WASHINGTON - The Labor Department is awarding more than $5 million in grants to help homeless female veterans and veterans with families find jobs and work toward a “bright future,” the secretary of labor announced.

WASHINGTON - The Senate unanimously confirmed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus to be commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. Petraeus was serving as the commander of U.S. Central Command, and replaces Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Army is taking every measure possible to fix the problems at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., and it should continue to manage the nation’s “most hallowed ground,” Army Secretary John M. McHugh told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and International Security Assistance Force troops repelled a number of insurgents who attacked the airfield in Jalalabad.

MANDERIN, Haiti - Army Sgt. 1st Class Mike Larey, a member of the Louisiana National Guard and a New Orleans chef, serves his Cajun cuisine to troops serving in Haiti.

WASHINGTON - Senators questioned Army Gen. David H. Petraeus repeatedly on his understanding of the July 2011 target date to begin pulling U.S. troops out of Afghanistan during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The committee passed its recommendation for Petraeus' confirmation as the new commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to the full Senate after the hearing. The general’s nomination for the NATO commander's post in Afghanistan must go through NATO channels.

WASHINGTON - The United States is working hard to regain Pakistan’s trust after several years without a relationship, but it’s going to take time, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Texas National Guardsmen are on standby in anticipation of Tropical Storm Alex, which is expected to become a hurricane and make landfall later this week.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that he returned from Afghanistan reassured that U.S. and NATO forces remain on track there, but also concerned about the synergy among terrorist groups in the region.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan is a test of wills, and the enemy has to know the United States and its allies have the will to prevail, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department must become more efficient in providing military capabilities, said Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 16 suspected criminal associates of al-Qaida in Iraq.

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2010 - Afghan and international forces detained a number of suspected insurgents including a Taliban facilitator in Helmand province.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Army 2nd Lt. Mark Armstrong Jr. graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., marking the fifth consecutive generation of his family to do so.

WASHINGTON - An Internet-based Defense Department program will make it easier for soldiers stationed overseas and their families to register for absentee ballots and to vote in November’s elections.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department must find $100 billion in savings over the next five years to ensure U.S. warfighters continue to have the resources they need to defend the nation now and into the future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department reimbursement program is helping servicemembers and their families reduce the cost of adoptions.

BETHESDA, Md. - The National Intrepid Center of Excellence holds the promise of properly diagnosing servicemembers' psychological illnesses.

WASHINGTON - The United States and South Korea agreed to delay transfer of wartime operational control of troops on the Korean peninsula to South Korea until December 2015, the two nations’ presidents announced.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan remains crucial to American national interests, and the United States will need to provide assistance to that nation for years, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - Precision air strikes, a pitched battle with insurgents in Kunar province and the killing or capture of key enemy fighters highlight recent operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq member and three suspected criminal associates.

WASHINGTON - Improved pay, better equipment and ethics training are among the reasons the Afghan police force is gaining the respect from the public it protects.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Air Force Master Sgt. Greg Ramos and his brother, Air Force Staff Sgt. Gavin Ramos work together at a troop fitness center at an air base in Southwest Asia.

WASHINGTON - America exists and prospers because members of the U.S. armed forces step forward and protect it, former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said during the unveiling of his portrait at the Pentagon.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Almost 300 National Guardsmen from North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri and West Virginia are helping to battle flood waters.

WASHINGTON - Ratification of the new Strategic Arms Control and National Security Treaty would give the United States the most-detailed look possible into Russia’s strategic nuclear forces, Pentagon officials told a Senate panel.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international security force killed several insurgents and a Taliban subcommander as they were planting a roadside bomb near Kandahar City.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors arrested several terrorism suspects.

TAMPA, Fla. - Operation Homefront, a nonprofit troop-support organization, received a $1 million donation from Outback Steakhouse.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Army Sgt. Keith D. Wright, who's serving his fourth tour in Iraq, said he found his life's calling by becoming a chaplain assistant.

WASHINGTON - With reports and rumors of a big “internet crunch” circulating, the Department of Defense is looking ahead to discern how it can take advantage of more advanced web protocols to enhance its mission.

WASHINGTON - Flanked by Korean War veterans, defense officials commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Korean War during a ceremony held at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - The 72,000-square-foot National Intrepid Center of Excellence promises to be a world leader in the research, diagnosis and treatment planning for the signature brain injuries and psychological conditions of wounded warriors.

WASHINGTON - The National Intrepid Center of Excellence will improve the health care of war veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders, said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both said they "fully support" the president's decision to accept Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s resignation.

WASHINGTON - Although it has come more slowly than expected, progress is, nonetheless, being made in Afghanistan, the top Defense Department civilian and military officials told reporters.

WASHINGTON - The leader of the Department of Defense Education Activity has been temporarily assigned to another job within the department, effective immediately.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and international forces conducted several operations in and around Kandahar, destroying a major roadside-bomb factory and killing a Taliban commander.

WASHINGTON - An advisory group is working to develop health care capabilities and create medical and health care training programs for Afghanistan’s security forces.

WASHINGTON - It's of critical importance that U.S. communities and organizations support the nation's military veterans, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said at The Hill newspaper’s annual Tribute to the Troops breakfast.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force is set to deliver the first of 18 new F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters to the Pakistani air force in a sign of deepening relations between the United States and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead U.S. Forces Iraq and to succeed Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, told a Senate panel that Iraq has been transformed, but dangers remain.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Today’s Illinois Guard members know that their military lineage is linked to their predecessors’ Korean-War exploits of more than a half-century ago.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the nominee for the top U.S. Joint Forces Command post, said if he is confirmed he will use the lessons he has learned during three combat command tours in Iraq .

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - Paige Nye, 18, joined the U.S. Army's Future Soldier Program when she was a junior at Dillsburg, Pa.'s Northern High School.

WASHINGTON - About 1,200 National Guard troops will support the Homeland Security Department in enhancing the security of the nation's Southwest border.

WASHINGTON - Sixty years ago this week, North Korean troops stormed across the 38th parallel into South Korea, launching a three-year conflict that culminated in an armistice in 1953, but never officially ended.

WASHINGTON - Shortly after Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s resignation as the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan was accepted, he released a written statement expressing his support for President Barack Obama's Afghanistan policy.

WASHINGTON - An independent council announced a proposal they said will seek to end veteran homelessness in five years and put the nation on a path to end homelessness in the United States by 2020.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama accepted Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal's resignation from his post as the top NATO and U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and said he is nominating Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, to replace him.

DUMFRIES, Va. - A newly launched interactive Web museum will allow Marines and civilians worldwide to experience a cutting-edge online version of the real National Museum of the Marine Corps.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested five suspected associates of al-Qaida in Iraq members during operations in northern and central Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces killed a large number of insurgents, including several key leaders for both the Haqqani terrorist network and the Taliban.

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Derek Speten took up long-distance running to honor fallen servicemembers.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III and other leaders took part in a roundtable discussion with parents at the Fort Belvoir Elementary School, Va., to gain greater insight into the education challenges military families face.

WASHINGTON - The military services and the Veterans Health Administration of the Veterans Affairs Department increasingly use digital technology to reach out to identify and treat servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

WASHINGTON - Family members who may have concerns about the potential mishandling of their loved ones’ remains at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., can now call a special center.

WASHINGTON - Officials told a Senate panel that post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries and suicides among troops are interrelated problems requiring holistic prevention methods and more scientific study.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates issued a statement regarding a profile article on Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Class of 2010, urging the 198 graduating mariners to live their institution’s motto, “Acta Non Verba,” or “Deeds, not words.”

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Solie fulfilled his childhood dream when he reached the summit of Mount Everest, a mountain he describes as "jaw-dropping."

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended to President Barack Obama that he nominate Gen. James F. Amos, a career aviator, to serve as the next commandant of the Marine Corps.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Cpls. Jordan and Jade Myles, twins from Niagara Falls, N.Y., reunited in Afghanistan after being apart for almost two years.

WASHINGTON - Puerto Rican servicemembers and their families will need to obtain a new birth certificate starting July 1, although the department will honor the certificate they used to establish their identities.

WASHINGTON - A number of recent strategic Defense Department documents have recognized that the changing climate may affect national security and military operations later in the century.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces struck a blow against insurgent operations in Helmand province in one of several recent operations around Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 10 terrorism suspects in southern Baghdad and eastern Mosul.

WASHINGTON - U.S. operations in Afghanistan are proving to be a “tough pull,” but progress is being made nonetheless, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace.

WASHINGTON - Seven deployed servicemembers share their Father’s Day memories and personal perspectives about what it means to be a military father serving in wartime.

WASHINGTON - U.S. investment in Iraq has paid off with a fully capable Iraqi security force and a paradigm shift that will allow for a long-term relationship between the United States and Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Army Master Sgt. Donald Towers and Army Sgt. 1st Class Roland Lueras are completing duty tours in Iraq and they'll both be home to spend Father's Day with their families.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The unidentified remains of 14 fallen Air Force AC-130 gunship crewmembers were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., nearly 40 years after their aircraft was shot down over southern Laos.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces arrested a wanted member of the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist group and a suspected criminal associate during separate combined operations.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international force captured a Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Zabul province.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The newest flight surgeon in the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Medical Group just joined the military, but his family is very familiar with military life.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is concerned about emerging public pessimism and cynicism regarding the outcome of U.S. operations in Afghanistan as the country continues to progress, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is grappling with the best way to reopen the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program to new applicants, concerned that the program has morphed beyond its original intent and cost estimates.

WASHINGTON - The United States is better off with the new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia than it is without it, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested two al-Qaida in Iraq members and four suspected criminal associates.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan-international force captured a Taliban subcommander responsible for coordinating attacks and the movement of bomb-making materials and detained several suspected insurgents in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

SILVER SPRING, Md. - Wind tunnels, the tools used to simulate airspeed environments to test flight capabilities, have come a long way since the Wright brothers built a box with fans to test a kite model.

WASHINGTON - Allied forces engineers are working with their Afghan partners to build infrastructure to support the growth of the Afghan national security forces.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - U.S. Army Master Sgt. William Groene and his stepson, Michel Vester, a Danish cadet at the Royal Danish Army Officers Academy, learn much from each other's military.

WASHINGTON - Changing some processes in the Defense Department has required his personal attention, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, but he added that he believes those changes are on their way to becoming part of how the Pentagon works.

WASHINGTON - The leaders of U.S. Strategic Command and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency told a Senate committee they were involved in developing the new strategic arms control treaty, and they believe it will make the United States and its allies safer.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal year 2011 defense budget request continues and builds on the reforms of the FY 2010 budget, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee.

WASHINGTON - Afghan civilians helped police to repel an attack by an estimated 50 Taliban fighters against a police checkpoint in Afghanistan’s Daykundi province.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s directive calling for the start of a conditions-based drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July 2011 shouldn’t be considered as an exit date, but rather the beginning of the transfer of security responsibilities.

WASHINGTON - Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban, is the key to success in Afghanistan and the U.S. military is working with Afghan forces to turn the tide against the insurgents, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department stands firmly behind the new Strategic Arms Control and National Security Treaty, which gives the United States' flexibility to deploy important nuclear and non-nuclear capabilities.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan Defense University, set to open in March, is expected to be the leader development institution for Afghanistan and the capstone for the Afghan security education system.

BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. - Air Force Master Sgt. Robert D. Greenberg served as the family liaison officer for Senior Airman Michael Malarsie's family after Malarsie was injured near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama in an address to the nation about the BP oil spill announced that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will develop a long-term restoration plan for the Gulf Coast.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 400 National Guard members from three states have been called up for flood duty after heavy rains and snow run-off caused cresting rivers this week.

WASHINGTON - An Army official stressed the availability of help for suicide prevention after the number of suspected suicides increased among reserve-component soldiers last month compared to the prior month.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama pledged to provide the military what it needs to succeed and also promised to support servicemembers and their families for their sacrifices for the nation during his visit to Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fla.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said leaders must ensure that troops and their families always “are the center of gravity” to maintain the strongest armed forces in the world while accepting an award promoting work life balance.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised the role the military is playing in oil spill response efforts, and told servicemembers they exemplify the resolve, determination and resilience the nation is demonstrating in the face of the disaster.

WASHINGTON - The top DoD policy official and U.S. commander told the Senate Armed Services Committee that forces are making progress in southern Afghanistan despite a tough and resourceful insurgency.

WASHINGTON - The military services reported across-the-board active-duty recruiting successes in May, a traditionally slow recruiting month just before graduations.

WASHINGTON - An estimated $1 trillion of untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan could lead to economic sovereignty, easing the country’s financial dependency on nations including the United States, a top defense official said.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, blamed dehydration for causing him to take ill during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces arrested two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates during a combined operation northeast of the Iraqi capital.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international force killed several armed insurgents in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province while pursuing a Taliban commander.

WASHINGTON - With the busiest season for permanent-change-of-station moves under way, new systems are helping to make the process more convenient and efficient.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Marine Corps Pfc. Patrick Collman could have gone to Officer Candidate School, but the entrepreneur and former teacher chose to enlist instead for the challenge.

OTTAWA - The links between the United States and Canada are so strong that a cyber attack on one would be felt within milliseconds by the other, the deputy defense secretary said, noting a need for both countries to work together to improve cybersecurity.

OTTAWA - The cyber threat to the United States and Canada is real and growing, and affects national and economic security, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said during a visit to the Canadian capital.

WASHINGTON - Military veterans need the support of community groups to pick up where the government leaves off in helping with the challenges veterans and their families face, the military’s top officer said.

WASHINGTON - “It’s time to act,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told public policy post-graduate degree students during his commencement address at Pardee RAND Graduate School in Santa Monica, Calif.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department libraries have embarked on their first departmentwide summer reading program to help military children keep their reading skills sharp.

WASHINGTON - Military officials at the U.S. Transit Center in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, are providing humanitarian aid to the country’s southern region following days of violent ethnic clashes.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates helped to celebrate the Army’s 235th birthday at a Pentagon courtyard ceremony and imparted a message for the service's leaders to always make time to listen to what their troops have to say.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The new Regional Command Southwest provides improved oversight of NATO troops operating in Helmand and Nimroz provinces.

WASHINGTON - International Security Assistance Force officials confirmed that Fazil Subhan, a Haqqani terrorist network commander, was killed by combined forces in a two-day offensive in Khost province.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi forces killed two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates, wounded two others and arrested seven more in two operations near Baghdad.

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana National Guard began oil-protection operations in Cameron Parish by staging Hesco barrier wall equipment that will be placed along eight miles of shoreline.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The military and veterans health care communities are on the right path and have the technologies in place to one day provide paperless health records.

WASHINGTON - As the United States observes National Flag Day, an annual tribute to the American flag, the country is reminded of the ideals it stands for and the sacrifices U.S. servicemembers and others have made to preserve them.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - First Lady Michelle Obama greeted more than 3,500 servicemembers, civilians and their family members at Camp Pendleton, Calif., expressing her gratitude for their service.

KACANIK, Kosovo - Army Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Gilbertson of the North Dakota National Guard is assisting in a cultural exchange program while serving in Kosovo.

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates shared insights and tales from his own experiences as a student and his decades of public service in a commencement speech to Kaiserslautern High School’s Class of 2010.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Support for the mission in Afghanistan has increased steadily in the past year, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said after meetings with fellow NATO defense ministers in Belgium.

WASHINGTON - After attending NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels, Belgium, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed Afghanistan and NATO reform, among other topics, with reporters.

WASHINGTON - In a "Chairman's Corner" message, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, congratulates the U.S. Army on its 235th birthday, saying it is "the best it has ever been."

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has made progress in addressing the challenges of the world today, but the department must do much more to face the dangers the nation confronts, Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and international security forces killed or detained numerous individuals suspected of insurgent activity and seized explosives, weapons and other ordnance.

WASHINGTON - After Kim Ruocco's husband John, a Marine Corps pilot, killed himself, she devoted herself to helping other military family members who've lost a loved one to suicide.

MANNHEIM, Germany - Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Stoner has learned resilience through his own ups and downs, and now, as a master resiliency trainer, helps others.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and NATO forces are working to bring the Afghan army air corps up to par as part of a long-term effort to give the country a self-sufficient air force.

WASHINGTON - Troops and equipment continue to leave Iraq as the drawdown deadline approaches and in their place, the Iraqi people are taking control of their country.

WASHINGTON - The top two officials in charge of Arlington National Cemetery, Va., were disciplined after an Army investigation found the management to be “dysfunctional.”

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed responsible for assassinations during a combined operation in Mosul.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Pakistani defense officials wrapped up a four-day session in Pakistan aimed at expanding the two countries’ defense relationship to address current and future threats.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The soldiers of the Vermont Army National Guard’s 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have been working hard to make a difference during their deployment.

FORT LESLEY J. MCNAIR, Washington, D.C. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told graduates of the National Defense University that their careers will be dominated by their understanding of the application of military force and national power.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the critical role the United Kingdom has played in Iraq – and the importance of its continued support in Afghanistan.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his counterpart from the Czech Republic signed an agreement that paves the way for the two countries to work together in developing science and technology programs.

KENTUCKY LAKE, Ky. - Army Sgt. Adam Lock has parlayed his love of bass fishing into his work as a recruiter for the Illinois National Guard.

WASHINGTON - Improving the rate and delivery of pay are just a couple of ways a NATO financial team is helping to develop Afghan military and police forces.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his NATO counterparts are meeting in Brussels, Belgium, for talks to include the training effort in Afghanistan, missile defense, and economics.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, reviewed the progress there over the last 12 months and provided his perspective for the year to come.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cited the importance of building military partnerships between the United States and all Asian nations to bring stability to the region.

WASHINGTON - The transition of Defense Department civilian employees from the National Security Personnel System into the General Schedule classification and pay system is proceeding.

CHEYENNE, Wyoming - In the largest state activation of the Wyoming National Guard in more than 10 years, more than 200 soldiers and airmen are working around the clock to protect residents and their property against floods in Fremont County.

WASHINGTON - A detailed spending plan can help troops and families dodge the financial pitfalls that can spring up during and after a deployment.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. Army and Iraqi medical professionals teamed up to provide a health clinic for 400 of the 20,000 residents of Kubaysah, Iraq.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and international forces captured a Taliban commander and other insurgent suspects in Kandahar province while seizing drugs during another operation in Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Washington Redskins football players joined forces with the USO and the Wounded Warrior Project for a "Guitar Hero" video game showdown with troops stationed in Basra, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama lauded the U.N. Security Council’s decision to impose new sanctions on Iran for violating its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations saying that it sends an "unmistakable message."

WASHINGTON - It has been a tough week in Afghanistan with 23 servicemembers killed in attacks including four killed when their helicopter was shot down in Helmand province.

TALLINN, Estonia - Airmen from the United States serving in Europe joined representatives from seven other countries in Estonia for a series of war games known as Unified Engagement 2010.

LONDON - With recruiting on pace to exceed goals, the increased numbers may help to ease attrition problems that have plagued the Afghan army and police, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters in London.

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England - U.S. Air Force Capt. Danny Franz, a 29-year-old C-130 pilot, hit the wall of running, literally, when he set a record running England's 84-mile Hadrian's Wall Path.

LONDON - The top defense leaders of the United States and Great Britain today discussed how to obtain the military equipment and capabilities their countries need when funding is harder to come by.

LONDON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his British counterpart reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to success in Afghanistan after meeting for talks in London.

LONDON - If Iran were to succeed in acquiring nuclear weapons, the subsequent chain of events would make that country less secure, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a joint press conference with British Defense Secretary Liam Fox in London.

QUY NHON, Vietnam - Army veteranarians are helping Vietnamese citizens care for their animals in one of Pacific Partnership 2010's humanitarian and civic projects.

WASHINGTON - A program announced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide $58.6 million to get homeless veterans off the streets this year.

LONDON - The American and British defense secretaries, meeting in London, praised the strength and depth of their countries' alliance and pledged continued cooperation in meeting today’s challenges and those of the future.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Michigan Army National Guard Spc. Anna Jonkman applies the cultural awareness she has developed during her life daily while escorting Iraqis to work.

BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana National Guard has completed two missions as part of its response to mitigate the effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - World War II-era Coast Guardsman Harry Milton Daube, the last living survivor of the 1944 sinking of the USS Leopold, has been awarded the Purple Heart.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has named two Department of Defense teachers as recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honor for math and science teachers.

LONDON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had “an excellent first meeting” with British Prime Minister David Cameron at No. 10 Downing St. in London. Cameron is the sixth British prime minister with whom the secretary has met.

WASHINGTON - The air-sea battle concept being developed by the Air Force and Navy exemplifies the closer, more integrated relationships the military needs in order to confront future challenges, top Pentagon leaders said.

WASHINGTON - A military musician assigned to the U.S. Navy Band to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., spends two days each week motivating wounded warriors by teaching them to row.

WASHINGTON - Twenty-eight Medal of Honor recipients recently launched a campaign to encourage troops struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other health problems to take advantage of services to help them.

GHAZNI, Afghanistan - When Army Spc. Skyler W. Genest started fixing an early 1970s motorbike he found while deployed in Afghanistan, he found himself thinking of life back home in Vermont.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces killed a Taliban commander and other insurgents in Afghanistan’s western province of Farah.

WASHINGTON - The economic power of military-fueled industry has been illustrated throughout history, and it looks like the growth of the Afghan National Security Forces will be a boon to developing industries in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces killed seven al-Qaida in Iraq members and captured three others during security operations in northern Iraq.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Recent conversations between Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his British counterpart give Gates the sense that the new government in the United Kingdom is "quite resolute with respect to Afghanistan," he told reporters.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Calling Azerbaijan an important partner, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed a stronger military relationship between the two countries in meetings with Azerbaijan's leaders in the capital of Baku.

BEDFORD, Va. - The military’s top officer thanked the D-Day veterans of World War II for their service, and asked them to reach out to those who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan to share their common experiences.

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Soon after he addressed a major Asia security summit in Singapore, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates elaborated on current issues involving North Korea and China in a BBC interview.

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Azerbaijan to express U.S. gratitude to the former Soviet republic on the western shore of the Caspian Sea for its contributions to the coalition’s efforts in Afghanistan.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - James R. Clapper, President Barack Obama’s nominee for director of national intelligence, would establish needed chemistry between the director job and other leaders of the intelligence community, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

SINGAPORE - The top defense officials of the United States, Japan and South Korea pledged their nations’ continued solidarity in the aftermath of North Korea’s sinking of the freighter Cheonan on March 26 that killed 46 South Korean sailors.

SINGAPORE - Asian nations must act in the face of provocations, including those by North Korea, as part of their responsibility to preserve peace and reinforce regional stability, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Singapore.

SINGAPORE - U.S. arms sales to Taiwan have not impeded U.S. economic and political relations with China, nor should they stop military-to-military relations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Singapore.

SINGAPORE - A U.S. defense posture in Asia that is more geographically distributed, operationally resilient and politically sustainable is necessary in deterring conflict in today’s world, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a speech in Singapore.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, reflecting on lessons learned and the way ahead as the outgoing top commander in Iraq, is voicing concerns about how the ease of Internet communications sometimes undermine military operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s government and security forces have improved to the point that the commander of U.S. Forces Iraq says he is comfortable drawing down to 50,000 U.S. troops there by September.

WASHINGTON - Military leaders from 11 Western Hemisphere nations have wrapped up a five-day session focused on improving their capabilities to work together in peacekeeping and disaster relief operations.

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen welcomed some of the Army’s newest soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., praising them for volunteering to serve in today’s ongoing conflicts around the world.

ARLINGTON, Va. - An Army National Guard airlift agency soon will fly civilian observers over the Sinai Peninsula to verify the observance of the 30-year-old peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

WASHINGTON - NATO forces in Afghanistan are making amazing strides in training the country's national police despite challenges including leadership development, literacy issues and attrition.

SINGAPORE - The U.S. military’s top officer in the Pacific region, in Singapore for The Shangri-La Dialogue Asia security summit, said he has seen no indication that North Korea is planning another provocation in the wake of the sinking of a South Korean naval ship.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said the military services and components can expect guidance soon directing them to cut costs and improve efficiencies, generating savings that can be spent to improve warfighting capabilities.

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo, - Staff Sgt. Eric Anton claims he isn't much of a duck caller, but he still thought a duck-calling contest would be fun for his fellow soldiers serving on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

WASHINGTON - Combined forces leaders confirmed the death of a senior Taliban commander and the recent capture of a sub-commander and several other suspected insurgents.

FORT BENNING, Ga. - The nation’s top military officer echoed recent remarks made by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that China’s military is inhibiting progress in U.S.-China relations.

SINGAPORE - The importance of furthering military-to-military relationships was a common theme in five meetings Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had with U.S. partners as part of the annual Asia security summit known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

WASHINGTON - Deployed servicemembers with children graduating from Department of Defense Education Activity-managed schools in Europe will be able to view a live broadcast of the ceremonies.

SINGAPORE - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates asked for help in training Afghanistan’s security forces from five Asian partners during meetings at the “Shangri-La Dialogue” security summit in Singapore.

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saluted the actions of servicemembers serving worldwide during a visit with troops and families on Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Navy Adm, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the life-saving efforts of civilian scientists and engineers who have helped get 5,000 new more mine-resistant, ambust-protected vehicles onto the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - Ohio and Washington will be the first states to host new National Guard forces to respond to chemical and biological attacks.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Uruzgan province officials recently opened an Afghan National Police substation near Golkhaneh village to provide the population a tangible symbol of government near the Tangi valley.

WASHINGTON - The technology used in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s X-51A Waverider, a hypersonic flight test demonstrator which broke aviation records last week, shows additional promise in orbital flight.

WASHINGTON - Cyberspace will provide “tremendous opportunities for the future, but also tremendous vulnerabilities,” the commander of U.S. Cyber Command said in his first public appearance since assuming his new post.

SINGAPORE - The military-to-military aspect of U.S. relations with China has lagged behind progress in other areas and falls short of what the leaders of both countries have said they want, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

FORT McPHERSON, Ga. - Gen. Charles C. "Hondo" Campbell, commander of the Army's largest command, is the last continiously serving general officer who saw action in Vietnam to leave active duty.

SINGAPORE - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, in Singapore for an Asia security summit, underscored the need for continuing the strong security relationship between the United States and Japan to meet the mutual challenges they face.

WASHINGTON - The commander of NATO’s Regional Command East said he has seen increasing evidence that former fighters want to put down their arms and rejoin Afghan society.

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-South Korean 60-year alliance is as strong as ever, and the republic has the full support of the United States as it confronts North Korea’s sinking of one of its naval ships, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - Southern Command’s withdrawal of troops from the earthquake response mission in Haiti does not mark the end of U.S. military involvement there, especially with the summer hurricane season ahead.

WASHINGTON - The Naval Operations Concept 2010, a document that helps to ensure U.S. maritime assets line up with overall national defense strategy, takes a "whole-of-government" approach to other U.S. agencies.

SINGAPORE - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he will provide assurances during the “Shangri-La Dialogue” Asia security summit of the U.S. commitment to help South Korea and other Pacific nations deal with continued provocation from North Korea.

WASHINGTON - The 2010 National Security Strategy recently presented to Congress seeks to preserve the safety and security of the American people, and the Defense Department plays a big role in that endeavor.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has extended new benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees, including those within the Defense Department.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Servicemembers’ opinions are “absolutely critical” in reviewing the law that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited with soldiers and families at Fort Bragg, N.C., praising their efforts and continued support over the past decade despite frequent deployments and strenuous combat missions.

WASHINGTON - The military services are encouraging troops and their families to enjoy the season without becoming statistics during a period historically marred by a spike in off-duty accidents.

WASHINGTON - Conservation and sustainability policies were the hallmarks of success at nine military bases singled out in the Secretary of Defense environmental awards for their support of the nation's environmental and security strategies.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The newly appointed Taliban "shadow governor" of Baghlan province has been captured by an Afghan-international force as he prepared to leave for Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Changes to the NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan's training program have produced marked improvements in the quality of troops entering the Afghan National Army.

WASHINGTON - With ever-expanding technologies and young “digital natives” now entering the force, military officials hope to take military education to a whole new level beyond distance learning as it exists today.

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. - Army Capt. Kelly Calway, the Army’s 2008 Female Athlete of the Year, is defending her country, raising a family and preparing to join the World Class Athlete Program.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has certified that six acquisition programs – including the Joint Strike Fighter and the DDG-1000 destroyer – should continue under Nunn-McCurdy legislation.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is on a five-nation trip that begins with his participation in a Asian security conference in Singapore. The secretary also will travel to Azerbaijan, England, Belgium and Germany.

WASHINGTON - The military’s top officer has called on Vietnam veterans to stay connected with today’s servicemembers, saying their lessons learned, especially with post-traumatic stress disorder, can help veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of children of fallen servicemembers worked with their military-member counselors over Memorial Day weekend to try to move beyond grief.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Confident in the strength of the U.S.-Canada security relationship, the new commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command said he’s turning his focus southward.

GULF OF ADEN - The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS San Jacinto disrupted nine suspected Somali pirates from attacking a Maltese-flagged vessel that was traveling through the Gulf of Aden.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military officially ended its disaster response in Haiti, leaving what is left of assistance with humanitarian and construction projects on the island to two annual military exercises in the region.

WASHINGTON - Military officials have provided details of various recent operations that resulted in enemy fighters being killed or captured.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces detained six criminal suspects including a member of al-Qaida in Iraq and members of Khataib Hezbollah.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Oklahoma Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Israel Poire, an accomplished guitarist deployed to Southwest Asia, entertains his fellow troops with melodies from the heart.

WASHINGTON - International forces have found that the Afghan government's inclination to stockpile old and potentially dangerous ammunition is proving to be a safety as well as a logistics issue.