WASHINGTON - Civilian employers are putting retention pressures on DoD by battling each other to hire away some of the department's best-trained and talented service members.

WASHINGTON - Pay is still important to service members, but troops also consider educational opportunities and a desire for more family time in their deliberations whether to stay in the military.

WASHINGTON - President-elect George W. Bush nominated Donald H. Rumsfeld as defense secretary.

WASHINGTON - President-elect George W. Bush nominated Donald H. Rumsfeld as defense secretary.

WASHINGTON - DoD officials expect the full- scale anthrax immunization program to restart in October 2001. Officials are confident that Bioport, the sole producer of the vaccine, will overcome problems and receive approval for their new facility.

WASHINGTON - Veterans' health care is now more accessible, efficient and patient-centered, according to Thomas L. Garthwaite, undersecretary for health at the Department of Veteran Affairs.

WASHINGTON - "See that guy over there, he's won four Super Bowls," a thrilled airman said to his buddy when Terry Bradshaw, in Pittsburgh Steelers regalia, walked into a hangar at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

WASHINGTON - Almost 90 percent of service members receiving Basic Allowance for Housing will see their rates rise significantly in 2001, DoD officials said here Dec. 21.

WASHINGTON - Cowboys, entertainers, sports stars, old soldiers, Congress members and an astronaut toured European troop bases through Dec. 19 with Defense Secretary William S. Cohen.

WASHINGTON - Congress has extended two 1992 improvements to the Department of Veterans Affairs Home Loan Guarantee Program that were due to expire in 2001.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000, signed by President Clinton Nov. 1, makes several important improvements to the Montgomery GI Bill.

WASHINGTON - "AFIS On Assignment" is a weekly publication of the American Forces Information Service.

WASHINGTON - DoDs effort to enlist private companies to solve the militarys housing problems can continue due to a provision in the 2001 Defense Authorization Act.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. and Russian military leaders signed the 2001 Plan of Cooperation that sets out how the two militaries will work together.

CAMP BONDSTEEL - When the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders pranced on stage here Dec. 18, Army Spc. Jeffrey Bungabong of Seattle cheerfully remarked, "Now that's a sight you don't see every day."

WASHINGTON - Once upon a time, the only way to get rid of a tattoo was to "sand" it off or cut it out. Removing a small one was a painful, difficult job. Removing a large tattoo was long, painful, difficult one.

MUNICH, Germany - Cowboys, entertainers, sports stars, old soldiers, Congress members and an astronaut are touring European troop bases through Dec. 19 with Defense Secretary William S. Cohen.

WASHINGTON - Reserve and National Guard members can now apply to send their sons and daughters to military service academies via presidential nomination.

WASHINGTON - Monday, Jan. 15, 2001, marks the nation's 15th observance of the legal holiday honoring slain civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King Jr.

WASHINGTON - (This is a summary of the American Forces Press Service news stories for the week ending Dec. 15, 2000.)

WASHINGTON - The Marines believe they aren't experiencing the recruiting woes of the other services because they work harder to sell the "intangibles of service life," their senior officer said.

WASHINGTON - Families of active-duty service members serving in areas far from a military base and its medical facilities will be eligible soon for a new program designed to cut their healthcare costs.

WASHINGTON - The Armed Forces Inaugural Committee is standing by, ready to serve President-elect George W. Bush.

WASHINGTON - The United States must beware of an imbalance between its national security strategy and the force structure necessary to support the strategy, said the nation’s top military adviser.

WASHINGTON - As we approach the New Year, we celebrate the spirit of the season and reflect on the blessings we enjoy as Americans. A nation at peace, the freedom to pursue dreams, and the promise of a safe, secure future -- these are the blessings built on the sacrifice, dedication and commitment of you -- our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and DoD civilians. You remain on duty throughout the holidays, guarding freedom's frontiers with unrelenting vigilance.

WASHINGTON - "AFIS On Assignment" is a weekly publication of the American Forces Information Service.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary William S. Cohen will appoint a panel to look at the MV-22 Osprey program in the wake of the second tilt-rotor aircraft crash since early April.

WASHINGTON - TRICARE officials propose to simplify co-payments for prescription drugs in accordance with last year's authorization act. The new co-payments will be uniform for all beneficiaries and based on whether a generic or brand-name medication is dispensed.

WASHINGTON - The new Near East-South Asia Center for Strategic Studies will open its doors in 2001, Pentagon officials announced.

WASHINGTON - Gen. James Jones, Marine Corps commandant, has a special tie to the veterans of the Chosin Reservoir campaign of the Korean War. A Medal of Honor recipient from that frozen "trip through hell" has been the now-towering general's mentor since Jones was a boy.

WASHINGTON - (This is a summary of the top American Forces Press Service news stories for the week ending Dec. 8, 2000.)

SAN DIEGO - Joseph Smith just laughs and shakes his head when asked what Tootsie Rolls meant to the veterans of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in November and December 1950.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Military recruiters and private industry are in a "war for talent," according to Maj. Gen. Gary L. Parks, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Command.

WASHINGTON - DoD will use funding from the Fiscal 2001 National Defense Authorization Act to stand up five more reserve component civil support teams.

WASHINGTON - DoD plans to recruit hundreds of reserve component information technology specialists in coming years to fill positions in several new military “cyber-security” organizations under plans approved by the deputy defense secretary.

WASHINGTON - Weapons sales to Iran, a U.S.- Russia early warning center and reducing the permafrost in relations between the United States and Russia were discussed during a meeting between Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Russian Defense Minister Field Marshal Igor Sergeyev.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO officials expressed guarded optimism about the situation in the Balkans during a North Atlantic Council meeting here, Dec. 5.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Uncle Sam needs you, and he's moving to the mall to find you.

WASHINGTON - DoD awarded a two-year, $72 million contract Dec. 6 to a Maryland firm for unlimited use of its global, satellite-based, secure telephone network.

LOS ANGELES - In times of crisis, people do some incredible things. Some display what's called "true grit."

SAN DIEGO - When Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Jim Jones was introduced to the aging Chosin Reservoir veterans, many in the group quickly rose to give him a standing ovation. One could not help but notice those who stayed seated, not out of disrespect, but because they were confined to wheelchairs or reliant on crutches.

WASHINGTON - "AFIS On Assignment" is a weekly publication of the American Forces Information Service.

WASHINGTON - "Operation Dear Abby," an effort begun by syndicated advice columnist Abigail Van Buren to bring holiday greetings to service members worldwide, is now underway until Jan. 15. Information about the program and mailing addresses for overseas destinations can be viewed at www.defenselink.mil/specials/abby/

WASHINGTON - The reserve components will use their $24.1 billion share of the fiscal 2001 National Defense Authorization Act to improve the lot of increasingly busy Guard and Reserve members.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The United States and Ukraine signed an agreement Dec. 5 to further military cooperation between the two countries.

WASHINGTON - Researchers said Dec. 5 they have changed their minds about who might and might not have been exposed to nerve agents after the destruction of a weapons storage facility in Khamisiyah, Iraq, at the end of the Gulf War.

LOS ANGELES - Since military spouses need jobs and corporate America needs qualified workers, DoD and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aim to do a little matchmaking.

WASHINGTON - DoD is beefing up port security to protect U.S. ships and other forces in the Persian Gulf region, Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Adm. Craig R. Quigley said during a Dec. 5 Pentagon press briefing.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Security and Defense Program, the Defense Capabilities Initiative and meetings with Russia’s defense minister highlight William S. Cohen’s last NATO Defense Ministerial as the U.S. secretary of defense.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary William S. Cohen honored two Americans instrumental in shaping NATO to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

WASHINGTON - Rabbits, gerbils, birds, snakes, fish, parrots, otters -- horses -- these are only some of the family pets people have tried to ship on military chartered aircraft when moving. To their chagrin, none of these prized pets were allowed aboard Air Force Air Mobility Command charters.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - If NATO received a report card on the Defense Capabilities Initiative, the teacher comments might read, “Decent progress. Must try harder.”

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NATO allies must pay more than "lip service" to the Defense Capabilities Initiative or the alliance stands in danger of becoming a relic, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said here Dec. 5.

WASHINGTON - Six former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff flank Army Gen. Henry H. Shelton (center), their host and current chairman, during a special conference in the Pentagon. From the left are retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, retired Army Gen. John W. Vessey, retired Navy Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Shelton, retired Air Force Gen. David C. Jones, retired Navy Adm. William J. Crowe Jr. and retired Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili. Shelton held the Dec. 1 meeting to update his predecessors and to seek their perspective on a number of issues. The group represents more than 200 years of military experience. DoD photo by Mamie Burke.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary William S. Cohen will attend the NATO Defense Ministerial Dec. 5 and 6 in Brussels, Belgium.

WASHINGTON - The world has changed. The Cold War is over, the Soviet Union fractured and members of the Warsaw Pact are free.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Military entertainers took the spotlight here in late November, turning the tables on some of the Hollywood stars who've entertained America's troops for nearly 60 years.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Jack Valenti, Hollywood's film industry leader, has a deep-rooted respect for the men and women who serve their country. In his mind, the phrase "duty, honor, country" remains the hallmark of freedom.

WASHINGTON - A new DoD Web site will help with A-76 competitions.

WASHINGTON - High school students of active duty, reserve component and retired military members have until Feb. 15 to write their way to a share of more than $400,000 in college money.

WASHINGTON - (This is a summary of the top American Forces Press Service news stories for the week ending Dec. 1, 2000.)