WASHINGTON - America’s military forces must be ready for future conflicts, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, underscoring what he calls the armed forces’ greatest challenge.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained an insurgent leader during a combined operation in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province

WASHINGTON - The National Guard is sending its new Energy Lab, a mobile classroom with interactive learning tools on the science and technology behind alternative energy sources, to schools in 10 states.

WASHINGTON - The military has been a leader in recognizing and protecting against the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms, commonly known as “superbugs,” defense officials told members of Congress.

WASHINGTON - Gillian, a black Labrador, has been an extra hand for Sebastian “call-me-Sam” Cila, a retired Army sergeant in the National Guard, since his amputation in 2009.

WASHINGTON - Some servicemembers are becoming experts in Afghan culture as a way to develop partnerships with Afghan civilians and government leaders.

WASHINGTON - Afghan forces could begin providing security to some parts of western Afghanistan within six to nine months, said Italian army Brig. Gen. Claudio Berto, the top NATO force commander in the region.

WASHINGTON - Army Pfc. Chelsea Draper joined the Army to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, a decorated Marine Corps veteran and a Navajo "Code Talker" in World War II.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told ROTC cadets at Duke University that he anticipates that more women will serve in military special operations in the future.

DURHAM, N.C. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked about 300 ROTC cadets at Duke University for choosing to serve in uniform during wartime, and offered some leadership lessons.

DURHAM, N.C. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told ROTC cadets in North Carolina that he is concerned Congress could doom successes achieved in Iraq by failing to properly fund the civilian-led efforts required to ensure they stick.

WASHINGTON - A new approach is underway to help Pentagon officials better manage Defense Department finances, especially auditable financial statements, the comptroller told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - The American people are losing contact with the military, and the nation needs to understand the service and sacrifices that U.S. military personnel and their families make, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at Duke University.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department already is seeing cost savings through improved processes for acquisitions, the undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics told a House committee.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Joint Forces Command has achieved much of its intended purpose and closing it would not degrade joint training, doctrine and operations going forward, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III and other senior leaders told lawmakers.

WASHINGTON - An air weapons team engaged insurgents who’d fired on Afghan and coalition forces conducting a patrol in eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

BAGHDAD - A U.S. soldier and soccer player deployed to Baghdad teamed with his father in New Jersey to deliver free soccer equipment to appreciative Iraqi children.

WASHINGTON - Veterans of the Gulf War as well as current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan now have a smoother path toward receiving health-care benefits and disability compensation.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was part of a high-powered panel discussion on President Barack Obama's new U.S. global development policy, in which he said development and security go hand in hand.

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, visited the Parwan province detention facility and discussed his vision to help return detainees willing to denounce violence back to their communities.

WASHINGTON - Senior Defense Department officials detailed to the Senate Armed Services Committee the department’s efforts to redirect $100 billion in defense spending over the next five years.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. and South Korea navies kicked off anti-submarine warfare exercises in the waters off the Korean peninsula, sending what officials call an important message of deterrence on the 60th anniversary of Seoul’s liberation.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and International Security Assistance Force troops detained several insurgents during a combined operation in Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - The commander of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan has appealed to NATO leaders to provide 1,000 more trainers, saying the mission to professionalize Afghan forces is at a critical crossroads.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO - Marine Corps Pvt. Bernard D. Lueken gave up a promising football career to enlist in the Marine Corps as a tribute to his mother, who died of breast cancer.

WASHINGTON - Five years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their retirement facility more than 100 veterans who were relocated are returning to new living quarters.

WASHINGTON - A major fundraising effort is under way to build an underground education center next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that will place faces and stories with the names etched on “The Wall.”

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several Taliban insurgents in Kandahar province, including a Taliban commander who carried out attacks.

BAGHDAD - Army Warrant Officer Romeo Garin promoted Army 2nd Lt. Aiana Janica Garin during a ceremony on Camp Liberty, Iraq, in what was called "a great family affair."

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense announced Absentee Voting Week, Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, to help servicemembers and civilians serving outside their home states make their votes count.

BETHESDA, Md. - Valerie Wallace credits the specialists at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., for helping her son, Army Sgt. John Barnes with his traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - A recently released report on the reserve components will help Defense Department officials to implement recommendations made by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserve two years ago.

WASHINGTON - Combat wounds aren’t getting in the way of a good time for 75 disabled veterans participating in the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic.

WASHINGTON - Establishing U.S. Cyber Command closed the gap that prevented the Defense Department from defending its crucial information networks, Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, the organization’s commander, told the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - At least five insurgents were killed and another was captured during a failed attack on Forward Operating Base Gardez in Afghanistan’s Paktia province.

MADISON, Wis. - National Guard troops are assisting local authorities in Wisconsin and Minnesota after heavy rains caused flooding in low-lying areas of both states.

WASHINGTON - Fifteen U.S. companies nominated by their employees received Defense Department awards for outstanding support to the Guard and Reserve members they employ.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Army 1st Lt. Rafael Lantigua, a Texas National Guard officer and fully ordained minister, will become the Army National Guard’s first Muslim chaplain.

BETHESDA, Md. - The National Naval Medical Center’s psychological health and traumatic brain injury team is working hand in hand with family members to help wounded warriors recover.

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - South Korean and U.S. forces will conduct an anti-submarine exercise in the waters west of the Korean peninsula Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

WASHINGTON - Thousands of volunteers are expected to descend on 48 military bases on Sept. 25 show that the Defense Department is a good steward of its public land.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama asked leaders attending the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City to consider including veterans and military spouses for employment opportunities.

WASHINGTON - Citing the “enormous scale of the devastation” caused by flooding in Pakistan, Vice President Joe Biden and Deputy British Prime Minister Nicholas P. Clegg affirmed their nations’ commitment to helping the country recover.

WASHINGTON - Navy researchers are supporting today’s warfighter with new advances in biomedical research and development.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with top civilian and military leaders to discuss progress on his call for money-saving efficiencies throughout the department.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama was “well-served” by the vigorous debate during the development of the Afghan strategy, and the national security team has worked harmoniously since his decision, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki defended before a Senate panel his decision to add heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and leukemia to the conditions VA officials can presume to be caused by Agent Orange exposure.

WASHINGTON - The United States is moving to strengthen its partners to help dismantle overseas terrorist networks instead of deploying a large number of U.S. troops, President Barack Obama told the United Nations General Assembly.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Cyber Command stands ready to defend Defense Department networks, but laws and policies must be updated to protect the nation.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces continued their pursuit of Taliban commanders, taking numerous insurgents into custody in the process.

WASHINGTON - From a revamped physical training plan to eliminations in some live-fire operations, changes in the habits of today's youth have prompted the Army to make adjustments in its basic training program, said the chief of initial entry training at the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.

WASHINGTON - Twenty-nine Afghan women completed arduous training to earn second lieutenant commissions in the Afghan army.

WASHINGTON - This year, an estimated 380,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will receive $580 million in tuition-assistance funding.

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - Iraq veteran Marine Corps Sgt. Kevin A. Aguilar has earned the respect of his superiors and the troops he mentors for his can-do attitude and leadership.

BETHESDA, Md. - The collaborative patient assessment process used at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., helps to diagnose traumatic brain injuries and other mental health issues early on.

WASHINGTON - Dozens of military family members took to the nation’s capital to educate lawmakers about their most pressing issues.

WASHINGTON - Numerous insurgents were killed or captured during partnered operations conducted by Afghan and coalition forces in various provinces.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony, was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

WASHINGTON - The Senate vote that failed to begin debate on the defense authorization bill was an internal legislative procedural matter and does not change the Defense Department’s process on the possible repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are urging servicemembers to be aware of identity theft and are providing ways for them to protect themselves.

WASHINGTON - Retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Daniel recalled the day when Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger saved him and two other men during an enemy attack in Laos in 1968. Etchberger was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - Former infantryman Michael Verton, an injured combat veteran, continues to serve the military as a civilian process improvement specialist at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is employing cutting-edge medical methods to identify and treat servicemembers with brain injuries, as well as those suffering from the mental and psychological effects of war

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to the family of an Air Force chief master sergeant killed in action 42 years ago in Laos.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warriors can apply to compete at the Second Annual Warrior Games to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 16-21, 2011, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Department of Defense Education Activity officials are sharing cutting-edge resources and training tools with public schools supporting military families.

WASHINGTON - The addition of U.S. forces in northern Afghanistan has changed the face of the NATO mission there.

WASHINGTON - Taliban fighters in northern Afghanistan are tired of fighting U.S. and international forces and are looking to reintegrate back into society.

WASHINGTON - In a Senate hearing, Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos vowed to make winning in Afghanistan his top priority if he is confirmed as his service's 35th commandant.

LATHAM, N.Y. - New York Army and Air National Guard members are participating in the Africa Aerospace and Defense Exposition in South Africa.

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. - The nation’s third Army Strong Community Center opened serving servicemembers and their families who live in the Pittsburgh area.

WASHINGTON - Nine International Security Assistance Force servicemembers were killed when an ISAF helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Missouri Army National Guard soldiers Army Capt. John Paluczak and his twin brother, 1st Lt. Michael Paluczak, had fun with mistaken identities in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Active-duty servicemembers and veterans will compete in the second annual Warrior Games, scheduled for May 16-21, 2011, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military personnel continue to aid millions of Pakistanis affected by flooding in the country.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III launched the department's annual Combined Federal Campaign offering civilians and troops the chance to donate to more than 4,000 charities.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces protected Afghan citizens from insurgent attacks planned for the parliamentary elections and in the days surrounding them.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan's Sept. 18 parliamentary elections featured higher voter turnout as well as decreased insurgent-committed violence as compared to the 2009 Afghan presidential election.

WASHINGTON - Army Capt. Joshua Mantz has turned his brush with death in Iraq into a message of hope for other injured servicemembers and their families.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. "Dick" Etchberger, who was killed 42 years ago in Laos, received the Medal of Honor for actions he took after enemy forces overran a secret U.S. radar site.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and Mark Sedwill, U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, praised the people who participated in, organized and secured Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections.

BAGHDAD - John and Dorean Sandri of Green Bay, Wis., have made Army Spc. Christopher Sandri, an Iraq veteran assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, their adopted son.

WASHINGTON - Colleen Shine was 8 years old when her father went missing in action. During a POW/MIA remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon, she recalled the moment she learned her father had been found.

WASHINGTON - As the Year of the Air Force Family draws to a close, the Air Force plans to continue and improve its commitment to both single and married airmen, the service’s top personnel officer said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates vowed to bring home missing troops during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony held at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy seeks to use experience, education and training to create better airmen for the joint force.

WASHINGTON - Intelligence information and tips from local Afghans have driven several operations.

WASHINGTON - A medical assistance exercise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo meets humanitarian needs and helps the U.S. and Congolese militaries improve readiness, said the commander of U.S. Army Africa.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saluted the Air Force's birthday and the past and present contributions of its servicemembers.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - An Air Force sergeant has made it is his mission to help a boy with leukemia get a bone-marrow transplant, and to lift the boy's spirits by replacing his stolen bicycle with one signed by NASCAR drivers.

SAN DIEGO - The presence of troops along the Southwest U.S. border is helping to counter drug smuggling, human trafficking and other threats.

SEOUL, South Korea - Strategic Alliance 2015 improves the U.S.-South Korean alliance, said Army Gen. Walter L. “Skip” Sharp, the top U.S. military commander in South Korea.

SEOUL, South Korea - More than 130 U.S. veterans from the Korean War returned to South Korea -- almost all for the first time since the war -- to participate in ceremonies marking the conflict’s 60th anniversary.

WASHINGTON - The sinking in March of the South Korean ship Cheonan underscores the importance of U.S. troops to security in Northeast Asia and the defense of South Korea, top defense officials told Congress.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called France a strong partner after meeting with French Defense Minister Herve Morin to discuss shared goals to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and to pressure Iran to end its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON - Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Kearsarge have completed their trans-Atlantic journey and are ready to help with flood-relief efforts in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - The world is flattening because engineering capabilities are becoming more and more widely available, the Air Force’s chief scientist said.

WASHINGTON - An International Security Assistance Force servicemember killed a man who aimed an assault rifle at troops in a guard tower during a protest.

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - The sound of school bells on Camp Casey, South Korea, represents a major step to improve the quality of life for U.S. troops serving on the Korean peninsula.

WASHINGTON - Army Pfc. Jonathan B. Burson did not take the typical route to becoming an infantryman. He was working as a structural designer when he joined the Army.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov opened the door to military-to-military relations between their countries that have been mostly closed for the past two years

WASHINGTON - A Pentagon hallway has been dedicated to military prisoners of war and troops missing in action, honoring the guiding principle: Never leave a comrade behind.

WASHINGTON - The first living soldier designated to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq and Afghanistna downplayed the notion that he is a hero, insisting that his fellow servicemembers also deserve to be described that way.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen is urging those who qualify for Stop Loss Special Pay to apply by the Oct. 21st deadline; less than half of the more than 145,000 people eligible have submitted claims.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces continued their pursuit of enemy fighters, leaders and facilitators in several recent operations.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said he is encouraged by the sense of purpose on cybersecurity he has found during his visit to NATO and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation leaders recently presented scholarships to 25 children who are the sons and daughters of Marines killed or wounded in combat.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III outlined for NATO leaders the new U.S. cybersecurity strategy, which recognizes cyberspace as the new domain of warfare.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - If it’s not protected, the great technological superiority the United States and NATO enjoy also could be a great vulnerability, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The success of joint forces depends on their ability to balance competing interests – from preparing for strategic risks to troops' work-life balance, said the director of the Joint Staff.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces are supporting Afghan forces’ efforts to bolster security in the days preceding parliamentary elections.

SEOUL, South Korea - For a day, Inchon, South Korea, took on a movie-set quality as troops re-enacted the massive amphibious landing that changed the Korean War.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama wants to make sure veterans and current troops who were involuntarily retained in the military under the so-called “Stop Loss” program get the retroactive pay they deserve.

SEOUL, South Korea - The top U.S. and U.N. commander in South Korea marked the 60th anniversary of the Inchon Landing by calling on North Korea to abandon its nuclear program and halt provocations.

RENO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Nev. - Air Force Staff Sgt. Damien Falconer is the lone pest management specialist in the Nevada Air Guard and it’s his job to eliminate the creepy-crawly nuisances.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has outlined a strategy to change how the Defense Department contracts goods and services, a move aimed at creating greater efficiency and productivity in spending.

WASHINGTON - Items ranging from a pen that digitizes the motion of writing and instantly records a digital document to a satellite performance enhancer are among seven projects that will be tested by the Air Force for military use.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s $400 billion-a-year system for buying goods and services is about to undergo changes to save taxpayer money without affecting mission readiness, a senior Pentagon official said.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III stirred a lot of interest and questions on cybersecurity during a briefing to the North Atlantic Council at NATO headquarters in Belgium.

WASHINGTON - With tough budget decisions on the horizon and the changing military missions in the Middle East, the Army Reserve is evolving.

WASHINGTON - Twenty-three enermy fighters are dead after insurgents attacked Afghan and coalition forces conducting a combined dismounted patrol.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took on some of the military’s toughest topics – all posed from troops, spouses and veterans - in a virtual town hall meeting.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Six soldiers and one Marine from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., tested their abilities at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Meetings between Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III and NATO leaders will provide an opportunity to convey the importance of cybersecurity to our NATO allies, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s roadmap for a new world and its mission in Afghanistan will be one of the main topics of discussion at its annual summit in Lisbon, Portugal, said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Air Force leaders need to make tough decisions now as economic recovery continues to put defense spending under increasing pressure, said Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley during his State of the Air Force address.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials plan to reduce the military’s water and fossil fuels consumption by more than 20 percent in the next decade as part of a government-wide initiative.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces disrupted numerous Taliban compounds, detaining dozens of insurgent suspects and killing several in firefights.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - U.S. military aircraft, working in close partnership with Pakistan's military, have rescued more than 13,000 people as humanitarian and relief efforts in the flooded regions of Pakistan continue.

KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - Air Force Staff Sgt. Duriel Howard, a noncommissioned security officer stationed in South Korea, uses his jiu-jitsu skills to improve his work performance.

MCLEAN, Va. - First Lady Michelle Obama marked the ninth anniversary of 9/11 with service to America’s veterans.

WASHINGTON - About 200 family members of the 184 innocent victims who died at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, gathered at the Pentagon Memorial on the ninth anniversary of the tragedy to remember their loved ones.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama paid tribute to the 184 people who died in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, saying America honors their sacrifice by holding firm to the nation’s ideals of unity and tolerance.

WASHINGTON - As the nation honors the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans also should remember the sacrifice of military members and their families, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - On the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, President Barack Obama used his weekly address to the nation to commemorate the tragedy.

SAN ANTONIO - An Army specialist who also is a 42-year-old grandmother has graduated from one of the toughest Navy training programs - the Explosive Ordnance Disposal School.

WASHINGTON - While it’s clear the nation will be engaged in conflict for some time to come, less evident is what effect long-term combat will have on troops and families, the Army chief of staff and his wife said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama used the eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States as a reminder of why U.S. forces still are in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Provocative acts such as burning Qurans – or even threats of such acts – endanger U.S. troops when they circulate on the Internet and rightfully gain the attention of senior leaders, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama soon will award the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta - the first time the honor will be bestowed upon a living veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A coalition air strike killed a senior enemy commander involved in bombing attacks leading up to the parliamentary elections in Kabul.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said tackling the military’s suicide issue will translate to success in the civilian world.

WASHINGTON - The quantity and quality of officers, noncommissioned officers and recruits in the Afghan army is rising, the deputy commander of the NATO training mission in Afghanistan said.

WASHINGTON - The Navy has experienced fewer sailor and Marine fatalities from accidents this summer, thanks to its servicemember safety campaign, a senior officer said.

WASHINGTON - Spouses enrolling in the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program have more time to apply for financial aid for spring classes.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Americans should focus on the outpouring of patriotism and unity that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said the president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama urges Americans to observe a “National Day of Service” on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - An ongoing series of exercises has improved the readiness of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, said Army Gen. Walter L. "Skip" Sharp, commander of Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

WASHINGTON - Military leaders must learn the warning signs of suicide, and intervene to prevent suicides, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife said in a joint interview.

BASRA, Iraq - With 35 years of combined military service, siblings Army Capt. Tanya Rosa and Army 1st Sgt. Greg Harvey recently reunited while deployed in Kuwait.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are encouraged by signs that the Chinese may renew military-to-military relations in advance of presidential talks between the two countries early next year, the Pentagon press secretary said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates personally called Florida Pastor Terry Jones to urge him not to burn the Quran on Sept. 11, 2001, because of concerns that burning the Muslim holy book would put U.S. forces at risk.

WASHINGTON - How U.S. Northern Command balances its assets in protecting the homeland is a matter of gauging the probability and potential consequences of threats, the new Northcom commander said.

WASHINGTON - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., traveled to Fort Hood, Texas, to dedicate a new library annex and children’s room honoring his late father.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to the parents of Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, who died while saving the lives of U.S. and Afghan troops.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is the latest agency to ask entrepreneurs, innovators and citizens to help solve government's tough problems and compete for prizes by submitting ideas via www.challenge.gov.

WASHINGTON - Partnered Afghan and coalition forces continued to target insurgents during operations in the Helmand, Paktia and Kunduz provinces.

MANAMA, Bahrain - A 24-member maritime raid force from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded and seized control of an Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German–owned vessel from pirates.

CAMP SCHWAB, Japan - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brent A. Smith is the first to earn his service's inaugural Ammunition Technician of the Year Award, which recognizes hard work and dedication.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will join Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Pentagon Memorial on Sept. 11 to honor the memory of victims of the 2001 terrorist attack.

WASHINGTON - While the flood waters in Pakistan may be receding, the need for humanitarian assistance is mounting, and the United States is prepared to help.

WASHINGTON - Partnered Afghan and coalition security forces detained numerous suspected insurgents.

WASHINGTON - As the first U.S. soldiers for Operation New Dawn arrived, officials are investigating a shooting incident in Salahuddin province.

BAGHDAD - Army Sgt. Asha Narayan draws from the strong values she was raised with in her traditional Indian family in Guyana for her military success.

ARLINGTON, Va. - After spending the better part of the past decade defending the Defense Department’s computer networks, the Joint Task Force Global Network Operations command cased its colors.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is putting some of its most vexing challenges on the Challenge.gov website as part of a new initiative to invite creative public solutions to government problems.

WASHINGTON - As part of the ongoing U.S. aid to Pakistan, two Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters arrived at Pano Aqil Air Base near Sukkur, Pakistan, bringing the total number of U.S. helicopters in that area to six.

GHAZI AVIATION BASE, Pakistan - Four Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and more than 60 soldiers arrived at Ghazi Aviation Base, Pakistan, as part of the expansion of U.S. military flood relief efforts in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition security forces detained several suspected insurgents including those responsible for an attack that injured three children.

WASHINGTON - A fallen Vietnam War-era airman will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for heroism from President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony.

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - For some Marines, run times seem like fixed numbers on their physical fitness test scores. But for Cpl. Sage Koch, the times only get shorter.

ANKARA, Turkey - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised Turkey, during a press conference in that nation's capital, for its leadership in the region and for its assistance with efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Building Afghan security forces that are capable, professional and sustainable is going to take a long time, but also is key to long-term success, the general who leads the NATO training mission in Afghanistan said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - While military action is necessary in Afghanistan, it's not enough for success, said U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, explaining the need for civic assistance operations.

ARLINGTON, Va. - For the nearly 1,100 National Guard members on duty on the Southwest border, the job they are performing is a mission that is very familiar to many of them.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan-coalition force was pursuing a senior Taliban leader when it found and rescued seven imprisoned Afghan citizens during an operation in Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Some 250 members of a nine-month-old medical training advisory group are standing back to enable Afghans to step up and increase their capability.

SANGIN, Afghanistan - Defending America's freedom is a family tradition for Marine Corps Sgt. Dominick Valerio. His grandfather and two uncles are veterans, and his brothers serve in the Army.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he is encouraged by what he saw during a visit with troops serving in Afghanistan, especially the partnership between the forces.

COMBAT OUTPOST SERANJAY, Afghanistan - Progress in Afghanistan must be gradual and slow to ensure it becomes permanent, Army Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez said while visiting an outpost in Afghanistan with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

AUSTIN, Texas - Pre-screening recruits for military life compatibility and intervening before soldiers' problems mushroom are some of the suicide prevention tactics Army National Guard leaders recommend.

WASHINGTON - Just days after the combat mission in Iraq ended, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, reminded Americans that their commitment to military families must carry on.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Pictures and stories on the news "just don't capture" the scope of the floods that have ravaged Pakistan, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said after a tour of the region.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed progress and challenges in Afghanistan with top military and diplomatic officials during a three-hour visit to Kabul.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces employed an air strike against an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan senior member determined to be a deputy shadow governor.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and coalition troops in southwestern Afghanistan have made significant gains in recent months, but not without sacrifice, said the commander of NATO’s regional command southwest.

KABUL, Afghanistan - There are now enough resources in Afghanistan to deliver “tangible and lasting results,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a joint news conference in Kabul with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

WASHINGTON - The insurgency in southwestern Afghanistan is down to its “last card in the deck,” the top military commander in the region said, citing Taliban cash flow problems and manning issues.

BALTIMORE - Sailors assigned to the USS Constitution, which is visiting Baltimore, home of its sister ship the USS Constellation, have prepared and served food at a local homeless shelter as part of Baltimore Navy Week.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - The Air National Guard's “Wingman Project” trains citizen-airmen and their families to recognize the signs of suicide and help others in need.

GHAZI AVIATION BASE, Pakistan - The U.S. military is boosting its flood-relief capabilities to Pakistan by deploying more aircraft and increasing the number of aid distribution stations in the flood-stricken nation, the Pakistan aid task force commander said.

WASHINGTON - Military children attending Department of Defense Education Activity schools deserve the best education possible.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - With the vast majority of 30,000 additional troops now in Afghanistan, surge forces have started conducting operations and are positioned to make major strides in the country, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Though flood relief efforts may help others see the United States in a more favorable light, the objective here is to help, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is ready to respond should Hurricane Earl’s projected landfall bring disaster to the Atlantic coast.

WASHINGTON - Even as floodwaters begin to recede in Pakistan, the United States is continuing to rush assets there to help the millions affected by record monsoon floods.

WASHINGTON - The work of volunteers is as important to the legacy of America as the contributions of those who serve in uniform, said Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Combat operations may be over in Iraq, but the U.S. military and diplomatic endeavor remains, Vice President Joe Biden said in Baghdad, reminding the international community of the significance of Operation New Dawn.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed or captured hundreds of Taliban and Haqqani extremists during the past month.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - As U.S. Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno signed off as commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates credited his ability to turn plans into results on the ground.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - After spending more than a year coordinating airpower and helping to ensure U.S. forces there drew down, the top airman in Iraq is headed home.

WASHINGTON - The Navy recognizes the seriousness of suicide and has developed a training method for sailors to acknowledge they are on the front line of suicide prevention.

RAMADI, Iraq - The war in Iraq is over and the United States is entering the final phase of the U.S. engagement in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BAGHDAD - On his way to Baghdad, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, paused to take stock of the progress he’s seen in Iraq since he took office in 2007.