WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is monitoring and assessing DOD contracting relationships as part of a continuous process to strengthen defense contracts in war zones, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - TRICARE’s “Moving Made Easy” option ensures qualifying service members and beneficiaries can arrive at a new duty station, confident their medical records and prescriptions were transferred in advance.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marked the dedication of a USO exhibit in the Pentagon by praising the organization's support of troops for the last 70 years.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Two Defense Department groups are working to hasten the processes required to send new equipment to U.S. troops stationed overseas.

WASHINGTON - All of the military’s active duty and reserve components are poised to meet their recruiting and retention goals for the fiscal year, Pentagon officials said.

FORT MYER, Va. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described retiring Army Gen. David H. Petraeus as "one of the great battle captains of American history.”

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Navy Chaplain (Capt.) Rondall Brown describes his experiences in New York City during the 9/11 terrorist attacks 10 years ago with one word -- horror.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani network leader and two of his associates during an operation in Khost province.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Special operations staff members are working to ensure the organization retains its technological edge on the battlefield, Army Maj. Brian Weyenberg, a Joint Special Operations Command staff officer, said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has called on Congress to move quickly on a new federal job initiative to offer tax credits to the nation's employers who hire unemployed veterans, including those with disabilities.

WASHINGTON - Since early June, about 100 soldiers and volunteers have spent their nights taking pictures of headstones to help reconcile burial records at Arlington National Cemetery.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army Spc. Christy Sawyer put her suicide prevention training to good use when a close friend, and fellow soldier, threatened to commit suicide.

WASHINGTON - In a recent interview, Jo Ann Rooney, principal undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said a facilities assessment showed that more than 47 percent of the 160 public schools on military installations are in excellent shape.

WASHINGTON - As the new executive director of the White House's "Joining Forces" campaign, Navy Capt. Brad Cooper's job is to rally national support to honor and support service members, veterans and their families.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - Transition in Afghanistan is a process that entails far more than winning on the battlefield, said Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, the commander of U.S. Central Command.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - As the nation faces severe budget constraints, it remains critical to train and equip a special operations force that has more than doubled in size over the past decade, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - As the United States deals with its fiscal challenges, President Barack Obama emphasized that it won’t do so at the cost of its military and won’t “balance the budget on the backs of our veterans.”

WASHINGTON - The NATO mission in Libya is important, effective and still necessary to protect civilians in the embattled nation, a NATO spokeswoman said.

WASHINGTON - Beneficiaries of the TRICARE military health plan can now obtain home-delivered medication with no copayment and get free vaccinations at participating pharmacies.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition security forces killed and detained multiple insurgents during separate operations targeting a terrorist network attack cell.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Robert C. Berkshire, an Army veteran whose Bronze Star Medal was stolen while he was returning from a tour of duty in Vietnam, now has a replacement.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - U.S. Northern Command is continuing to support relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - A pilot program at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center gives students unprecedented access to language training resources and is expanding due to its high level of success.

WASHINGTON - San Francisco Fleet Week provides Marines with the chance to practice their disaster-response capabilities, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is working to ensure its employees take cyber security precautions when using DOD-issued smartphones and other mobile computing platforms.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Air Force Lt. Col. William Burke Hare III has become the first U.S. Air Force space and missile operator inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban insurgent and detained another in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Air Force mission in Iraq will likely increase before the drawdown comes to a close, Air Force Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy said.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity is working closely with the services to develop a strategic plan for diversity, Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness Clifford L. Stanley said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - New approaches have enhanced the National Guard’s contribution to the state and federal support for civil authorities providing hurricane relief.

WASHINGTON - Officials announced the appointment of four dual-status commanders to support Hurricane Irene relief efforts, marking the first time they have implemented the dual-commander concept for a natural disaster.

ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard support to the joint response to Hurricane Irene was in full motion as thousands of soldiers and airmen rolled out in multiple states to support civilian authorities.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta issued a prepare-to-deploy order for 6,500 active-duty troops to support hurricane relief efforts if ordered as Irene strikes along the East Coast.

BETHESDA, Md. - National Naval Medical Center officials declared a new chapter in military health care as ambulances delivered the last 18 inpatients from Walter Reed, a final milestone as the flagship hospitals merge.

WASHINGTON - An early morning move of inpatients marked the end of an era for Walter Reed Army Medical Center and its 102 years of Army medicine that has saved hundreds of thousands of military lives.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called on the American people to come together in the spirit of service and remembrance as the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches.

WASHINGTON - As Hurricane Irene threatens the East Coast, officials at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., have moved up the transfer of the last 30 Walter Reed inpatients.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The governors of seven states declared states of emergency, prompting National Guard adjutants general to upgrade hurricane condition levels and relocate assets to prepare for Hurricane Irene.

WASHINGTON - As Hurricane Irene bears down on the East Coast, a senior TRICARE official said the storm highlights the importance for people to prepare for potential natural disasters before they occur.

WASHINGTON - While the federal government is working closely with communities that could be affected by Hurricane Irene, residents along the eastern seaboard should prepare for what may be a historic hurricane, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta wants troops, Defense Department civilians and families to take all necessary precautions against the storm.

WASHINGTON - The United States has been a major force in promoting stability in the Pacific and remains committed to its role as a Pacific power, Vice President Joe Biden said.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii to thank members of the 3rd Marine Regiment and to pledge continued support for them and their families.

WASHINGTON - Five civilians were killed and 24 others wounded when insurgents detonated explosives in the cities of Herat and Faryab.

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - As a chemical operations specialist, Indiana Army National Guard Spc. Michael Clayton treats survivors of chemical, biological and nuclear exposure.

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea - Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a computer simulation exercise, offers soldiers an opportunity to respond to crisis and practice their warfighting skills.

WASHINGTON - When Feds Feed Families organizers took on the goal of gathering 733,800 pounds of donated food, friendly competition went viral within the Defense Department and military services.

WASHINGTON - Eastern Afghanistan’s government and security forces are improving their capabilities and eliciting confidence in the people they serve, the commander of NATO's Regional Command East said.

WASHINGTON - Military bases along the eastern seaboard are taking actions to prepare for the Category 3 winds and rain of Hurricane Irene, while the Defense Department works closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in response to the storm's impending landfall.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - As a civilian priest working in Ohio, Chaplain (Capt.) Michael A. Mikstay's desire to help others inspired him to join the military and minister faith on a global scale .

WASHINGTON - The process of realigning military health care facilities in the Washington, D.C., area has gone smoothly as officials aim for world-class service.

WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO Commander Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen jointly condemned an insurgent rocket attack in the city of Zarmat.

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-India defense relationship is a natural partnership created by shared interests and values, and driven by increasingly routine day-to-day interactions, a senior Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - China’s military is modernizing, but the Chinese government needs to be more forthcoming on why it needs these new capabilities, according to a Defense Department report.

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan - Vice President Joe Biden thanked about 1,000 military and civilian personnel from Japan’s Kanto Plains for their role during Operation Tomodachi to provide help after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - For almost a month, Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc teamed up with baseball heroes to promote goodwill and military awareness through the sport.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed a senior Taliban leader and a subordinate during a security operation in Faryab province.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called U.S. support for NATO's mission to help opposition forces make progress against Moammar Gadhafi’s regime in Libya an example of the international cooperation that will be critical in the future.

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - Calling foreign language skills "absolutely vital" to U.S. interests, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta returned to the Defense Language Institute he championed as a congressman to speak to linguists.

WASHINGTON - National Guard adjutants general along the East and Gulf coasts are awaiting the potential landfall of Hurricane Irene, and preparing to act if necessary.

WASHINGTON - In 2009, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus declared that the Navy must make serious headway in becoming energy-efficient. Now in 2011, the Navy is well on its way to increased energy efficiency and independence.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon operations continued despite a brief, afternoon evacuation prompted when a magnitude 5.9 earthquake centered in Mineral, Va., shook the walls of the Defense Department headquarters.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said one of the biggest challenges to U.S. national defense is the so-called “doomsday mechanism” that will trigger across-the-board budget cuts if Congress doesn’t avert it.

WASHINGTON - NATO forces continue to protect Libyan civilians from pro-Gadhafi violence, but the regime is crumbling, NATO officials said.

WASHINGTON - American aid to Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami is the latest example of the United States and Japan working together as close allies, Vice President Joe Biden said in Japan.

FORT BLISS, Texas - Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don Schmidt risked his life to save an 11-year-old boy from drowning in a raging river during a rainstorm and ensuing flash flood.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces administered first aid to injured Afghans and then transported them for further medical treatment following a Taliban attack.

WASHINGTON - The future of Libya remains in the hands of its people as the last hours of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime are at hand, U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents and detained a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator in Khost province.

WASHINGTON - The United States and China have essential roles to play in solving many of the world’s most pressing challenges, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told an audience of Chinese university students.

COMBAT OUTPOST SHUKVANI, Afghanistan - With five combat deployments under his belt, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Christopher Sharp, a joint terminal attack controller, is no stranger to being shot at.

WASHINGTON - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen joined President Barack Obama in declaring that Moammar Gadhafi’s regime is crumbling and that the Libyan leader should step down to spare his people further bloodshed and suffering.

WASHINGTON - About 200 outpatient wounded warriors are moving from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the nearby National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., as the two hospitals move closer to becoming one.

WASHINGTON - “Don’t give up on the mission” is the message he gets from service members when he meets them, from wounded warriors to soldiers still in the battlefield, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - In a roundtable meeting at the Pentagon with media representatives, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta discussed the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the U.S. relationship with Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are working with the Office of Management and Budget on guidance that all agencies’ fiscal 2013 budget requests be at least 5 percent less than current appropriations.

WASHINGTON - In his clearest statement on the subject to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said he "will not break faith," and that if the military retirement system changes, it will not affect current service members.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense Education Activity is entering a new technology-based era that is aimed at energizing and engaging its students.

WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO condemned insurgent bomb attacks against the British Council compound in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - In his Army life, Pfc. Zachary William Charles Short is a combat medic. But the Bend, Ore., native, records country music under the stage name Zac Charles.

WASHINGTON - Six Marines will learn to control a robotic truck that may represent the future for logistics convoys, route-clearing missions and other high-risk battlefield operations.

WASHINGTON - The safety and effectiveness of body armor used by U.S. military forces is a top defense priority, requiring continuous testing and improvement to ensure troops' safety.

WASHINGTON - Corruption and insurgent violence remain serious issues, but Afghan community members and leaders are strengthening their local governments “from the bottom up,” a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai, his interior ministry and NATO have condemned an improvised explosive device attack in Herat province.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Cpl. Austin Barton keeps his ear to the ground in Afghanistan as he monitors enemy activity to inform and safeguard fellow service members.

FORT MEADE, Md. - The Military Entrance Processing Station at Fort Meade, Md., offers a program welcoming family members into the fold before their loved ones leave for training.

WASHINGTON - Ensuring military families with special medical and educational needs receive the best care and support possible is the goal of the Exceptional Family Member Program.

WASHINGTON - Robots and unmanned systems potentially could improve enemy surveillance, reduce a soldier’s workload and save lives on the battlefield, an Army general said.

WASHINGTON - Moammar Gadhafi’s regime is on its last legs, and what happens after the Libyan dictator is gone is up to the people of that country, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - Commemorations of the 9/11 terror attacks have begun as motorcyclists launch the annual America’s 9/11 Ride, honoring the victims of the attacks.

WASHINGTON - If the Iraqi government requests aid beyond the Dec. 31 departure of U.S. forces from Iraq, top leaders will discuss how the United States could provide that help, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen condemned an insurgent bombing attack that killed and wounded numerous civilians.

INDIANAPOLIS - Air Force Master Sgt. James Stranahan, a senior medic, leaped into action when high winds collapsed a concert stage at the Indiana State Fair.

BALTIMORE - A pilot program in which the Defense Department shares classified intelligence with defense contractors or their Internet service providers is increasing cyber defenses, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - The security mission in Afghanistan is making progress, but much more needs to be done on governance and development, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at the National Defense University.

WASHINGTON - The Navy, in partnership with the Energy and Agriculture departments, is working with the private sector to create a U.S.-based alternative fuels industry as part of President Barack Obama's plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

WASHINGTON - Some 3,500 military and civilian personnel from 17 countries are participating in the 12-day Panamax 2011 exercise to test plans to defend the Panama Canal.

WASHINGTON - The commander of NATO and U.S. Forces in Afghanistan met with family members of Afghan civilians killed in the Kapisa province.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department-commissioned Rand Corp. study of 23 military and civilian programs that addresses psychological resilience recommends changes including combining programs and creating a resource guide for troops and families.

WASHINGTON - Officials seeking to cut the federal budget should proceed carefully without degrading national security, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told students at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - British Royal Marine Colour Sgt. Richy Asson uses his expertise to provide safe, effective physical training to students at the U.S. Marine Officer Candidate School .

WASHINGTON - Iraq has the most capable counterinsurgency force in the Middle East and Central Asia, but its military still has a long way to go to defend the Iraqi people, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - Less than a year after it's inception, Army Cyber Command is leading a corps of 21,000 soldiers and civilians who operate and defend Army networks worldwide.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials say there are no plans to change the military retirement system any time soon, and any future changes should be studied carefully before implementation.

WASHINGTON - Bomb explosions that killed at least 58 Iraqis appear to be the work of al-Qaida in Iraq and are proof that the nation remains a dangerous place, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and South Korean troops are beginning the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, conducted annually by the Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command to improve combat readiness.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces have been heavily engaged in the southeastern region, killing and detaining numerous insurgent fighters there.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Sgt. Tristeza Castellanoz hasn’t let her deployment in Afghanistan impede her passion for shooting – pictures, that is.

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Dakota Meyer - who will become the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in 38 years - said he simply reacted in battle as he knew best - tackling extraordinary circumstances by "doing the right thing."

WASHINGTON - A former active-duty Marine now serving in the Inactive Ready Reserve will receive the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama on Sept. 15 for conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Experts from 30 countries will gather for the year's largest robot and unmanned systems show, featuring technologies that can be used in the field.

WASHINGTON - All 30 Americans killed in the Aug. 6 crash of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in eastern Afghanistan have been identified, said officials at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System in Rockville, Md.

WASHINGTON - A program that partners U.S. civilian defense volunteers with their Afghan counterparts to build Afghan security institutions, has become "an absolute game-changer" in just one year.

WASHINGTON - The demise of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden has boosted efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, yet it remains essential to build Afghan security forces and institutions to continue the momentum, said a senior U.S. defense official.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Chris Roper is the first Air National Guard member to graduate from the Sergeants Major Course at the Army Sergeants Major Academy.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition force killed two insurgents and detained several more during a security operation targeting a Taliban facilitator and his suicide-attack network in Baghlan province.

BETHESDA - The new barracks and complex for wounded warrior care at the National Naval Medical Center are symbols of the military covenant of caring for troops whether they are at home or deployed.

WASHINGTON - Funding for more educational programs and a broader housing allowance for non-active duty learners are among the most recent changes made to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

WASHINGTON - The Better Business Bureau's Military Line program is protecting service members and their families from financial pitfalls while increasing their financial literacy.

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Nineteen years after separating from the Air Force, Scott Long enlisted into the Reserve, taking his oath of enlistment from his son, Army 2nd Lt. Brandon Long.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama paid tribute to a fallen soldier during an iftar dinner at the White House to celebrate Ramadan and the contributions Muslim-Americans have made to America’s diversity and freedoms.

WASHINGTON - A new task force will take the Army’s energy initiatives to the next level, working to get 25 percent of the Army’s power from renewable sources by 2025, Army Secretary John M. McHugh said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader and multiple insurgent fighters in security operations throughout Afghanistan.

SAN DIEGO - Coast Guard crews rescued two Marines after their F/A-18 Hornet jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces discovered a mine inside a mosque and successfully prevented an explosion in the Zharay district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department plans to release the names of the 30 American servicemen killed Aug. 6 aboard a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces used a precision airstrike to kill Taliban insurgents involved in the Aug. 6 crash of a helicopter carrying 30 U.S. service members and eight Afghans, said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Repairing a bullet hole in a helicopter helped to give Marine Corps Cpl. Leonard R. Knudsen Jr. a greater sense of purpose while serving in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Colt will conduct the investigation of the crash of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan that killed 38 U.S. and Afghan service members.

WASHINGTON - The Spouse Patriot Award, established by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve agency, honors employers who go above and beyond to support spouses of reserve members.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq - Once described as "a little timid," Army Spc. Luz Natalia Gonzalez combines her military police skills with a ground soldier's saavy during her tour in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and military leaders paid their respects at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware during the dignified transfer of remains of service members killed in an Aug. 6 helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed an insurgent and detained two suspects in the Dowlatabad district of Faryab province.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and international forces, offered condolences to the families and friends of those killed in an Aug. 6 helicopter crash, and pledged to support them through the difficult days ahead.

WASHINGTON - U.S. special operations forces are unmatched by any country in the world, said Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, who assumed command of U.S. Special Operations Command from Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson.

WASHINGTON - Special operations forces will become more important in the future, Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson said during a ceremony to turn over the reins of U.S. Special Operations Command.

WASHINGTON - The five aircrew members and 25 special operations personnel killed in a Chinook helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Aug. 6 -- and their fellow U.S. service members -- embody the qualities America needs most, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and International Security Assistance Force patrol killed several insurgents and detained numerous others in the Mya Neshin district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - As the accomplishments of the World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen fade into U.S. history, a grateful nation must work to keep their legacy alive, said Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau.

WASHINGTON - The United States must not break faith with those who have paid the ultimate price, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during the change of command for U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Fla.

WASHINGTON - More than 650 people gathered for the 40th annual Tuskegee Airmen convention and helped to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen legacy.

WASHINGTON - The military has made great strides in warrior care over the past decade of war, but much work remains to be done, the Army vice chief of staff said.

WASHINGTON - An investigation will determine the facts surrounding the deaths of 30 U.S. service members and eight Afghan commandos when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down in Afghanistan’s Wardak province on Aug. 6.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq - Like many service members serving in Iraq, Army Spc. Alvin Anderson has adapted to ever-changing job roles and is often the first to volunteer for new details.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An ill-fated Aug. 6 mission that claimed the lives of 38 Afghan and U.S. service members was targeting a Taliban leader in Wardak province.

WASHINGTON - An interstate compact is spurring sweeping improvements to the school transition process for military parents and their children.

WASHINGTON - Senior U.S. leaders extended condolences to the families of American and Afghan forces lost in an International Security Assistance Force helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta vowed to ensure the military remains fully mission capable, telling troops at U.S. Strategic Command headquarters that he will fight for them in Washington just as they fight for their country.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was pleased with President Barack Obama's new workforce initiatives to give veterans the tools they need to succeed after they leave military service.

WASHINGTON - Beginning Jan. 1, most soldiers will deploy for nine months, giving them more time at home between deployments, Army officials announced.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has announced a series of initiatives to help military veterans find jobs, including the creation of employer tax credits and a task force to help troops transition to civilian jobs or higher education.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. took the oath of office to become the ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Winnefeld succeeds Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, who is retiring in the coming weeks.

WASHINGTON - The drawdown from Iraq, which began Sept. 1 after combat operations ceased, now stands at nearly 60 percent complete for U.S. military equipment, a U.S. Transportation Command official said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban leader and one suspected insurgent during a security operation in Logar province.

FORT RILEY, Kan. - A soldier at Fort Riley, Kan., used his military training and instincts to apprehend a criminal suspect, earning him Army and local police recognition.

WASHINGTON - The “sequestration” mechanism in the nation’s new debt-reduction law that could trigger automatic defense spending cuts is unacceptable given the multitude of threats facing America, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - Taryn Davis, whose Army husband was killed in Iraq in 2007, has dedicated herself to comfort and assist other young military widows.

WASHINGTON - The end of U.S. Joint Forces Command does not mean the end of joint operations or the emphasis on joint theory in the U.S. military, Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said at the command's disestablishment ceremony.

WASHINGTON - NATO forces are continuing to increase security within Afghanistan's key districts while expanding efforts to reduce insurgent capability and building security forces there, said the commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command South.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the U.S. Joint Forces Command for its role in transforming the military into a true joint force as he participated in a ceremony to case the command's colors in Suffolk, Va.

WASHINGTON - Joint Chiefs Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen salutes the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard as America's oldest seagoing service celebrates its 221st birthday.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani network leader during a security operation in the Sperah district of Khost province.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Plastic surgeon Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Carlos Ayala uses his medical skills in Afghanistan to assist wounded U.S. and Afghan service members and Afghan civilians.

WASHINGTON - The legislation President Barack Obama signed into law to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and control long-term spending does not specifically call for more spending cuts than Defense Department officials already were planning, a senior Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, bid a ceremonial farewell to the military he has served for nearly 40 years at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Calling him “one of the military’s most original thinkers,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta paid tribute to Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a farewell tribute held at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Brian Campbell, who left his Navy career to accompany his military wife, faces some unique challenges as the male spouse of a female service member.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Hahn designs billboards, banners, logos, T-shirts, football jerseys, challenge coins and Web banners that support Air Force recruiting efforts.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta praised Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and five other top military officers after the Senate confirmed their nominations for key leadership positions.

WASHINGTON - Though defense spending must and will be part of the solution to the national financial struggle, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told the Defense Department workforce that budget reductions must take sound strategy and policy into account.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Combined forces killed two insurgents during a search for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator in Kunduz province.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, to become the next deputy secretary of defense, replacing William J. Lynn III.

BAGHDAD - Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Defense Department civilians gathered in Baghdad to hear and to ask questions of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he reflected on lessons learned from joint military operations.

BAGHDAD - The recent debate and resolution of the debt ceiling crisis are important steps in resolving the security threat of growing national debt, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in Baghdad.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Army Spc. Zachary Parker, a cannon crew member, used skills that may have saved the life of an Iraqi soldier when he treated him for heat exhaustion.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani terrorist network leader in Paktika province.

BAGHDAD - At a news conference in Baghdad, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took Iran to task for interfering in Iraq to pursue “maleficent goals” while also blaming it for violence he said is meant to undermine the nation's progress.

WASHINGTON - Steaming toward Naval Station San Diego at the end of their five-month deployment, the crew of USS Cleveland was feeling good about the accomplishments of Pacific Partnership 2011.

MOSUL, Iraq - Standing in 125-degree heat, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen got a taste of the ground truth that U.S. troops live every day in northern Iraq while also thanking them for their help in giving Iraqis the chance for a democratic and free future.

MOSUL, Iraq - Though U.S. forces in Iraq are planning to draw down to zero in December, they are preserving capabilities in the country should the Iraqis ask for continued help, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said.

MOSUL, Iraq - If Iraq wants American forces to remain to train and assist Iraqi security forces after Dec. 31, Iraqi leaders need to make the request soon, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation in the Washer district of Helmand province.

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - After only a few weeks in Afghanistan, Army 1st Sgt. Thomas Walsh has already made months' worth of progress in connecting local people with their government.

WASHINGTON - An entrepreneurship "boot camp" for veterans with disabilities is helping former service members not only grow their businesses, but also provide a sense of identity.