PARIS - On his first trip to France as deputy defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter will meet with military leaders and advisers for talks on topics that include the French-led fight against terrorists in the West African nation of Mali.

WASHINGTON - Having seen war “from the bottom,” President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next secretary of defense said, that experience informs him as he looks at policy.

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Coast Guard has a constant, unique role, and cadets must practice leadership and accountability because "we can't outsource" their mission, Army Gen. Martin E. said during an all-hands call at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Jan. 31, 2013.

WASHINGTON - A new initiative by the Veterans Affairs Department could speed up the disability claims process for many veterans by eliminating the in-person medical exam requirement.

FORT MEADE, Md. - The judge presiding over pretrial hearings for five defendants charged with orchestrating the 9/11 terrorist attacks ruled at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that only he will have the authority to block audio feeds believed to contain classified information.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - As soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in Afghanistan sit down to watch the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, they'll enjoy a variety of American-style appetizers and finger foods, thanks to Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support.

WASHINGTON - Emerging powers increasing defense spending as NATO allies decrease theirs poses a risk to the alliance’s military capacity and political credibility, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels.

WASHINGTON - Former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, the president’s nominee to succeed retiring Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that his guiding principle is to make U.S. policy “worthy of our troops and their families.”

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Air Force Capt. Colin Merrin and his mountain-climbing comrades aim to become the first team of active-duty American military members to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

WASHINGTON - Counterterrorism operations in Somalia and Yemen demonstrate the value of “small-footprint” approaches and building partner capacity, said Michael A. Sheehan, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warrior Army Spc. Brendan Marrocco underwent a successful double-arm transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on Dec. 18, 2012. Marrocco, who was wounded in Iraq in 2009, was the beneficiary of Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine-funded research that made the operation possible.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter begins a six-day trip Jan. 31 to meet with officials in France, Germany and Jordan, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement.

WASHINGTON - Despite dwindling resources and a national defense focus on the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, the commander of Special Operations Command South is committed to not only maintaining, but increasing engagements in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force Academy graduate Chad Hall -- now an Air Force Reserve captain and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver -- arrived in New Orleans Jan. 27 for Super Bowl XLVII.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested two Taliban leaders in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Continued close partnership with U.S. geographic combatant commanders will be crucial to keeping special operations forces effective given budget challenges, said Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

WASHINGTON - With women already providing direct support in special operations, officials are studying how to open more positions that currently are open only to men, said Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force continues to back French air operations in Mali through refueling efforts, logistical movements, troop transport and information sharing, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province.

CAMP SABALU-HARRISON, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Braun has employed his musical ability to form several bands to entertain his fellow service members during his 10-year military career.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have partnered in an online education program that will help spouses, service members and veterans with their careers while supporting child and youth development services.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters, along with interagency partners, will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the skies around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

FORT MEADE, Md. - Additional pretrial hearings have begun for the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks, along with four co-defendants charged with planning and carrying out the attacks.

WASHINGTON - The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have released improvements to the functionality of eBenefits, a joint, self-service Web portal that provides registered users with secure online information and access to a variety of benefits resources for service members and veterans.

WASHINGTON - Planning for sequestration is the practical thing to do and doesn’t indicate a lack of confidence in Congress, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said in an interview on “This Week in Defense News with Vago Muradian.”

WASHINGTON - A new task force will conduct a 120-day review of all family and military community programs across the Defense Department to determine their effectiveness and identify gaps and potential efficiencies.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Marine Corps Cpl. Rocio Sanchez, a former USO entertainer, once sang for U.S. troops deployed to Iraq.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Beyond technology, systems and processes, it’s people who form the foundation for U.S. Northern Command's and North American Aerospace Defense Command's homeland security mission, the commands' leader said.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - In an auditorium filled with nearly 400 Defense Threat Reduction Agency employees and other defense officials, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to agency representatives.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) William Lyons, a dentist who has served in humanitarian missions for almost 25 years, will soon leave for the Philippines to provide free dental care. "It's rewarding in more ways than money could ever be," he said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department efforts to improve global public health are an important and growing part of military stability operations around the world, the director of the department’s Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine said.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Voting Assistance Program exceeded congressional expectations in the 2012 election cycle by getting guidance to service members so they could vote by absentee ballot, a senior program official said.

WASHINGTON - The first elements of U.S. Patriot missile batteries deployed to Turkey earlier this month are expected to reach initial operating capability this weekend, a senior NATO officer reported.

WASHINGTON - Three months into the job as the top U.S. military officer at U.S. Southern Command, Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly is reaching out to partners in the region and emphasizing the importance of cooperation among nations directly to America’s south.

ISTRES, France - The U.S. Air Force began transporting French soldiers and military equipment Jan. 21 from an airbase in Istres, France, to Bamako, Mali, in support of French military operations.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps will continue to focus on combat readiness and generating combat-ready units in validating occupational standards, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos said.

WASHINGTON - Now that the ban on women in combat has been lifted, the Navy plans to explore opportunities for women in its riverine forces and in billets that directly support Marine infantry operations, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a statement.

WASHINGTON - Cyberattacks are a top national security concern because of the possible impact on industrial and financial networks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said in an interview with NBC's Ted Koppel that aired Jan. 24, 2013.

WASHINGTON - With 99 percent of Air Force positions already open to women, the service now will pursue opening the final 1 percent, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said.

WASHINGTON - Fairness will be important as officials develop their plan for opening more direct-combat jobs to women, said Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader during an operation in the Hahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Africa Command outlined challenges contributing to the turmoil in Mali during a speech at Howard University, home to the nation's oldest Africa Studies program, in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - There are many challenges across the African continent, but there also are seldom-talked-about opportunities and successes, U.S. Africa Command's top leader said during a speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - As always, the U.S. military stands ready to deal with any provocation North Korea’s leaders offer, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Rescinding the policy that has excluded women since 1994 from serving in direct ground combat positions will strengthen the military, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama expressed his support for the Defense Department’s decision to remove barriers that have prevented military women from serving in direct combat roles.

WASHINGTON - Following a unanimous recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced the end of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for female service members.

WASHINGTON - Retired Maj. Gen. Marcelite J. Harris, who left the service in 1997 as the highest-ranking African-American woman in the Defense Department, said she has made the commitment of excellence to herself and to King’s dream.

WASHINGTON - Action is the best way to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during the Pentagon’s 28th annual observance of the holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Army 1st Lt. John Farrall’ is a former Marine Corps sergeant whose great-grandfather and father both served in the military.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network facilitator in the Sabari district of Khost province.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., commander of U.S. Northern Command, hosted Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator W. Craig Fugate to explore how to build on lessons from Hurricane Sandy to improve their response to future disasters -- particularly complex catastrophes.

WASHINGTON - As Afghan forces assume full security responsibility in their country, a “fundamental shift” in operations will occur, a senior NATO International Security Assistance Force commander said.

WASHINGTON - Following a nine-month investigation into sexual misconduct at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, the Air Force has implemented a comprehensive program aimed at eliminating sexual assault, senior Air Force leaders told Congress.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department inspector general investigation into allegations of professional misconduct has cleared Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Navy corpsman Chief Petty Officer Jay Thrailkill is alert for medical emergencies with the provincial reconstruction team for Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command utilize a team of lawyers to ensure the commands remain squarely within the law as they operate in the homeland.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The Defense Department website for military children has added new features to help parents and educators explain difficult topics of the military lifestyle to children.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Junior non-commissioned officers are not often given the responsibility of orchestrating major vehicle convoys to supply Marines in combat, but Marine Corps Cpl. Stephen Karavolos is an exception.

WASHINGTON - Preparations under way for the looming threat of major across-the-board Pentagon spending cuts are “a drag on the department,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Service members were treated to an evening of dancing, cake, drinks and general celebration at the Commander in Chief Ball, courtesy of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon Press Secretary George Little praised French efforts against terrorists in Mali and said the United States will continue providing intelligence and airlift support against an al-Qaida-affiliated group there.

WASHINGTON - The United States has provided airlift support to the Algerian government in the wake of recent terrorist attacks at a natural gas plant, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Despite tremendous budget uncertainty and a shrinking bottom line, the commander of the Air Force Space Command said that he will do his best to protect all of the Air Force’s satellite constellations.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - With a U.S. defense strategy focused heavily on the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East, officials at U.S. Northern Command are enthusiastically advancing engagement to the United States’ immediate southern border.

WASHINGTON - Masses of people from around the globe converged in the nation's capital to witness President Barack Obama’s inauguration and the celebrations that followed.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama opened the first inaugural ball extending “extraordinary gratitude” to the men and women in uniform and promised to ensure they have everything they need as they defend Americans’ freedoms every day.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network facilitator in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province.

WASHINGTON - Lauding Americans’ increased outpouring to service members, their families and veterans, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, have vowed to continue leading the Joining Forces initiative during the next four years with a goal of creating a national culture of appreciation and support.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama took the oath of office for his second term as the 44th U.S. president on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, honoring the men and women in uniform who have preserved America’s freedoms throughout its history.

WASHINGTON - About 10,000 people from all across the country traveled to the nation's capital to participate in the national day of service.

WASHINGTON - From the opening notes of Grammy winner and multi-platinum recording star Usher to the final thanks of singer Katy Perry, military families all over the world were treated to a special thanks at the Kids' Inaugural Concert in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - During what he has said was likely his last official trip in office, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta outlined a legacy and a dream that he often says is not exclusively American, but simply human: a better life "for our children."

WASHINGTON - The nation’s thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured in the terrorist attack in Algeria, and the blame for the tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out, President Barack Obama said.

LONDON - The hostage crisis in Algeria has ended, but information on what exactly happened and how many people were killed remain unclear, the U.S. and British defense chiefs told reporters in London.

NEW ORLEANS - The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff returned home to New Orleans and the Military Entry Processing Station there, retracing a route similar to the one he took when he enlisted in 1979.

NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans has become just one of many cities across the country that have taken strides to reduce homelessness among veterans.

WASHINGTON - Nearly 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen have begun arriving in Washington to support the 57th Presidential Inauguration.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has chosen four people representing each military branch to join the Obamas and Bidens for the first dance at the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s Commander-in-Chief’s Ball Jan. 21.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force Space Command expects to be directed to add 1,000 new people, mainly civilians, to its base of about 6,000 cyber professionals for the 2014 fiscal year.

WASHINGTON - Two supply-laden Military Sealift Command-chartered vessels are en route to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, marking the start of resupply efforts in support of Operation Deep Freeze.

ARLINGTON, Va. - President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill that designates Salem, Mass., as the birthplace of the National Guard.

LONDON - U.S. and allied officials are working around the clock to resolve the hostage situation in Algeria, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during his address at King's College in London.

LONDON - In an address in London, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said the NATO alliance is at a turning point and urged his audience to think about what its future responsibilities should be.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Members of the Air Force's 79th Medical Wing are preparing to perform both medical and ceremonial missions as part of the public presidential inauguration, Jan. 21, 2013.

WASHINGTON - Since it can directly affect force readiness, the financial health of service members and their families is a high priority for the Defense Department, and a senior DOD official emphasized that January is a great time for military families to take stock of their financial situation.

WASHINGTON - Students from Naval Air Station Sigonella traveled from Sicily, Italy, to enjoy the sights of the nation’s capital culminating with the 57th presidential inauguration.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey is preparing to finish a study on ethics, but he said he really hopes the work never ends.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and defense leaders from NATO countries and partner nations discussed what capabilities will be needed by an enduring force in Afghanistan after 2014 and what the parameters of that force will be.

WASHINGTON - As the nation rebounds from 19 named storms and 11 major hurricanes in 2012, a small but hardy military organization at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., keeps relentless watch to track and prepare for such disasters.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. this year with a Jan. 24 observance hosted by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The across-the-board spending cuts that would result if a “sequestration” mechanism in budget law kicks in March 1 will hollow out U.S. military forces faster than most Americans imagine, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - The commanding officers of a team of 2,000 sailors and 2,300 Marines sat down with reporters from the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service to discuss the challenges and successes of their extended nine-month deployment.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The French government has asked for U.S. military assistance for their actions against an al-Qaida-affiliated group in Mali, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION CENTER GULFPORT, Miss. - Service members should know that, despite ongoing fiscal challenges, their families are cared for, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told an audience of soldiers, sailors and airmen at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss.

LONDON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived in London for the last scheduled stop on his weeklong tour of European capitals, which also has taken him to Lisbon, Portugal; Madrid and Rome.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Chaplain's assistant Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Adam Henderson strives to help others during his tour of duty in Afghanistan.

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. - Suicide prevention is not a new problem, however, "it's our problem," Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a visit with troops on Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

BRUSSELS - NATO and partner-nation chiefs of defense, including U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are in Brussels for meetings to discuss the way ahead in Afghanistan.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and detained several suspected insurgents in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province.

U.S. ARMY GARRISON VICENZA, Italy - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, on a tour of Europe to talk with leaders in key allied nations, stopped at U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza, Italy, to speak to soldiers, including some members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team who'd returned from a recent deployment to Afghanistan.

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. - Concern about the impact that budget cuts may have on the force emerged as a common theme as Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with enlisted service members from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps at several locations at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

ROME - In Rome, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Italian government officials discussed a range of issues, from conflict in Africa to security transition in Afghanistan to local concerns about a proposed U.S. communications facility in Sicily.

ROME - The United States "will take all necessary and proper steps that are required," Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said to reporters in Rome, to deal with a hostage-taking situation in southern Algeria, where Americans are among a group of people seized by terrorists when they attacked and occupied a natural gas plant.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Air Force Capt. Lesley Lilly routinely leads her comrades in a series of CrossFit exercises to keep in shape.

WASHINGTON - A top Defense Department health official told a Pentagon task force that determining the impact of mental health programs across the military will be a key project this year for the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. - Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Air Force and Marine Corps first sergeants at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., to discuss methods to combat service member suicide.

BRUSSELS - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is attending the NATO and Partners’ Chiefs of Defense Meeting in Brussels.

MADRID - NATO is an alliance that must remain strong and capable to meet 21st century challenges, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta emphasized in two European capitals.

MADRID - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, on a six-day tour of Europe, expressed U.S. support for France's airstrikes against forces in Mali affiliated with al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and discussed U.S. assistance to the French.

ROME - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta traveled to Rome on the third leg of his tour of European capitals, telling reporters traveling with him that Italy has been a strong U.S. and NATO partner.

WASHINGTON - A national organization has had such a high rate of success in its jobs program for severely wounded warriors, it’s calling on the Defense Department and other agencies to adopt its approach.

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service has increased the mass transportation benefit program’s maximum monthly subsidy to $245 for 2013.

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Three years after suffering war wounds that led to more than 20 surgeries, Army Sgt. Michael Krapels is back where he wants to be: serving alongside fellow soldiers in Afghanistan.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator in the Khugyani district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

MADRID - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived in Madrid to meet with Spanish defense leaders to discuss a range of issues, including cyber defense and the ongoing transition to a noncombat role for International Security Assistance Forces there.

LISBON, Portugal - U.S. and French defense leaders are hammering out details of intelligence, logistics and airlift assistance the United States will provide to French forces in Mali, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - Maryland has joined 33 other states in agreeing to waive the skills test for veterans and service members who have military training that would entitle them to a commercial driver’s license.

LISBON, Portugal - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, on the first leg of what he said is likely his last international trip as secretary. Later this week, Panetta will travel to Madrid, Rome and London.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta boarded a plane for Portugal, Spain, Italy and Great Britain on what he termed “likely my last international trip as secretary of defense" after visits to 30 countries, including trips to meet overseas-deployed troops.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s information technology infrastructure is on a journey of consolidation, standardization, security and access, the Defense Department’s principal deputy chief information officer told attendees at a cloud computing panel discussion.

WASHINGTON - Training and partnership will be among the top priorities as NATO’s mission in Afghanistan ends, the alliance’s supreme allied commander for transformation said in Brussels.

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - A Jan. 15-23 seminar at the Defense Department’s European regional center at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, will focus on issues related to the handover of security responsibility from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to the Afghan national security forces.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, were represented by four service members during a dress rehearsal for the Jan. 21 public inauguration ceremony.

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Gambles molds noncommissioned officers in his instructor's job at the Airman Leadership School at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader Haqiq in the Sherzad district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

SPRINGFIELD, Va. - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter presented the Joint Meritorious Unit Award to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency during a ceremony at the organization’s headquarters in Springfield, Va.

WASHINGTON - Yonathan Melaku, 24, of Alexandria, Va., was sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for damaging property and firearm violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in Northern Virginia between October and November 2010 and attempting to injure veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

WASHINGTON - The mission objective to prevent al-Qaida from using Afghanistan to launch attacks against the United States is within reach, President Barack Obama said in his weekly address to the nation.

WASHINGTON - The government’s “ongoing budget gymnastics” are having an effect on service members, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said.

WASHINGTON - After White House talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, President Obama announced Afghan forces will take the lead for security throughout Afghanistan this spring rather than at mid-year.

WASHINGTON - Facing unprecedented strategic and fiscal challenges, the best path forward for the Air Force is to become smaller to protect a high-quality, ready force, top Air Force officials said.

WASHINGTON - Air Force leaders will deliver guidance to the force in a few days to begin prudent planning for the uncertain budget environment ahead, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said.

WASHINGTON - A former Army staff sergeant will be awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for battlefield gallantry Feb. 14, 2013, for his actions in Afghanistan during a 2009 battle.

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Many people dream of becoming rich, but one airman's dream is to be locked in a blood-stained steel cage with a professional mixed martial artist.

WASHINGTON - Preparation is nothing new to the U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard, and that's what they're now doing as they get ready to perform at the 57th presidential inauguration Jan. 21.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Burkah district of Afghanistan’s Baghlan province.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The response to Superstorm Sandy reaffirmed the value of a new command structure that the U.S. Northern Command commander calls one of the most important initiatives to improve defense support of civilian authorities in more than a decade.

WASHINGTON - The “perfect storm of budget uncertainty” howling around his department is the biggest immediate threat facing the U.S. military, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta commended President Barack Obama’s decision to nominate former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel as his successor to lead the Defense Department.

WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s meetings with top U.S. defense officials at the Pentagon helped lay the groundwork for his discussions with President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - As the military continues to move away from dependence on fossil fuels, the Defense Department plans to spend $20 million on a fleet of electric vehicles unique in their ability to export their own power and offset their cost.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter has released a memo directing the services and defense agencies to begin planning for possible upcoming budget challenges, pointing to the threat of sequestration.

WASHINGTON - Active duty service members and their families will be unaffected when long-delayed reductions to areas where the TRICARE Prime option is offered take place Oct. 1, TRICARE officials said yesterday.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon pulled out all the stops in welcoming Afghan President Hamid Karzai to meetings with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, including a full-honors arrival ceremony and tour of the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial.

WASHINGTON - All four active services met or exceeded their target recruiting numbers for the first two months of fiscal 2013, Pentagon officials reported today.

KABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Capt. Sarah Robinson wasn’t happy working behind a desk as an Air Force communications officer. When the opportunity presented itself, she joined the Army as a military police officer.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the Pentagon to reaffirm the strong U.S. commitment to Israel's security, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has launched a new resource to help troops and their families plan for the “before, during and after” of deploying.

WASHINGTON - There is no truth to the Internet myth that Washington budget cuts have taken away breakfast for service members in Afghanistan, Defense Department officials said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator Mazlum Yar in the Ishkamish district of Takhar province.

WASHINGTON - In one of his first acts after taking command of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command in August 2011, Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. revised Northcom’s mission statement to reflect the importance of partnerships to its success.

WASHINGTON - January is National Blood Donor Month and Defense Department employees are encouraged to “roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life,” said Air Force Col. Richard McBride, Armed Services Blood Program director.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The United States is advancing technologies to counter the increasing threat of short- and medium-range missiles launched by rogue states or terrorists, a top U.S. Northern Command officer said.

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - When a $200 million military aircraft breaks down in remote areas, pilots call on their flying crew chief who knows everything.

WASHINGTON - Members of the 4,000-member National Defense Language Corps are volunteering to help federal agencies around the world by providing critical language skills needed by front-line government agencies.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is extending housing allowances by one year for DOD civilians employed overseas by the U.S. European Command who were mistakenly granted the benefit.

WASHINGTON - The centerpiece of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s visit here this week will be meetings Jan. 11 at the White House, where he and President Barack Obama can discuss the changes in Afghanistan and how the United States can work with the country in the future.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will depart Jan. 14 on a weeklong trip to Europe, visiting Portugal, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters during a news conference.

WASHINGTON - With advance elements of two U.S. Patriot missile batteries already on the ground in Turkey, additional defenders are prepared to deploy in support of NATO’s missile defense mission there.

WASHINGTON - When reporters asked him about the budget process during a news conference, Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little responded that "it is, at this stage, a mess," and called on Congress to act on the sequestration.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will meet separately with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little, adding that Afghanistan and the conflict in Syria remain key issues on Panetta’s agenda.

WASHINGTON - Stability in the size of the Defense Department’s budget -- and especially in the process of funding it -- is critical to maintaining national security, DOD Comptroller Robert F. Hale said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator in the Pul-e Khumri district of Baghlan province.

WASHINGTON - An explosive ordnance disposal technician from Fort Drum, N.Y., is back in the country where he almost lost his life.

WASHINGTON - The joint information environment will define the future as the services move closer to a common foundation, Defense Information Systems Agency officials said during a panel discussion.

WASHINGTON - Reserve-component service members have until Jan. 21 to nominate their employers for a 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

WASHINGTON - As tax season nears, Military OneSource and H&R Block have joined forces again to provide a free online tax preparation service for service members.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama announced his nominations of former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to serve as the next leader of the Defense Department and John Brennan as the next director of the CIA.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta endorsed President Barack Obama’s nominee to succeed him at the helm of the Pentagon.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - More than a half century since it was established to confront the Cold War threat, North American Aerospace Defense Command is at a new crossroads as officials in the United States and Canada determine the capabilities it will need to confront emerging challenges and threats in the decades ahead.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader, and detained a suspected insurgent in the Andar district of Ghazni province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan - Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class George Felli’s personal journey started in Accai, Ghana, took him to the hustle and commotion of Brooklyn, N.Y., and now finds him in a different type of city: Sangin, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department sponsors Duke University researchers to conduct projects in mathematics, engineering and biology that advance military capabilities and strengthen national security.

WASHINGTON - All nondeployed Marines and sailors assigned to Marine units are required to wear the appropriate seasonal service uniform.

WASHINGTON - The legislation that President Barack Obama signed Jan. 2 that postponed the fiscal cliff means changes to military and civilian paychecks, Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials said.

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - Air Force Col. Donald Majercik, a flight surgeon with the Vermont Air National Guard, notched 1,000 hours in the cockpit flying F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - A retired soldier and his wife are honoring their fallen son through a program that’s bringing new hope and confidence to wounded warriors.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has signed the $633 billion fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act into law.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Senate has confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley E. "Sid" Clarke III as the next director of the Air National Guard.

BAUMHOLDER, Germany - An American in Germany expressed her gratitude to U.S. soldiers who rescued her and her children from a terrifying auto accident.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader during an operation in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta expressed his gratitude to U.S. lawmakers for delaying sequestration and voiced optimism for finding a permanent way to avoid an additional $500 billion in budget cuts.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The Air Force's top firefighter has stepped down after 46 years of military and civilian service.

WASHINGTON - Congress has avoided the fiscal cliff, but Pentagon Press Secretary George Little called on the body to continue efforts to permanently eliminate the threat of sequestration.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department continues to ensure the well-being of service members and their families through no-cost, short-term, non-medical counseling in the interests of military and family readiness.

WASHINGTON - To spark awareness and vigilance against a growing global human rights crisis, President Barack Obama has proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.