WASHINGTON - U.S. servicemembers serving in Honduras face no current threats following the ouster of the Honduran president, U.S. Southern Command officials said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama hailed the completed withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraqi cities as “an important step forward” and a testament to the commitment of American troops.

WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Pete Geren is on a mission to take care of the force. He visited Fort Drum, N.Y., to see what soldiers and their families need and how to make their lives better.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - An Army couple beat the odds of cancer, and at the same time, grew closer as a couple, and resolved to continue their military service.

STUTTGART, Germany - The new commander of U.S. European Command told reporters he’s “very interested in finding additional and alternative ways for allies to contribute” to coalition efforts in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Partnership, readiness and presence are the cornerstones of the U.S. Pacific Command’s new strategy, its commander said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces disrupted Taliban and Haqqani terrorist activities in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - As the United States completed its withdrawal of combat forces from Iraqi cities, Baghdad commemorated the milestone with a national holiday.

ABOARD A MILIARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Defense Department lawyers are exploring ways to make the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law more flexible until it is changed.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s heartened that al-Qaida hasn’t been able to reignite sectarian violence in Iraq despite its acts of violence leading up to the deadline for U.S. troops to leave Iraqi cities.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by coalition advisors, arrested suspected terrorists in operations in Iraq.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army Secretary Geren visited the first day for the Class of 2013 at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

WASHINGTON - A Maryland-based troop-support group is planning a “National Day of Awakening” to highlight the mental health needs of military families and the services available to them.

HILLAH, Iraq - Soldiers with the 172nd Infantry Brigade are helping documentarians, historians and preservationists as they work to ensure that ancient Iraqi history is preserved and documented in Babil province.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - In accordance with Article 5 of the security agreement between the U.S. and Iraqi governments, Iraqi security forces now have full ownership of security in their cities, towns and villages.

WASHINGTON - Adm. James Stavridis became the first Navy officer to assume the top post at U.S. European Command. He will also serve as NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan National Police force will grow by 10,000 members to meet security needs for the country’s upcoming national elections, military officials in Kabul reported.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said his visit with his Polish counterpart, while “routine,” also was one of great importance to the U.S. military.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Six wounded soldiers, all amputees, returned to Iraq hoping to close the door on the combat that changed them forever.

WASHINGTON - Improved recognition, treatment and prevention of substance abuse among servicemembers is the focus of a recent collaboration between the Defense Department and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

KABUL, Afghanistan - After an absence of nearly a decade, the Afghan Mi-35 is again flying the skies of Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - As the security agreement deadline looms, U.S. and Iraqi forces celebrated the transition of security in Iraq’s cities from coalition to Iraqi control.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraq forces detained nearly two dozen suspected militants during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces detained more than a dozen suspected militants and seized weapons and drugs in recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials said.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - Facing a perilous situation on an international flight, a Dover mechanic came to the rescue, subduing a passenger and winning praise for his heroism.

WASHINGTON - American forces stationed in Honduras were not involved in the military coup and remain safe, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from all Iraqi cities and towns was completed over the weekend and ahead of tomorrow’s deadline, a Pentagon spokesman said on a cable TV news show.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will have no issues complying with the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, which requires all U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The United States and Russia’s shared struggles offer great opportunities, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an address at Russia’s Military Academy of the General Staff in Moscow.

WASHINGTON - Military families and spouses took the opportunity to thank Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates with the Support for Military Families Award.

LANDSTUHL, Germany - The Chaplains’ Closet supplies clothing, toiletries and shoes to wounded warriors recovering at Landstul Regional Medical Center in Germany.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he was pleased with what he described as frank discussions with his Russian counterpart during his first visit to Moscow.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s top policy official praised this week's round of talks with Chinese defense officials that centered on developing military relations between the United States and China.

WASHINGTON - The new Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell has stood up at the Pentagon to ensure lessons learned in Afghanistan get channeled directly back into supporting warfighters on the ground.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected Taliban militants during an operation designed to disrupt Taliban bombing and rocket attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Insurgents operating in eastern Afghanistan increasingly are focusing their attacks away from coalition forces and on local residents, military officials said.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - The USO is teaming up with the Army to create an oasis in the Basra desert for troops.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - With towering vocals, Army Sgt. Brenda Bushera is hitting the high notes with Iraqis after learning to sing the Iraqi national anthem in Arabic.

NATICK, Mass. - A small group of soldiers regularly endures searing heat, freezing cold, extreme altitudes and exhausting exercise for Army scientists in studies that impact nearly everything today's soldiers eat, wear and use in the field.

WASHINGTON - Troops in southern Afghanistan are preparing to launch a “new phase” of operations designed to secure the population, but which may also lead to increased violence, a NATO commander said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama joined volunteers on Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., to fill 15,000 backpacks for military children.

WASHINGTON - As the nation fights two protracted wars and North Korea rattles off war-like rhetoric, officials working on the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review are striving to strike a balance between the needs of the current fight and preparing for future threats.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military officer with responsibility for Africa concedes he’s worried about the threat of violent extremists taking hold there, particularly in Somalia.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie, Vermont’s adjutant general, made office calls with staff at U.S. Air Forces in Europe and 17th Air Force for updates on Macedonia and Senegal.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser assumed the top post at U.S. Southern Command, promising to build on the strong partnerships fostered by the outgoing commander, Navy Adm. James Stavridis.

WASHINGTON - The Kyrgyz parliament ratified an agreement between the United States and Kyrgyzstan to extend U.S. access to Manas Air Base, a key logistics hub that supplies troops in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested a suspected terrorist, and U.S. and Iraqi forces seized a massive weapons cache.

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - Jason Eckman is one of the few Marines to be meritoriously promoted for combat service.

KABUL - Afghan and coalition forces killed suspected militants and detained others in operations to disrupt Taliban activity throughout Afghanistan.

BAGHDAD - Baghdad residents know "art can talk" now that a newly renovated girls school of arts has opened with help from U.S. soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Active and reserve Army chaplains are playing a strategic role in Iraq, from helping troops train to coping with multiple forms of stress.

KABUL - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez arrived to become deputy commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

NATICK, Mass. - The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine houses 200 scientists and soldiers who focus on the physiological effects of rations, clothes and gear on troops.

WASHINGTON - Each case is as unique as the name inscribed on the dog tags. Soldiers are taking their own lives in record numbers, and Army senior leaders are struggling to understand why.

WASHINGTON - The Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy unveiled earlier this year has garnered unprecedented cooperation among U.S. government agencies, the top Pentagon policy official said.

WASHINGTON - Officials predict an uptick in violence in Iraq as U.S. combat troops leave the cities by June 30, 2009.

WASHINGTON - The Kyrgyz parliament is expected to vote in the coming days on agreements reached between the United States and Kyrgyzstan governments to extend U.S. access to Manas Air Base.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces offered their support to Afghan forces June 18 in two separate missions: one aimed at boosting military skills and the other at providing aid to school children.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates signed a memo establishing a subcommand focused on cyber security, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. forces moved closer toward meeting the terms of the U.S.-Iraq security agreement in recent days.

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - It didn't take being in the Marine Corps for Lance Cpl. Stephen D. Davis to write and play patriotic songs, but it certainly hasn't hurt.

WASHINGTON - Two wounded warriors reached the highest peak in North America on June 16, but their summit of Mount McKinley was bittersweet as three of their teammates had to turn back.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces and coalition advisors arrested suspected terrorists, including a senior leader, in operations in Iraq in the past five days, military officials reported.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - The medical evacuation aircrews on Camp Taji, Iraq, are on the ready for a job the medics say is among the Army's most rewarding.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Guests and dignitaries gathered to open Afghanistan's first national park and reserve at the Band-e-Amir Lakes Natural dam, marking a turning point in the country's history.

WASHINGTON - A former commander of the District of Columbia National Guard and his wife died in the June 22 Metro subway crash in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged Persian Gulf countries to work together and with the U. S. on securing Iraq and containing Iranian ambitions.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has signed off on policies and procedures servicemembers will use to transfer their unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their spouses or children.

WASHINGTON - Military operations designed to restrict militants’ movements and eliminate safe havens along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have accomplished visible gains.

LOS ANGELES - “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” hits theaters nationwide as the culmination of more than a year of Defense Department support.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Leaders from Afghanistan’s Paktia province and the coalition’s reconstruction team there met to break ground on a new school.

WASHINGTON - Afghan army and public protection forces led several operations that removed drugs, weapons and explosives in eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division say they are seeing big improvements in the Iraqis’ ability to secure their country’s borders.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Beth Reece dreamed of seeing her name in print. As a girl from West Virginia, she had no idea how much the military would help her achieve her goal.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commended the work of the volunteers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, saying they set the example for the rest of the country.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates greeted four recently confirmed high-ranking officials to the Pentagon, hailing them as “welcome additions” to the Defense Department.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs took to the road, literally, advertising its new suicide prevention hotline on public transportation buses in 124 communities.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are working aggressively to reduce the impact of parents' multiple deployments on children.

WASHINGTON - An Iraqi police special weapons and tactics team from Nasiriyah and U.S. advisors arrested two suspects, including a violent extremist leader, during an operation in Fadhiliyah, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. servicemembers were killed and at least six other personnel were wounded during an early morning indirect-fire attack on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, officials said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Villagers journeyed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, for a day of activity that had them buzzing with questions.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi troops in northeastern Baghdad have a new weapon in their arsenal, thanks to U.S. soldiers.

BAGHDAD - Army Sgt. Laurence Cameron was given the radio call sign “Dawg Medic” while in Iraq, but it wasn’t until a recent mission that he lived up to the nickname.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces should alter tactics, techniques and procedures to safeguard innocent civilians, a U.S. Central Command investigation into a May 4 air strike in Afghanistan recommends..

ORLANDO, Fla. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics that its members are in a position to connect wounded veterans to their greater communities.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama recognized in his Father’s Day proclamation the sacrifices military fathers make every day, and hosted the Military Father of the Year at the White House for a town hall session on fatherhood.

WASHINGTON - The nonprofit Honor Flight Network is taking a group of World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials that honor their service.

WASHINGTON - The inspector general who tracks Afghanistan reconstruction has sent out a call for help in stamping out fraud, mismanagement and waste of U.S. appropriated reconstruction funds.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials hope for more military-to-military engagement with China as a result of the 10th U.S.-China Defense Consultative Talks, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - It’s critical that the military services develop more capabilities to support special operators, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The next year and a half in Afghanistan will determine how the war there will go, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the new commander of U.S. and NATO forces there said.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Weeks of planning and hard work by an Army chief warrant officer came to fruition as the Basra Education Center opened.

BAGHDAD - This Father’s Day weekend has special meaning for Army Maj. Benjamin Rex, who has been serving in Baghdad alongside his son, Army Pfc. Jeromy Rex, both in the 82nd Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

WASHINGTON - Navy Secretary Raymond E. Mabus Jr. said that commitment to sailors, Marines and their families will be the cornerstone of his service.

WASHINGTON - A foundation formed by the family of a fallen Marine whose story was told in the HBO movie “Taking Chance” has donated $10,000 to a group that works to help wounded veterans and their families.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - The provincial reconstruction team for eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province has created an alternative energy plan to power a hospital.

WASHINGTON - After 11 days of sea trials and more than 250 separate events, a multinational naval exercise in the Baltic region is scheduled to wrap up.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military has to have flexibility across the spectrum of conflict to handle the threats of the future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Pentagon press corps.

WASHINGTON - As protestors in Iran demonstrate the power of social networking, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called the freedom of communication afforded by communications technologies “a huge strategic asset for the United States.”

WASHINGTON - The United States has deployed missile defense equipment to the Pacific amid reports alleging that North Korea has threatened to fire a ballistic missile toward Hawaii, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Civilan casualties from close air strikes is "one of our greatest strategic vulnerabilities" in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. forces in Iraq prepare to pull back from most major cities by June 30, U.S. air support will continue to enable and protect security gains.

WASHINGTON - Improving education for military children was the focus this past year for the Defense Department's Education Activity.

WASHINGTON - Military housing has improved dramatically during the past 10 years, and the progress continues through privatization and other initiatives, a senior defense official told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition troops captured seven suspected militants and seized a supply of heroin during separate operations.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - For five brothers from a small town in Kentucky, serving in the military is a family tradition.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - U.S. Army doctors and medical staff are doing their part to help save the lives of Iraqi infants.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has signed a memorandum opening up benefits to same-sex couples and forbidding discrimination in the federal workplace.

WASHINGTON - With the economic downturn causing a spike in consumer scams, the Federal Trade Commission is encouraging servicemembers to report their complaints to an online site.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Army Sgt. Gabrielle M. Martinez sets the bar high for herself, while meeting most of her goals and inspiring others along the way.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis reflected on the security achievements and humanitarian relief efforts he oversaw as commander of U.S. Southern Command.

WASHINGTON - Afghan security forces, assisted by coalition forces, confiscated an opium cache and captured several armed enemy fighters in the southern province of Kandahar.

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan - An Army counter explosives team has set up a traffic checkpoint along a key route in Afghanistan's Wardak province.

WASHINGTON - Everything is on track for the June 30 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities, Iraqi and coalition officials say.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi security forces captured a suspect wanted in connection with armor-piercing bomb attacks in northwestern Baghdad's Kadamiyah district.

MAHAWIL, Iraq - After two years of planning and building, the Central Euphrates Farmers’ Market is open for business, a dream come true for area farming families as they watch agribusiness pick up.

WASHINGTON - A four-month humanitarian mission to the South Pacific led by the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Fleet will begin this month.

WASHINGTON - A troop-support group is looking for patriotic drawings or paintings that signify the unyielding spirit of America.

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - With the background melodies of a sitar, rabab and bongo drums filling the air, Afghans shared their culture with coalition members.

BAGHDAD - Iraq is moving closer to establishing sovereign national and provincial judiciaries, as evidenced with the opening of Ramadi’s Anbar Judicial Complex.

WASHINGTON - The United States and its partners have the assets to carry out a UN Security Council resolution to stop North Korea’s nuclear proliferation activities, but they hold out hope that country won't put them to the test.

WASHINGTON - Anticipation is the key to readiness, the chief of the combatant command responsible for the military role in homeland defense said.

KABUL - The first Afghan officer to train in the United States in nearly 50 years was awarded his silver U.S. Air Force wings on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.

WASHINGTON - Iraq security forces are increasingly taking the lead on missions targeting roadside bombers and extremist networks, officials said.

WASHINGTON - In separate raids in Afghanistan, coalition and Afghan forces battled insurgents in southern and eastern provinces and confiscated drugs and weapons.

WASHINGTON - Given North Korea’s bellicose threats, it is unacceptable for the nation to possess nuclear weapons, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - North Korea and Iran pose serious weapons proliferation concerns and will be major considerations in the U.S ballistic missile defense review, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - The threats that face the United States are more amorphous today than at any time in history, and those responsible for defending North America must maintain vigilance, Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart said.

TALLIL, Iraq - Army Maj. Frederick Hall is using his skills as an ophthalmologist to improve the lives of rural Iraqis.

WASHINGTON - Threats to U.S.-based computer networks posed by foreign countries and teenage hackers alike represent an unprecedented national security challenge, said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces detained a suspected Taliban leader and provided medical aid to a wounded civilian in recent operations, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraq forces detained a dozen suspects and seized weapons during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint Theater Hospital in Afghanistan highlighted services available to military members in the Regional Command East area of operations.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - U.S. soldiers can be seen on any given day shopping in the Iraqi-based industrial zone.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan are targeting narcotics traffickers and drug labs that bankroll and support the Taliban insurgency.

WASHINGTON - The new appointee to lead Defense Department public affairs, Price Floyd, brings a dual objective to the office: improve the way the department communicates and solicit feedback in the process.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal assumed command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, vowing that the coalition will prevail.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan - Capt. Samuel Carlson followed the typical Army career route of retiring some 20 years after enlistment. Now the 62-year-old is on his second voluntary deployment.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates implored America’s youth to weigh the virtues of a career devoted to serving the country, saying “no life is complete without service to others.”

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation recently raised more than $300,000 at its 23rd Annual Washington Gala to benefit high school and college students from families of active-duty and former Marines.

WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida terrorists hiding out in Pakistan are coming under increased pressure from that country’s military forces.

WASHINGTON - The congressionally mandated Quadrennial Defense Review is an opportunity for the defense secretary to articulate his vision, a Pentagon official says.

WASHINGTON - Citing the organization’s long history of selfless service and sacrifice, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III helped to commemorate the Army’s 234th birthday at a Pentagon ceremony.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - A Defense Logistics Agency employee has unraveled part of the mystery surrounding the father he never knew, discovering one side of a man who was a World War II hero who qualified for the Bronze Star.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO will continue its anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said on the final day of the NATO ministers conference in Brussels, Belgium.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - U.S, NATO troops in Afghanistan must make it a high priority to reduce civilian casualties, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WASHINGTON - A granite monument dedicated to 40 U.S. troops who perished in an air crash in Australia during World War II has found a permanent home at Fort Myer, Va.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Afghan forces detained four suspected insurgents and rescued a kidnapping victim in recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iraqi forces captured an alleged insurgent leader and found three weapon stockpiles in recent operations in Iraq.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Civilians from the U.S. State and Agriculture departments and the U.S. Agency for International Development are training alongside their military counterparts before heading to Afghanistan.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Afghanistan dominated the discussions at the two-day NATO defense ministers conference in Belgium, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said they are pleased with the results.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Army Capt. David Peterson is working with Iraqi officials in the birthplace of written law to ensure that all Iraqi citizens receive due process.

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi military is on its way to enjoying the communications benefits of fiber optic technology, thanks to the technical experts in a U.S. 1st Cavalry Division battalion.

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. forces in Afghanistan are distributing food, water and aid to a migratory tribe in Wardak province to prevent annual fighting with a second tribe over basic supplies.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates introduced the new commander of the alliance’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to the NATO and partner-nation defense ministers.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO officials dedicated a monument at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to personnel killed during alliance operations.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Central Command praised the Pakistani army for operations it is waging against insurgents near the country’s border with Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. forces arrested three people in northern Iraq who are suspected of emplacing roadside bombs and coordinating attacks against coalition forces, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s latest efforts to look after home renters gives military members additional protection if the homes they rent are foreclosed.

WASHINGTON - The United States is approaching Afghanistan armed with counterinsurgency lessons gleaned from Iraq, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is studying how to improve smaller-unit capabilities to better confront enemies who practice irregular or conventional warfare, or both.

WASHINGTON - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen offered graduates of National Defense University a lesson in leading commanders, senior enlisted servicemembers and junior officers.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Marine Corps Sgt. Kristy L. Kayto has put her dream of becoming a drill instructor at Parris Island, N.C., on hold, choosing to remain in Iraq until her entire unit returns home.

WASHINGTON - The United States delivered four Mi-17 cargo helicopters to the Pakistani army yesterday to support Pakistan’s counterinsurgency as well as humanitarian efforts, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad announced.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Soldiers in the 41st Fires Brigade and around Forward Operating Base Delta participated in a preventive safety inspection as the brigade’s deployment nears the end.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition officials recently met with provincial and village leaders to present proof that the coalition was not involved in a recent attack on the citizens of Asadabad.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - With NATO set to reduce its presence in Kosovo by 4,000 troops, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said care will be required to ensure an orderly transition.

WASHINGTON - The Senate has confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to lead the U.S. and NATO efforts in Afghanistan; Navy Adm. James Stavridis to NATO’s top military post; and Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Fraser to take over as commander of U.S. Southern Command.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Because it comes from what he called “an unpredictable regime,” bellicose rhetoric from North Korea needs to be watched closely, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said a new “intermediate” command set for Afghanistan will allow the commander to concentrate on day-to-day tactical events across the country.

KABUL - An Afghan warlord and Taliban commander believed yesterday to have been killed in a June 9 air strike may have survived the attack, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - May was a banner recruiting month for every military service, but especially for the Marine Corps, which topped its active-duty goal by 42 percent and its Marine Corps Reserve goal by 12 percent, Defense Department officials reported.

BAGHDAD - Traffic is moving again across Anbar province’s strategic and essential Mujarrah Canal Bridge, about 22 miles southwest of Fallujah, thanks to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

WASHINGTON - Minor changes to the Defense Department’s travel reservation system are scheduled for later this summer to support the Transportation Security Administration’s new pre-flight screening program.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Senate subcommittee they expect to see a measurable shift in Afghanistan in about a year.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal 2010 defense budget request puts money where it’s needed: to recruit and retain quality troops and their families, the nation’s top military officer told Congress.

KABUL - Coalition forces used a precision air strike in Afghanistan’s Ghowr province to target a local warlord and Taliban commander.

MARGRATEN, Netherlands - On his visit to the World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in the Netherlands, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the graves are a "solemn reminder" of Americans' sacrifices.

CHATEAU ST. GERLACH, Netherlands - Additional forces will allow the coalition to better protect people in southern Afghanistan the commander of Regional Command South told Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WASHINGTON - Kindergartens at many Department of Defense Education Activity schools will have fewer students per teacher when classes resume in the fall.

WASHINGTON - Anthropologists at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center apply science to thousands of measurements of soldiers and Marines to get a perfect uniform fit.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Women of eastern Afghanstan's Panjshir province are getting a rare opportunity to learn job skills and support their families.

WASHINGTON - Thirty-five wounded warriors completed a six-day bike ride through Virginia that proved just how much they can do.

WASHINGTON - When Army Col. (Dr.) Kenneth Lee began evaluating National Guardsmen for their readiness to deploy, he did so with unique personal insights -- as someone who had suffered from traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and military health care are among the topics the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff talks about in his latest podcast.

WASHINGTON - A soldier wounded during an attack at a recruiting office that claimed a fellow soldier’s life said the incident has done nothing to dampen his desire to serve in the Army.

WASHINGTON - Amid speculation that North Korea could be preparing for another missile test, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Congress the United States has the capability to defend itself.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal 2010 defense budget request is a “reform budget” that builds on lessons learned on the battlefield, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department must apply the same analytical rigor and resources to cyber operations as it would to any other theater of operations, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct two aerial training exercises outside the nation's capital.

WASHINGTON - NATO involvement in Afghanistan is expected to top discussions at upcoming NATO meetings Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will attend.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy learned significant lessons during a pivotal World War II engagement, an award-winning historian told online journalists and bloggers.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Afghan forces killed an undetermined number of enemy fighters and detained 13 suspected militants in three operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Military operations in Iraq ended for Romanian forces June 4, with an end-of-mission ceremony held by Romania’s 26th Infantry Battalion.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A coalition provincial reconstruction team has mapped out an estimated $15.9 million plan to build 58 schools along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Spc. Jonathan Goodwin initially joined the Army to support his first child and a second time out of loyalty to his Marine colonel brother, who died in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are encouraged by the Pakistani campaign in the country’s Swat Valley, but North Korea continues to be a vexing issue, the Pentagon press secretary said.

WASHINGTON - Despite irregularites in a May 4 close-air support incident in Afghanistan that caused civilian casualties, those involved showed extraordinary care in the incident, the Pentagon’s press secretary said.

WASHINGTON - Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq is working to assist the Iraqi Interior Ministry in generating a professional and credible police force.

WASHINGTON - Falling oil prices and a reduced Iraqi budget have prompted the U.S. command responsible for overseeing Iraqi security forces to re-evaluate its priorities, a military official said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is flying a 19-person crew and Navy equipment to Natal, Brazil, to aid in the search for Air France Flight 447’s data recorders, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers uncovered a large weapons cache southwest of Taji, Iraq.

KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Task Force Chosin soldiers from 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, have been making a difference in disrupting timber smuggling in this lush area near the Pakistan border.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - A U.S. Army 34th Infantry Division soldier is helping to revitalize Iraq's tourism industry.

WASHINGTON - The National Guard is essential to hurricane response, and has been standing at readiness since the storm season began June 1, leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Northern Command told Congress.

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - Senior Airman Eric Slaugh is a mechanic by trade, but used his Air Force first aid training to save the hand, if not the life, of a man who was hit by a train.

NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, France - For many U.S. servicemembers celebrating the 65th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, the focus was on the veterans of that operation.

NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, France - U.S. President Barack Obama and other heads of state spoke during a ceremony honoring the troops who fought and died during the allied invasion of Normandy 65 years ago.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The last time the 25th Naval Construction Regiment undertook the kind of massive construction effort it is working on in Afghanistan was 65 years ago, preparing for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Robert Blatnik couldn't bring himself to talk about his experiences as a young soldier storming the beach in Normandy on D-Day, or missing in action in North Africa. That all changed six decades later.

WASHINGTON - Sixty-five years ago, William Dabney was a young black soldier whose role in the allied landing at Normandy would go largely ignored. Dabney returned to France this week to receive the French government's highest award for his military service.

WASHINGTON - Success in Afghanistan and Pakistan will require an intimate local knowledge of the tribal culture and a small coalition footprint, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command said.

WASHINGTON - For the sixth year, the Department of Defense Education Activity is providing webcasts of graduation ceremonies from 17 European schools, ensuring that all graduates will have a family member watching as they accept their diplomas.

WASHINGTON - Demand for the services of U.S. Special Operations Command could strain the force, the command’s top officer told a congressional subcommittee.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition security forces seized weapons and drugs and captured seven suspected militants during two operations in southern Afghanistan yesterday.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - The Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle serves as a 14-foot guardian flying over the 25th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Navy’s top officer marked the 67th anniversary of World War II’s Battle of Midway at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Army Spc. Cleon Shack joined the Army as a second chance. He got another second chance when he entered the "Basra Idol" music competition.

WASHINGTON - A soldier who was wounded in Iraq is looking for closure for his injuries and a new starting point for his life this week as part of a team attempting to scale North America’s highest peak.

CONVOY SUPPORT CENTER SCANIA, Iraq - Coalition forces opened two lanes of traffic along Main Supply Route Tampa for use by Iraqi travelers.

WASHINGTON - Fallen Marine Corps Cpl. Jennifer Parcell, who was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq, is the 30th fallen hero memorialized at Military Entrance Processing Stations.

WASHINGTON - The overseas basing choices the United States makes for its military forces are a factor in deterring potential enemies, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department program that provides hiring preference to eligible civilian employees who’ve been displaced from their jobs because of downsizing or restructuring has placed its 250,000th employee.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained more than 20 suspects during several recent operations in Iraq’s capital city and the country’s Diyala province.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained four suspected militants in Khost province overnight during an operation to capture a key Haqqani terrorist network leader in eastern Afghanistan.

CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq - Marine Master Sgt. Juan Lopez and his son, Marine Cpl. Jared P. Lopez, are finding overseas deployments are easier when shared with family. Both are deployed to Camp Taqaddum, Iraq.

KABUL - Public officials gathered in Wardak province to sign new development contracts made possible by an Afghan government program that makes residents responsible for local security.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - A team of anthropologists are embedded with troops in Iraq to help further the mission there by finding answers to questions not normally pursued by militaries.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama reached out to the Muslim world in a speech urging a new beginning that rises above historical tensions and is built on commonly held principles that reject violence and promote cooperation and stability.

WASHINGTON - Inbound soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team will be a welcome addition for the mission of mentoring and training Afghan soldiers and police, a task force commander says.

WASHINGTON - Young people about to graduate from Camden, N.J., high schools and enter the military are getting special recognition, thanks to a local man seeking to honor them for enlisting during wartime.

WASHINGTON - Matt Nyman was a special operations soldier in Iraq when he was wounded and lost his right leg below his knee. Now he's attempting to conquer North America’s highest peak.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior veterans competing in the National Veterans Golden Age Games in Birmingham, Ala., say they are focused more on building new friendships than reliving the past.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden praised winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards for leading the way in environmental stewardship as they lead the way in the nation’s defense.

WASHINGTON - A series of seminar-type, joint-force war games being held at McLean, Va., are examining present and future threats, senior U.S. military officers said.

WASHINGTON - Though the Afghan National Police still face many challenges, they remain dedicated to their cause and continue to make daily progress.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team recently surveyed the progress of a children’s hospital near completion in Basra.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Fifteen months after transferring authority of Regional Command East in Afghanistan to the 101st Airborne Division, the 82nd Airborne Division has reassumed command.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan's Logar province gathered to dedicate the first of 20 “USO in a Box” centers.

HAMPTON, Va. - The chaos of wildfires, hurricanes and insurgents' attacks are among simulated real-time events that will put life-saving information-sharing technologies on center stage during the upcoming Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration.

KABUL - The Afghan National Army Air Corps is a vital and rapidly growing component of Afghanistan’s security forces.

WASHINGTON - Afghan army commandos, assisted by coalition forces, were attacked during a clearing operation in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province.

WASHINGTON - After losing his right arm in combat in Iraq, retired Marine Capt. Jonathan F. Kuniholm found even feeding himself to be a challenge. Now he is among four wounded warriors attempting to summit North America's highest peak.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Some veterans compete in the annual National Veterans Golden Age Games for the camaraderie, while others come to socialize and catch up with old friends. But for many, their focus is on the desire to win.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Pfc. Wenderson Jangada, a native Brazilian and former professional boxer, says it is his gratitude to the United States that prompted him to enlist in the Army.

WASHINGTON - Enid, Oklahoma, is so tied to military families that the city government has named Teresa Vance as the city's first ambassador to military families. She's never served, but her father, husband and son have.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces captured 45 suspected militants and killed one during operations in Kirkuk.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces defeated militants in several operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A U.S. Navy aircrew joined the international search for survivors and debris from an Air France aircraft that went missing off the Brazilian coast.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, President Obama’s nominee to lead U.S. Southern Command, promised to continue the interagency approach that has been successful in the region.

WASHINGTON - For Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister, climbing the highest peak in North America will make earning his commission as an Army officer by graduating from West Point seem like a mole hill by comparison.

WASHINGTON - There are no easy answers to fixing the problems in Afghanistan, but a holistic approach is critical, the nominee to command U.S. and NATO forces there said during his Senate confirmation testimony.

WASHINGTON - With increasing pressure on the defense budget, the top military officer called increased mental health care services for returning combat troops a priority that can’t be allowed to fall by the wayside.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated U.S. Rep. John McHugh to become the next Secretary of the Army, calling McHugh “a distinguished public servant who will help keep us safe."

KABUL - The command overseeing U.S. operations in Afghanistan has launched social networking pages on three online sites in an effort to rapidly deliver information and create an online dialogue, officials said.

WASHINGTON - The nominee for the top NATO command job told Congress he would urge European allies to continue standing “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Afghanistan if confirmed for the position.

WASHINGTON - Coalition efforts are paying off in eastern Afghanistan even while the Taliban increasingly target civilians there.

WASHINGTON - The United States and the Republic of Turkey remain steadfast allies and friends in a modern-day relationship that stretches back decades, the U.S. military's top officer said.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Army Sgt. 1st Class Luis R. Laluz, a reservist and New York City police officer, thought Vietnam was his last deployment. That was, until 9/11 happened. Now the former Mr. America mentors younger soldiers on nutrition and physical fitness.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The grandson of Army Gen. George S. Patton, retired Army Col. James Patton Totten, told an audience of "Greatest Generation" veterans that they and his grandfather set the example for today's military.

WASHINGTON - The top Army Reserve officer has arrived in Afghanistan to hear firsthand how his soldiers are faring, particularly in light of demand for their capabilities in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

FORT GREELY, Alaska - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stepped down inside a missile silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, to get an up-close look at the system he says will protect the United States from an intercontinental ballistic missile threat.

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stopped at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on the final leg of a week-long trip to the Asia-Pacific region.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Nearly 700 American military veterans over age 55 are out to prove that their best days are still ahead of them as they prepare to compete in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games in Birmingham, Ala.

WASHINGTON - After reaching its new 206,000-member end strength objective a full year ahead of schedule, the Army Reserve has shifted its focus to shaping the force to ensure it has the proper mix of skills sets and experience levels, the Army Reserve chief said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed 17 militants, including several high-ranking Taliban members.

WASHINGTON - Army scientists are studying a new DNA vaccine delivery method that will one day be needle-free and painless, offering advantages over conventional vaccines in regards to biodefense.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces handed over responsibility of a security base and a vehicle maintenance center to the Iraqi army in the latest transfers of authority in Iraq as U.S. combat troops prepare for withdrawal.

WASHINGTON - American combat troops are on schedule to leave Iraqi cities by the June 30 deadline set by the U.S.-Iraq security agreement, U.S. officials said.

BAGHDAD - Sadr City residents are collecting $300 per month for helping to keep the once violent area clean and peaceful, thanks to a U.S. Army program.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - When Army Maj. Nickolas Karajohn isn't treating patients as a doctor at a troop medical clinic at Camp Atterbury, Ind., he records rap albums.

WASHINGTON - Four wounded veterans, two mentors and a guide have begun a monumental challenge as they move from the base of North America’s highest peak in Alaska’s Denali National Park to the mountain’s base camp at an elevation of 6,850 feet.

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates made a brief stop in the Philippines to reaffirm U.S. commitment to the country’s fight against terrorism.