WASHINGTON - Servicemembers expecting to lose annual leave on Sept. 30 due to caps on carryover leave will be the first to benefit from a new policy.

WASHINGTON - A Saudi Arabian national being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been charged with planning and preparing for the attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 U.S. sailors and wounded 39 others.

WASHINGTON - The enemy in the eastern portion of Iraq’s Anbar province has been neutralized, the coalition commander in the area said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed six enemy fighters and detained 22 terrorism suspects in recent operations, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has alerted six combat units for deployment to Iraq from January to March 2009, which would maintain the current level of effort there.

WASHINGTON - The goal of a troop-support group’s new Web-based campaign is simple: tell the troops “thank you” a million times over.

WIESBADEN, Germany - Sixty years after the Berlin Airlift, thousands of Americans and Germans -- including participants in the legendary humanitarian mission and survivors of the blockade -- gathered in Wiesbaden, Germany, to celebrate the airlift’s anniversary.

WASHINGTON - President Bush signed a $162 billion supplemental bill that principally will fund U.S. military operations abroad.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and Iraqi National Police officers have developed a unique bond as they unite to protect the people of Baghdad.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Motivated by 9/11, Army Spc. Jontel Watson delayed college and enlisted at 17 to continue his family's proud military tradition.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team trains Afghan men in a unique program to become part of the Afghan National Auxiliary Police force.

WASHINGTON - Iraq is enjoying substantial political and economic progress, in addition to better security, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s Baqubah Emergency Response Force detained a suspected al-Qaida member in Udaim, north of Baghdad.

FORT STEWART, Ga. - While most people only read about history, the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division helped to make history during their 15-month deployment to Iraq, the division’s commander said.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The chief of the National Guard Bureau visited troops fighting fires in California and Midwest floods, praising their responses and citing cooperation among states during an emergency

WASHINGTON - Two Defense Department reports on Afghanistan describe overall progress, with one depicting a "fragile" security environment improving as Afghan citizens connect to their new government.

WASHINGTON - The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines are disrupting the Taliban’s freedom of movement in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Farah provinces.

WASHINGTON - After a floating hospital known as USNS Mercy steams away from ports across Southeast Asia, the ship’s presence will live on in the host countries it helped along the way.

WASHINGTON - USS Boxer has returned to port after a two-month humanitarian and civic assistance mission to Latin America during which medical professionals saw about 14,000 patients and a veterinary team treated about 2,900 animals.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed one militant, detained 11 suspected terrorists and found numerous weapons caches during recent operations in Iraq.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - A soldier recovering from a roadside-bomb attack has a trained hunting dog, thanks to one American's generosity.

WASHINGTON - Infantry brigade teams will get key combat technologies called “spinouts” sooner than planned.

BAGHDAD - A terrorist killed during a Mosul operation has been identified as the city’s top al-Qaida in Iraq leader.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - A provincial reconstruction team civil affairs leader met with local representatives in Afghan villages to discuss future rebuilding projects.

WASHINGTON - It wasn't until 1998 that Berlin Airlift veteran Dub Southers thought about the importance of the 1948 effort that provided vital resources to the German city cut in half by Soviet rule.

BAGHDAD - Coalition and Iraqi forces and local citizens gathered for the opening of the biggest public works substation in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised a pledge by Pakistani officials to renew pressure along its northwestern border, where militants responsible for violence in eastern Afghanistan have taken refuge.

WASHINGTON - Elmo has a busy summer bringing “The Sesame Street Experience” to 43 military installations to help children cope.

WASHINGTON - A program based on the armed services aptitude test helps students find their strengths and plan their future -- even if those plans don't include the military.

ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard soldiers and airmen are maintaining a steady battle against California wildfires and flooding in four Midwestern states.

STUTTGART, Germany - The Joint Staff already is working to ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible for the next commander in chief, the chairman said.

WASHINGTON - A soldier who earned the Bronze Star Medal in Iraq cites home-front support as vital to fighting the war on terror.

STUTTGART, Germany - The top U.S. military officer challenged the U.S. Africa Command staff to seize the opportunities presented as they stand up a uniquely organized command that brings more focus to a vital part of the world.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi soldiers and police, assisted by coalition troops, are making progress in driving militias out of the southeastern part of the country, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed enemy fighters and detained four suspected militants in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed three militants, detained 20 suspects and found weapons in Iraq.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKAN, Iraq - More than 200 adults and 80 children received medical care during a combined medical engagement at the Al Herea School in Farisiyah, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a series of lower court rulings that restrict the Navy’s use of sonar in training exercises off the coast of Southern California.

GARMISCH, Germany - NATO’s long-term relevance will be tied to success in Afghanistan, and the slower NATO moves to ensure that success, the longer it will take to achieve, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense and Education departments signed a memorandum of understanding that addresses the quality of education and the unique challenges faced by children of military families.

WASHINGTON - American Forces Press Service, the preeminent Defense Department information source, has unveiled a digital tool that officials say catapults it into a new realm of information distribution.

WASHINGTON - Though the Defense Department doesn’t see China as a strategic adversary, the country’s military buildup and lack of openness in how it’s proceeding has officials wondering about the intentions of Chinese leaders.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Head coach Mike Nolan of the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers and former defensive back Eric Davis visited troops in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department spokesman expressed satisfaction that a proposed bill allowing troops to transfer their education benefits to family members passed the first round of congressional voting.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - An Army medical research facility and the Department of Homeland Security are working together on a laboratory to help protect the nation's troops.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Army scientists are at the forefront of chemical defense research to test their theories to help in protecting and healing the nation’s warfighters.

WASHINGTON - President Bush welcomed Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to the White House as a friend of the United States and as the leader of a free country.

WASHINGTON - Some troops recovering from injuries in Texas will soon receive the gift of music from "Angels" in the form of Gibson guitars.

WASHINGTON - Coalition aircrews killed about 22 militants who were attacking district centers in Paktika province yesterday, as Coalition forces continue to disrupt militant networks in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed 21 enemy fighters and detained 22 terrorism suspects in recent Iraq operations.

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq - While Iraqi air force pilots continue flying sorties to aid stability in their nation, Iraqi ground crews have achieved important benchmarks to keep their fleet in the air.

WASHINGTON - On July 1, the nation will mark 35 years of an armed military made up solely of volunteers.

BAGHDAD - Army Sgt. Jeremy Reynolds, a supply sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division, sees his job as one that makes or breaks his company.

WIESBADEN, Germany - A storybook came alive for German and American youth in Wiesbaden, Germany, when the tale’s lead character appeared in person.

WIESBADEN, Germany - Members of the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, the citizens of the city of Wiesbaden and other visitors are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift June 26-29. The visitors would likely find it hard to imagine what the country resembled after the massive destruction of World War II.

WASHINGTON - Veterans can enjoy an afternoon cruise dedicated to them on Lake Michigan in a long, tradition building relationships.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces led successful operations last week to counter the Taliban’s raid on a Kandahar city prison.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Pacific Command is moving quickly to support President Bush’s promise to provide naval assets in the wake of a typhoon that left more than 150 dead and hundreds missing in the Philippines.

WASHINGTON - Army and Air National Guard members from California and North Carolina are supporting firefighting efforts in Northern California.

WASHINGTON - U.S., coalition and Afghan security forces are hunting down the Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan, while vital reconstruction and governance programs spread across the country, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed a senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader and three other attackers and detained more than a dozen suspects in various operations.

DJIBOUTI - Representatives from 10 East African nations, along with a coalition from the United Kingdom, France and the United States, participated in a group to lay foundation for a partnership in maritime security.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Pakistani military officials are working to improve communications and collaboration, especially along the 450-mile-long Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a senior U.S. officer posted in Afghanistan said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - The soldiers of Company B, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, stay busy running a technical control facility and 26 miles of fiber-optic cable through a series of manholes around Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines and British troops of Task Force Helmand opened a joint civil-military operations center near the British Forward Operating Base Delhi in Helmand province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Army 1st Lt. Carolyn Frazier is a 3rd Infantry Division platoon leader who takes care of the health and well-being of her soldiers as they perform transportation missions in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The nation’s top military officer called on the Joint Staff to speed up efforts to get new capabilities to warfighters to enhance their ability to win wars now and in the future.

WASHINGTON - Violence in Iraq dropped in May to its lowest level in four years, according to a Defense Department report released to Congress.

WASHINGTON - Military family members looking to further their education can turn to a support organization called Thanks USA.

WASHINGTON - Calling the issue “hugely important,” the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the nation must fully integrate efforts to help homeless veterans.

WASHINGTON - Bonded by their families' sacrfices, 300 of war’s youngest survivors came together to form friendships and coping skills at a “Good Grief Camp."

WASHINGTON - President Bush nominated Army Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody for promotion to general, which would make her the first female four-star officer in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON - Missouri is the latest Midwestern state to see increasing numbers of National Guard soldiers and airmen on duty in the face of the region’s worst flooding in 15 years.

WASHINGTON - The number of weekly attacks in Iraq has dropped from about 1,200 a week in June 2007 to about 200 a week, due in part to coalition forces aggressively pursuing the enemy, the commander of a key tactical unit in Iraq said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - A new helicopter service,“Jingle Air,” moves cargo to hard-to-reach locations and delivers supplies to isolated forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition troops and Afghan security forces killed scores of militants and captured more than a dozen others during recent operations.

BAGHDAD - Solar-powered street lights are being installed in a Baghdad neighborhood to deter militant activity and improve safety.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Recently promoted Army 1st Sgt. Anthony Farinosi is filling the role as a company's top enlisted soldier for a second time. But he's most proud of another title that fits all areas of his life: coach.

BUTLERVILLE, Ind. - A Hollywood special effects company set up realistic scenarios at an Indiana urban training center to help troops get a taste of what they'll experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - After successfully restoring order in the Basra, Mosul and the Sadr City section of Baghdad, Iraqi security forces are focused on the city of Amarah.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed and captured a number of militants in Afghanistan over the past three days, targeting a Taliban commander.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi forces discovered and confiscated weapons caches and captured insurgents during ongoing operations over the past several days in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center on Fort Detrick, Md., is advancing new medical technologies to offer solutions on medical issues ranging from diabetes to protection against the effects of head injury.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Members of the military services, Defense Department civilian employees and military contractors showcased how they harness technology to provide support for U.S. warfighters at the 2008 Joint Warfighter Conference.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Outgoing Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne bade farewell to the organization he’s directed since November 2005.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - The services need to experiment in cyber warfare to figure out how to use technology effectively on the battlefield, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan medical providers learned lifesaving skills at a Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team course.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraq security forces killed four enemy fighters and detained dozens more during several operations over the past few days.

WASHINGTON - President Bush praised the House of Representatives for passing a supplemental war spending bill that includes expanded Montgomery GI Bill benefits, and he urged the Senate to quickly do the same.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have issued information to assist federal employees and agencies affected by the recent flooding throughout the Midwest and Mississippi River Valley.

BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised Air Force Gen. Michael V. Hayden at his retirement ceremony as “the quintessential intelligence professional in government” who will continue making profound contributions as the Central Intelligence Agency’s civilian director.

BASRA, Iraq - A U.S-led reconstruction team, U.S. Army engineers and development organizations conducted a budget workshop to help Iraqi officials get projects on line more quickly and efficiently.

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - For the first time since the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff began talking to troops worldwide, the cost of gas is popping up as a concern.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The U.S. military will be engaged in irregular warfare operations for some time to come, a senior U.S. military officer said.

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - The mood in the C-17 Globemaster III hanger at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., was festive as nearly 1,000 airmen waited for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to take the stage for an “all-hands” call.

WASHINGTON - The last of the five Army brigades to deploy with the “troop surge” in Iraq will return in July after a 13-month deployment, during which soldiers detained more than 800 terrorist suspects and helped foster Iraqi self-governance.

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq - Cpl. Andrew E. Nelson says joining the Marines gave him a sense of purpose, a feeling he didn't have growing up.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi troops detained 35 suspected terrorists during recent operations in northern Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces detained five suspected insurgents during separate operations recently in Afghanistan’s Ghanzi and Paktia provinces, officials said.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Air Force is using more high-tech platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles to combat extremists overseas while it seeks ways to mitigate the rising cost of fuel.

WASHINGTON - President Bush presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace during a White House ceremony.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Surgeons at Children’s Hospital in Boston have agreed to donate their services to help a 1-year-old Iraq girl, first seen by Army doctors in February.

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - The U.S. military’s top officer told about 1,000 soldiers gathered at Fort Lewis, Wash., that they set the stage for positive security gains in Iraq as part of last year’s troop surge efforts.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Army is now exceeding its recruiting requirements, but that force may contain more soldiers who needed waivers to sign up in the years ahead.

WASHINGTON - The Government Accountability Office has recommended the Air Force reopen the bidding process for the service’s aerial refueling aircraft contract.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq employ improvised explosive devices as a weapon of choice to sap the willpower of the American people.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department program is working to ensure overseas government employees, civilian contractors, troops and their spouses have all the information they need to make their votes count.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi air force is making great strides as it continues to train and begins supporting Iraqi army and police forces, the U.S. advisor to the force said.

WASHINGTON - An Arizona congressman has recognized a group from his state for its dedication to supporting the troops.

WASHINGTON - Coalition construction worth about $2.5 billion is proceeding in Iraq, despite attacks that have injured people, delays caused by land-deed disputes, and low-level corruption.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi troops killed one enemy fighter and detained 23 suspected terrorists during recent operations in northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Thousands of National Guard troops in the Midwest have moved into high gear to reinforce levees, conduct security patrols and deliver supplies as record-breaking floods surged through the heartland.

WASHINGTON - An explosion that killed at least 27 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad likely was the work of Iranian-backed “special groups,” a U.S. spokesman said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Members of the “speedball” aircrew perform low-altitude delivery services to units during missions when normal delivery is difficult.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - For Army Staff Sgt. Hiram Barbosa, an armored vehicle commander dedicated to family and fitness, adapting to his environment has been a way of life.

BAGHDAD - The Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division is working to ensure Baghdad’s water supply with nonstop operations for the Karkh Water Treatment Plant.

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - In searing California heat that resembles Iraq's desert climate, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Marines and sailors going through the latest in pre-deployment combat training.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. - Good leadership at all levels will fix what ails the Air Force, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. “There’s nothing more important to what we do than leadership," he said.

WASHINGTON - Forces in Iraq killed five enemy fighters, detained 13 terrorism suspects, and uncovered several weapons caches in recent operations, military officials said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Jaweed Noor, a 10-year-old Afghan boy, escorted by his father and a U.S. Special Forces soldier, was flown to Bagram Air Base for tests after medics diagnosed a tumor on his upper arm.

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division have been setting records amassing college credits during precious downtime.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Iraqi soldiers and coalition forces conducted an air assault census mission named “Operation New Town” in Shakriyah, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Mental Health practitioners nationwide are donating their time and services to provide free, confidential counseling to military people and their families.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Dimas Estrada uses taekwondo to keep himself and other soldiers fit and busy in their spare time, teaching classes in the sport five days a week on Camp Victory, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Reports that suggest the Taliban have gained a footing in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province are “way overblown,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Young officers can provide added service to the nation by exercising their minds and sharing their good ideas through writing, a U.S. military officer said.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The U.S. military now incorporates a joint-force strategy to combat enemies who practice unconventional warfare around the globe.

WASHINGTON - Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling, the military is proceeding with commissions on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon press secretary said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush praised the former commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, who plans to retire in August after a 40-year Army career.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has begun a four-day tour of western-U.S. military installations.

WASHINGTON - The United States, Canada and Mexico must establish security to realize their full potential, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - More than 600 National Guard members in Illinois and Missouri are continuing sandbagging operations along the Mississippi River in an effort to thwart flood waters that are subsiding in Iowa.

WASHINGTON - A Washington state shop offers coffee in military-themed sizes: the small is called a private, and the large is a sergeant. A portion of all sales goes to U.S. Wounded Soldiers Foundation.

WASHINGTON - The Army National Guard has been so successful recruiting and retaining citizen-soldiers that officials purposely slowed May enlistments, National Guard Bureau officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed 20 militants after a reconnaissance patrol was attacked in the Deh Chopan district of Zabul province, bringing to 35 the number of insurgents killed in two days of fighting.

WASHINGTON - Coalition Forces captured 20 insurgents and found several weapons caches during operations, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The United Kingdom will increase the number of troops it contributes to the coalition effort in Afghanistan, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Air Force Staff Sgt. Tim Bayes, noncommissioned officer in charge for a reconstruction team in Afghanistan, designed a fertilizer spreader to help local farmers increase their yield.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Coaltion forces are improving security and infrastructure in the southern Baghdad area in the hopes of giving children and teachers there a better chance at a normal school year, uninterrupted by violence.

CAMP KALSU, Iraq - Army Lt. Col. Michael Darrow recently returned to Iraq on his second U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission. Five years later, he's finding dramatic changes in how construction projects are handled.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of troops and their families were treated to a professional soccer match during D.C. United’s 9th Annual Armed Forces Day in the nation’s capital.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces captured suspected terrorists and seized several weapons caches across Iraq during the past three days.

WASHINGTON - Afghan National Army and coalition forces killed more than 15 insurgents in Kandahar province during a search for escaped prisoners from Kandahar City, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Army displayed its latest product line of clothing and equipment in the Pentagon courtyard.

WASHINGTON - The current number of forces in Afghanistan is enough to accomplish the mission, but it will take awhile to do so, the U.S. officer who just finished his tour as commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan said.

WASHINGTON - Silver Star Families of America is now honoring troops who treat warriors wounded on the battlefield with certificate.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the state of the Air Force, his vision for a modified GI Bill, and the Army’s birthday.

U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Army Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson, a syndicated editorial cartoonist and member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, is now a military editor in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - U.S. soldiers helping train Afghan police on Forward Operating Base Scorpion face obstacles like languages barriers, but they're committed to their mission, no matter what that means.

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s Interior Ministry conducted a first in its history: an internal review of strategic goals and objectives it has achieved so far in 2008.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces thwarted three ambushes, killing at least 17 enemy fighters and seizing explosive materials and weapons in Afghanistan, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Though statistics indicate the insurgency in Afghanistan is not expanding, multiple challenges remain there, the U.S. officer who just finished his tour as commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed nine enemy fighters, captured more than 24 suspects, and seized weapons across Iraq, military officials said.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research has developed a livesaving procedure that was named one of the Army’s “Top Ten Greatest Inventions of 2007.”

WASHINGTON - After being called one of the 100 worst federal workplaces in the United States for safety, Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., is now ranked at the top.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO has made significant progress in Afghanistan, and the alliance now needs to deliver on the goals its heads of state set when they met in April, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates threw away his script and spoke from his heart during a dinner at which he and other defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, discussed the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Four current and retired servicemembers recently shared their perspectives about the flag and how it’s inspired them through their proudest as well as darkest days as a symbol of patriotism, strength and resilience.

WASHINGTON - The number of U.S. troops in Iraq is slated to decrease from 20 to 15 brigades by the end of July, but it is too soon to predict additional reductions, the U.S. military’s top officer said.

LONG POND, Pa. - Hours before his seventh-place start and fourth-place finish in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 9, Dale Earnhardt Jr. looked fresh and rested as he visited National Guard members at an infield area.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England joined Jim Laychak, who lost a brother on 9/11, in planting one of dozens of trees that will shade the cantilever benches, each engraved with a victim’s name.

WASHINGTON - Graduating from a military university shouldn’t be the end to a servicemember’s learning, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during the National Defense University graduation.

WASHINGTON - Governors in four states affected by flooding called out more than 2,000 National Guard members to assist with sandbagging, road blocks and rescues.

WASHINGTON - Ongoing debate within Iraq’s political realm about negotiations over the U.S.-Iraq strategic framework agreement indicates the healthy development of Iraq’s young democracy, the U.S. military’s top officer said.

WASHINGTON - Security improvements have freed Iraqi government and coalition forces to make inroads in boosting Iraq’s growth and sovereignty.

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch lost too many soldiers during the 3rd Infantry Division’s third and longest deployment to Iraq. But now that most of the division is finally home, Lynch told the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff he’s not willing to take a single additional casualty due to a motorcycle accident.

WASHINGTON - Although al-Qaida’s operations in Iraq have been battered, the terrorist organization remains a threat to be reckoned with, the U.S. military’s top officer said.

WASHINGTON - Forces in Iraq killed eight enemy fighters, detained 24 terrorism suspects and found various weapons in recent operations, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - An offshoot of a program founded in England during World War II to prepare young sailors to endure wartime adversity at sea is helping U.S. war veterans today.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan is the most important issue facing NATO defense ministers, including U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who are meeting in Brussels, a top U.S. military official said.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Army Pfc. Jacob Gilmon prides himself on making sure every vehicle leaving Camp Liberty, Iraq, is safe and reliable in dangerous situations.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Police mentor team “Patriot” visits its assigned Afghan National Police stations daily, coaching the police to solve any problems on the spot, paving the way to an Afghan solution.

FORT STEWART Ga. - Three additional trees were planted along Warriors Walk on Fort Stewart, Ga., bringing to 411 the number of Eastern redbud trees in the memorial honoring fallen 3rd Infantry Division soldiers who died in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Bush issued a proclamation urging Americans to observe National Flag Week and Flag Day on June 14, and to recognize the sacrifices U.S. servicemembers have made through U.S. history to protect the freedoms for which the flag stands.

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, toured the new Warrior Transition Unit on Fort Stewart, Ga., and met with wounded troops to hear how the Army is ensuring they get the best care and support possible.

FORT STEWART, Ga. - The nation’s top military officer praised recently redeployed soldiers who made up part of the troop surge in Iraq for “changing the calculus in Iraq and giving us possibilities that clearly a year ago we didn’t have.”

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and fellow NATO defense ministers will discuss alliance operations in Afghanistan, the alliance missile defense program, and transition plans for Kosovo during a two-day ministerial.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is open to supporting a revamped GI Bill for troops if it would enable the transfer of unused benefits to family members and wouldn’t cause an exodus of troops from the military.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials called a U.S. air strike in Pakistan near the Afghanistan border “legitimate” and “self-defense,” and said they are investigating the attack with Pakistani officials.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Task Force Gladiator soldiers brought fuel for service generators and attended the opening of an all-girls school -- all in the hope of building relationships.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will be able to pay its troops and civilians through the end of next month, thanks to actions approved by Congress, a senior Pentagon spokesman told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Hurricane season officially began June 1, and people across the country are gearing up for another season of strong winds, torrential rains, hail and flying debris.

BAGHDAD - U.S. airmen are teaching command-and-control techniques to their counterparts at the Iraqi air operations center at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

BALAD, Iraq - Since May 22, more than 500 former insurgents in the Balad area have reconciled with the Iraqi government, helping to unify the country.

WASHINGTON - President Bush thanked the German people for their help in Afghanistan and Iraq, following discussions with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Meseberg, Germany.

WASHINGTON - Troops, veterans and their families going through problems related to deployments can get help from a California-based organization.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Coast Guard Foundation that military and federal agencies should become more like the Coast Guard by stepping up levels of flexibility, mutual engagement and cooperation.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured two men: the alleged leader of an Iranian-backed enemy “special group” and an alleged al-Qaida chieftain.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he is pleased with the early results from a panel looking into intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, known as ISR, assets.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ trip to three Air Force installations was a gesture of respect and confidence in airmen following a rough week for the service.

WASHINGTON - All the services met or exceeded their May active-duty recruiting goals and have exceeded their target recruiting numbers for this point in the fiscal year.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave a very quick synopsis of the goals of his tenure in office, hammering home the importance of the Air Force's nuclear mission focus during a meeting with troops on Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

WASHINGTON - Military commissary stores -- except those in Europe -- have removed tomatoes from their shelves after a Food and Drug Administration warning linking a salmonella outbreak to certain varieties.

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana National Guard is preparing to continue a long flood fight across the southern part of the state, and Guardsmen and equipment are moving to counties in southwestern Indiana.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s Agriculture Ministry is protecting the nation’s commercial date palm crop from deadly dubas beetles with a nationwide spraying program.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Nevada Air National Guard Maj. Derek Routt is slated to become the first National Guard pilot to take to the skies with the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Afghan troops used mortar fire to defeat insurgents who fired upon a forward operating base in Afghanistan’s Zabul province, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained five suspects in northern Iraq during operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Public Relations Society of America honored the Defense Department’s New Media directorate with four “Silver Anvil” awards at a gala in New York City on June 5.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Eleven members of the Afghan National Army Air Corps have graduated as firefighters amid high expectations to make their country safer.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan’s Attorney General, Abdul Jabar Sabit, says the country is progressing toward nationwide rule of law, but still has far to go.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he was pleased with the give-and-take he had with about 400 Air Combat Command airmen on Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - America’s war on terror would grind to a halt without the contributions of the Air Force, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Officials who manage detention centers in Iraq are getting a valuable look inside the mind of al-Qaida in Iraq, a senior U.S. military officer said.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - If it were not for the serious decline in the Air Force’s nuclear mission focus and performance, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, he would not have felt the need to replace the Air Force leadership.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department wants civilian firms to help develop a new product that could help heal battlefield wounds such as compound bone fractures.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi military operations in northern Iraq have cut the number of roadside bombs there nearly in half since February, the Multinational Division North commander said.

WASHINGTON - A security command in southern Afghanistan is making progress by training Afghan security forces, building relationships with civilians and rebuilding communities, the commander said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed five enemy fighters, destroyed a foreign terrorist hideout, and detained seven terrorism suspects in operations across Iraq.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Indiana National Guard responded with sandbags to the rains that stranded motorists and flooded homes in Indiana's Wabash Valley, June 7, 2008.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Soldiers from Combined Task Force Currahee recently test-drove a new vehicle that could help alleviate some of the problems they have maneuvering through mountains and valleys.

LAHORE, Pakistan - At the invitation of Pakistan’s navy, a U.S. admiral spoke to officers at the Pakistan Navy War College about the importance of fostering relationships with coalition partners.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A few soldiers in Iraq got to watch their children graduate high school thousands of miles away, courtesy of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, U.S. Army Europe and 5th Signal Command in Germany.

WASHINGTON - Negotiations continue on the strategic framework agreement between the United States and Iraq that will allow military operations in Iraq to continue after the United Nations mandate runs out Dec. 31.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - First lady Laura Bush visited troops on Bagram Air Base during her third trip to Afghanistan, offering praise and encouragement to troops.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended that President Bush nominate Michael B. Donley for secretary of the Air Force and Gen. Norton A. Schwartz for Air Force chief of staff.

MILWAUKEE - For one week, the Air National Guard and Harley-Davidson personnel revved up their efforts to eliminate unnecessary processes for the benefit of both organizations.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - On Fort Sam Houston, Texas, a 16-person staff is dedicated to providing a full and fair hearing to determine a soldier’s physical fitness for continued military service.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq leader and a man believed to lead a bombing cell under his direction during operations in Mosul, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - As security improves, more doctors are returning to clinical services, but more are needed in the Iraqi security forces.

CARLISLE BARRACKS, Pa. - All ranks must work to together to change the military from a peacetime mentality to a war footing, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told military graduates.

WASHINGTON - President Bush urged Congress to immediately pass legislation that’s urgently needed to fund military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and other important Defense Department programs.

WASHINGTON - A new notice on Defense Department computer screens ensures users understand that their e-mails are subject to monitoring, but also reinforces specific user privacy protections.

WASHINGTON - A division of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences has been working with U.S. military combatant commanders to assess, on a worldwide basis, nations’ abilities to track and respond to outbreaks of infection.

WASHINGTON - The crew of the hospital ship USNS Mercy is forging relationships while providing medical assistance from the Phillipines to East Timor.

WASHINGTON - With fuel prices soaring and no apparent end in sight, the Defense Department is feeling the pinch in its pocketbook and is looking for ways to save through conservation and alternative fuels programs.

WASHINGTON - A new initiative within U.S. Central Command focusing on irregular warfare is tracking and targeting “violent and extreme actors” in the command’s area of operations

WASHINGTON - The Marine battalion tasked with training Afghan police members focuses more on helping Afghan people prosper than on defeating the Taliban.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Deployed Idaho National Guardsmen working as a police mentoring team have been traveling throughout Afghanistan’s Parwan province to train and advise the Afghan National Police.

WASHINGTON - Several suspects were killed and five were detained during June 3 operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Jim Beam distillery invites the public to post toasts to troops on its website.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed four enemy fighters and detained dozens of suspected terrorists in recent operations, military officials said.

BAGHDAD - When U.S. Army Capt. Shawn Carbone first observed the economy in Iraq’s southern Baghdad province, he found it similar to his studies of America during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Air Force Maj. Jiro McCoy made sure he stayed in Iraq long enough to help Iraqi air force succeed.

U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY - The chiefs of defense and prosecution offered different views of the day’s results to reporters after five accused terrorists heard the charges filed against them for their alleged role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America at an arraignment at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Five accused terrorists heard the charges filed against them for their alleged role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America at an arraignment at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

WASHINGTON - A new task force will recommend improvements needed to ensure top-level accountability and control of U.S. nuclear weapons, delivery vehicles and sensitive components, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced.

WASHINGTON - Walter Reed Army Medical Center rolled out a new vehicle that will make wounded soldiers’ ride to the Army hospital safer and smoother.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced the resignations of Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley following an investigation revealing a decline in the Air Force's nuclear program focus, performance and effective leadership.

WASHINGTON - In Ohio, a new team is taking a community approach to supporting troops and military families.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other officials broke ground for the new National Intrepid Center of Excellence for psychological health and traumatic brain injury at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON - The United States is not seeking permanent military bases in Iraq as it negotiates legal and military agreements with the Iraqi government, said Ryan C. Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.

U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Three of five defendants accused of involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America rejected court-appointed legal counsel during their arraignment.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - More than 100 Iraqi families received diapers, formula and cereal at the Radwaniyah Palace Complex Civil Military Operations Center, about seven kilometers southwest of Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - A 10-day trip designed to foster relationships with allies and emerging countries offered many insights on ground conditions, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured an alleged leader and a suspected primary weapons smuggler and financier for Iranian-backed enemy fighters.

WASHINGTON - Several militants were killed and five others were detained as coalition forces disrupted anti-government operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff returned from an overseas trip that included meetings with Pakistani leaders in an effort to reinforce the military-to-military relationship between the two countries.

WASHINGTON - From the Philippines to Baghdad to Fort Bragg, N.C., military members ask the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about changes to the GI Bill.

UTAPHAO, Thailand - The United States continues to extend its offer of cyclone relief support to the government of Burma, even as the USS Essex group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit move away from the Burmese coast.

U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Five accused terrorists slated for arraignment for their alleged role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America will get a fair trial, a senior military lawyer and judge vowed.

WASHINGTON - Positive trends in Iraq can be attributed to the increasingly successful Iraqi army and the citizen cooperation, a senior military official said.

WASHINGTON - Last month marked the fewest attacks in Iraq in four years, a reduction one military official attributed to improved security tactics and an increase in tips from Iraqi citizens.

WASHINGTON - "Websites for Heroes" allows photos and video so deployed parents can watch their families back home.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services to offer more mental health professionals on military bases, officials announced at a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed more than a dozen insurgents who attacked them during a humanitarian-assistance mission near Putay in Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained nine suspects in central and northwestern Iraq, including three wanted men and four of his associates, military officials said.

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - During a groundbreaking ceremony, the U.S. commander of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team said a new $6 million road would provide economic security and bring easier access to lifesaving providers.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. military’s humanitarian center and a nonprofit group focusing on children are coordinating medical care for Iraqis.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Navy ships that have been positioned off Burma’s coast since May 13 with urgently needed humanitarian assistance for the victims of Cyclone Nargis will resume their previously scheduled operations.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with his Pakistani counterparts in Islamabad to discuss military-to-military relations between the two countries.

WASHINGTON - Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis joined a select group of military heroes when his name was included in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed four militants, captured 13 suspects and seized scores of weapons in Iraq in recent days.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is working to limit the growth of costs for new equipment, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official reported to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

MOSUL, Iraq - Under the Iraqi National Police, Yarimjah is peaceful and children play alongside the police. "The important thing is to create trust between the national police and the people," said Col. Fasial Majed Muhsen.

WASHINGTON - The University of Kansas champion men's basketball team began its victory lap by visiting wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Parliament leaders, village elders and other government officials have set the course for new procedures to fix shoddy construction practices, following a meeting at the governor's compound in Kapisa province.

WASHINGTON - A troop-support group is expanding its program to bring military children and their grandparents closer together to provide more support when a loved one is deployed.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Just days into the 2008 hurricane season, the Florida Department of Military Affairs and Florida National Guard are actively preparing in case a devastating storm strikes the state this year.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Gen. David D. McKiernan has assumed command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force from U.S. Army Gen. Dan K. McNeill.

SEOUL, South Korea - The top U.S. officer in South Korea assumed command with priorities that include strengthening the U.S.-South Korean military alliance and improving the quality of life for U.S. troops there.

SEOUL, South Korea - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates hailed newly promoted Army Gen. William “Skip” Sharp as “the right man” to advance the close U.S. alliance with South Korea.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s not only receptive to extending U.S. troop deployments to South Korea to three-year accompanied tours, but believes it is “overdue.”

WASHINGTON - The U.S. general responsible for operations in Baghdad has announced that he is taking proactive steps to prevent soldiers in his command from taking their own lives.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces are making "great efforts" to correct past mistakes by reaching out to detainees to prevent insurgent activities, the commander of detainee operations for Multinational Force Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. two-star general responsible for operations in Baghdad expressed optimism about the current state of anti-insurgent efforts in and around Iraq’s capital city.

WASHINGTON - Kirt Rebello wanted to thank soldiers for serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, so he founded a group to build or remodel homes to accommodate severely wounded warriors.

BAGHDAD - The line extended out the gate and around the corner, and it disappeared up the narrow street as residents of Dehna, a village west of Baghdad, waited to receive aid from Iraqi and U.S. soldiers.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Coalition engineer and cavalry soldiers have been working together for two months to build living quarters and a security checkpoint for Afghan border police at the Gowardesh Bridge.

SEOUL, South Korea - The U.S. Army gained another four-star general as U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over the promotion of Walter L. “Skip” Sharp.

WASHINGTON - President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to fallen Army hero Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis’ parents during a White House ceremony honoring his valor.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed two enemy fighters, detained dozens of terrorism suspects and discovered several weapons caches in Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - For the past two years, one troop-support organization has made sure children of fallen servicemembers have an avalanche of fun.

MANILA, Philippines - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff placed a crysanthemum wreath at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines, comemorating the 17,206 U.S. troops buried there.

WASHINGTON - The number of returning wounded troops who need technology to assist with their visual, hearing, dexterity and cognitive disabilities is outpacing requests from other servicemembers.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Seoul, South Korea, to discuss future developments in the U.S.-Republic of Korea security relationship and officiate at tomorrow’s change of command ceremonies at U.S. Forces Korea.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff saw firsthand how the U.S. interagency fight is making progress against a Philippine insurgency.

WASHINGTON - Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and British forces of Task Force Helmand launched a new operation in the southern portion of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured dozens of terrorism suspects and continued to uncover enemy weapons stockpiles.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines - The U.S. military’s Joint Special Operations Task Force is making a difference in helping the Philippine military defeat extremists, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The wife of a U.S. Army soldier became a citizen of the United States at the first overseas naturalization ceremony for a military spouse.

BANGKOK, Thailand - In Bangkok, Thailand, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reaffirmed that the U.S.-Thai military-to-military relationship is based on shared democratic principles.

SINGAPORE - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with reporters for a broad-ranging discussion about various defense issues.

SINGAPORE - The United States likely will decide “within days” to move four U.S. Navy ships that have been waiting off the coast of Burma for permission to provide help to cyclone-stricken residents, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.