LONDON - Kari Miller, a retired U.S. Army sergeant and a member of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Women's Sitting Volleyball team that is competing in London, met with wounded warriors and offered encouragement and words of wisdom.

BETHESDA, Md. - The proper management of traumatic brain injuries has become a military medical standard of care that’s returning 95 percent of service members with mild TBI back to the field within five days, said an Army neurologist who served on a Joint Chiefs of Staff panel to develop the protocol.

LONDON - The impact of the partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee's Paralympic movement and programs designed to assist wounded warriors as they return to active lives has been priceless, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

WASHINGTON - As the United States draws down in Afghanistan it remains committed to its military members, veterans and families by providing the support services they may need and opportunities to transition to meaningful civilian careers, President Barack Obama told troops during a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met recently at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., to discuss the issue of traumatic brain injury and to sign a letter of agreement to continue sharing resources to combat TBI.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has sent an advisory letter of material breach and nondisclosure violation to a former Navy Seal who authored a book about his participation in the Osama bin Laden raid, Pentagon officials said.

WASHINGTON - The United States will remain focused on the mission in Afghanistan while working toward ending the war in a responsible way that protects everything its military members have sacrificed while there, President Barack Obama told troops during a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas.

WASHINGTON - Steaming toward its home port of San Diego after the four-month Pacific Partnership 2012 mission, the crew aboard USNS Mercy is watching the situation in the Philippines, where a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck, and is ready to respond, its mission commander reported.

WASHINGTON - As Tropical Depression Isaac bounds northward into the Mississippi River valley, National Guardsmen continue to provide critical support to local emergency officials and citizens throughout the Gulf states, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - In line with the first National Biosurveillance Strategy, the Defense Department is working with U.S. cities and countries around the world to enhance capabilities needed to detect and track a range of natural or intentional global disease outbreaks.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters will protect the skies during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed an executive order that provides increased access to mental health services for service members, military families and veterans.

GULFPORT, Miss. - Mississippi National Guard Special Forces soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) responded to Hurricane Isaac by patrolling the flooded areas of Hancock County, Miss., in their zodiac inflatable boats.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani bomb maker in the Pul-e ‘Alam district of Logar province. The sought-after leader facilitates the construction of improvised explosive devices and directs their use in the district.

LONDON - A group of Europe-based wounded warriors seized the opportunity for relaxation coupled with inspiration when they took a trip to London to watch the action at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

WASHINGTON - As the next rotation to serve in the NATO Kosovo Force completes its final training, its members are looking beyond the warfighter skills they’ve refined during combat deployments to focus on the distinctly different challenges of peacekeeping.

LONDON - Watching the 2012 Paralympic Games left a group of Europe-based wounded warriors inspired, especially after they were able to meet some of the U.S. athletes.

LONDON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored the legacy of the Paralympics and expressed his gratitude to the supporters of wounded warriors and disabled veterans.

WASHINGTON - Governors of four states have activated more than 7,500 National Guard soldiers and airmen to deal with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac, Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - The 194 Department of Defense Educational Activity Schools will add five courses from the science, technology, engineering and mathematics curricula, and effective this school year, graduation will include an additional math requirement, Marilee Fitzgerald, the director of the agency, told Pentagon reporters.

WASHINGTON - Vigilant Eagle 12 marked an opportunity for the U.S., Canadian and Russian militaries to work together at the North American Aerospace Command headquarters to confront a common enemy: terrorist hijackers.

WASHINGTON - Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan. The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marine Corps members Staff Sgt. Luke Billingsley and his wife, Sgt. Nancy Billingsley, are serving together during a seven-month tour in Afghanistan, having their four children being taken care of by members of their family back home in San Diego.

WASHINGTON - Two former military advisors who served with Vietnamese units during the Vietnam War spoke about their experiences in the Pentagon and shared their thoughts on advisory programs and counterinsurgency operations.

WASHINGTON - After the spotlight of the Summer Olympics, and another gold medal to add to the one he earned in Beijing four years ago, Army Sgt. Vincent C. Hancock has returned to the United States and is now reaping accolades for his performance behind a Beretta DT10 shotgun.

LONDON - The U.S. Paralympic basketball team had a final tune-up in London, winning a scrimmage against Great Britain's team in advance of ceremonies commemorating the start of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - Calling alliances and partnerships the bedrock of U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy, Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said he’s committed to building on them as he implements the new defense strategy focused on the region.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - U.S. Northern Command is working to validate, plan and coordinate Defense Department support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local response activities in response to Hurricane Isaac.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, lauded service members and provided his impressions of the enemy they face in remarks at the American Legion’s national convention in Indianapolis.

LONDON - A U.S. delegation led by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in London ahead of the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Paralympic Games and visited with Paralympic athletes.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials routinely work to protect the nation from terrorist attacks and weapons of mass destruction. But today they’re bolstering defenses against an older threat that emerges from animals and insects, and arises in people as infectious diseases.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons supplier during an operation in the Andar district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province. The supplier provided Taliban leaders in the province with improvised explosive devices, other weapons and ammunition.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Fort Hood, Texas-posted Army Sgt. Johnny Merical helped to organize a volunteer drive to provide school supplies to a local elementary school.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs has made great strides in meeting the challenges posed by a decade of war, and cooperation with the Defense Department is crucial to continued progress, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said.

WASHINGTON - The experiences of the first two women to go through the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course next month will help shape future recommendations for an increased role for female Marines, said Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, the service’s commandant. during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

LONDON - Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder, a member of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic swimming team encourages wounded warriors to use sports to help them recover, both mentally and physically, from injury.

PHILADELPHIA - At the direction of the president, the Defense Logistics Agency is procuring a six-month meat supply for its Defense Department customers to provide relief to the drought-stricken agriculture industry.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Defense Department Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s reached a major mission milestone by dropping the 2 millionth gallon of retardant for the season.

LONDON - Members of the U.S. Paralympic team completed their team processing and remain focused amid growing anticipation for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials announced the 2012 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units. The awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Weddings generally are associated with spring and summer, champagne and cake. However, for one Army couple, the wedding was light on champagne and heavy on Army decorum.

WASHINGTON - An International Security Assistance Force helicopter made a forced landing in eastern Afghanistan. There were no reported fatalities, and initial reporting indicates that there was no enemy activity in the area.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Service members, their families and U.S. citizens living overseas now have voting information at their fingertips with the Federal Voting Assistance program’s new mobile website that's accessible from any smartphone.

WASHINGTON - While U.S. service members in Afghanistan made mistakes in handling Qurans in February, there was no intent “to disrespect the Quran or defame Islam,” the general investigating the incident wrote in his report.

WASHINGTON - More than 33,500 National Guard personnel and nearly 100 aircraft are available to the governors of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, as Tropical Storm Isaac threatens states along the Gulf of Mexico, Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - Three Marines pleaded guilty in nonjudicial punishment for their parts in the desecration of enemy corpses in Afghanistan, officials with the Marine Corps Combat Development Command announced recently.

WASHINGTON - Stories focusing on attacks against coalition forces by Afghan security forces miss the larger point that Afghan forces are building the basis for a peaceful and stable country, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, wrote in an op-ed article.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - A unique organization within U.S. Pacific Command is gathering lessons in natural disaster response from around the world and applying them to help nations improve disaster preparedness and resilience.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters are responsible for detecting, deterring, defending and, if necessary, defeating any aviation threat to the United States during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Riding in an armored truck over Afghanistan’s rutted dirt roads is scarcely a smooth or comfortable experience. But "Mader," a dog trained to detect improvised explosive devices for the Marines, is used to it.

KABUL - The mid-level Taliban leader, Haji Padcha, was one of several insurgents detained during an operation in Kandahar province’s Spin Boldak district. Padcha was a weapons facilitator responsible for supplying insurgents with the rockets used in numerous attacks against Kandahar Airfield.

WASHINGTON - Emphasizing that the mission in Afghanistan remains “job one,” NATO’s supreme allied commander said a busy season lies ahead as the transition there continues.

WASHINGTON - Military units in the southeastern United States are preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac, which is barreling past the Florida Keys and may grow to a hurricane by the time it makes landfall on the northern Gulf coast sometime Tuesday.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said he was deeply saddened by death of Neil Armstrong, calling the pioneering astronaut “one of America’s greatest heroes and naval aviators.”

WASHINGTON - National Guard Coordination Center officials are stepping up efforts to prepare for the possibility that Tropical Storm Isaac, now in the Caribbean, could strengthen and affect the U.S mainland.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Special Operations Command is expressing concern about former members of the community who he said “are using their ‘celebrity status’ to advance their personal or professional agendas,” and warned those who divulge classified information will be held accountable.

WASHINGTON - As the United States and South Korea observe the 59th anniversary of the armistice that brought an unofficial end to the Korean War, their forces are sharpening their defensive capabilities through the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise.

NAVAL BASE KITSAP, Wash. - In July, the crew of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis learned their ship would deploy four months earlier than planned, and to a different part of the world than expected. Less than two months later, they report they’re ready to go.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials say the military has moved aircraft out of the way of the possible path of Tropical Storm Isaac and 1,700 Florida National Guardsmen stand by for disaster response duties should the storm make landfall on the state.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents and seized multiple weapons and ammunition during an operation to arrest an al-Qaeda associated Taliban leader in the Andar district of Afganistan’s Ghazni province.

SAN DIEGO - Goals in life sometimes take more time to achieve than expected and for one Marine recruit, it took most of boot camp to get within reach of a leadership billet.

WASHINGTON - All four active services and five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal 2012 through July, Pentagon officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Enemies of the United States would be making a mistake if they conclude the U.S. shift in defense strategy toward the Asia-Pacific means less focus on other important regions, the commandant of the Marine Corps said.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps will remain America’s crisis response force for the foreseeable future, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos told reporters during a roundtable discussion.

WASHINGTON - With Tropical Storm Isaac threatening to strengthen over the eastern Caribbean, the “Hurricane Hunters” from the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are in the air, relaying critical data to forecasters in Miami.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed his Japanese counterpart to the Pentagon as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military ties between both countries.

WASHINGTON - Partnered with Afghan forces, the International Security Assistance Force has been able to limit the enemy’s freedom of movement and disrupt their logistics thanks to their tireless efforts in Afghanistan, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, ISAF commander, said.

WASHINGTON - After the International Security Assistance Force mission ends in December 2014, Afghanistan will experience a period of hope combined with lots of challenges, the ISAF commander said.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - From battlefield innovations to revamped health care systems, the military has radically transformed its trauma care over the past decade, a trauma expert said.

WASHINGTON - The closer their relationship is with their Afghan partners, the safer coalition forces are from insider attacks, said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons supplier in the Chaparhar district of Nangarhar province. The weapons supplier acquired and distributed mortars and other weapons to Taliban fighters in the district.

COMBAT OUTPOST CASTLE, Afghanistan - Whether preparing the ingredients to be used for a meal, preheating ovens or making sure the food doesn’t overcook, feeding 300 people can be a difficult task.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Scheduled motion hearings for five detainees charged in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States were postponed as Tropical Storm Isaac posed a threat to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

NAVAL BASE KITSAP, Wash. - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Stennis that they and their ship, and others like it, are the “heart and soul” of the nation’s defense strategy.

WASHINGTON - The White House Joining Forces initiative has led to employment opportunities for more than 125,000 veterans and spouses in the past year, First Lady Michelle Obama announced.

LONDON - More than 20 U.S. military athletes, coaches, training partners, family members and support personnel served as sports ambassadors to the world during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

WASHINGTON - The White House has issued the first U.S. National Strategy for Biosurveillance to quickly detect a range of global health and security hazards, and the Defense Department has a running start in implementing the new plan, a senior defense official said.

FORT RILEY, Kan. - Although Chief Warrant Officer 2 Laura Tanski first “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” as an Army aviator two years ago, she has been living in the clouds for most of her life.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE - Calling the elimination of safe havens and support for terrorist groups in Africa his top priority, Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Africa Command, reported that U.S. support for Somalia’s military has had a direct impact in degrading the al-Shabab terror organization there.

WASHINGTON - Students heading back to Defense Department schools over the next few weeks are likely to see many improvements including modernized classrooms, the latest technology, new course offerings, healthier school lunches, and even some new academic requirements.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. The leader conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and moved weapons and explosives to other Taliban fighters in the area.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The “software” of personal relationships is more important than hardware in building military-to-military ties between nations, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while returning from a visit to Afghanistan and Iraq.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Using the uniform for partisan politics erodes the trust the American people have in their military, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

BAGHDAD - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad, where he found what he called a sense of normalcy from his days as a commander on the ground there.

WASHINGTON - The Labor Department awarded grants totaling $11.53 million through the Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program to provide an estimated 5,500 veterans with job training and skills development services.

PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan - It’s a moment of truth for many Marines: the first time they are in combat and their training is put to the test. When his squad took enemy contact during a recent patrol, Marine Corps Pfc. Timothy Workman found his moment.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An airstrike in the Watahpur district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province killed several insurgents, including an al-Qaida affiliated Taliban leader. The leader was responsible for passing critical information among senior al-Qaida-associated Taliban leaders in the province.

WASHINGTON - Three months after the arraignment of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants, those accused of planning and executing the 9/11 terrorist attacks will be back in court for hearings on motions made by the defense and prosecution.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said he welcomes the arrival next spring of an Army brigade to support U.S. engagement and missions on the African continent.

BAGHDAD - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi and American leaders.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A rocket attack at Bagram Airfield slightly injured two Air Force maintainers and damaged a C-17 aircraft that had transported Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was recognized with a leadership award from the nation’s oldest war college as he spoke to its newest class of students in Newport, R.I.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he, senior coalition military leaders and their Afghan counterparts will continue to intensify measures to thwart the spate of insider attacks against coalition forces by people wearing Afghan military and police uniforms.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - As the North Carolina National Guard builds on successes of the Southern Accord 12 exercise that wrapped up last week in Botswana, the commander of U.S. Africa Command said he’ll press to expand the State Partnership Program on the continent.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Taliban have suffered a series of reversals during the current fighting season in Afghanistan, a senior NATO intelligence official said.

WASHINGTON - The focus on insider attacks belies the fact that the Taliban are under severe pressure and have been forced to shift tactics, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Corruption is not inevitable in Afghanistan, but is a more recent phenomenon that the government is making progress against thanks to help from coalition forces, the commander of Joint Task Force Shafafiyat said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is helping the Philippine government search for the nation’s interior secretary, who has been missing since his plane crashed two days ago.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan leaders are just as concerned as coalition authorities are about insider attacks, U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said following a host of defense meetings in Kabul, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province. The leader acted as a go-between for senior Taliban leadership in the province by communicating attack orders to subordinate Taliban fighters.

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan - Four pairs of brothers, all from Nevada, recently arrived at Kabul, Afghanistan, to begin their mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he will visit Iraq to check the status of security cooperation between the United States and Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has arrived on Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan for consultations with coalition and Afghan leaders.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a recent telephone conversation, discussing the “significant progress” of American and Afghan forces as the transition process moves forward.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is conducting pilot classes of a new program designed to better prepare service members transitioning out of the military to civilian life.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Robert E. Schmidle Jr., chief of Marine aviation, said the recently concluded investigation of an MV-22 Osprey crash in Morocco this past April found no mechanical or material failures and pilots are already applying lessons learned throughout the force.

WASHINGTON - During a town hall meeting in Rosemount, Minn., Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told troops that determining the best way to transform the military in the years ahead isn’t just about what’s best for the armed forces, it's also about what's best for the country.

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - He initially joined the Army in hopes of one day playing for the all-Army men’s basketball team, a goal he later achieved. But Staff Sgt. Terrell Moorer said he never imagined the tools the game of basketball would give him in leading his soldiers.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - Wrapping up one of the largest bilateral exercises ever on the African continent, the commander of U.S Africa Command said he looks forward to expanding future engagements to make them multilateral.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Alisheng district of Laghman province. The leader supplied heavy weapons and explosives to insurgents in the area and directed insurgent attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - The commander of U.S. Africa Command closed one of the largest joint exercises ever conducted on the African continent, praising the Botswanan military as a capable partner and an important and positive influence throughout southern Africa.

KABUL, Afghanistan - In the Muqer district of Ghazni province, a combined force searched for, engaged and killed Taliban leader Jihadmal.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Eleven people were killed when their International Security Assistance Force helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan. The cause of the crash currently is under investigation.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Armando Arias, a religious program specialist, enjoys working with his Marine Corps comrades during his deployment in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department employees are doing their best to feed those in the National Capital Region who go hungry with help from the government-wide “Feds Feed Families” campaign, a nationwide program that provides food to 3.9 million people.

WASHINGTON - In the second report of its kind, a top DOD official has certified that the Defense Department’s proposed 2013-2017 budget effectively funds initiatives to provide troops with better energy options.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - Marine Cpl. Kyle Swanson watched as soldiers from the Botswanan Defense Force engaged targets with rubber balls and “flash bangs,” high-powered grenades that emit an ear-splitting boom and intense light, but no shrapnel.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn has become the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency at a time when 17 intelligence agencies and organizations -- an enterprise whose transformation began on 9/11 -- are maturing into an integrated community that he calls a strategic advantage for the nation.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - When the Botswana Defense Force set out to build an aeromedical evacuation capability within its forces, it looked to the U.S. military, which has become the world’s expert in evacuating wounded troops from the battlefield.

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. - Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Proffitt reacted quickly at the beach at Sullivan's Island, S.C., to save the life of a drowning little girl.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons dealer in the Sangin district of Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Iran is increasing its presence in Syria through apparent efforts to bolster the Bashar Assad regime by training a militia and other tactics, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters during a Pentagon press briefing.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that they spoke with their new Egyptian counterparts and have good relations with the newly appointed national defense leaders.

WASHINGTON - Amid a news-filled summer at home and the nation’s attention focused on the just-concluded Olympics, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta urged Americans to remember a war is still going on in Afghanistan, and called on them to honor the sacrifices troops are making there.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - An exercise under way in Botswana between the U.S. military and the Botswana Defense Force is building capability in a growing African partner and helping to set conditions for long-term peace, stability and security on the African continent.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department makes valuable contributions in U.S. disaster preparedness planning, Paul N. Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas’ security, said during a panel discussion sponsored by the Heritage Foundation.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christopher P. Lukas, an explosive ordnance disposal team leader, credits his mentors for his receipt of the Marine Corps Engineer Association’s 2012 EOD Technician of the Year award.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons dealer and detained two suspected insurgents in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. At the time of his arrest, the dealer was trying to arrange weapons training for area insurgents.

THEBEPHATSHWA AIR BASE, Botswana - A U.S. military medical team in Botswana for the Southern Accord 12 exercise is helping the Botswana Defense Force confront its country’s most pressing health crisis one circumcision surgery at a time.

LONDON - U.S. military athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games had more than just fans cheering them on throughout the games; they also had a support network of family members and fellow soldiers who came to help them train and to provide motivation.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - As U.S. Pacific Command strives to build stronger alliances and partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region, one of its big focuses is on taking the military-to-military relationship with India to the next level.

WASHINGTON - One of the most tragic moments of the war in Afghanistan has inspired an American teenager to honor the memory of 30 fallen service members and to help their families -- by shooting hoops.

WASHINGTON - U.S. defense officials were expecting Egypt’s new president to name his own defense team and hope civilian and military leaders can work together to address the country’s problems, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

LONDON - Spc. Dennis Bowsher of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program finished 32nd here in the Olympic men’s modern pentathlon.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Additional forest fires have prompted the U.S. Forest Service to call in additional C-130s equipped with the Mobile Airborne Fire Fighting System.

LONDON - Army Staff Sgt. John Nunn finished 43rd in the Olympic 50-kilometer race walk in London with a personal-best time of 4 hours, 3 minutes, 28 seconds.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan - Much-travelled Army Sgt. 1st Class Mica Snell and his brother, Army Staff Sgt. Justin Snell, were able to enjoy a temporary reunion in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist group leader in the Chahar Darah district of Kunduz province.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - Nearly six decades after an armistice agreement established a cease-fire that ended the Korean War, maintaining the fragile peace there and ensuring South Korean and U.S. troops are prepared to respond to aggression remains a top priority for U.S. Pacific Command.

WASHINGTON - Both the incoming and outgoing Air Force chiefs of staff took a moment to pay tribute to airmen and the impact their dedicated service has made within the Air Force during the service's transition of responsibility ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta offered congratulations and a challenge to a group of newly minted Marine Corps officers during a commissioning ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - U.S. Pacific Command is helping to build stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region one inoculation, one cataract surgery and one first-responder training class at a time.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was joined by Defense Department leaders as they bid farewell to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz during a ceremony marking his 39 years of service.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing will return to flying Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System missions on Aug. 14, six weeks after four of the unit's airmen were killed in a C-130 aircraft crash during a firefighting mission in South Dakota.

WASHINGTON - August marks the third anniversary of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and since it was implemented, the Department of Veterans Affairs has provided educational benefits to 773,000 veterans and their family members.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - An airman with the 86th Airlift Wing Judge Advocate office has realized his dream of being a pilot, at least for one exciting mission over Germany.

SEOUL, South Korea - Maintaining a high state of military readiness is imperative to deterring North Korean threats on the Korean peninsula and in the region, the 8th U.S. Army’s deputy commander said during a ceremony in Seoul.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, the new director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is approaching his dream job with eyes wide open, valuing people over technology and expecting a future that holds more intense demands for intelligence.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained numerous suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in the Shwak district of Paktiya province.

LONDON - Air Force family member Janay DeLoach leaped 6.89 meters at London's Olympic Stadium to take the bronze medal in the women’s Olympic long jump.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - The spirit of public service exemplified by the Reserve and National Guard is essential to democracy and plays a critical role in the nation's defense strategy, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told the airmen and soldiers based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

HEIDELBERG, Germany - A group of Air Force veterans have released a compilation of science-fiction stories in a book called "Battlespace," to raise money for a Washington, D.C.-based charity that assists wounded warriors through the donation of musical instruments and lessons for music therapy.

WASHINGTON - In the Andar district of Ghazni province, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban-affiliated insurgent responsible for acquiring and emplacing improvised explosive devices along Highway 1.

WASHINGTON - As Marines keep pushing insurgents out of Afghanistan’s Helmand and Nimruz provinces, Afghan soldiers and police are taking the reins and protecting the population, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, the commander of 1st Marine Division (Forward), said via teleconference from Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan.

LONDON - Army Spc. Justin Lester -- or Harry Lester, as some know him -- finished eighth Aug. 7 in the Olympic men’s Greco-Roman 66-kilogram tournament at the ExCel North Arena 2 in London.

COMBAT OUTPOST JAKER, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joshua Taylor declined a full-ride scholarship to college to join the Marine Corps.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The leader controlled an insurgent cell responsible for multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Leaders from each of the services shared their perspectives on how to maintain community ties in an era of efficiencies, stewardship and renewable energy pursuits at the Association of Defense Communities annual conference .

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s hiring of wounded warriors and others with disabilities is on an uptick, making it No. 2 among cabinet agencies for hiring those with disabilities, an official said.

MOUNT WHITNEY, Calif. - Standing at 5 feet 4 inches and weighing in at 130 pounds, Army Master Sgt. Mike Morton is a giant in the ultramarathon community.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Service leaders discussed renewable energy milestones, force structure changes and the impact on military and surrounding communities affected by base realignment and closure during an Association of Defense Communities conference in Monterey, Calif.

MONTEREY, Calif. - As the Defense Department seeks to maintain the U.S. military’s global presence while absorbing $487 billion in spending reductions over the next decade, the prospect of an additional $500 billion cut during the same period would be “a disaster” for both national defense and for defense communities, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed into law legislation enabling the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide health benefits to veterans and families diagnosed with diseases related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Partnerships between the Defense Department and civilian communities always have been important, but are essential in a challenging fiscal environment, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

LONDON - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program Greco-Roman wrestler Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers was eliminated from the Olympic heavyweight tournament after splitting two matches at ExCel North Arena 2 in London.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have signed a memorandum of understanding that encourages appropriate development of renewable energy projects on public lands set aside for defense-related purposes and other onshore and offshore areas near military installations.

HAMPTON, Va. - Transitioning service members, military spouses and veterans attending job fairs around the country are finding themselves on the proverbial red carpet as employers pack arenas to add those closest to the armed forces to their payrolls.

LONDON - Jamie Gray, wife of U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shooter Staff Sgt. Hank Gray, won an Olympic gold medal in the women’s 50-meter rifle 3-positions event Aug. 4 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.

WASHINGTON - A coalition precision airstrike killed several insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader in the Achin district of Nangarhar province. Afghan and coalition forces confirmed that only those insurgents that attempted to attack the security force during the operation were affected.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - With each sortie that Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Rose flies over Afghanistan, he adds to his family’s rich military history.

BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Ravens football team recently welcomed area service members to its 5th annual military appreciation day at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., where they were honored during an open training camp practice.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said the military has "tremendous confidence" in the MV-22 Osprey aircraft it recently delivered to Marines in Japan, and that the aircraft are key to U.S. military operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The U.S. Forest Service has requested two more Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 aircraft to help combat wildfires that continue to burn throughout the Rocky Mountain area.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has asked an independent board to review the application of military justice in deployed areas to ensure the system is efficient, fair, dependable and credible, Pentagon General Counsel Jeh C. Johnson announced.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Justin Callahan is airborne again, flying a C-12 Huron twin-engine airplane in support of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - Recognizing that the new focus on the Asia-Pacific region is a national strategy and one not just for the Defense Department, U.S. Pacific Command is reaching out to its interagency and non-governmental partners to roll it out in an efficient, well-coordinated manner.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department remains focused on building and strengthening defense initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region to reach the goals outlined in the U.S. defense strategic guidance, senior DOD officials said while testifying before the House Armed Services Committee.

LONDON - Air Force Reserve Capt. Seth Kelsey finished one touch away from a medal Aug. 1 in Olympic épeé individual fencing at the ExCel Centre in London.

EDINBURGH, Scotland - Sailors from the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band are among about 1,000 international military and civilian musicians and dancers preparing to perform in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo held outside Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban financier in the Zurmat district of Paktiya province. The financier extorted money and supplies from local villagers to fund Taliban operations and directed improvised explosive device attacks throughout the district.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, has congratulated the new U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, James B. Cunningham.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s June 29 request to Congress to move $708 million in excess funds from the military health budget to other budget areas does not shortchange military health programs, Pentagon officials said.

WASHINGTON - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $2.3 million in grants to train primary care physician assistants and help veterans transition from the military to civilian physician assistant careers.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Being a married Army couple has both its advantages and disadvantages, but Army Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Latch and his wife, Staff Sgt. Carmelita A. Latch, focus on the positives to help them through their second deployment together.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents while conducting an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Andar district of Ghazni province.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, met with Pakistan’s chief of army staff to discuss building upon the growing operational cooperation among the Afghan national security forces, Pakistani military and ISAF officials said.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Interagency Task Force West passes along information to regional partner nations' law enforcement organizations to help stem the transit of precursor chemicals that are trafficked to the Western Hemisphere to produce methamphetamine.

WASHINGTON - A meeting between U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and King Abdullah in Amman, Jordan, focused on regional security challenges, most notably Syria and recent refugee flows into Jordan.

WASHINGTON - A website launched last week that lists recipients of the military’s highest awards for valor for actions since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has been updated with service cross recipients, Defense Department officials announced.

WASHINGTON - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley signed an agreement to increase employment opportunities for reserve members and to facilitate connecting military families with America’s outdoors, history and culture.

FORT McCOY, Wis. - Army reservist Spc. Ed Lewis employs his civilian job skills as an emergency medical technician to ensure his fellow soliders follow safety standards during military training.

WASHINGTON - With Afghanistan’s army and police forces working more independently at the kandak, or battalion, level and below, coalition efforts increasingly are aimed at developing Afghan capabilities at higher unit levels, a senior NATO International Security Assistance Force officer told reporters.

WASHINGTON - While the Defense Department can foresee the harmful effects of sequestration, the nature of the legislative mechanism makes it impossible to devise a plan that eliminates or substantially mitigates those effects, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told a House panel.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected Taliban insurgents and seized improvised explosive device-making components and ammunition during an operation in the Pul-e Khurmi district of Baghlan province.

ASHKELON, Israel - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited an Iron Dome anti-missile site in Ashkelon, Israel, that is part of a network designed to track and shoot down missiles fired at Israeli cities.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - U.S. Pacific Command is holding up a multinational partnership with several countries in the Asia-Pacific region as a model for the type of cooperation the command is working to promote to deal with transnational threats.

WASHINGTON - Following months of life support systems components testing in the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, officials have “determined with confidence” the source of previously unexplained physiological incidents, Maj. Gen. Charles W. Lyon, director of operations for the Air Force’s Air Combat Command, told reporters.

JERUSALEM - Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear arms and the United States remains a firm friend and ally of Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

ASHKELON, Israel - If diplomatic efforts and economic sanctions fail, the United States has military options to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in Ashkelon, Israel.