains.

WASHINGTON - Preparations for the formal establishment of U.S. Cyber Command, which will operate and defend the Defense Department's information networks, are in progress, a senior military officer told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - While the United States draws down in Iraq and builds up in Afghanistan, “we must not lose sight of our other challenges” in the Middle East, said the commander of U.S. Central Command.

WASHINGTON - Though considerable challenges remain in Afghanistan, success there is achievable and important, said U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, during testimony before the Senate Armed Service Committee,

SEOUL, South Korea - The upcoming move of most U.S. forces from Seoul offers a new opportunity for the Dragon Hill Lodge at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea, to become a premier vacation destination for servicemembers, the lodge's general manager said.

WASHINGTON - Drug and weapons seizures, and the capture of a senior Taliban commander and other insurgents highlight recent operations.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces arrested nine terrorism suspects after Iraqi judges issued arrest warrants.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is rolling out a new set of guidelines for the treatment of mild traumatic brain injury among servicemembers in combat areas.

WASHINGTON - Reports of sexual assault involving servicemembers rose by 11 percent in fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2009, according to a report released by the Department of Defense.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO - Marine Corps Staff Sgt. David R. Brewer, a drill instructor at the recruit training center in San Diego, recalled how his grandfather taught him how to catch trout using a cookie.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s family care plan policy will be expanded in the coming months to encompass a wider population of military parents.

WASHINGTON - The ongoing U.S.-Afghan operation in Marja, Afghanistan, probably is the greatest in the history of counterinsurgency, said Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, during an interview with CNN.

FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard will mobilize soldiers and airmen to begin flood contingency operations for seven of the state’s southeastern counties.

WASHINGTON - Dorothy Canty Forsberg, referred to as “Dottie,” recalled her experiences as a Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service member during World War II.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police arrested three suspected terrorists, two of whom are believed to be al-Qaida in Iraq leaders.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed a senior Taliban operative, detained numerous suspected insurgents and seized weapons and drugs.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - In the two months since a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, the humanitarian situation has transitioned from crisis response to one of sustained relief and long-term recovery, said Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, commander of Joint Task Force Haiti.

WASHINGTON - Navy Seaman Vince Edward Chu Lo said his mom, a nurse who treated poor people in the Philippines, inspired him to become a combat corpsman.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Air Force members are helping Chilean officials expand a hospital by adding two operating rooms, six critical-care beds and four wards to help treat citizens injured by the Feb. 27 earthquake.

NORFOLK, Va. - The USNS Comfort stopped at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on its way to its homeport in Baltimore after a seven-week deployment where the crew provided care to nearly 800 patients.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael L. Oates, who is leading the fight against improvised explosive devices, briefed bloggers on the progress and challenges of countering IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The duration of today’s conflicts poses a greater challenge to the nation and its military than the magnitude of the wars, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told an audience of American high school students.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will require a shift to a fixed-price contract in its negotiations with Lockheed Martin for the initial production phase of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard is a fundamental partner in U.S. Northern Command’s mission, Northcom’s commander told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Matthew Bilancia now cuts and edge his snowboard down a Pennsylvania mountain with so much confidence and passion, most wouldn't know he was a wounded warrior.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police arrested five suspected terrorists, including a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader in northern Iraq.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces killed one insurgent, detained 16 suspected militants and seized enemy weapon stockpiles.

WASHINGTON - Army researchers are developing a training simulator that creates environments mirroring the challenges troops face behind the wheel.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - The dignified transfer is a solemn movement of fallen servicemembers from the aircraft to a vehicle to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Civilian mobilization training is ongoing at the Joint Maneuver Training Center at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

KABUL - Reports of civilian casualties resulting from military operations are “completely groundless,” a senior official of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command said.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. - Marine Corps Cpl. Robert Dominguez is the 62nd keeper of the Silent Drill Platoon drill's tradition, memorizing and teaching the platoon’s unique style to new generations.

NORFOLK, Va. - The USNS Comfort will arrive at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., March 13, en route to its home port in Baltimore after completing its humanitarian assistance mission off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

WASHINGTON - The military’s quick humanitarian response in Haiti, then in Chile, is proof that U.S. Southern Command can adapt quickly from its ongoing challenges in Latin America, its commander told U.S. senators.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command are “inextricably linked” and share an “indispensible partnership” that calls for a single leader, the commander of both commands said.

WASHINGTON - A month after the release of the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, a senior defense official directly addressed concerns expressed about the report at a two-day seminar hosted by the National Defense University.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed the prospect of sanctions against Iraq, how they would work, and the international community's role in the situation as he met with leaders of the United Arab Emirates.

WASHINGTON - Contracting for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, touted as the future backbone of U.S. air superiority, must be brought in line with budget realities to make the aircraft affordable again, a defense official told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - Injured servicemembers who receive morphine during trauma care are about half as likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder as those who are not administered the drug.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces detained numerous suspected insurgents, including two Taliban operatives, and seized weapons.

WASHINGTON - Troops assigned to the personal effects section of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del., clean the personal belongings that arrive with a servicemember’s remains.

WASHINGTON - The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program, commonly known as MyCAA, will resume March 13 for the more than 136,000 spouses who already have established an account.

A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told troops he was disappointed Northrop-Grumman pulled out of the Air Force’s next-generation tanker aircraft contract competition, leaving the field to Boeing, but said the process was balanced.

A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has served eight presidents, and he shared some of his insights into that experience with U.S. servicemembers deployed in southwest Asia.

A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA - Deployed servicemembers quizzed Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates about Afghanistan, the elections in Iraq and the Iran situation during a question-and-answer period in southwest Asia.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard’s State Partnership Program is a superb tool for U.S. Africa Command, the command’s top military officer told a congressional committee.

WASHINGTON - The first female military pilots, members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in the Capitol.

SEOUL, South Korea - Combined Forces Command in South Korea is conducting Key Resolve 2010, one of the world’s largest simulated exercises.

SEOUL, South Korea - Military exercises under way in South Korea are refining command and control capabilities that will be critical for the U.S. and South Korean militaries to defend against a North Korean attack.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama recognized nine military members along with other federal, state and nongovernment relief workers for their service to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

WASHINGTON - Rising personnel costs and maintaining benefits designed to attract new volunteer warriors must be balanced in the context of growing equipment and operations costs, a top defense leader told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - The model used to determine the appropriate size of the United States military is being replaced following the Quadrennial Defense Review process, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - Some of the 98,000 U.S. military forces in Iraq already have made the transition from security to stability operations ahead of the September deadline, American military commanders said.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has asked Saudi King Abdallah to use his country’s influence to convince other nations to support United Nations sanctions on Iran.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - In his blog, Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, commander of Joint Task Force Haiti, saluted the efforts of the crew of the USNS Comfort hospital ship in treating Haitians that were injured as a result of the earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police captured four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members, two of whom are alleged leaders in the terrorist organization for the central Diyala province and Kirkuk regions.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces captured numerous suspected insurgents in four Afghanistan provinces during combined operations.

WASHINGTON - As parliamentary election results are tallied in Iraq, a U.S. commander there said it’s unlikely any outcome would require American troops to stay beyond their scheduled withdrawal.

WASHINGTON - Children with a strong nondeployed parent or caregiver and a solid support system have a better ability to cope with deployments.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department expects to launch a new policy in the coming months that will make head-injury evaluations mandatory for all troops who suffer possible concussions.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Three soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard are lacing up their roller skates, strapping on elbow and knee pads and taking to the rink as members of the Oklahoma City Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air National Guard is using video and pictures on its public recruiting and retention Web site to tell Air Guard member stories directly to online visitors.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - The Center for Families of the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base, Del., is a place where grieving families can wait in comfort for their fallen servicemembers to arrive home.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss Iran, Afghanistan and military-to-military contacts with Saudi officials.

CAMP BLACKHORSE, Afghanistan - For the last stop in his visit to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates opted to take a first-hand look at an Afghan National Army training center.

WASHINGTON - Under clear blue skies, beneath the spires of the U.S. Air Force Memorial, military aviators gathered to pay homage to the achievements of the first women to fly military aircraft during World War II.

KABUL - Coalition forces captured two militant commanders along with several other insurgents in separate raids.

WASHINGTON - Increasing global threats such as those to computer networks and growing hostilities from Iran are prompting more NATO expeditionary operations.

WASHINGTON - Getting more NATO military trainers into Afghanistan is a top priority, the commander of the alliance’s military forces told a Senate panel.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The hospital ship USNS Comfort will leave Haiti, as U.S. Southern Command officials have determined its crew has completed its humanitarian relief mission in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military units in Iraq and Afghanistan advising host-nation security forces can still project combat power, Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-led Africa Partnership Station is designed to support and strengthen regional capabilities and building comprehensive maritime security in Africa.

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan - The citizens of Now Zad, Afghanistan, once the second-largest city in Helmand province, are eager to return home after U.S.-Afghan-coalition military efforts have chased out the Taliban.

NOW ZAD, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ visits in Afghanistan with Marines at Now Zad and with soldiers at Forward Operating Base Frontenac in Kandahar have reinforced his belief that the new Afghanistan strategy is working.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FRONTENAC, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is visiting Afghanistan to get the “ground truth” directly from U.S. servicemembers and was reminded of the cost of the war.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - Servicemembers who work in the uniform shop of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del., prepare the uniforms that will clothe fallen warriors' remains.

SANTIAGO, Chile - An Air Force expeditionary medical support team from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, will arrive in Chile to help people impacted by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the nation Feb. 27.

MARAWI, Philippines - Army Sgt. C.J. Rueda, a Filipino-American soldier, is part of the U.S. military task force charged with training Philippine counterterrorism forces and providing humanitarian assistance.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A group of Marines tested a U.S. Joint Forces Command interactive training simulation program during a demonstration held at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Military Health System has launched a new Health.mil Web site that provides a single point of entry to military health news, information and resources.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met at the presidential palace in Kabul to discuss the challenges still facing Afghanistan and the increasing opportunities in the country.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi police arrested three suspected terrorists during a combined security operation targeting a man believed to be assisting al-Qaida in Iraq in planning and carrying out attacks to deter voters from participating in national elections.

WASHINGTON - Afghan troops, assisted by coalition forces, cordoned and searched an insurgent supply route used to transport and harbor roadside bombs in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Benjamin Kirk Rudy takes on a pirate's persona and searches for treasure to keep his children happy while he's deployed to Afghanistan.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - The mission of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover Air Force Base, Del., is to receive a fallen hero's remains, prepare them for burial, and care for and support the fallen hero's family.

WASHINGTON - Training and financial investment are critical elements in helping Afghanistan’s security forces become self-sufficient.

KABUL - Operations in Helmand province will serve as a template for future operations elsewhere in Afghanistan, NATO’s senior civilian representative in the country said.

KABUL - The Taliban flag no longer flies over Marja, and the operations in the central region of Helmand province have lessons for the rest of Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in the country said.

KABUL - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is visiting Afghanistan to get what he called the “ground truth” from servicemembers.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The Iraqi election process shows how far the country has come, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called parliamentarian elections in Iraq a "milestone" event and vowed to keep his pledge to remove all U.S. troops from that country by the end of next year.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said he expects new Iraqi leaders will continue their previous government’s efforts to create inclusive coalitions to bridge sectarian and ethnic differences.

SEAL BEACH, Calif., - The Navy commissioned the newest guided-missile destroyer, the USS Dewey, to its fleet at a ceremony steeped in naval symbolism and tradition.

WASHINGTON - A computer-based game is helping in the training of military commanders and their staffs in counterinsurgency and stability operations.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reflects on years of war in his latest blog, and outlines three principles he's derived on the modern day use of military forces.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Two Missouri Air National Guard C-130 Hercules transport aircraft with 47 crewmembers are en route to aid earthquake-ravaged Chile.

WASHINGTON - The FBI, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency and the Arlington County, Va., Police Department, are working to figure out why a California man approached an entrance to the Pentagon and shot two Pentagon security officers.

BAGHDAD - In several operations, Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, arrested six people suspected of planning terrorist attacks.

KABUL - Combined patrols of Afghan and international forces detained several insurgents and seized numerous weapons.

WASHINGTON - As Iraq's elections approach, the commander of the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade reports that Iraqi forces are taking charge of security with confidence as American troops remain in the background.

CORONADO, Calif. - The nation’s top military officer told Navy SEALs in California that history would show the decisive contributions provided by special operations troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals National Hockey League team showed its support for America’s armed forces with the seventh annual “Salute to the Military” appreciation night.

WASHINGTON - The need for immediate medical attention is declining two months after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the island nation.

KABUL - The commander of NATO and U.S. forces issued new rules governing night raids, acknowledging that although they can have value militarily, they also can foster ill will on the part of the Afghan people.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Air Force Staff Sgt. Sparkle Reid always does the best job she can in memory of her uncle, who perished in New York City on 9/11, and her father, who passed away last year.

CORONADO, Calif. - The focus of U.S. troops and allies in southern Afghanistan will shift to Kandahar after the offensive in Marja, said U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - A shooting at the entrance to the Pentagon Metro station caused the building to be in lockdown at the end of the evening rush hour.

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke favorably about efforts to includes economics training for junior officers and NCOs during a visit to the Command and General Staff War College.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department leaders and Lockheed Martin executives have met with international partners to explain changes that have been made to improve the Joint Strike Fighter program.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md., is overseeing many innovative medical projects that assist injured combat veterans and civilians.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Afghan forces are focused on winning public support in Marja, Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold in Helmand province known for its open opposition to the Afghan government.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal year 2011 defense budget request includes modest but necessary spending increases in line with President Barack Obama’s effort to balance national security with economic needs, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Combined Afghan and international forces have discovered several drug caches during patrols of the Nimroz province.

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Army Staff Sgt. Tracy Dice was a 12-year law-enforcement veteran when she decided to become an explosive ordnance disposal technician in the North Carolina National Guard.

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The nation’s top military officer expressed concern today that U.S. government agencies other than the military have been slow to expand their role in Afghanistan.

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - A retired Air Force master sergeant has become the first woman in the United States to receive a hand transplant in a procedure that might help other wounded warriors.

WASHINGTON - Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, is “progressing extraordinarily well” and is moving from the clearing phase to the holding phase, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s review on the potential impact of repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military will solicit input from troops of every service and rank -- as well as their families -- through surveys, focus groups and social media tools.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s upcoming elections and the U.S. drawdown of troops there later this year will go on undeterred by suicide bombings and similar efforts to derail progress, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Recommendations from a congressionally directed Defense Department disability review board have resulted in 61 percent of applicants having their status changed to retirement on the permanent disability list.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is urging all defense employees, military and civilian, to be more attuned to one another's emotional and spirtual balance, and be prepared to take steps to prevent tragedies such as the one on Fort Hood, Texas.

WASHINGTON - People at the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia have supplied 2.7 million meals to the Haitian people since the Jan. 12 earthquake.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors have arrested nine suspected terrorists in four combined operations in the central and northern regions.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces found two enemy weapon stockpiles and a cache of drugs while patrolling together.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Robert J. Goggins started his college career with the goal of becoming a mechanical engineer. Instead, he joined the Army as an infantryman.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal urges U.S. and coalition troops to serve as role models for Afghan security forces as they build leaders and weed out corruption from their ranks.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has released the guidelines and parameters of a Defense Department review of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law in preparation for its potential repeal.

WASHINGTON - The first phase of a Marine offensive in a former Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan’s Helmand province is nearing completion, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces have discovered a large illegal drug cache, detained suspected insurgents and seized illegal weapons.

WASHINGTON - A new program offers troops undergoing mental health treatment a bridge of support as they change health care systems or providers.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors have arrested three terrorism suspects and found an enemy weapons stockpile.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Rare timing has allowed a Haitian-born U.S. Marine to celebrate his promotion to gunnery sergeant in his hometown of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

WASHINGTON - The new policy allowing access to social media from computers connected to the Defense Department’s unclassified network balances the mission value of Web 2.0 tools and the need for security.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - Every time a servicemember is killed or wounded in combat, it sets off a sweeping process aimed at identifying what happened, who perpetrated it and how it might have been prevented -- and instituting changes to reduce the likelihood of it being repeated.

WASHINGTON - Combined Afghan-international operations have killed several insurgents and led to drug and weapons confiscations.

LAMITAN, Philippines - A recent medical outreach event in Lamitan, Philippines, showed the resolve not only of the Philippine armed forces but also of the international community to spread good will to the southern Philippines.

BAGDAD - Iraqi security forces arrested three suspected terrorists during operations aimed at preventing attacks designed to disrupt the upcoming national elections.

NORCO, Calif. - As part of his initiative to “take the Pentagon to the people,” the Defense Department's top diversity official visited the Navy's command responsible for independent assessment.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Soldiers assigned to the communications directorate are supporting the humanitarian operations conducted by U.S. special operations forces during Operation Unified Response.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - Former U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledder Steven Holcomb ended Team USA’s 62-year gold medal drought in Olympic bobsled competition by driving to victory in the four-man event.