WASHINGTON - Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs officials are piloting a joint program that could effectively dismantle one of the most confusing and frustrating obstacles in wounded warriors' recovery process.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi special weapons and tactics police targeted two known insurgent bomb makers during raids near Nasiriyah.

WASHINGTON - U.S. sailors and Marines on a humanitarian mission to Bangladesh are being met with extreme gratitude as they work to prevent and treat waterborne illnesses and meet basic needs in the aftermath of a Nov. 15 cyclone.

WASHINGTON - Army and Navy drummers, buglers and cheerleaders stormed the halls of the Pentagon, rallying or roiling soldiers and sailors in their wake before tthe annual Army-Navy football game.

WASHINGTON - A major reason for the mounting success of anti-insurgent operations in Iraq is that rank-and-file soldiers and their leaders trust and believe in one another, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - A nonprofit group is using a treasure hunt to get people interested in helping military families.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has a central role to play in achieving security for the U.S. homeland and in providing assistance to civilian agencies when responding to natural or man-made disasters.

WASHINGTON - Counterinsurgency operations under way in northern Afghanistan are showing success against increased Taliban activity in the region.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - A commercial cargo ship carrying more than 100 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles for troops in Iraq set sail from Naval Weapons Station Charleston, S.C.

WASHINGTON - Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Bruce “Skip” Binda is traveling the country telling the military’s story as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military needs to understand change and the pace of change to succeed in the future, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told students at the Army War College.

MOSUL, Iraq - A long-awaited passenger terminal project that had lagged behind schedule now is complete in Mosul, Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Members of 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, accompanied by Afghan National Police and the Kohe Safi Police Mentor Team, brought doctors and veterinarians to two remote villages in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Representatives from 23 America Supports You home-front groups received a timely military update when they had the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with a Marine commander in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - People wishing to show their support for troops this holiday season can visit a number of sites to send along holiday cheer.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England donned a Santa hat to remind Defense Department managers to take the red-suited fellow’s lead by checking their lists twice to enforce internal controls within the department.

WASHINGTON - It’s of paramount importance to the nation for Congress to provide money to the Pentagon for funding operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, President Bush told reporters at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Secretary Gordon England honored 21 American business leaders for their efforts to revitalize Iraq’s economy.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department policy prohibits services from recouping bonuses and other pay from servicemembers who do not complete their military contracts due to no fault of their own.

WASHINGTON - Installation operations and quality of life programs for soldiers and their families would be affected worldwide if the Army doesn’t receive additional funding from Congress soon.

WASHINGTON - The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have teamed to test a pilot disability evaluation program that officials hope will streamline the confusing and often frustrating process for servicemembers and their families.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces have taken “huge steps forward” in growing and moving toward independent operations.

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Versus, the U.S. cable television home of the National Hockey League, has partnered with some troops deployed to Kosovo to give an early Christmas present to the peacekeepers there and their families at home.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 12 suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Hire Heroes USA, a program of the Georgia-based Health Careers Foundation, is working to link disabled veterans to employment opportunities nationwide.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - While four deployments away from her family have been tough, a soldier said, the deployments are a part of an Army career.

WASHINGTON - A Baghdad provincial reconstruction team is closely coordinating with the Inma Agribusiness Program to work with Iraqi farmers.

MAIMANEH, Afghanistan - A U.S. military team travels in Afghanistan's Faryab province to mentor national and local police.

WASHINGTON - Members of the armed forces, government, defense industry and academia gathered in Orlando, Fla., for the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference.

WASHINGTON - President Bush is slated to visit the Pentagon today to talk with senior leaders about long-term strategic plans for the military.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with soldiers and family members at Fort Hood, Texas, to present Purple Heart medals and get a first-hand look at issues and concerns he usually sees only on paper.

WASHINGTON - An air strike earlier this week in eastern Afghanistan was based on credible intelligence from multiple sources and by all indications struck its intended targets, the Pentagon’s press secretary told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department employees soon will see a new notice on their government computer screens informing them that their e-mails are subject to monitoring.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government wants a continued American troop presence as Iraqi security forces improve in numbers and capability.

WASHINGTON - With thoughts turning from tasty Thanksgiving turkey to holiday shopping lists, one national bookseller has made it easy to find the perfect gift for everyone, including the nation’s servicemembers.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces captured 32 suspected terrorists and killed another in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Army installation commanders worldwide have been directed to plan for spending cutbacks sparked by governmental wrangling over funding for the war on terrorism.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - A soldier serving her third combat deployment returned to Afghanistan on Nov. 12 after being treated in Germany for a second bomb blast.

KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Cooperation between the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team and Afghan leaders led to the official opening Nov. 26 of a girls school and a health clinic in the Kapisa province.

BAGHDAD - Despite being on the ground here for only a month, a 3rd Infantry Division outfit has hit the ground running.

WASHINGTON - When his staff at U.S. Pacific Command watched a fierce tropical cyclone make its way toward Bangladesh, the top U.S. military officer in the Pacific kept a careful watch.

WASHINGTON - Military families in Colorado whose major breadwinners are deployed to the Middle East are getting help with seasonal yard tasks from an unexpected source.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military officer in the Pacific said he’s concerned that China recently denied U.S. ships’ requests for port visits in Hong Kong and plans to take the matter up during a trip he hopes to make to Beijing.

WASHINGTON - Important progress the military is making in the war on terror would be derailed if Congress doesn’t pass a supplemental war spending bill “in short order,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Killeen, Texas, Chamber of Commerce.

WASHINGTON - Iraq's infrastructure needs proper maintenance procedures and operations processes.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Army Pvt. Imani Tumbling and Pfc. Angelo Tumbling will celebrate their first major holiday as a married couple and their first anniversary here in a combat zone.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces can now gather intelligence and go after targets as successfully as U.S. units there.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi operations are keeping up the pressure on al Qaeda insurgents in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces killed four suspected terrorists in an operation that also claimed the life of a child. Meanwhile, combined forces uncovered a significant weapons cache.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan national security forces confiscated an ammunition cache in Khana village in the Sherzad district of Afghanistan's Nangahar province.

BAGHDAD - Two hundred eighty soldiers and one sailor re-enlisted in the Al Faw palace, one of Saddam Hussein’s former homes.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Speed is key for soldiers in charge of medical evacuation in Iraq, where their sole mission is to transfer patients to medical facilities at Baghdad and Balad.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - An Air Force neurosurgeon at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, saved the life of an 8-month-old Afghan girl.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops in Iraq are anxious to come home, but also want to ensure that they don’t leave too soon for their efforts to take hold, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - The best way to confront Iran’s nuclear weapons program is through international diplomatic pressure, and military force should remain a last resort, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - If you are wounded in combat and discharged as a result, you will not have to pay back your enlistment bonus, Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have laid the groundwork for defining what a long-term relationship between the two countries will look like.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A courtyard that was home to insurgent weapons caches has become a training ground for potential Iraqi policemen who want to help bring order to their community.

WASHINGTON - The embedded provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq are looking at long-term solutions to problems in the country that undermine security progress.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces are growing stronger and more effective as they take the lead in more operations and continue to recruit and train record numbers to fill their ranks.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Components from the Iraqi army and the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans” kicked off Operation Marne Courageous when 4,000 pounds of explosives were dropped on an island in the middle of the Euphrates River.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called for the United States to strengthen all elements of its national power – the “soft” power as well as “hard” military might -- to face challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan and others it will confront in the future.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, became the first in Task Force Marne to receive the Army’s new mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, known as MRAPs.

WASHINGTON - The improved security environment in Iraq is creating conditions that promote the large-scale infrastructure projects under way to support Iraq’s security forces.

WASHINGTON - Though the surge has worked, that doesn’t mean that extremists – especially Shiia special squads – have been overcome.

FALLUJAH, Iraq - About 450 Iraqis are working to get Fallujah’s first sewer system operational by summer.

WASHINGTON - The first reduction in American forces in Iraq is under way as the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division heads back to Fort Hood, Texas.

WASHINGTON - A Texas-based group is working to give caregivers of war wounded and military spouses the support they need as they transition from the military community to the civilian sector.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan’s elite military force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation in the Zormat district of Paktya province.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., will operate pretty much business as usual when national leaders gather there for the U.S.-sponsored international Middle East conference.

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE - In response to a request from the government of Bangladesh, elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit traveled about 3,500 miles from the Sea of Bengal to provide disaster relief to the cyclone-stricken country.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 10 suspects today during operations targeting al Qaeda networks along Iraq’s Tigris River Valley.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - U.S. soldiers are establishing personal relationships with shopkeepers as they help Iraqis revive commerce.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - While all 1st Air Cavalry Brigade soldiers may be focused on the mission, one noncommissioned officer in particular has given his all toward success in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Alaska National Guard is bringing Christmas a month early to children in remote Alaskan villages.

WASHINGTON - The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a traveling USO show visited four different locations in Iraq to see troops during Thanksgiving.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - Positive permanent changes in the Iraqi people are beginning to show, said Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright during his visit to the Central Command area of operations Nov. 21 to 24.

WASHINGTON - President Bush spoke of the history of Thanksgiving during his weekly radio address yesterday, and called for Americans to remember – and be thankful for – thousands of American servicemembers literally on the front lines of freedom.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - It’s not every day that an airman can pick up the phone and talk to his commander in chief, but for one airman serving in Afghanistan, that 's exactly what happened Nov. 22 -- Thanksgiving Day.

WASHINGTON - A pair of Marine helicopters lifted from the USS Kearsarge flight deck with loads of bottled water, marking the first delivery of U.S. military aid to the storm-battered nation of Bangladesh.

WASHINGTON - As the national Christmas tree makes its way to Washington, it’s going to spread some holiday spirit at veterans facilities, thanks to the National Association of Realtors.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained seven suspects in three coordinated operations targeting al Qaeda's media network southeast of Samarra.

WASHINGTON - More than 130,000 Americans sent messages of gratitude this week to the nation's troops through the "Giving Thanks" text messaging initiative.

KANDAHAR AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a traveling USO entertainment show visited troops at Bagram Air Base and Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan Nov. 20-21. Cartwright stopped in the country as part of a six-day, six-country troop visit, bringing with him actor Wilmer Valderrama, model Mayra Veronica and comedian Russell Peters.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed four terrorists and captured four suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq leaders conducted in central and northern Iraq, officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The biggest challenges Afghanistan’s security forces face are not recruiting, training or fighting, but have more to do with building the systems that will sustain the country’s forces.

WASHINGTON - When troops stationed in the Middle East sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey won’t come in a brown field rations pouch.

WASHINGTON - Connecting supportive Americans with deployed troops keeps one Colorado-based support group busy.

WASHINGTON - Determined to rise up against al Qaeda terrorists, concerned local citizens have started neighborhood watch programs.

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - In a homecoming of sorts, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to meet with local community leaders and servicemembers.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is developing plans to send furlough notices to some civilian workers as early as mid-December if Congress doesn’t pass the $178 billion emergency supplemental funding bill quickly.

WASHINGTON - The military’s unified command responsible for operations across Africa will work in tandem with other U.S. government agencies to assist nations there to confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges.

WASHINGTON - If asked, American troops stand ready to help the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh, Pentagon officials said.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gave reporters a whirlwind tour of the world during a news conference at the Foreign Press Center in Washington.

WASHINGTON - The two top Defense Department leaders expressed gratitude for the efforts of servicemembers and their families and called on the nation to remember those serving this Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON - The United States military must look beyond the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan with a view to shaping the strategic environment, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing a number of road improvement projects in Iraq, including a one-mile stretch on Victory Base Complex in Baghdad that is having an impact in town.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 11 suspects affiliated with the al Qaeda network in Iraq during several operations in central and northern Iraq.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Unlike most troops in Iraq, an Army Apache pilot can reach out and literally touch three family members stationed nearby.

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. - Officials broke ground yesterday at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on a $52 million Air National Guard Readiness Center expansion.

WASHINGTON - A former Army sergeant and his family this month are settling into a brand new house in New Bern, N.C., custom-built to insure his war injuries will not keep him from independent living.

BAGHDAD - Coalition forces, Iraqi army soldiers and concerned local citizens near the border of Anbar province are working together to drive out al Qaeda in Iraq operatives during Operation Marne Courageous.

WASHINGTON - If Congress does not come through with a supplemental bill President Bush will sign, money for defeating the largest killers of American personnel in the war on terror will run out Dec. 1, a senior official said.

WASHINGTON - The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard each honored one of their own at a Pentagon ceremony with an award named for actor-comedian Bob Hope.

WASHINGTON - Terrorist-committed violence in Iraq has plummeted since the start of the surge of forces, a senior U.S. officer reported from Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - A robust partnership between coalition troops and Iraqi security forces and support from the Iraqi people is showing success in bringing down violence in Iraq’s Multinational Division North sector.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Agents assigned to a special Air Force unit regularly work together with Afghan National Police on a broad range of missions.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 27 suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq - When servicemembers on Kirkuk Air Base have to go “outside the wire,” they sometimes have an extra set of eyes watching over them. Air Force sharpshooters are on the job to provide intelligence and, if necessary, neutralize threats.

WASHINGTON - Two days before Army Sgt. Janeice Capers graduated from advanced individual training, the Army -- and the world -- changed overnight.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Members of the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team visited Salang to assess construction of the area’s latest district center.

WASHINGTON - The Joint Civilian Orientation Conference wrapped up its week-long trip Nov. 10 across the U.S. Pacific Command back in Hawaii with an overview of the U.S. Coast Guard, its missions and capabilities.

WASHINGTON - President Bush thanked Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda for his nation’s support in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is releasing military airspace for civilian flights to ease Thanksgiving travel.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. soldiers posted east of Baghdad has seen tangible security improvements in his area since his unit deployed there as part of the surge in forces.

WASHINGTON - As Iraqi security forces become increasingly capable in the counterinsurgency fight, their leaders are looking to the future and striving to build long-term institutional capabilities.

WASHINGTON - A local Boy Scouts of America organization recognized Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for his lifelong devotion to scouting.

WASHINGTON - Marine Staff Sgt. John Costa is one of 10 troops selected to tell the military’s story to the American people as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” program.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing $2 billion in projects while an Iraqi contractor working on them sees hope turn into reality.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 12 suspects during operations targeting terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Few troops have the opportunity to deploy with their relatives, but an Iraqi unit has two such family relationships.

WASHINGTON - Just in time for the holidays, 13 major recording artists have created a musical “Thank You” for the troops.

WASHINGTON - Americans can send text messages of thanks and get responses from active-duty troops through the "Giving Thanks" initiative of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials are satisfied that Pakistani nuclear weapons are under sufficient security, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Pentagon Nov. 15.

WASHINGTON - Congress must pass the emergency supplemental spending bill as soon as possible to avoid halting operations and furloughing civilian employees, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Surge-supplied U.S. and Iraqi security forces have contributed to a marked decrease of insurgent-committed violence in eastern Baghdad, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - Recent weapons cache finds in Iraq indicate that the Iranian government is living up to its promise to Iraqi leaders to stem the flow of weapons across the border into Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The next few decades will be a period of persistent conflict, and the U.S. Army will have to adapt to changing threats, that service’s top general said.

WASHINGTON - Success is possible in Iraq, a senior Army commander there said, based on progress he has seen since his recent return to the country.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s unified command responsible for operations across Africa will help nations there confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges that affect regional security and stability.

WASHINGTON - Initiatives taken in Iraq over the past 11 months have reduced improvised-explosive-device attacks dramatically and sent the enemy scrambling.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces detained dozens of insurgents and discovered five car bombs in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Pete Geren and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the state of the service.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - Soldiers, other servicemembers and civilians deployed to a forward operating base in Afghanistan honored the fallen soldiers of a Vietnam War operation by participating in a 24-hour relay.

BAGHDAD - The 514th Medical Company from Fort Lewis, Wash., held the first event of a basic medical skills training series with four Iraqi soldiers at Camp Liberty in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspect and treated a woman victimized by Taliban gunfire in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is seeking nominations of employers with records of stellar support for their military employees for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards.

WASHINGTON - Production of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles continues ahead of schedule. The vehicles are state-of-the-art defenses against the leading killers of American troops in Iraq – improvised explosive devices and explosively formed penetrators.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division have made a concerted effort to put the citizens of Baghdad's Doura neighborhood on the track to success.

WASHINGTON - About 15 al Qaeda operatives ended up dead in Adwaniyah, Iraq, as Iraqi citizens stood strong in their town’s defense, a senior military officer said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is examining different contingencies for supplying American troops in Afghanistan if supplies can no longer be shipped through Pakistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. (Video) .

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao in supporting a new initiative to help military spouses get the education and other credentials needed to pursue careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations.

WASHINGTON - Security in Iraq has made tremendous gains, and now is the time to cement that security in place with economic gains, said coalition officials in Baghdad.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Deployed U.S. Coast Guardsmen patrol Cuba's critical Windward Pass, which offers a straight shot from the western Caribbean to the United States, to stop drug runners and illegal immigrants.

WASHINGTON - A Maryland group is using its favorite game, golf, as a means of therapy to help recovering combat-wounded veterans.

WASHINGTON - Kate Deyermond is going on a $15,000 holiday spending spree, courtesy of Wal-Mart, to buy gifts for families whose loved ones are recuperating from combat wounds.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces detained eight suspects, including an alleged extremist leader, and found a weapons cache during recent raids.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Since their destruction by the Taliban in 2001, the local government and people have sought to restore the Buddhas of Bamyan, a cultural landmark in Afghanistan's Bamyan province .

BAGHDAD - Coalition officials are taking advantage of a decline in insurgent violence to jumpstart a transition into long-term stability operations, a U.S. commander said in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - The value of the warfare tenets in the U.S. military's year-old counterinsurgency manual is reflected in the recent progress in Iraq, where the war will be won with civilian support, said one of the manual's authors.

WASHINGTON - Captures of al Qaeda operatives and seizures of weapons caches in Iraq are up, and casualties are down, a senior military official in Baghdad told online journalists and “bloggers."

WASHINGTON - The transformation of the northern and western outskirts of Baghdad “has been nothing short of remarkable,” the commander of 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team operating there said.

WASHINGTON - Tricare, the military’s health maintenance organization, has enlisted host-nation dentists who provide dental care for overseas-based military family members to become preferred dentists.

WASHINGTON - The system of post-deployment health screenings the Army has set up is working to identify mental health problems in soldiers returning from combat and reduce the stigma of seeking mental health care.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates shared the Marine Corps’ 232nd anniversary, praising the Corps’ long tradition of service and sacrifice that continues on the front lines today.

BAGHDAD - When what was supposed to be simply a short meeting turned into a grand tour of the National Museum of Iraq, some 1st Cavalry Division soldiers got to see a part of early civilization that was beyond their imagination.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s military health care system is using its interactive Web site to share information between U.S. military medical personnel and other government agencies and organizations outside the government.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed one insurgent and detained 14 others during a series of operations across central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - All active and reserve military components met or exceeded recruiting goals for the first month of fiscal 2008.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces and coalition forces engaged and killed a large group of insurgents near the Deh Rawod district of Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province.

NEW YORK - Thousands of troops and families enjoyed private showing of the “75th Celebration of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular” at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

NEW YORK - Microsoft Corp. and the USO honored Americans who offer extraordinary support to the nation’s troops.

WASHINGTON - During a ceremony at the American Legion post in Waco, Texas, yesterday, President Bush told the families of four servicemembers who died in Iraq that “their sacrifice will not be in vain."

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 16 suspects, including three wanted individuals, during operations to disrupt al Qaeda in Iraq and foreign terrorist operations in central and northern Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - U.S. Airmen serving in Afghanistan honored veterans past and present with a 10-hour silent vigil on Veterans Day.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Vice President Richard B. Cheney remembered millions of veterans at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month at Arlington National Cemetery.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition operation in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province resulted in the detention of five people suspected of being foreign-fighter facilitators.

CAMP HANSEN, Japan - Participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference celebrated the 232nd Marine Corps Birthday with Marines training in Okinawa, Japan.

WASHINGTON - Far from stagnating, the Japanese-American defense alliance is in its best shape in decades, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - On the eve of Veterans Day weekend, the nation’s senior military commander told civic leaders they can make a difference in the lives of men and women who serve their country.

WASHINGTON - President Bush thanked America’s veterans and wished the Marine Corps a happy 232nd birthday during his weekly radio address.

WASHINGTON - Marine Gen. James N. Mattis today became the new chief of U.S. Joint Forces Command during a ceremony aboard an aircraft carrier berthed at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

WASHINGTON - Ongoing training efforts, pay reforms and weeding out corrupt individuals have improved the image and performance of Afghanistan’s police, a senior U.S. military officer said today.

WASHINGTON - When the Carolina Panthers football players enter the stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Nov. 11 for their Veterans Day home game, they will be joined by a large cannon blast and six war heroes.

WASHINGTON - Americans will celebrate the service and sacrifice of tens of millions of citizens who have donned a military uniform for their country, the top two defense leaders said in their Veterans Day messages to the troops.

WASHINGTON - Army Sgt. Jose Munoz is telling his story to offer positive impressions of the military and war on terror to the American people.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces and coalition forces engaged and killed several Taliban fighters near the Nahr Surkh district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces wounded one suspected terrorist and detained 19 others during operations to disrupt foreign terrorist networks in central Iraq.

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Construction is under way for a $1.7 million bridge across the Farah Rud River in Afghanistan's Farah province.

HAWR RAJAB, Iraq - When Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of 3rd Infantry Division, walked the streets of Hawr Rajab on Nov. 7, he saw real progress in the city's security climate.

WASHINGTON - Jack L. Tilley left the Army twice -- first after a tour in Vietnam, then again in 2004. But he still thinks he's a soldier.

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan - A corporate vice president on a week-long tour of the military forces in U.S. Pacific Command, a self-described true child of the 1960s, now says he'd be proud if one of his children chose to serve in uniform.

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan - A group of community leaders found out how hard it is to fly an F-15 Eagle tactical fighter as they practiced piloting in a flight simulator on Kadna Air Base, Japan.

TOKYO - Now is the time for Asian countries to develop multilateral relationships to deal with security challenges in the region, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a question-and-answer period following a speech at Sophia University in Tokyo.

TOKYO - The U.S. security shield in the Pacific has improved the lives of billions of people, and the United States will remain committed to the region even as the alliance that guarantees that security changes, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told students at Sophia University in Tokyo.

WASHINGTON - President Bush saluted wounded troops recovering at the Center for the Intrepid, in San Antonio, for their courage. “The spirit of America is strong in facilities like this,” Bush said.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - A military judge today arraigned a detainee accused of killing a U.S. soldier on charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, supporting terrorism and spying.

NEW YORK - Bristling with excitement, 6-foot-4-inch Marine Sgt. James Bane escorted his comedy hero Lewis Black down the red carpet to New York's Town Hall Theater.

WASHINGTON - The departments of Defense and Veteran Affairs have teamed up to improve access to mental health care services to better assist servicemembers, veterans and families.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have positively identified two Taliban members who were detained during an operation conducted in late October to disrupt suicide-bomber operations in Afghanistan’s Wardak province.

BAGHDAD - The Qudas electric generation facility in northern Baghdad is getting two new gas turbines that will add 200 megawatts of power to Iraq's national electric grid. A crew of more than 150 Iraqis is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the $160 million project, which is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2008.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured a suspected terrorist and detained four other suspects during operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Five U.S. servicemembers died after a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in northern Italy.

NEW YORK - Hundreds of troops and celebrities shared the red carpet at a Bob Woodruff Family Fund benefit to raise money for injured troops.

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - A new legal complex being built at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is employing expeditionary concepts so it can be disassembled and reused elsewhere in the future.

TOKYO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba met in Tokyo to discuss the future of the Japanese-American alliance.

MANILA, Philippines - Civic, business and education leaders on a Defense Department-sponsored tour of the Pacific participated in a wreath-laying ceremony in Manila, Phillipines.

WASHINGTON - Decreased violence in Iraq is the result of ongoing U.S. surge operations and Iraqi citizens’ increasing willingness to confront al Qaeda insurgents, a senior U.S. military officer said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - A nine-person team from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently completed the Air Force's largest deployable aircraft shelter at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

RAMADI, Iraq - Marine Sgt. David Smith III has been a part of many conflicts in his four years in the Marine Corps and would have it no other way.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained nine suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda and foreign terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.

BAGHDAD - Just a few months ago, Operation Rogue Thunder began to reclaim the streets of Jamia and Adel, Iraq, from the grip of violence. Today, the streets not only are peaceful, they’re thriving.

WASHINGTON - Unceasing pressure by U.S. and Iraqi security forces and citizens’ anger at al Qaeda in Iraq’s brutal tactics have combined to put the terror group on the run, a senior U.S. military officer said.

U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM, Guam - Getting a chance to experience some of the hands-on, adrenaline-pumping activities that troops perform regularly, but civilians rarely do, has made quite an impression on the president of a Colorado design company.

SEOUL, Republic of Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates placed a wreath at a South Korean national cemetery for war dead and met with South Korean defense leaders to discuss the strong U.S.-Korean alliance.

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Fassil Gabremariam, one of 40 attending the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, says the chance to participate in a military exercise in Guam gave him a fresh perspective on what U.S. soldiers must face on the streets of Baghad.

WASHINGTON - An outpouring of goodwill and support from the public is helping one wounded soldier and his wife cope with a tragic loss.

WASHINGTON - The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are building a system to allow inter-departmental sharing of servicemembers’ electronic health information.

WASHINGTON - Just shy of his division’s one-year mark of being on the ground in Iraq, the deputy commander for Multinational Division Baghdad said he sees “measured” and “remarkable” success within the capital city.

WASHINGTON - Improvised-explosive-device, mortar and rocket attacks have declined by 50 percent since the height of the troop surge in April, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - A group of entrepreneurs and department acquisition officials earned praise from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England for their support of disabled-veteran-led businesses.

WASHINGTON - Crime dropped by 50 percent in an area just outside Baghdad, thanks to Iraqi citizens who are giving more help than ever to the coalition soldiers who live among them, an American commander said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will release nine Iranian prisoners because they no longer threaten Iraq’s security, a U.S. military official in Baghdad said.

WASHINGTON - A possible escalation of terrorism in Europe is perceived as the primary security threat to the continent, a senior U.S. military official said.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force grounded its F-15 Eagle fleet after preliminary findings indicated a possible structural failure led to the crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C on Nov. 2. However, F-15s assigned to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Central Command Air Forces will remain on alert and fly required missions as necessary.

BEIJING - The United States and China will move ahead with a strategic dialogue, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said following talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army engineers are building forward operating bases and roads to support forces providing security for the people of Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed eight terrorists and detained 10 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda and foreign terrorist networks in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - For top Army recruiter Sgt. Charles "Rob" Myers, each person he meets is a potential soldier, or someone who can help him recruit one.

WASHINGTON - Today’s soldiers are better prepared for battle thanks to revolutionary mission-specific training that replicates current fights and is postured for future fights.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces have largely purged extremists from urban areas in Iraq’s Anbar province over the past 10 months, allowing renewal efforts to flourish with reduced meddling by terrorists, a coalition commander in the region said.

WASHINGTON - Empowering Iraqi women to actively participate in reconstruction and reconciliation is critical to the country’s future, the manager of a newly formed provincial reconstruction team said.

WASHINGTON - U.S.-Pakistani military cooperation along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan is continuing unfettered despite the crisis that’s led to widespread arrests in Pakistan and has U.S. officials reviewing assistance programs to Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces launched a major new offensive, called Operation Iron Hammer, across four northern Iraqi provinces, while five terrorists were killed and 30 others were captured in separate actions in the central and northern parts of the country.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces disrupted foreign fighter and Taliban recruiting networks in Ghazni province, killing two militants and detaining six others.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Khost Province has accomplished more in the past 10 months than in the previous five years due to the trust and collaborative efforts of all people living in Khost -- Afghans and coalition forces, officials said.

WASHINGTON - About 1,000 members of 10th Mountain Division will deploy to Iraq this spring as replacements for troops due to rotate home, Defense Department officials announced.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Navy Capt. Maggie L. Richard said she was taught as a child about "contributing to the world," and the Navy gave her the opportunity to do so.

BEIJING - A delegation of U.S. defense officials led by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was impressed with and encouraged by their Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

HONOLULU - About 40 civilians with little or no previous military experience gathered in Honolulu, Hawaii, to get their marching orders for a week-long expedition that will take them across the Defense Department’s largest combatant command.

BEIJING - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Cao Gangchuan discussed ways to broaden and deepen U.S.-Chinese defense relations during meetings.

BEIJING - The United States is watching the developing situation in Pakistan closely and will review all assistance programs to the country, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - The America Supports You program invites troops serving around the world to e-mail messages of thanks for support they receive from home.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan troops repelled two Taliban-led ambushes in Afghanistan recently, killing an unknown number of enemy fighters, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 17 suspects during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The coalition air component in Iraq “remains strong,” airlifting supplies and troops, providing surveillance and assisting ground forces with kinetic support, a senior air force officer in Iraq said.

BEIJING - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Beijing for meetings with Chinese civilian and military leaders.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on progress in his three initiatives during an interview for his first “podcast” as chairman.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates paid tribute to women who have answered America’s call to duty since the nation’s founding during the Women in Military Service for America Memorial’s 10th anniversary celebration.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to China, Korea and Japan over the next several days in an effort to bolster U.S. defense relationships with those countries.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi people are taking back their country with the help of U.S. troops, President Bush said during a speech on Fort Jackson, S.C., today.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi citizens are increasingly coming together to voluntarily battle al Qaeda in Iraq, thereby saving American lives and reshaping military operations in the country, a coalition commander said today.

WASHINGTON - Ongoing efforts to transform the Defense Department into a leaner, more efficient 21st-century organization are gaining momentum, senior officials involved with transformation said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 10 insurgents, captured three others and destroyed weapons in Iraq over the past two days, military officials said.

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - The Iraqi government has assumed command of a major unit from the country’s army, a sign of continued improvement in Iraq’s armed forces, U.S. officials said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan National Army soldiers assisted by coalition advisors have completely wiped out Taliban insurgents in a key southern province, a coalition commander said.

WASHINGTON - The wife of an NBC News correspondent who died of a blood clot while embedded with a U.S. unit during the Iraq invasion is working to increase awareness to prevent others from sharing her husband’s fate.

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A new partnership between U.S. and Afghan doctors at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, is helping the Afghan physicians do a better job of treating their own citizens.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - One airman is building a bridge back home by hosting a Web-based music radio show on his own.

WASHINGTON - An Army infantry officer says communication with local Iraqis made all the difference during his tour of duty.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced he will leave Nov. 4 for a six-day trip to China, Korea and Japan.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government and the coalition must follow up security successes in the country with economic development and reconstruction, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands - Wives who joined their wounded warrior husbands on an adaptive outdoor adventure say they hurt, too.

WASHINGTON - The number of explosively formed penetrators, a particularly deadly form of improvised explosive device, is down in Iraq, a top coalition commander said.

WASHINGTON - Though memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks may fade with time, President Bush said that the U.S. remains a top target.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Richard B. Cheney emphasized the importance of victory in Iraq and urged continued support for the men and women in uniform during a speech at an American Legion conference in Indianapolis.

WASHINGTON - One sign of the improved security environment in Iraq is the growing number of Iraqis stepping forward to take back their communities from extremists, a top coalition commander said.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - U.S. soldiers hosted a social gathering, including a cookout and a soccer tournament, for Iraqi army troops and a volunteer group from a Baghdad neighborhood to celebrate the defeat of al Qaeda in Ameriya.

WASHINGTON - Afghan security forces killed a top-ranking enemy commander, identified as Malawi Abdul Manan, along with several other enemy fighters in Afghanistan’s Khost province.

WASHINGTON - While coalition and Iraqi troops are creating positive momentum with improved security in Iraq that is allowing life to return to normal for the vast majority of Iraqi citizens, the trend is not yet irreversible, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - An Army organization that provides support to civil authorities during emergencies is withdrawing its command-and-control detail from southern California.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 12 suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - A new, sleek, toy-like airframe is now a part of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade fleet of aircraft traveling the skies of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduing Freedom.

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras - In the spirit of Halloween, an airman asigned in Hondouras built his very own version of “Frankenstein’s monster.”