WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraq forces continued taking the fight to the enemy in a variety of recent operations.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, and Afghan National Police detained an improvised explosive device maker in Nangarhar province.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi security forces are standing up and coalition forces are redeploying, but security challenges remain, U.S. officials in Baghdad said.

WASHINGTON - Marine Gen. Peter Pace is leaving behind a lasting legacy of professionalism and commitment to the troops, Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, his senior enlisted advisor and self-described “battle buddy” told American Forces Press Service.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi soldiers and police have al Qaeda terrorists on the run in the northern city of Mosul and its outlying areas, an Iraqi general posted in the region said.

WASHINGTON - The founder of an organization that provides comfortable and functional adaptive clothing to wounded servicemembers is being honored for her efforts.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate voted to confirm four senior military officers to serve as the next chief of naval operations and commanders of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Joint Forces Command.

WASHINGTON - Coalition offensives in southern Baghdad, spurred by Iraqi intelligence, have dramatically reduced al Qaeda-inspired violence, a military commander said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is instituting new protections that will help defend servicemembers against high-interest emergency loans that can lead to a dangerous cycle of debt.

WASHINGTON - When Marine Gen. Peter Pace retires, so too will the signature coin that he shared with thousands of servicemembers, family members and veterans he’s met personally during his two years as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - A top al Qaeda leader, who brought foreign terrorists into Iraq and coordinated their efforts, was killed recently, a senior official in the region announced.

WASHINGTON - Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked servicemembers for their dedication and sacrifice in a farewell message.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - The recent speedy landing and launch of one of the world’s largest aircraft promises to bring “tremendous” capability for the movement of critical cargo across the region, said 455th Air Expeditionary Wing officials at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition troops captured seven suspected terrorists and found two weapons caches during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq, officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department civilian and military leaders urged the Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.

WASHINGTON - A year after NATO’s International Security Assistance Force took full command of security operations in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s concerned that NATO has lagged behind in fulfilling its commitments there.

WASHINGTON - Providing ready, jointly-trained U.S. forces to combatant commanders engaged in the war on terrorism is a priority task for the U.S. military, Marine Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis said. He has been selected to receive his fourth star and become the leader of U.S. Joint Forces Command.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s “inclined to approve” an Army request to expand its end strength faster than initially planned to reduce stress on the force. He said he recognizes why Army Secretary Pete Geren wants to speed up the timetable for increasing active and reserve forces by 74,000 troops.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave high praise to retiring Marine Gen. Peter Pace during the general’s last news conference as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In turn, Pace spoke of his appreciation of the role servicemembers, families and the media played during his tenure.

WASHINGTON - Maintaining the U.S. Navy’s sea and air deterrent and recruiting and retaining enough qualified sailors to man the fleet are among the U.S. Navy’s top challenges in the years ahead, Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, the officer nominated to lead that force, told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - Any new U.S. maritime strategy must have at its core joint military capability, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command said.

WASHINGTON - Securing continued civil, military and commercial access to cyberspace and space-based domains will be a major challenge to the next commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton said during his confirmation hearing.

WASHINGTON - The new U.S. Africa Command will bring a more unified focus to the African continent and help strengthen stability and security in the region, Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, the general nominated to stand up the command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - After four months of battles, coalition forces have taken more control over a former insurgent badland south of Baghdad, a senior commander in the area said.

WASHINGTON - Using new software and common audiovisual equipment, a New Jersey-based foundation is giving schoolchildren an opportunity to talk directly to deployed troops via video teleconference.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have killed and detained many suspected terrorists during operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi citizens are helping coalition forces hunt down al Qaeda terrorists in a vast rural area south of Baghdad, a military commander said.

WASHINGTON - The Senate Armed Services Committee is considering the nominations of four senior officers named to take key Defense Department posts.

WASHINGTON - Award-winning actor Robert Duvall visited wounded servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

HONOLULU - With a big emphasis in Iraq on getting diplomatic and economic progress to catch up with security progress, officials say U.S. military-diplomatic cooperation is just as important half a world away in the Pacific.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers and their families can expect sweeping changes throughout the Defense Department’s mental health care services during the next year.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy will unveil a new maritime strategy next month that will address the demands of a globalizing world, a top military official said.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s citizens are weary of insurgent-generated violence and are now looking to homegrown security forces to provide long-term peace and stability, a senior U.S. military officer posted in the country’s Diyala province said.

WASHINGTON - The Army, stressed and stretched by six years of conflict, needs continued and uninterrupted support and resourcing to maintain its current operational levels while preparing for the future, its top civilian and military leaders told Congress.

WASHINGTON - President Bush will ask Congress for another $42 billion to fund operations in the war on terror in fiscal 2008, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee. The request brings the total supplement for fiscal 2008 to $190 billion.

WASHINGTON - Members of the 205th Afghan National Army Corps advised by coalition forces killed more than 100 insurgents during combat in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - The additional budget request for the war on terror that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will present to Congress reflects troop-level recommendations made by the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Warm and transparent relationships with emerging Asian nations are key in today’s global ideological struggle, and a forthcoming U.S. maritime strategy will consider the modern security and economic landscape, a top military official said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed and detained several terrorists during operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - In recent weeks, Iraqi security forces have been proving their effectiveness and expanded capability in operations that are increasingly yielding results, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - New buildings constructed under the guidance of coalition forces are sparking prosperity for Iraqi citizens, a senior U.S. military engineer in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - Four airmen, a soldier and a member of the Coast Guard received the “Outstanding American by Choice” award from the chief of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during a ceremony in Baltimore.

WASHINGTON - The commitment of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is heavy, but the U.S. military has ample forces to respond to any other contingency that may arise, the general in charge of planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed key Iraqi concerns in New York City before a host of international leaders gathered there for the United Nations General Assembly.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. state of Georgia and the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe might seem like strange strategic partners. But since 1993, the National Guard has breached barriers between American states and international states with positive results.

WASHINGTON - Military families have a new partner in their efforts to understand and cope with having a loved one in a battle zone. The Blewitt Foundation focuses on helping children experiencing loss, serious injury or related anxiety or fear.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 29 suspects during a series of anti-insurgent operations conducted across Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Nations of the world must unite against terrorism, which denies fundamental rights, President Bush told the United Nations General Assembly. Terrorists are a threat to all civilized people, Bush said at the opening of the assembly’s 62nd session.

WASHINGTON - A military appeals court ruled that a military trial judge has the authority to determine jurisdiction in a military commission, a ruling that paves the way for proceedings to continue against suspected terrorists at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

WASHINGTON - Children and spouses of deployed servicemembers enjoyed free activities and programs during a “Deployed Family Fun Day” on a Coast Guard installation near Fort Belvoir, Va.

WASHINGTON - Coalition teams working to rebuild communities in Iraq and Afghanistan have a new resource. The Provincial Reconstruction Team Playbook, a first-of-its-kind guide, has just been published by the Army’s Center for Lessons Learned, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

WASHINGTON - As coalition troops work among the people of Baghdad to improve security, they also are training Iraqi forces, who in turn are securing their own neighborhoods and taking more responsibility, the U.S. general in charge of coalition forces in the city said.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England asked servicemembers and department civilians to open their hearts and wallets and contribute generously to the Combined Federal Campaign.

WASHINGTON - Thousands of additional Iraqi police officers must be hired if security is to truly take hold in Iraq, a U.S. military commander said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained 20 insurgents and discovered a weapons cache in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces killed five insurgents, detained 15 suspects and destroyed a weapons cache in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Cooking talents of some of the U.S. military’s top chefs will be on the front burner of a new Pentagon Channel lifestyle program, “ The Grill Sergeants.”

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed 19 terrorists and detained some 80 others during operations in Iraq since Sept. 20.

WASHINGTON - Attacks and violent incidents in Iraq are down, but Iraqi and coalition forces still have a lot of work ahead, a top coalition spokesman in Iraq said.

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - Six months into the job as commander of the largest U.S. combatant command, Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating feels he has “the best job in the Department of Defense.” After visiting nearly half of the 43 countries in his area of responsibility since taking command in March, Keating said he’s “heartened by what I have seen.”

WASHINGTON - Five military members received the USO’s Service Hero award before an audience of hundreds who gathered at the National Building Museum here for the 66th annual USO World Gala.

WASHINGTON - Top military officials and five servicemember heroes hobnobbed with an army of celebrities here during the USO World Gala.

WASHINGTON - A widow who waited more than 30 years to find out the fate of her husband, a pilot shot down in Vietnam, shared her story during the annual POW/MIA day commemoration at the Pentagon. “My story is a personal one, and I don’t share it often, but this is the right day,” she said.

CANBERRA, Australia - The commander of U.S. Pacific Command met with Australian government and military leaders here over the past two days to explore ways to enhance their already rock-solid partnership in promoting stability in the region and beyond.

WASHINGTON - President Bush issued a proclamation today designating Sept. 30 as “Gold Star Mother’s Day,” honoring the mothers of men and women who have lost their lives while serving in the military.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces teamed up to kill about 40 Taliban extremists and capture three others during two separate operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand and Ghazni provinces.

WASHINGTON - Violence in Baghdad has been cut in half, thanks to a massive influx of new Iraqi police officers, a top U.S. military advisor said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has long believed that removing Saddam Hussein was “the right thing to do,” a top Defense Department spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Defense leaders paid tribute to American prisoners of war and to those missing in action during a ceremony at the Pentagon. The United States military will “neither forget our duty to bring home all POWs and MIAs, nor relent in our efforts to do so,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - A national nonprofit started shortly after the 9/11 attacks that has become a big supporter of the "America Supports You" program earned high marks in a recent evaluation.

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Challenges are the same for reservists and their families no matter what country they come from, international officials learned in a multinational forum at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

WASHINGTON - The most encouraging recent development in Baghdad is the willingness of citizens to step forward and partner with Iraqi security forces in defeating terrorism, the U.S. commander in charge of coalition forces in the city said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed one alleged al Qaeda operative and detained eight other suspected terrorists during a series of operations in central Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s new Africa Command will be dissimilar to other unified commands in a variety of ways, not least of which is its primary charge to cultivate security, not fight a war, a top Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - The NATO Training Mission in Iraq is developing a new Gendarmerie-type training program focusing on key leadership skills taught by an Italian Carabinieri training unit.

WASHINGTON - The director of the Defense Department’s Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program was honored with a Service to America award for her efforts on behalf of disabled servicemembers and civilian employees.

WASHINGTON - The San Diego Padres Major League Baseball team kicked off Fleet Week San Diego 2007 with a game honoring members of the city’s military community.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates spent this morning on Capitol Hill and plans to spend more time there next week, a top Defense Department spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - During USO Night at RFK stadium in Washington, D.C., wounded servicemembers were treated to an up-close view of Major League Baseball.

WASHINGTON - The success that Marine Gen. Peter Pace has had in a 40-year military career has been based “on my listening to the incredible enlisted leaders who have been my partners,” the soon-to-retire chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. goals for progress in Iraq have not changed, but the timeline has been set back in order to achieve those goals, President Bush said. The original goal of turning security control over to Iraqis in all 18 of the country’s provinces by November has been delayed.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained eight suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda leaders in the central part of Iraq.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - A new Warrior and Family Support Center being built at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, will be 10 times the size of the current facility.

WASHINGTON - Attacks in Iraq are at their lowest level since before the February 2006 bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, a top U.S. commander in Iraq said. In addition, the number of civilian casualties is decreasing Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno told reporters.

DALLAS - Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose family’s name is part and parcel with American motorsports legend, will drive the Chevrolet the National Guard will sponsor in NASCAR’s top-level Sprint Cup series in 2008.

MINEOLA, N.Y. - The reason the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Chaminade High School in Mineola, N.Y., was on the wall as he entered the building: a simple plaque with the names of graduates killed in combat.

WASHINGTON - An organization in Phoenix is offering individuals, including some veterans, a lifeline for meeting their needs including housing, employment placement or just a simple word of encouragement.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have killed an al Qaeda leader who orchestrated a massive bombing in an impoverished Baghdad neighborhood, an attack designed to incite sectarian violence.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces nabbed dozens of suspects, killed five others and confiscated or destroyed weapons caches across Iraq.

DILI, Timor-Leste - The commander of U.S. Pacific Command met with Timorese government and military leaders to praise strides they’ve made in building a new democracy, and he promised U.S. support to help them overcome challenges to that democracy.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed more than a dozen enemy fighters when they foiled an insurgent ambush, and combined forces captured one suspect in Afghanistan.

CHICAGO - Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored families who have lost military family members during Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation's third annual dinner.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces have made much progress toward readiness in the past year within Multinational Division North’s area of responsibility, a top official in the region said.

WASHINGTON - The general in charge of detainee operations in Iraq is working to understand the mindset of extremist terrorist detainees and cultivate a different way of thinking in dealing with them in what he calls “the battlefield of the mind.”

WASHINGTON - The nation has stood in awe of the U.S. Air Force’s “bravery and endurance,” dating from the Berlin Airlift during the Cold War’s outset, through two wars in Asia and to today’s global conflict, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in observing the Air Force's 60th birthday. During a ceremony in the Pentagon courtyard, Gates, a former airman, spoke to hundreds who gathered to celebrate the U.S. Air Force’s 60-year anniversary.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 16 suspected terrorists during multiple operations targeting key al Qaeda operatives and mid-level leaders in Iraq’s Tigris River Valley.

WASHINGTON - Several suspected militants were killed and four others were detained during an operation by Afghan and coalition forces in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.

WASHINGTON - Rebuilding Iraq’s decimated air force is critical to securing the country’s future, a U.S. military commander said in Kirkuk, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Bush praised contributions made by military support groups and veterans organizations at a gathering on the White House’s South Lawn.

WASHINGTON - Six decades ago, the United States’ armed forces were retrofitted to better face challenges that emerged after World War II, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a memorandum honoring servicemembers and civilians in support of U.S. missions through the years.

NUKUALOFA, Tonga - U.S. Pacific Command's senior enlisted leader visited with Tongan soldiers, sailors and Marines, observed troops going through basic training, walked through the Marine Corps barracks, and checked out the hangar that houses Tonga’s tiny air force fleet.

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. - There is evil in the world, and the United States military stands ready to take on that evil, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Families United for a Strong America.

NUKUALOFA, Tonga - The commander of U.S. Pacific Command traveled to Tonga to thank its people for setting the example for other countries around the world as they support the war on terror.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presented his “realist’s view of promoting democracy abroad” during a speech the World Forum on the Future of Democracy in Williamsburg, Va. Gates said democratic reform takes time, and to abandon Iraq would be a setback for freedom and stability in the region.

WASHINGTON - Bob Woodruff of ABC News, wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq, gained personal insight into what many servicemembers are enduring, which prompted him and his family to found the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Constitution is a remarkable, visionary document that has guided the American republic through times of peace and turmoil for 220 years, officials said at a Pentagon-hosted commemoration.

WASHINGTON - Three insurgents were killed and 16 others, including a key “special groups” leader, were captured in separate operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - After speaking with commanders of U.S. provincial reconstruction teams and brigade combat teams via videoconference from Iraq, President Bush expressed confidence about the chances for success in that country. Bush said he thanked the leaders for their service to the nation.

WASHINGTON - The troop surge in Iraq has turned the momentum against terrorists and insurgents, and coalition forces must capitalize on the situation by keeping the pressure on, a senior military official in Baghdad said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces detained six suspects, including several key extremist militant leaders, killed three insurgents and seized a weapons cache in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Afghan forces, working in concert with coalition troops, killed more than a dozen insurgents, captured 11 suspects and seized a weapons cache in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured a man suspected of being behind the Sept. 13 assassination of Sheik Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, an influential Sunni leader who helped fight al Qaeda in Iraq’s Anbar Forces.

WASHINGTON - Failure in Iraq would empower extremists and have “enormous” consequences for the Middle East and the United States, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during his appearance on two television news talk shows.

HONOLULU - Scott Harpley Ringgold shed 170 pounds to join the Navy. He went on to excel in his training and is on his way to starting a promising military career.

WASHINGTON - President Bush said during his weekly radio address that he supports the recommendations on reducing troop levels in Iraq made earlier this week by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq. He also said the success in Anbar province are being replicated in other parts of Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a television news talk show that he’s optimistic about the improved security situation in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The nation’s top military advisers were “unanimous” in backing the recommendations made to the president by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus on the way forward in Iraq, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

MIAMI - About 1,200 troops, family members and civilian employees of U.S. Southern Command bid farewell to their former commander.

MIAMI - A young Army sergeant in Afghanistan recently reassured the nation’s highest-ranking four-star general that it’s OK to retire after 40 years on active duty.

WASHINGTON - Quality of life in Iraq is getting better thanks to increased security, a chief Iraqi government spokesman said from Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s top doctor praised improvements at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring its patients get care that’s “the very best in the world.”

WASHINGTON - The surge of troops in Iraq has produced “solid results” that will enable Iraqis to take up more responsibility for their security, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told troops assembled at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

WASHINGTON - For perspective about how much the Army Reserve has changed as it has evolved from a strategic reserve to an operational force that’s a key player in the war on terror, few could offer as much insight as its senior enlisted soldier.

WASHINGTON - “Getting the next part right” in Iraq is critical to America, and forthcoming steps there must capitalize on opportunities created by the troop surge, project U.S. confidence and show long-term commitment, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush spoke to Marines at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., thanking them for their service and explaining the way forward in Iraq. Bush said he told the troops that he was able to make his speech last night because of the progress on the ground in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - A new battalion of Afghan National Army commandos completed it first operation, capturing a well-known Taliban facilitator and two suspected Taliban extremists.

WASHINGTON - The new Military Advanced Training Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington represents “an evolution in how we embrace, treat and honor,” wounded warriors, the Army vice chief of staff said at the center's opening ceremony.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed eight terrorists and detained 21 suspected terrorists in operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Paralyzed Veterans of America held its annual Americana Gala at the National Building Museum in Washington.

BAGHDAD - Families in a neighborhood that sits between Sunni and Shiia areas of west Baghdad are looking forward to the re-opening of their secondary school.

WASHINGTON - When people ask him why the U.S. military should be helping Iraq establish a free and stable society, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy M. de Vries cites how France helped the American colonies gain their independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War.

WASHINGTON - In addition to a drawdown of surge forces in Iraq, President Bush said tonight that he also had accepted Army Gen. David H. Petraeus’ recommendation to begin transitioning to the next phase of the U.S. strategy in Iraq in December.

CARTEGENA, Colombia - Colombia’s president and top military leaders turned out to honor and bid farewell to America’s top ranking general.

WASHINGTON - In an address to the nation, President Bush said he accepts Army Gen. David H. Petraeus’ recommendations on the U.S. strategy in Iraq and reduced troop levels.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials today released the audio file of the March 10 Combatant Status Review Tribunal of terrorist leader Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, who admitted to masterminding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

WASHINGTON - In the years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. government has revamped its homeland security network and now is fully capable of dealing with any potential attacks on American soil, a top Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - The Dallas Songwriters Association is inviting aspiring songwriters who happen to wear a military uniform to enter their original tunes in its 2007/2008 “Songs from the Soul of Service” contest.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces advised by coalition forces killed more than 45 Taliban insurgents in a battle in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province and detained 10 suspected militants in Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed five terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda leaders and operatives in central and northern parts of the Iraq.

WASHINGTON - A 31,000-square-foot, $10 million Military Advanced Training Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center has opened two months early and offers some of the most state-of-the-art care for amputees found anywhere in the world.

WASHINGTON - Texas and Louisiana National Guard troops are standing by to assist residents affected by strong winds, heavy rains and flooding caused by Hurricane Humberto, state military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The assassination of an influential Sunni leader whose followers have been helping fight al Qaeda in Iraq will only bolster the war on insurgents, a chief spokesman of the Iraqi government said.

WASHINGTON - A mortar that killed a coalition servicemember and injured 12 when it detonated earlier this week at a coalition operating base likely was manufactured in Iran, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The contributions of a West Virginia excavating company helped lighten the load -- literally -- for a deploying Army National Guard aviation unit.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised a select group of civilian employers for their exemplary support of employees in the National Guard and reserves.

WASHINGTON - President Bush has nominated Marine Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis to receive his fourth star and to lead U.S. Joint Forces Command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced. Mattis will replace the retiring Air Force Gen. Lance L. Smith at JFCOM if he’s confirmed by the Senate.

WASHINGTON - Turbocam International’s support of its deployed employees has earned the company a place of honor alongside 14 other organizations recognized with Secretary of Defense Employer Freedom Awards.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan - Several influential Afghan women from Laghman province met with U.S. Army and Air Force women to discuss their role in the future of their province.

WASHINGTON - The top commander and diplomat in Iraq told reporters at the National Press Club that what happens in Iraq is critical to long-term U.S. security. “The central front of al Qaeda’s global war on terror is in Iraq,” said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda leaders and their networks in the northern part of Iraq.

SEBRING, Ohio - The more than 1,000 people who walked in the second annual Freedom Walk in Sebring, Ohio, did so to remember, reflect and commemorate those who were killed in the terrorist attacks six years ago.

WASHINGTON - Six years ago, Army Chaplain (Col.) William Broome stared in disbelief as he ran toward a burning Pentagon from his Crystal City office to minister to those injured and the families of those who died.

WASHINGTON - Minutes after terrorists slammed a hijacked commercial airliner into the Pentagon six years ago today, Army Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell thought he was going to die.

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - As soldiers from 2nd Infantry Division’s 3rd Striker Brigade returned from Iraq to Fort Lewis, Wash., they were greeted by members of the rear detachment who took care of their families and their unit while they were gone, so they could focus on their mission.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to 15 outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients -- Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. -- went above and beyond to support a member of the Marine Reserve.

WASHINGTON - Although Jessica Strasser’s husband is now deployed to Afghanistan with his Iowa Army National Guard unit, she says life on the farm is immeasurably easier thanks to his employer -- Augustine and Sons, Inc.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military commander and diplomat in Iraq entered their third round of congressional testimony reiterating their belief that although the mission in Iraq is challenging, it’s making progress the United States can’t afford to let slip.

WASHINGTON - An element of 2nd Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps, advised by coalition forces, surprised a large group of Taliban fighters planning an ambush near Wetob village in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - On the sixth anniversary of al Qaeda’s attacks on U.S. soil, White House officials released a “fact sheet” that takes stock of actions the United States and other nations have taken to confront the terrorist threat.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Troops at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan paused to remember Sept. 11, 2001. At 5:16 p.m., the only sounds that could be heard were the distant drone of helicopter rotors and the flap of flags in the wind.

WASHINGTON - There is encouraging evidence of political reconciliation in Iraq despite legislative stalls on key issues, including oil revenue sharing, the top U.S. military commander there said. He said there are many examples of the Iraqi government making incremental progress.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces conducted two operations targeting facets of the al Qaeda network that conduct attacks and facilitate the movement of foreign terrorists in northwestern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials are giving Iran’s present role in Iraq “a hard look,” U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told grieving family members at the Pentagon’s west wall that the military would continue to pursue and defeat America’s enemies, such as al Qaeda, which instigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

WASHINGTON - The troop surge in Iraq is helping reduce violence and has put al Qaeda “off balance,” but a premature withdrawal of troops could enable terrorists to regain their losses, the top military commander in Iraq said. He noted that sectarian violence over the past two weeks is at its lowest point since June 2006.

WASHINGTON - Roughly 95 of 140 battalions that make up Iraq’s army, national police and special operations forces are capable of leading operations, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq told the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S. Central Command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff fully support Army Gen. David H. Petraeus’ proposal for reducing troops in Iraq to pre-surge levels by mid-July, Petraeus told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Cheryl Irwin is one of thousands of Pentagon employees who will commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the building in their own way.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national police advised by coalition forces detained a Taliban district commander in an operation designed to disrupt insurgent activities in Ghazni province.

WASHINGTON - A secure, stable, democratic Iraq at peace with its neighbors is attainable with “substantial U.S. resolve and commitment,” U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker told the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees.

WASHINGTON - All four services reported strong recruiting success in August, with the Army marking its second consecutive month exceeding its monthly goal.

PARAMUS, N.J. - Nearly 400 residents of Paramus, N.J., took a stroll in support of U.S. troops, veterans and emergency responders and commemorated victims of 9/11.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, told the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees that the surge in Iraq is showing progress, and that he believes troop reductions to pre-surge levels could begin by summer 2008 without jeopardizing gains made.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. forces killed 12 enemy extremists during a helicopter assault raid outside Samarra, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Prevailing in the war on terror and building strong foundations for a future joint force are top priorities, the Defense Department official who heads the Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict policy group told Pentagon reporters.

DALLAS - More than 50 servicemembers not only enjoyed front-row seats at a Brooks and Dunn concert, but also were guests at a backstage reception where they got a handshake and the personal thanks of the country music giants.

WASHINGTON - More than 20 America Supports You groups greeted participants of the 2007 Freedom Walk as they entered the Pentagon parking lot.

WASHINGTON - More than 10,000 people participated in the third annual America Supports You Freedom Walk honoring those killed in the 9/11 attacks and the nation’s veterans, past and present.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed more than 30 suspected militants during an operation in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 21 suspects during operations in Iraq’s Tarmiyah area and Tigris River Valley to disrupt al Qaeda senior leadership.

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda sanctuaries are continuing to be eliminated or severely restricted as Iraqi and coalition forces maintain the initiative in keeping pressure on terrorists groups.

WASHINGTON - In the shadow of the Washington Monument and under the watchful eyes of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, some 10,000 participants gathered at the National Mall here to walk in the third annual America Supports You Freedom Walk.

WASHINGTON - Visitors to the Pentagon paid homage and honored those who lost their lives when a terrorist-controlled airliner crashed into the building, Sept. 11, 2001.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces have reduced violence and driven al Qaeda out of strongholds in Iraq’s Anbar province, President Bush said during his first radio address since his surprise visit there earlier this week to visit troops and assess progress.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces have captured more terrorism suspects, as operations against al Qaeda in Iraq continue.

WASHINGTON - Nearly six years after a terrorist-controlled plane slammed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people aboard the plane and in the building, Defense Department historians have published a book on the incident and its aftermath.

WASHINGTON - Six military women of Hispanic descent were honored for their service to the nation at Latina Style Magazine’s 4th annual awards luncheon.

WASHINGTON - An eight-hour battle this morning in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province ended with another defeat of the Taliban by Afghan forces.

WASHINGTON - The surge has allowed coalition and Iraqi forces to achieve tactical momentum and has given momentum to local reconciliation efforts, but national efforts still lag, the top coalition commander in Iraq said in a letter to servicemembers and civilians of Multinational Force Iraq.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Representatives from American, Canadian and Mexican military and government agencies came to U.S. Northern Command headquarters here this week to discuss their plans and preparedness for a possible influenza pandemic.

WASHINGTON - William Fields, who lost his wife during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and family members of other victims today toured the construction site of the Pentagon Memorial, dedicated to the memory of the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 18 suspected terrorists during operations over the past two days to disrupt the senior leadership of al Qaeda in central and northern parts of Iraq.

WASHINGTON - When completed, the Pentagon Memorial will honor the memory of the 184 victims who died in the nation's military headquarters and those who perished at the other Sept. 11, 2001, attack sites in New York City and Pennsylvania.

WASHINGTON - Thousands have indicated their desire to commemorate the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and support the nation’s troops by walking in the third annual America Supports You Freedom Walk here Sept. 9.

WASHINGTON - Rebuilding infrastructure, empowering local business leaders, and training Iraqi army forces are pieces of the full-spectrum approach being taken by coalition forces on the ground in Iraq, a U.S. military commander said this week.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces in Ninewah province are in the lead and taking the fight to the enemy, the U.S. Army commander in the area said from his headquarters near Mosul, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is changing its military blood-donation regulations to allow for a wider spectrum of civilian donors.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is battling terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq so Americans don’t have to fight them in the homeland, a senior air-defense noncommissioned officer said.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to 15 outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients -- the State of Tennessee -- went above and beyond to support a member of the National Guard.

PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua - A 13-person hurricane assessment team from Joint Task Force Bravo and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance arrived in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, to begin surveying damage following landfall of Hurricane Felix.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s aging infrastructure, which suffered decades of neglect under Saddam Hussein’s rule, is being upgraded sporadically in “fits and starts,” a Joint Staff official said today.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s air force has added unprecedented personnel and aircraft in recent months and undertaken crucial missions, the commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team said today in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to 15 outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients – CHE Consulting of Fenton, Mo. -- went above and beyond to support a member of the Mississippi National Guard.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Marine veterans that he believes Iraq’s leaders know what it will take for their government to succeed

WASHINGTON - President Bush is urging Americans to light candles and ring bells to honor terrorism victims and servicemembers during “National Days of Prayer and Remembrance." He asks Americans to remember the 2,974 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Many soldiers who are not combat medics are taking the Combat Lifesaver Course to prepare them for treating fellow soldiers on the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - As it has for the past two years to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Pentagon will open its doors Sept. 8 and 9 for brief public tours.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 25 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq's operational networks in the Tigris River Valley and Kirkuk.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is awaiting results of an Air Force investigation into the alleged improper transfer of weapons by air from a base in North Dakota to a Louisiana military installation last week.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff thanked veterans of the storied 4th Marine Division who fought in World War II for setting the example for today’s troops and demonstrating why they’ll never fail in combat.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to 15 outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients -- the New Hampshire State Police -- went above and beyond to support a member of the Army National Guard.

KARMAH, Iraq - Marine Gen. Peter Pace visited an outpost in Iraq to speak with Marines who figuratively walk in boots he once wore.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed dozens of enemy fighters in Afghanistan’s Helmand, Kandahar and Ghazni provinces.

WASHINGTON - Enlistment and retention bonuses, educational benefits and other incentives are invaluable recruiting tools, but Army officials say old-fashioned patriotism is just as big a motivator in attracting soldiers to the force and encouraging them to stay.

WASHINGTON - Nevada National Guard members continue to seek the whereabouts of millionaire adventurer and pilot Steve Fossett.

WASHINGTON - The surge of U.S. forces has contributed to a marked decrease in sectarian attacks and other violence across Iraq, while a bevy of programs is breathing life into the country’s battered infrastructure and economy.

WASHINGTON - Afghan soldiers and police are increasingly taking the lead to bolster security in their country.

WASHINGTON - After attending meetings in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is more optimistic about the situation in the country.

WASHINGTON - Care packages from one Georgia group are keeping troops in combat support hospitals cooking.

WASHINGTON - In Afghanistan’s Khowst province, enhanced cooperation between coalition and Afghan forces, increased funding from Congress, and improved governance are “mutually reinforcing each other,” the commander of the Khowst Provincial Reconstruction Team said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed an al Qaeda leader and detained 18 suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt the terrorist network and its bombing operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard have announced further cooperation between U.S. and Australian forces and underscored their unity concerning the war on terror.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to 15 outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients -- Sodexho USA, with headquarters in Gaithersburg, Md. -- went above and beyond to support a member of the Army National Guard.

WASHINGTON - A task force designed to bolster Iraq’s industry has made “measurable progress,” placing scores of Iraqi workers in sustainable jobs since the program’s June 2006 inception, said Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England.

WASHINGTON - The Army’s new “quick-ship” bonus program is showing success in getting prospective recruits to enlist and is expected to help the Army make its end-of-year recruiting goal, the Army’s recruiting chief told Pentagon reporters.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Army and Navy divers are using an Army boat as a diving platform in their efforts to raise a sunken submarine in Providence Harbor on the Rhode Island coast.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MEHTAR LAM, Afghanistan - Afghans and Americans bump, set and spike during weekly rounds of volleyball at a forward operating base in eastern Afghanistan, providing an opportunity for the local citizens to see U.S. airmen and soldiers in a setting different from that outside the wire.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to 15 outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients -- Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Delaware -- went above and beyond to support members of the Air National Guard and reserves.

WASHINGTON - A coalition helicopter made an unscheduled landing in Afghanistan without injury to its crew or passengers, while Afghan and coalition forces thwarted a Taliban attack near Firebase Anaconda, in Oruzgun province.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department receives many attempted cyber attacks each day and has measures in place to aggressively respond to and deter these attacks, a department spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 17 during operations around Iraq on Sept. 4, 2007.

WASHINGTON - A Maryland-based group is out to show severely wounded troops they’ve still got game through the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Four Afghan National Army cadets have finished a two-week internship program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - The military surge into Iraq is working, President Bush told troops during a surprise visit to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he felt it was important for top military commanders here to be able to deliver their individual assessments directly to the commander in chief without “summarization” or “filters.”

WASHINGTON - During a surprise Labor Day visit to Iraq today, President Bush thanked about 700 U.S. troops at Al Asad Air Base for their hard work.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces detained a militant extremist leader and one of his subordinate leaders during an early morning raid yesterday in southern Babil Province, military officials reported.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - President Bush said here today that if reported successes continue in Iraq it will eventually be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer troops.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces, advised by coalition soldiers, conducted a cordon and search operation of an insurgent headquarters southwest of Kandahar City yesterday leading to the deaths of 25 insurgents and the discovery of a weapons cache.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Local tribes siding with coalition forces to repel al Qaeda must be incorporated into Iraq’s central government and its security forces, a senior Defense Department official told reporters on background while traveling to Iraq with Defense Department Secretary Robert M. Gates.

Al ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - President Bush has assembled his “war council” on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in a surprise holiday weekend meeting in what is probably the group’s last meeting before the president makes his decision on next steps for U.S. involvement in the war.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - President Bush surprised servicemembers with a visit to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq’s Anbar province today.

WASHINGTON - The way forward in Iraq must be pursued in a manner that sustains the “hard-fought gains” made by coalition troops and Iraqi forces, a senior official in Baghdad said.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 12, defense officials will present Freedom Awards to fifteen outstanding employers. Here is how one of the recipients – General Motors -- went above and beyond to support its employees who are members of the National Guard and reserves.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr’s recent call for a halt to all militia violence in Iraq is a “welcome development,” a Multinational Force Iraq official said during a briefing in Baghdad.

SHARANA, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff asked members of Task Force Rugged in Afghanistan to go beyond ceremonies in honoring the sacrifice of their fallen comrades.

GHAZNI, Afghanistan - Marine Gen. Peter Pace visited Afghanistan to say thank you to the troops serving there as he enters his final month of military service. Pace visited with members of the Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team and the 82nd Airborne Division.

WASHINGTON - Several recent conflicts in Afghanistan’s Helmand province have resulted in “scores” of insurgent deaths and detentions, Combined Joint Task Force- 82 officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 59 suspected insurgents during operations in Iraq since Aug. 31.

BAQOUBA, Iraq - Iraqi tribal leaders representing multiple tribes throughout the Diyala River Valley gathered at the Baqouba Government Center to continue discussions about the importance of reconciliation.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces, advised by coalition forces, recently brought medical assistance to Afghan civilians in Shewan City, Farah province, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Paratroopers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and Afghan National Army soldiers took the fight to the Taliban in Afghanistan's Chowkay Valley during Operation Destined Strike.

WASHINGTON - A group of public health experts gathered in the Pentagon Aug. 30 to focus on rebuilding the Iraqi health care system.