WASHINGTON - The Air Force announced it has selected Northrop Grumman Corp. to build its next-generation air-refueling tanker aircraft.

WASHINGTON - Marine Commandant Gen. James T. Conway halted purchases of the Marine Corps’ new tactical vest after Marines complained they are impractical.

WASHINGTON - President Bush today welcomed NATO’s secretary general at the White House, where the two met ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania.

WASHINGTON - A National Guard team was quick on the scene after Las Vegas authorities reported a substance that turned out to be deadly ricin.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Fayetteville State University hosted the Defense Department’s 2008 African-American History Month outreach and observance program Feb. 25 and 26.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed five suspected terrorists, captured 23 others and uncovered scores of weapons in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Law Enforcement Equipment Program is providing used gear for American armed forces units to use in training or equipping Afghan National Police and coalition forces.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Coalition forces distributed much-needed supplies to nearly 200 villagers in Nangarhar province to help them through the severe winter.

HUSSEINIYA, Iraq - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police patrol the streets of an Iraqi city to help build goodwill all around. Handing out newspapers to the people is one of the “good things” citizens see coming from the joint effort.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan - Two combat medics have devoted their time to teaching Afghan police officers one of the most important soldier skills: first aid.

WASHINGTON - A love for the military and desire to serve inspired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Paralyn McClain to rejoin the service after a five-year separation.

WASHINGTON - In a broad-ranging all-hands meeting with Joint Staff members, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen discussed the stand-up of U.S. Africa Command, the challenges of leadership in a changing world, and the increased speed of war.

WASHINGTON - The plane that carried Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on a nine-day, around-the-world trip touched down at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., delivering an exhausted, yet positive, Pentagon leader.

WASHINGTON - A precipitous U.S. withdrawal from Iraq not based on conditions on the ground would turn around all the gains the coalition has made in the country, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - While the new U.S. Africa Command prepares to stand up in October, Americans on the continent are already forging key African partnerships.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program continues to grow in Iraq, where the Defense Ministry is buying goods and services for its forces.

WASHINGTON - Military Saves Week will run through March 2, helping troops access assistance available through a vast financial counseling and support network.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Douglas M. Stone took command of Task Force 134 Detention Operations in Iraq in May, bringing to bear a whole new way of doing business.

WASHINGTON - President Bush’s fiscal 2009 $515.4 billion defense budget request is “a lot of money,” but it is what is needed to defend the United States, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told the House Budget Committee.

WASHINGTON - Following the growth of Iraqi Interior Ministry forces to 410,000 in 2007, the coalition’s focus is shifting from recruiting police to improving overall operational quality.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained 15 suspects during two days of operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in northern and central Iraq.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Army Chaplain (Capt.) Joe Gotshall and several members of the 724th Military Police Battalion regularly visit Egyptian Hospital patients at Bagram Air Base to boost spirits with smiles, toys and conversation.

WASHINGTON - Victory in Iraq is an important priority for protecting the United States, President Bush said in urging Congress to act quickly and fully fund war on terror operations.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force Space Command major and two staff sergeants are proving that three troops can affect people halfway around the world.

WASHINGTON - Pvt. Raymond Loree has become the first Army National Guard soldier to graduate directly into the active Army’s ranks through a new program.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - More than 80 Iraqi soldiers and policemen recently graduated from Task Force Marne Noncommissioned Officer Academy training at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq.

EL PASO, Texas - The 1st Cavalry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team may be a relative newcomer in El Paso, Texas, but more than 3,000 of the unit’s soldiers got a Texas-sized heroes’ welcome as the city hosted a homecoming parade to honor them for their service in Iraq.

EN ROUTE TO WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he believes the Turks are working harder to keep the Iraqi government aware of their country’s current counterterrorism operations in northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - An independent group will investigate allegations that ‘gross mismanagement’ by the Marines Corps deprived its frontline force of life-saving blast-resistant vehicles.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s training transformation initiative is changing the way the military weaves joint, interagency and international elements into training programs and uses technology to increase their realism.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s insistence on quality has visibly paid off through the superb performance of troops during the war on global terrorism, a senior U.S. defense official told members of a House panel.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s top intelligence official told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the United States is operating in an “unusually complex” security environment.

WASHINGTON - Forces in Regional Command East have increased the operations tempo 300 percent over this time last year.

WASHINGTON - A simple request for a “mom hug” from a young Marine serving in Iraq ignited one mom’s desire to inspire troops.

ANKARA, Turkey - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed in Turkey today with the message for the country’s leaders that sooner is better for wrapping up Turkish military operations in northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Army Sgt. Donald Davis was honored to shake hands Vice President Richard B. Cheney during the vice president's visit on Fort Hood, Texas.

WASHINGTON - Stabilizing war-torn nations is as important as conducting offensive and defensive operations, according to a new Army operations manual.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces throughout Iraq have killed and captured several terrorists over the past several days.

WASHINGTON - Army engineers are building roads and outposts that are helping put isolated Afghans onto the path of peace and prosperity.

KIRKUK, Iraq - The Iraqi air force took another step on the path of increased airpower capability as Iraqi pilots took the controls of a King Air 350 aircraft.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. airmen are leading a weekly women’s seminar for female Afghan National Army soldiers and civilian workers that offers them encouragement to change, starting with wearing their uniforms to work.

FORT BLISS, Texas - U.S. soldiers are training more than 3,000 Canadian soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas, in preparation for a tour in Afghanistan. Countering improvised explosive devices is an area of focus.

NEW DELHI - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wrapped up a two-day visit to India after talks with top officials aimed at developing a long-term relationship with India.

FORT HOOD, Texas - A roaring crowd of about 9,000 1st Cavalry Division soldiers returned Vice President Richard B. Cheney's welcome upon their return from Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army remains ready to engage and defeat America’s enemies despite strain from seven years of wartime deployments, the Army’s leaders told a Senate panel.

FORT LEE, Va. - The Defense Commissary Agency has removed two Progresso Italian Wedding Soup brands in response to a recall from General Mills related to the recent beef recall, an agency spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Looking beyond Iraq and Afghanistan, the forces of U.S. Central Command have to be positioned to deal with violent networked extremists, a top general in the command said.

WASHINGTON - A troop-support group in a small southern Michigan town is using 500 billboards to build appreciation for troops and their families.

WASHINGTON - Nearly a third of the 3,200 Marines scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan next month will be stationed in NATO’s southern and western regional commands to train Afghan security forces to face upcoming threats, a top U.S. military official said.

WASHINGTON - Fourteen Defense Department civilians became the first to receive the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops in Iraq will go down in military history as purveyors of democracy in the region, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told a cheering crowd at Fort Hood, Texas.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, came together to celebrate significant contributions made by African-Americans during a Black History Month program.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - The tenth rotation of soldiers from El Salvador assumed responsibility of humanitarian efforts in Kut, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Multinational Division North soldiers killed seven terrorists during a firefight east of Khan Bani Saad, Iraq.

CAMP FOSTER, Japan - When his brother needed a life-saving kidney transplant, a U.S. Marine based in Okinawa didn't hesitate to donate his one of his kidneys.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Airmen from 755th Expeditionary Support Squadron are mentoring Afghan National Army soldiers at the Logistics Support Operations Center in Kabul.

NEW DELHI - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed in New Delhi looking to expand on what one official said already is one of the United States' best military-to-military relationships.

WASHINGTON - Officials project five U.S. Army brigades and two Marine battalions will leave Iraq by the end of July, but it’s too soon to project troop levels beyond that.

WASHINGTON - Connecting with soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines was the highlight of a six-day trip that took Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to California, Hawaii and Australia.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 11 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - US. airmen and sailors from around the world convened at the Joint Maneuver Training Center to learn from the Army how to fill specific needs for upcoming duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Despite recent progress against insurgents, the terrorist bombing that killed dozens of religious pilgrims illustrates that much work remains.

WASHINGTON - The U.S Embassy in Baghdad and Multinational Force Iraq today strongly condemned al Qaeda’s attacks on Iraqi citizens making their way to Karbala for a Shiite holy festival yesterday.

MINA SALMAN PIER, Bahrain - A French admiral has assumed command of Combined Task Force 150, a maritime command of coalition nations to increase security and aid counterterrorism efforts at sea.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials are confident the Feb. 21 shoot down of a dying satellite destroyed the fuel tank and reduced risk to people on Earth.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A member of the State Department’s Baghdad 7 is helping communities in southern Baghdad establish themselves as centers of poultry production.

WASHINGTON - Veterans looking for a job in the Cincinnati area can turn to a new partnership for resume services, coaching and leads.

BAGHDAD - Throughout his life, U.S. Army Sgt. William Hall, 39, has made it a goal to lead by example. "Anybody can demand respect, but few people earn respect," he said.

WASHINGTON - Establishing stability in Kunar province is like putting together a puzzle and Afghan Regional Security Integration Command Central is helping the pieces fit.

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates heralded Indonesia as a leader in its region and pledged U.S. support to help the country continue its military reforms and build airlift and maritime capabilities.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces have killed enemy combatants and destroyed insurgents’ infrastructure and weapons in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed four suspected terrorists, detained 56 others and destroyed weapons in Iraq, military officials said.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - USS Lake Erie crewmembers were calm as they fired the missile that destroyed a dead satellite that posed a threat to humans.

CANBERRA, Australia - The recent push of Turkish tanks and troops into northern Iraqi Kurdistan does not pose a threat to security gains in Iraq.

CANBERRA, Australia - The Taliban in Afghanistan will resort to more terror killings because they have been unsuccessful against NATO and U.S. troops in direct combat, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

CANBERRA, Australia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reinforced the longstanding relationship between Australia and the United States and pledged continued cooperation between the countries’ defense departments.

CANBERRA, Australia - The military faces the challenge of fighting the war on terrorism in a rapidly changing world, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told students at the Australian Defense College.

CANBERRA, Australia - The idea that the military is an apolitical organization is fundamental to democracy, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said in Australia.

CANBERRA, Australia - Military personnel must have the capacity to see the world through other peoples’ eyes, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told students at the Australian Defense College.

WASHINGTON - The “Partnership for a Shared Workforce” initiative has emerged as a way to help the Army Reserve and the private sector attract young talent.

WASHINGTON - The United States has urged Turkey to bring to a “swift conclusion” any ongoing military operations in Iraq, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Security contributions provided by surge-fortified U.S. forces and ongoing efforts by Iraqi soldiers, police and concerned local citizens’ groups have combined to produce stability.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained six suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operating in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Multinational Force Iraq has received initial reporting that Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has pledged to extend the cease-fire he initially ordered in August, officials in Baghdad said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police officers conducted an operation Feb. 18, supporting the Iraqi Civil Conservation Force and the “Sons of Iraq” citizen security group to promote economic prosperity.

HERAT, Afghanistan - They look may like any other policemen in Afghanistan, but if U.S. Army Col. James Klingaman is right, the 143 new police officers might prove to be the best in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - She may be a sailor, but Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Emily K. Klinefelter has seen combat up close and had experiences similar to those in the ground forces.

CANBERRA, Australia - U.S. and Australian defense officials will work to strengthen the alliance between the two countries as part of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations this weekend.

EN ROUTE TO CANBERRA, Australia - A short pause after the initial withdrawal of five brigade combat teams from Iraq should not sideline efforts to bring more troops home by the end of the year, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

EN ROUTE TO CANBERRA, Australia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates plans to discuss Australia’s future efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the globe as he meets for the first time with the country’s newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

EN ROUTE TO CANBERRA, Australia - The Navy’s outer-atmosphere blasting of an ailing U.S. spy satellite this week proves that the nation’s missile defense systems work, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

U.S. NAVAL STATION PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates toured the USS Russell, one of the three ships used for the shooting of the dying reconnaissance satellite orbiting Earth.

WASHINGTON - The National Military Family Association paid tribute to groups that support military during the associations annual luncheon.

WASHINGTON - Three intrepid airmen of the all-black 332nd Fighter Group visited the Pentagon to sign and sell copies of their biographies, and talk with troops of all races about their World War II-era heroics.

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - Military preeminence and strategic cooperation are at the heart of every action taken by U.S. Pacific Command, the chief of America’s largest combatant command said.

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - The way the United States handled the shootdown of a dead reconnaissance satellite offers a model of the transparency it encourages of other countries, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command said.

WASHINGTON - Albania, Croatia and Macedonia are valued strategic partners of the United States and are qualified to join NATO, a senior Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 20 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Former Army National Guard Sgt. Kevin Pannell had both his legs amputated after a grenade blast in Baghdad while on patrol, but says he'd like to return to Iraq. He said he wants troops to know that just because a servicemember is injured doesn’t mean he forgets about his buddies still patrolling the streets of Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The United States created U.S. Africa Command to provide military assistance to African nations, not as a springboard to opening new military bases there, President Bush said during his visit to Ghana.

WASHINGTON - The missile fired from a U.S. Navy ship in the Pacific Ocean that hit a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite likely accomplished its goal of destroying the satellite’s toxic fuel tank, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals honored wounded warriers, troops and their families on a special night.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Dean, a 3-year-old black Labrador retriever mix, serves as a therapy dog with the 4th Infantry Division’s 64th Brigade Support Battalion, offering comfort and boosting morale. “They show unconditional love, and they’re not judgmental,” said Army Capt. Christi Moreno.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan soldiers and coalition forces delivered water heaters to the Tarin Kowt hospital and visited the Oruzgan provincial headquarters of the Afghan National Police.

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff thanked U.S. forces serving in the Pacific for stepping forward to serve their country at what he called a “critical time” in the nation’s history.

HONOLULU - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was pleased when he learned a U.S. Navy missile hit the crippled reconnaissance satellite that was threatening to spill its toxic rocket fuel.

WASHINGTON - At about 10:26 p.m. EST, Feb. 20, 2008, the USS Lake Erie fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 hitting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite about 153 miles over the Pacific Ocean as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has opened the window of time in which it will shoot down a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Before deploying to Iraq, Pvt. William Gentry had never been outside the United States.

WASHINGTON - Five states have endorsed the Silver Star banner to honor war-wounded veterans, reviving a decades-old custom.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition troops captured 22 suspected insurgents, seized massive quantities of illegal narcotics and destroyed a weapons cache in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have killed or captured three terrorist leaders responsible for planning or conducting attacks in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have identified a slain terrorist linked to the network responsible for Baghdad attacks by female suicide bombers.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates left on a nine-day trip around the world aimed at reinforcing relationships with some countries he has yet to visit as defense secretary.

QAHIRA, Iraq - Citizens in the northern Baghdad neighborhood of Qahira play a large role in securing their backyard through local checkpoints. “I am doing my part to keep this place safe,” said Mohamad Imad Shehad.

HONOLULU - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shared his philosophy on assessing military risks.

HONOLULU - The abilities of wounded warriors are far more important than their disabilities, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a visit to Camp Pendleton, Calif.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Camp Pendleton, Calif., to see how the Marine Corps treats its wounded.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, got a firsthand look at realistic combat training Marines receive on Camp Pendleton, Calif.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - NATO will continue its mission in the newly independent republic of Kosovo, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with the defense ministers of three Adriatic Charter nations to discuss their progress in making the reforms required for them to join NATO.

WASHINGTON - President Bush has authorized Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to give the order to shoot down a dying intelligence satellite headed toward Earth after the upcoming landing of the space shuttle Atlantis.

WASHINGTON - "Americans deserve a lot more credit for supporting the troops than they often get, " writes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen in an editorial in the San Bernardino (Calif.) Sun.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan government, with U.S. and international aid, has made great progress over the past year in providing health care to its citizens, a U.S. Army physician said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed nine suspected terrorists, detained 56 others and destroyed terrorist safe havens and training grounds in Iraq, military officials said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Harsh winter weather, coupled with rising food and fuel prices, has created a burgeoning humanitarian crisis in some areas of Herat province, in western Afghanistan near the Iran border.

WASHINGTON - If laughter is the best medicine, deployed troops are getting huge doses when they open care packages full of red clown noses.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained seven suspected insurgents during an operation targeting Taliban support networks in Afghanistan’s Zabul province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces marked the one-year anniversary of Operation Fardh al-Qanoon in an environment of reduced violence and forward momentum on political and economic fronts.

BAGHDAD - Uranium Road, which runs from Hit to Asad, is getting a $29.6 million makeover in the longest road project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq.

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces are working with national government officials to help farmers endure the harsh winter in a western province.

FIREBASE NAWA, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Sgt. Ronald K. Burke is teaching reading and writing as part of Afghan police training.

BAGHDAD - Multinational Division Center forces in Iraq began pursuit of remaining insurgent elements near Salman Pak with the kickoff of Operation Marne Grand Slam.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and coalition military, diplomatic and economic efforts in Iraq are important and will ultimately produce an oasis of peace in the Middle East, President Bush predicted during an interview in Arusha, Tanzania.

WASHINGTON - President Bush voiced his support for Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia during an interview with NBC in Arusha, Tanzania.

WASHINGTON - Four suspected insurgents were detained by coalition troops in Afghanistan during an operation to disrupt Taliban leadership networks in Zabul province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed two terrorists and captured 24 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - It was a Valentine’s Day lunch, and there was a lot of love in the air for wounded warriors at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., brought by retired Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his wife, Lynne.

WASHINGTON - Outpatient care for the Army’s wounded warriors is an “entirely new system” that is better now at taking care of soldiers than it was a year ago, the service secretary said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces are helping make sure the Iraqi Army will have enough equipment and weapons to defend itself, a military official in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The passage of a “bundle” of three important laws in Iraq shows a new legislative maturity for the Iraqi parliament, Pentagon officials said during a news conference in which they also discussed the redeployment of troops.

WASHINGTON - The surge in Iraq is providing a window of opportunity for other necessary developments in Iraq and throughout the Middle East, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told military analysts.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department program is tapping into the realm of science fiction to develop life-like prosthetics so that wounded servicemembers can live normal lives.

WASHINGTON - A 2008 budget provision will enable redeployed troops to tap into a nationwide network of services when they return from overseas.

WASHINGTON - During a ceremony in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes, senior defense officials recognized seven National Guard and reserve units for supporting families of deployed troops.

WASHINGTON - The Army has made huge improvements in the way it cares for combat-wounded troops during the year since news reports brought problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to light, the Army surgeon general told Congress.

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - U.S. soldiers and sailors are sharing the Guantanamo Bay mission to provide care and custody for detainees.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 10 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in northern and central Iraq, military officials said.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Five medics received Army Achievement Medals following the Talaban bombing of a Kabul hotel, Jan. 14, 2008. “We’re the only medics that go outside the wire,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Karla Tapia. “We’re known as the 911 of Kabul city."

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq - Thanks to coalition forces and a Girl Scout troop, Iraqi children recently received a gift of supplies and athletic equipment.

BAGHDAD - Army Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III assumed command of Multinational Corps Iraq at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - The Army is creating online communities for soldiers to exchange information through candid digital conversations.

WASHINGTON - “Pros vs. GI Joes” offers deployed troops the chance to challenge pro athletes on their favorite Xbox games.

WASHINGTON - An airman knows exactly why his small band of airmen and Afghan police defeated a much larger enemy force.

WASHINGTON - The Navy will shoot down a malfunctioning U.S. satellite sometime after Feb. 20, government officials said during a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces, Iraqi troops, and “Sons of Iraq” security volunteers are working together to rebuild areas south of Arab Jabour, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda has worn out its welcome with Sunni residents of Anbar province and, consequently, the terror group’s influence there is over for good, the Marine Corps’ most senior officer said.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government’s passage of three bills, including a 2008 budget, marks a historic turning point toward peace, stability and self-governance in the country.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is sound and can work, but the challenge lies in executing that strategy and sustaining success over time, a Defense Department official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps’ mission and mystique continue to attract high-quality recruits who join to fight America’s enemies, a Marine officer said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 16 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Technology is critical to countering roadside and car bombs and to attacking terrorist networks that emplace them, but a big part of the solution boils down to good old-fashioned training.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Several armed insurgents were killed and nine armed individuals were detained during two separate coalition operations to disrupt Taliban command and control networks.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police stations staffed with new recruits officially opened for business in the Adil, Khadra and Jamia neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital’s Mansour district.

WASHINGTON - Sending packages to troops will soon cost less with U.S. Postal Service flat-rate boxes.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Juliana Rizzo was a working mom when she decided to fulfill her childhood dream.

WASHINGTON - The director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization said he’s committed to keeping the Defense Department’s collective eye focused on the threat.

WASHINGTON - Top Pentagon officials is urging Congress to approve a fiscal 2009 defense budget that would grow and modernize the U.S. military, and enhance quality of life for troops.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in the Iraqi capital are going to extend their reach into neighborhoods, a top commander said.

WASHINGTON - Intelligence operations and contributions by Iraqi soldiers and police are key factors in the campaign to defeat al Qaeda and other insurgents who have fled from Baghdad into Mosul and other parts of northern Iraq, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - The command element of Multinational Corps Iraq is changing hands as the flag passes from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Corps headquarters to that of 18th Airborne Corps.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have detained a psychiatric hospital administrator in Iraq who is suspected of supplying mentally impaired women for al Qaeda terror missions.

WASHINGTON - An armed assailant was killed, and three individuals were detained during a coalition operation in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained eight suspects in operations in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The VetConnect program links wounded warriors to critical resources and engages local community and business leaders in the reorientation of disabled veterans.

BAGHDAD - Sunni and Shiite residents in Arab Jabour, Iraq, are resisting insurgent efforts to tear them apart and are working together to rebuild their community.

WASHINGTON - Airmen from the 755th Air Expeditionary Group’s explosive ordnance disposal team recently helped Afghanistan National Police in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, dispose of unexploded ordnance.

WASHINGTON - Former Army National Guard Sgt. Andrew Butterworth finds a new "normal" after losing his leg in Iraq in a 2004 explosion.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy’s efforts in the Persian Gulf are symbolic of the Navy’s future and reflect the essence of the forces’ new maritime strategy, the chief of naval operations said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Medics in Afghanistan are getting the newest version of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle: an MRAP ambulance.

WASHINGTON - The proposed fiscal 2009 defense budget will enable the department to support troops on the front lines and ensure the military’s readiness to confront other challenges, the deputy defense secretary told a Senate committee.

WASHINGTON - The chief of naval operations downplayed the low flight of a Russian Tu-95 over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the western Pacific Ocean.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan Army and coalition forces showed up on the first day of class to give school supplies to more than 100 children .

WASHINGTON - Created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency continues to advance technologies that give revolutionary advantages to the U.S. military.

WASHINGTON - A weekend incident in which a Russian bomber “buzzed” the Nimitz battle group in the Pacific raises concern about Russia’s intent and the message it was meant to send.

TASWELL, Va. - Virginia National Guard soldiers are battling wildfires raging throughout the state. A forestry official said Guard helicopters are "amazingly effective."

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed two suspected terrorists, nabbed 11 and uncovered weapons caches in Iraq over the past three days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A proposed arms-control treaty that bans the use of cluster munitions and aid to countries that use them could affect U.S. operations with NATO allies, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - Homefront America will award 25 of its American Patriot Freedom Scholarships in May to benefit military children.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Air Force Senior Airman Vanessa Velez drives convoys in enemy territory.

BAGHDAD - An estimated 200 Iraqi residents of Baghdad’s Adhamiya district have begun planning for the economic future by attending a market fair.

WASHINGTON - Since the birth of America, African-Americans have been fighting and dying alongside their countrymen as the United States has struggled for freedom and peace at home and abroad.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Fighting wildfires in Virginia is the newest mission for members of the National Guard, who were dealing with many domestic emergencies.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department employee was among three people arrested for espionage after allegedly passing classified U.S. government documents and information to the People’s Republic of China, Justice Department officials announced.

WASHINGTON - Though Army Reserve recruiting fell short of January’s goal, the component is meeting its fiscal year goal as recruiting initiatives continue to attract qualified men and women.

WASHINGTON - All four services met or exceeded their active-duty recruiting goals for January, marking the eighth straight month of across-the-board recruiting successes among the services, officials said.

WASHINGTON - A surge in military operations and a shift in local support in northern Iraq has driven many al Qaeda fighters from the safe haven of cities to the desert or out of Iraq, a commander in the region said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department announced it has sworn criminal charges and is seeking the death penalty against six detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The detainees charged include the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured 20 suspected terrorists during a series of operations conducted across Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation eases the burden on families of critically ill children.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan National Army’s 201st Kandak soldiers, aided by coalition forces, visited Tangay village elders in Oruzgan province.

BAGHDAD - Prominent civilian leaders in southern Baghdad's Rashid district, with help from Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, began the process of returning 200 displaced families to their homes.

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan - Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Crabb has been helping the Afghan National Army improve its food service at Shorabak Garrison.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’ll probably recommend an evaluation in Iraq when the last surge brigade leaves in July before determining further troop reductions.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The United States does not plan to establish permanent bases in Iraq, President Bush said.

WASHINGTON - Documents released by U.S. military officials detail the deterioration of al Qaeda in Iraq, as hundreds of its fighters have deserted to fight alongside the coalition or have been killed or captured

BAGHDAD - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Baghdad and immediately went into meetings with senior Iraqi officials.

MUNICH, Germany - NATO's experience in Afghanistan holds lessons for the alliance’s near- and long-term strategy, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

MUNICH, Germany - The war on terror in Afghanistan is Europe’s war, too, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Munich, Germany.

MUNICH, Germany - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed ballistic missile defense issues with Russia’s deputy prime minister, taking advantage of attending the 44th Munich Conference on Strategy Policy, to continue informal U.S.-Russian defense talks.

MUNICH, Germany - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said more NATO troops are needed to support the International Security Force in Afghanistan in order to preserve the gains made in that country. Gates is attending the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy in Germany.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops found a diary belonging to an al Qaeda in Iraq leader that has Coalition forces believing the terrorist organization is “on its heels,” a senior military official in Baghdad said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Nearly 300 members of the National Guard responded to call-ups from governors in seven states over the last week after tornadoes hit the South and snowstorms blanketed the West.

MUNICH, Germany - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he left a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, with the impression “that a number of allies are considering what more they might be able to do” to increase troops for mission in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Leaders training security forces in Afghanistan’s western region need about 300 more trainers, a U.S. Army colonel said.

VILNIUS, Lithuania - NATO’s secretary general said he is “cautiously optimistic” on the reconstruction and development fronts in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Veterans pursuing education through DeVry University may be eligible for scholarships up to $1,000, but need to apply soon.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Men and women at the contracting office in Nangarhar province fight the war on terror by awarding more than 90 percent of their contracts to area Afghan contractors.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed four suspected al Qaeda agents and detained numerous other suspects during operations to disrupt terrorist networks in northern and central Iraq.

BAGHDAD - With help from U.S. soldiers, work is under way in Salman Pak, about 15 miles south of the Iraqi capital, to revitalize a hospital that has not been fully operational for about five years.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A long way from his native Alabama, Army Pvt. Benjamin Raulerson is helping his unit rid northwestern Baghdad of terrorism.

WASHINGTON - With the aid of “a little bird with a video camera” -- Marine Sgt. LaDilvia S. Gregg used her eyes to safeguard troops on the ground in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve has evolved into an operational force that is endowed with training, leadership and skills comparable to the active-duty component, the Army Reserve’s senior enlisted soldier said.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is in Pakistan discussing security issues with Pakistani military officials.

WASHINGTON - The Army is aggressively diagnosing and treating soldiers who suffer concussive injuries and stress related to blast attacks, the Army’s surgeon general said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed six terrorists, detained 28 terrorism suspects and discovered three weapons caches during operations over the past two days disrupting al Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The fight in Afghanistan is important for the future of the Afghan people, the NATO countries involved, the United States, and the rest of the world, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

VILNIUS, Lithuania - Pakistan only recently has realized that terrorists on its border with Afghanistan pose a significant threat, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a news conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.

VILNIUS, Lithuania - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he was encouraged by his discussions on Afghanistan with NATO defense ministers during meetings in Vilnius, Lithuania.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Up front and in the spotlight, surgeons often are revered by patients and grateful family members for their lifesaving skills and knowledge. However, other lifesaving medical professionals are working just as hard out of the spotlight and behind operating room doors.

WASHINGTON - Remembering troops this Valentine’s Day couldn’t be easier, thanks to a new online program.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi police expansion in Baghdad has reached an all-time high in the past six months, and with new recruits filling the ranks, police forces are improving by the day.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Army Sgt. Jeff Wilkerson is now serving in Iraq -- more than 20 years after he last served in the Army.

WASHINGTON - Action is needed to keep NATO from becoming a two-tiered alliance in which some countries contribute military forces and some do not.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 160 National Guard members have turned out to support recovery missions in three states hit by a string of tornadoes.

WASHINGTON - Much progress in the security, local governance and economic realms has been achieved in the Iraqi city of Narhwan over the past four months.

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda is recruiting and training boys -- some younger than 11 -- to kidnap and kill, a senior U.S. military spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - The Senate Armed Services Committee has requested a report on the effectiveness of U.S.-funded Pakistani operations against an insurgency spreading along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department budget officials discussed assumptions they used to formulate the Pentagon’s fiscal 2009 budget request during a session with reporters.

WASHINGTON - A shortage of resources for the NATO effort in Afghanistan has led to a risk-management approach to operations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed seven terrorists and detained 27 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks operating in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda's acts of murder, extortion and kidnapping to raise money and intimidate Iraqi citizens is backfiring on the terrorist group.

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - With help from coalition forces, Afghan National Army medics and pharmacists, and Afghan Ministry of Public Health nutritionists are providing free medical care to more than 400 villagers a week near a combined military outpost in Farah province.

KHADRA, Iraq - Citizens of an Iraqi city have come to accept and appreciate concrete barriers that are helping improve their security, despite their inconvenience.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will continue to need the support of Congress and the American public to sustain success in the war on terror, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert Sommers creates and sells paintings to help pay for heart surgeries in Kyrgyzstan for children whose parents can't afford the procedures.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is urging Congress to approve the remainder of the president's fiscal 2008 supplemental funding request for the global war on terror, saying the delay is damaging the Defense Department’s operations at home and abroad.

WASHINGTON - An organization led by a U.S. Army officer is helping children in Iraq and Afghanistan know the joy that Beanie Baby toys bring to so many American kids.

WASHINGTON - The director of the Defense Intelligence Agency gave the Senate Intelligence Committee an assessment of military threats confronting the United States.

WASHINGTON - Al Qaeda and its affiliates remain the most pressing terrorist threats to the United States and its allies, the nation’s top intelligence official told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss the need for more NATO forces in Afghanistan when he attends a defense ministers meeting in Lithuania.

WASHINGTON - It is imperative for Congress to quickly approve $102.5 billion in fiscal 2008 emergency supplemental funding earmarked to finance the global war on terrorism, a senior Defense Department official said.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marine Corps Sgt. Jeremy F. Boutwell, who recovered from severe injuries suffered during a March 2004 attack in Iraq’s Anbar province, is planning to deploy again to Iraq.

HONOLULU - Following successes in Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, the National Guard’s State Partnership Program is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained eight suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks operating in the northern part of the country, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has begun its transition to the next generation of smallpox vaccine.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - About 1,000 residents returned to a southwest Baghdad town after learning coalition and Iraqi forces had secured the area.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of volunteers across the country will make sure troops in Iraq and Afghanistan feel loved on Valentine’s Day.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on Congress to finish work on the 2008 emergency budget supplemental bill.

WASHINGTON - A 3.4 percent military pay raise, a 2.9 percent civilian raise, money to continue to grow the Army and Marines and a funding increase to maintain readiness are major aspects of the fiscal 2009 defense budget request.

WASHINGTON - Nearly $1 billion in capital from U.S. and Iraqi coffers has surged into thousands of health care and education construction projects across Iraq, a military official said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces are making significant progress securing the former insurgent badlands of eastern Baghdad province, a commander in the region said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured 10 suspected terrorists and found a weapons cache during several anti-insurgent operations conducted across the country, military officials said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - Afghan workers are learning skills to make them more marketable in their country’s expanding construction industry. U.S. Army engineers led a seven-day course to teach basic carpentry, job safety and the proper uses of tools.

WASHINGTON - A New York group is sending care packages to troops overseas to keep their spirits high.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - A U.S. soldier in Afghanistan had a special reason to cheer the New York Giants to their Super Bowl victory.

BAYRK, Iraq - Making a positive impact on Iraqis, from giving gifts to discussing grants, is a big part of coalition operations in the Fahama region. Recently, soldiers gave school children backpacks and stuffed animals.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Several armed insurgents were killed Jan. 31 in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, during a coalition operation to degrade weapons-facilitation networks in the area.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed one suspected terrorist, detained 16 others and seized weapons caches in Iraq.

BAGHDAD - Civilians and servicemembers gathered at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad on Feb. 1 to reflect on the cost of war and pay their last respects to fallen warriors during a Multinational Corps Iraq end-of-tour memorial ceremony.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with soldiers preparing to deploy to Afghanistan and talked with Army spouses on his first official visit to Fort Campbell, Ky.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - The double-suicide bombings in Baghdad on Feb. 1, carried out by two women, may indicate desperation on the part of a beleaguered insurgency, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at Fort Campbell, Ky.

WASHINGTON - Core elements of a congressional commission’s report aimed at overhauling the U.S. military’s reserve forces are “fundamentally flawed,” Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - Conditions on the ground will determine troop redeployment out of Iraq, and more troops are needed in Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance has changed as conditions have changed, but it remains as strong as it has ever been, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command said.

WASHINGTON - Attacks have dropped in Baghdad to levels not seen since 2005. Coalition forces also are finding and clearing more bombs than they have in the past four years.

WASHINGTON - The position of the chief of the National Guard Bureau has been elevated to a four-star billet 100 years after the bureau came into existence.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces condemned nearly simultaneous suicide attacks Feb. 1 in two Baghdad markets that left dozens dead or injured.

WASHINGTON - Despite recruiting challenges, all four military services are having significant success in obtaining new recruits, Pentagon officials told a Congressional committee.

FORT HOOD, Texas - A 1st Cavalry Division AH-64D Longbow Apache pilot was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courageous actions during a fierce battle in Najaf, Iraq, last year.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition troops discovered several underground weapons caches in Oruzgan province Jan. 26.

WASHINGTON - Despite seeing combat and losing his best friend in a bomb blast, Army Staff Sgt. Gary Heffernan is still proud to serve his country. “If you don’t have the freedoms we have, then what good is it? That’s why I serve," Heffernan said.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Afghan national security and coalition forces recently brought supplies to a snow-bound village in Oruzgan province.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Cold drizzle and hot metal rained down at Fort Campbell, Ky., as a group of 101st Airborne Division soldiers honed their mortar- and howitzer-targeting skills to prepare to deploy to Afghanistan in April.“ I’m here to protect my country and that is what I will do,” said U.S. Army Spc. Daniel L. Howes.

WASHINGTON - People in uniform who go out of their way to boost the morale of fellow troops could be rewarded for their positive attitude and hard work.