United States Department of Defense

President Issues ‘Prayer for Peace’ Proclamation

President Barack Obama has proclaimed Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, “as a day of prayer for permanent peace." Story

Obama Delineates Counterterrorism Policy

President Barack Obama spoke on U.S. counterterrorism policy and looked at how the United States can defend itself from terrorism, yet remain true to core beliefs. Story | Transcript | Video

• Obama Vows to Close Guantanamo Detention Facility

Hagel Directs DOD to Implement Obama’s Guidance

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has directed the Defense Department to implement the guidance President Barack Obama outlined in his national security speech delivered at the National Defense University, including efforts to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Story | Statement

Carter: Better Buying Power Key to Managing Sequestration

Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter has underscored the importance of the Better Buying Power 2.0 initiative in light of sequestration. Story | Special

Secretary Pledges Partnership in Health Records Integration

Defense leaders will work closely with Veterans Affairs Department counterparts to ensure full integration of health records, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said. Story | Transcript | Photos | Video

• Hagel: DOD, VA Work Together to Cut Claims Backlog

Secretary Hails Netherlands as Strong NATO Partner

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel hosted the Netherlands’ Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert at the Pentagon, where the leaders discussed the Joint Strike Fighter program, NATO's post-2014 role in Afghanistan, and Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. Story

Biden: Coast Guard Has Growing Role in Nation’s Security

Vice President Joe Biden told the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s graduating class they are entering a world of new threats, some that didn’t even exist when they were born, and that the service’s changing mission means they are not joining “your father’s Coast Guard.” Story

Hagel Stresses Summer Safety in Message to Department

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged service members, civilian employees and their families to enjoy the upcoming summer, but to do so safely. Story

U.S. Northcom Aids Oklahoma Disaster Relief Efforts

U.S. Northern Command is coordinating Department of Defense-provided support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local response activities in response to tornado-devastated areas in Oklahoma. Story | Special

Oklahoma Guard Soldiers Aid Responders in Tornado’s Wake

Oklahoma National Guard soldiers are assisting law enforcement officials and other responders in the wake of a deadly tornado that flattened part of Moore, an Oklahoma City suburb, May 20. Story | Photos | Video | Special

Director Details Furlough Plans for DOD Schools

Students, teachers and parents of the Defense Department’s schools can be confident that despite the department’s upcoming civilian furloughs, the school year will start on time, said Marilee Fitzgerald, the director of the Department of Defense Education Activity. Story | Special

Spending Cuts Devastate Cocaine Interdiction, Admiral Says

Sequestration spending cuts are letting 38 more metric tons of cocaine into the United States, said Coast Guard Rear Adm. Charles D. Michel, the director of the Joint Interagency Task Force South. Story | Special

Battaglia Praises Students for Mural Honoring 9/11 Victims

In a dedication ceremony in New York, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior advisor to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, commended students who produced a mural that honors the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and service members who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Story

• Battaglia Administers Oath for New Enlistees

Recruiting Remains Strong Through First Half of Fiscal Year

All four active services and five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2013 through March, Pentagon officials reported. Story

DOD Identifies Missing Sailors From Vietnam War

Navy Lt. Dennis W. Peterson of Huntington Park, Calif., was the pilot of a SH-3A helicopter that crashed in Ha Nam Province, North Vietnam. Peterson was accounted for on March 30, 2012. Also, aboard the aircraft was Ensign Donald P. Frye of Los Angeles, Calif.; Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technicians William B. Jackson of Stockdale, Texas; and Donald P. McGrane of Waverly, Iowa. Story

Fiscal Year Recruiting Numbers Remain Strong

All four active services met or exceeded their numerical recruiting goals over the first four months of fiscal year 2013, which began Oct. 1, Defense Department officials reported. Story

DOD Identifies Soldier Missing from Korean War

A service member who was unaccounted for from the Korean War, has been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors, the Defense Department POW/Missing Personnel Office announced. Story

Maryland Guard Partners With Bosnia for Peace, Security

Thanks to ongoing training and integration with the Maryland National Guard, armed forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed with a military police task force to Afghanistan’s Kandahar province in January. Story

Virtual Training Puts the 'Real' in Realistic Environment

The Dismounted Soldier Training System and Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 are two virtual training tools quickly becoming the norm for soldiers training for deployment at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Story

Scientist Studies Self-Cleaning Uniforms

Imagine a world without dirty clothes. Quoc Truong, physical scientist at Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, wants to make that a reality. Story

Rapid Equipping Force Solicits Ideas From Soldiers

The Army's Rapid Equipping Force is seeking new ideas on how to deliver modern technologies and solutions to the battlefield, and is inviting soldiers, industry leaders and "tinkerers" to submit ideas via www.ref.army.mil. Story

Pentagon Lecture Highlights Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation would have been only words on paper had it not been for the pivotal effort by African-Americans themselves to support the U.S. military, said historian Edward L. Ayers, who spoke during the Pentagon's commemoration of African-American History Month. Story | Special

Absentee Voting Program Exceeds Expectations

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. Story

Revamped Website Helps Kids, Parents, Teachers

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. Story | Special

Salem Takes Honor as National Guard’s Birthplace

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

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Facilitator in Kandahar

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator and two other insurgents during an operation in the Dand district of Kandahar province. Story

Coalition Forces Arrest Insurgents in Baghlan Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district arrested six insurgents during a search for a Taliban facilitator. Story

Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Helmand Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and four other insurgents in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. Story

Combined Force Wounds Taliban Leader, Arrests Insurgent

A combined Afghan and coalition security force wounded a senior Taliban leader and arrested another insurgent in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. Story

Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Insurgents in Khost Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested three insurgents during a search for an insurgent leader with ties to the Taliban and Haqqani terrorist networks in the Sabari district of Khost province. Story

Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Baghlan Province

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

Combined Force Kills Insurgent in Paktiya Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force in the Zurmat district of Afghanistan’s Paktiya province killed an insurgent and arrested four others during a search for a Haqqani network leader who participates in kidnappings throughout the province. Story

Forces Wound Taliban Leader, Kill Insurgents

A combined Afghan and coalition security force wounded a Taliban leader and killed two other insurgents in the Qush Tepah district of Jowzjan province. Story

Combined Force Kills Taliban Leader in Kunduz Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a mid-level Taliban leader in the Khanabad district of Afghanistan’s Kunduz province. Story

Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Kandahar

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and two other insurgents in the Dand district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. Story

Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Facilitator in Logar Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network attack facilitator and another insurgent in the Pul-e Alam district of Afghanistan’s Logar province. Story

Security Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Helmand

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and three other insurgents during an operation in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province. Story

Force Kills Insurgent During Search Operation

A combined Afghan and coalition security force in the Nahrin district of Afghanistan’s Baghlan province killed an insurgent during a search for the district’s ranking Taliban leader. Story