WASHINGTON - A team of U.S. Marines specifically trained to operate in chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological environments is deploying to Japan.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department is making progress on its commitment to end homelessness among veterans and is striving to achieve that goal ahead of its original 2015 timetable.

WASHINGTON - Improving housing and child care, giving better access to health care and education, and intervening earlier in high-risk behavior are high-priority tasks for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, officials said.

WASHINGTON - NATO has taken sole command of international air operations over Libya, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced in Stockholm.

WASHINGTON - At least three NATO troops were injured when their foot patrol was hit by a car in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - The United States must do more to prepare for natural disasters like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and more cooperation is needed to combat global criminals, said Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld, commander of U.S. Northern Command.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces raced the clock to provide an aerial shield in Libya that stopped forces under Moammar Gadhafi from marching on Benghazi and "brutalizing the people there,” said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - At age 40, now-Army Capt. (Dr.) Douglas Powell left a good job to study to become a doctor. He now serves as a military physician in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - As NATO assumed command of coalition operations in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the House Armed Services Committee that U.S. forces will “significantly ramp down” their commitment in the operation.

WASHINGTON - Central America remains a hotspot of instability caused by violent criminal organizations that use drug money to undermine legitimate governments, said Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, the commander of U.S. Southern Command.

WASHINGTON - From robotics engineering to gaming technology, Defense Department school officials are hoping their new, cutting-edge courses will spark a lifelong passion for science and technology in their students.

WASHINGTON - Cost overruns involving weapons and equipment present a major challenge for Pentagon acquisition officials, said Frank Kendall, deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

WASHINGTON - The fight in Afghanistan has become a global effort, with committed partners from nations that include Mongolia, Bulgaria, Tonga and El Salvador, said Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents in the Mohammad Aghah district of Afghanistan’s Logar province.

WASHINGTON - Qualified young adults up to age 26 soon will be able purchase TRICARE military health plan coverage on a month-to-month basis.

WASHINGTON - Cost savings reflected in the fiscal 2012 Defense Department budget do not represent a cut from current funding levels, but rather a slower rate of growth than has been seen in recent years, said Robert F. Hale, the Pentagon’s comptroller.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Strategic Command’s priority is to deter nuclear attack on the United States and its allies, but Stratcom's broader responsibilities in the 21st century include cybersecurity and missile defense, the organization’s top officer told senators on Capitol Hill.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - The Veterans Affairs Department is striving to make good on VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki’s pledge to improve speed and quality in processing veterans' disability claims and to end the claims backlog by 2014.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Disabled military veterans of all services and ages realize a new world of possibilities as they enjoy winter sports at the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic held at Snowmass Village, Colo.

WASHINGTON - Base realignments and closures mean a busier-than-usual summer military moving season, and service members are advised to book moving dates early and keep flexibility in mind.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Nathaniel S. Gray has an uncanny knack for sniffing out enemy ambushes as he leads his soldiers during combat operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Operating in a coalition environment is to the United States' advantage because it improves access to resources and promotes the exchange of ideas, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, U.S. European Command's top officer, told senators.

WASHINGTON - The international community must work toward three goals in Libya: delivering humanitarian aid, pressuring Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, and supporting Libyans’ efforts for political change, said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents in the Sar Kani district of Kunar province after a combined patrol suddenly came under attack.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III has topped the list of 100 government and industry leaders recognized for their contributions to cybersecurity.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - Leamon Woodley, a retired Army master sergeant who holds records in powerlifting, credits his success to his sponsor as well as military friends.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Camaraderie and challenges are proving to be some of the best therapy possible for wounded warriors attending the 25th-annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Vice President Joe Biden made a second appearance at the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo., inspiring disabled veterans as they hit the slopes.

WASHINGTON - The lesson of Libya is that America should not be afraid to lead, President Barack Obama said during a speech at the National Defense University.

WASHINGTON - It was in America’s vital interests to stop a massacre in Libya, President Barack Obama said in a speech that outlined the justification for establishing a no-fly zone over Libya.

WASHINGTON - Moammar Gadhafi’s forces are feeling the effects of the coalition attacking command and control centers and logistics hubs, as evidenced by the progress the Libyan opposition has made, Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, director of the Joint Staff, said.

WASHINGTON - The Wounded Warrior Care Coordination Summit aims to improve the coordination of nonmedical care for wounded warriors and their families.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department wants to institutionalize streamlined logistics and acquistions procedures used to quickly equip overseas-deployed forces, said Ashton B. Carter, the department’s undersecretary for acquisitions, technology and logistics.

WASHINGTON - A coalition airstrike killed more than 10 insurgents in the Bermal district of Paktika province.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Former college cheerleader Army Spc. Mateo V. Salado swapped his megaphone for an M-16 as he and his soldier-buddies battle insurgents in Afghanistan.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - Vice President Joe Biden praised disabled veterans' service and sacrifices at the opening ceremonies of the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colo.

SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colo. - More than 350 disabled veterans are visiting Snowmass Village, Colo., to participate in the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, jointly sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Department and Disabled American Veterans.

WASHINGTON - Coalition efforts are hampering Moammar Gadhafi's forces from continuing attacks on innocent civilians and rebel forces in Libya, said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates during appearances on two television news shows.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and coalition forces have accomplished the no-fly zone aspect of the United Nations mission in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

WASHINGTON - The military mission in Libya is preventing further atrocities against the Libyan people by Moammar Gadhafi and his forces, President Barack Obama said in his weekly radio address.

WASHINGTON - The coalition struck a number of targets in Libya with air operations flown to protect the Libyan people from Moammar Gadhafi’s forces, said Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, the director of the Joint Staff.

WASHINGTON - Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen joined Medal of Honor recipients and defense leaders in a Pentagon ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the nation’s highest military award.

HAMPTON, Va. - A new study commissioned by the Defense Department affirms many of the suicide-prevention efforts being made within DOD and the military services and recommends ways to strengthen them.

ARABIAN SEA - U.S. naval forces disrupted a pirate attack on a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel in after it reported it had been attacked by pirates in the Arabian Sea.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - During a week of overseas visits with leaders impacted by simultaneous antigovernment protests in Middle East countries, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates focused on the opportunities that come with the challenges.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed two armed militants and detained numerous suspected insurgents, including a Taliban leader, in the Daman district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - American service members in Japan continue to help the Japanese people recover from the catastrophic March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

WASHINGTON - The Mehtar Lam district in Afghanistan’s Laghman province is ready for its role in the first security-transition wave set for July.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, accepted the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award from the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress on behalf of all members of the U.S. armed forces.

HAMPTON, Va. - Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Darrell T. Mangham uses his expertise to help Afghan security forces fight common illnesses and infectious diseases to stay battle ready.

WASHINGTON - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced the alliance will assume command and control of coalition operations enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya authorized by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973.

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - Defense issues in the U.S.-Israel relationship and the implications of Middle East political shifts were among the topics as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv, Israel.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces continue to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya, striking air defense capabilities and regime forces that threaten Libyan civilians, Navy Vice Adm. William E. Gortney said.

TEL AVIV, Israel - The United States and Israel should stand together “as we contemplate and work with the extraordinary change that is taking place around the region,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Tel Aviv, Israel.

WASHINGTON - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., facing retirement next month, discussed the Army's pace of change and other transformations during his four decades of service.

WASHINGTON - Military children need and deserve the nation’s utmost respect and support as they weather a decade of war, Deborah Mullen, wife of the nation’s top military officer, said at a summit on the education of military children.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - In a meeting in Cairo, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commended his counterpart’s leadership and the Egyptian military’s professionalism during the recent tumultuous events in that country.

WASHINGTON - A partnered Afghan and coalition security force acting on intelligence information killed a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator and captured another in the Sabari district of Khost province.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Eligible family members who voluntarily leave Japan will arrive at Denver International Airport aboard chartered military flights.

CAMP COURTNEY, Japan - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Yamile Brito couldn't leave her Okinawa base to help Japan tsunami victims, but did raise more than $4,000 in goods for them.

HAMPTON, Va. - A new play, “ReEntry,” explores the raw, realistic and often tender experiences related to repeated combat deployments and redeployments.

WASHINGTON - Military children need the support not just of the Defense Department, but the “whole of nation” to ensure they’re ready for the future.

CAIRO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed operations in Libya and instability in the Middle East during a news conference in Cairo.

WASHINGTON - An American Forces Press Service article published March 23 titled “Coalition Partners Assume More Responsibility in Libya” contained statistics on Operation Odyssey Dawn that had not been confirmed. We have republished the article with the statistics removed.

CAIRO - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with Egyptian leaders in Cairo as part of a visit officials said is designed to reaffirm U.S. support and advance the nations’ defense partnership.

WASHINGTON - Coalition task force operations in Libya go well, and partner nations are picking up more of the workload, said Navy Rear Adm. Gerard P. Hueber, the chief of staff of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn.

WASHINGTON - The fusion of intelligence and operations is an important advance that has taken shape during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations.

WASHINGTON - NATO and Afghan forces hold the advantage over insurgents as spring and summer approach, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of coalition and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - While Operation Odyssey Dawn brewed quickly, the U.S. Navy already was positioned for quick response operations over Libya, said Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected insurgents, including Taliban leaders and Haqqani network terrorists, in multiple operations.

WASHINGTON - By the fifth day of coalition task force operations supporting a no-fly zone in Libya and protecting Libyan civilians, the 13-nation alliance had flown more than 300 sorties in the North African country, Pentagon officials said.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - U.S. Northern Command is leading “Pacific Passage,” an operation for the voluntary return of military family members from Japan in the aftermath of the deadly March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq - Army Capt. Kim Walter employs her enlisted experience to help, teach and train NCOs and other enlisted soldiers under her command in Iraq,

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have launched an online preregistration application that’s intended to help parents enroll their children in DOD schools.

MOSCOW - European missile defense was one of the top issues as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with his Russian counterpart Anatoliy Serdyukov and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.

WASHINGTON - Army Capt. Galen Peterson is recovering from traumatic brain injury, but remains on active duty, and he urges service members who think they may have TBI to get checked and treated.

WASHINGTON - The two-man crew of a U.S. fighter jet that crashed in Libya is safe, while the coalition has established a no-fly zone and grounded Moammar Gadhafi’s forces, said Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, the commander of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn.

MOSCOW - Coalition forces enforcing a no-fly zone to halt the killing of citizens in Libya “have gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties," said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WASHINGTON - Funding the government through continuing resolutions rather than approving a budget is “miserably inefficient,” said Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

WASHINGTON - A majority of the area around Kabul, Afghanistan, will be among the nation's first seven regions to transition to full Afghan security control, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained at least 15 suspected insurgents, including several Taliban leaders and foreign fighters.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - Advances in technology is improving medevac capabilities to ensure wounded troops in Afghanistan get the advanced medical care they need quickly.

WASHINGTON - Troops and their families have a few tax advantages at their disposal, as well as a few extra days in which to complete their taxes this year.

MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. - Nadeem Seirafi, a Marine Corps Police Department working dog handler, is bonding with his new partner -- Kit Kat, a 2-year-old German shepherd.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military actions in Libya are designed to set conditions for other coalition partners to play larger roles enforcing the no-fly zone there, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - The first days of Operation Odyssey Dawn have been successful as forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi are retreating from Benghazi following coalition attacks, said Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, the chief of U.S. Africa Command.

WASHINGTON - U.S. efforts to build effective missile defenses are more important than ever for defending the nation and its deployed forces and for cooperating with allies and partners.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent and detained several others in the Burkah district of Baghlan province.

WASHINGTON - Eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries now have until April 8 to apply for special retroactive pay, Defense Department officials said.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed 21st-century security challenges with Russian naval officers during a question-and-answer session at the new State Russian Naval Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army medic Pfc. Levi Meyer plans to expand his medical knowledge and boost his health care career by becoming a military physician assistant.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Common security challenges, a deepening military-to-military relationship and the will to expand cooperation have drawn the U.S. and Russia together to face emerging issues, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in St. Petersburg, Russia.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Military forces are just one way to bring stability to Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, citing political and economic sanctions and other actions that have been taken.

WASHINGTON - While the attacks on Libya’s defense system have been successful, thousands of anti-aircraft artillery emplacements and portable missile launchers pose threats to coalition air crews, the director of the Joint Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Noting that the movements in the Middle East and North Africa show a yearning for freedom, President Barack Obama held Brazil up as an example of how “a call for change that starts in the streets can transform a city, a country and the world.”

WASHINGTON - Operation Odyssey Dawn is a coalition effort responding to the calls of the Libyan people, Arab nations and the international community as a whole, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy said.

WASHINGTON - Initial operations in Libya have been very effective, with French, British and U.S. air strikes crippling Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s capabilities, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Coalition attacks have put in place the conditions needed to establish a no-fly zone over Libya, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on NBC’s "Meet the Press."

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Department of Defense Education Activity has established crisis centers to assist parents of its students and employees who are affected by the voluntary relocations from Japan and Bahrain.

WASHINGTON - Expressing confidence in the U.S. service members taking part, President Barack Obama said the military action in Libya is an international effort designed to protect a threatened people.

WASHINGTON - Coalition members fired 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya’s integrated air and missile defense system as a precursor to setting up a no-fly zone over the country.

WASHINGTON - About 200 military family members arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington state after leaving Japan voluntarily, U.S. Army North officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces launched "Operation Odyssey Dawn" to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect the Libyan people from the country’s ruler.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - TRICARE military health plan beneficiaries affected by the situation in Japan will continue to have health care benefits, even if they relocate.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops continue to lend a helping hand to Japan, committing dozens of aircraft along with thousands of Marines and sailors to Operation Tomodachi.

WASHINGTON - During Robert M. Gates’ final trip to Russia as U.S. defense secretary, he will meet with Russian officials to discuss defense reforms, global security and arms-control issues.

WASHINGTON - The United States military will work with allies to stop Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi from killing his own people, President Barack Obama said. A new U.N. Security Council resolution demands an end to violence against Libya's citizens.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. Joint Forces Command prepares to disband, a NATO partner seeks to expand collaboration across U.S. military organizations.

WASHINGTON - The growth and quality of Afghanistan’s government and other societal institutions will determine the country’s long-term stability, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of NATO and U.S. forces there said.

WASHINGTON - Officials are taking “proactive, deliberate” steps to stay ahead of the changing conditions in Japan, while keeping the safety of military families there always in mind, said a DOD official.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed or detained multiple insurgents throughout Afghanistan.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine have launched three promising clinical trials to help wounded warriors suffering from burns.

BALTIMORE - U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort has departed its homeport of Baltimore in support of the humanitarian civic assistance mission Continuing Promise 2011 to help people in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - When Staff Sgt. Brian C. Reddington decided to enlist, he chose the Army to honor his stepfather who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Japan are engaged in one of the biggest natural and manmade disasters of a lifetime, said Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Cyber Command is building its workforce, launching efforts with industry and working with international partners to fulfill an important mission, said Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, the command's top leader.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama told reporters the United States is using all available resources to help Japan recover from the effects of a massive earthquake, a follow-on tsunami and a battered nuclear power infrastructure.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is committed to maintaining total force readiness even under tightening budgets and amid plans to transition out of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Clifford L. Stanley, the Pentagon’s top civilian personnel official.

WASHINGTON - Executive order for a periodic review of detainees status strikes a balance between their rights and national defense needs, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told a congressional committee.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has authorized up to $35 million in initial Pentagon funds for humanitarian aid to Japan. The DOD also has approved the voluntary departure of eligible military family members from Japan to the United States.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon released its annual report on sexual assault in the military, as officials stressed that one sexual assault within the ranks is one too many and has no place in the armed forces.

WASHINGTON - NATO wants to fill capability gaps in defending against potential cyber and missile attacks while addressing lessons learned in Afghanistan, said French Air Force Gen. Stephane Abrial, the alliance’s supreme allied commander for transformation.

WASHINGTON - NATO troops killed more than 30 insurgents in an ongoing offensive operation in the Reg-e Khan Neshin district of Helmand province.

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Cecil L. Montgomery's love of his family and friends makes each day easier for him while he serves in combat in Afghanistan's Khost province.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are generally pleased with the progress of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process as it moves toward its final months.

WASHINGTON - A NATO task force will explore “out of the box” concepts for improving efficiency while building capabilities in the face of shrinking defense budgets, said French Air Force Gen. Stephane Abrial, the alliance’s supreme allied commander for transformation.

WASHINGTON - Fourteen U.S. Navy ships and their aircraft and 17,000 sailors and Marines are now involved in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in Japan, said a Defense Department spokesman.

WASHINGTON - Following Japan's earthquake and tsunami, U.S. troops and families have been using social media sites to obtain information about family and friends.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured two Haqqani network terrorists and detained several other suspected insurgents in Khost province.

WASHINGTON - As Afghan forces prepare to begin taking responsibility for security in their country, actions in the coming months will have consequences for years, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos issued a message to Americans living there to bring them up to date on the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck the island nation.

WASHINGTON - After Americans evacuated Egypt, U.S. Army Capt. Eric Coulson helped create an emergency kennel for the other members of the family: pets that were left behind.

ARLINGTON, Va. - America recognized the end of an era as it bade farewell to Army Cpl. Frank Woodruff Buckles, the last U.S. World War I veteran, as he was laid to rest.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan troops have retaken the advantage from the Taliban in Afghanistan, said Michele Flournoy the Defense Department’s top policy official.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military response following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan highlights the importance of a forward troop presence in the region, said Michael Schiffer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force airlifted 175 Egyptians home from Tunisia to Cairo in the latest U.S. transport of refugees fleeing the turmoil in Libya.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan Local Police program is one example of the innovative policies helping with the counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces.

WASHINGTON - The Taliban’s momentum has been reversed in most areas of Afghanistan, but the progress achieved there is fragile and reversible, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces.

WASHINGTON - Officials told personnel in and around Fleet Activities Yokosuka and Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Japan to limit outdoor activities due to the detection of low levels of radioactivity.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator and detained two other suspected insurgents in Khost province.

WASHINGTON - Recruiting and retention remained high throughout the services for the first five months of the fiscal year, according to Pentagon officials.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Spc. Ricaud Brown obtained a master's degree in business administration and has a manager's job waiting for him when he completes his military service.

WASHINGTON - Red Cross officials are encouraging U.S. service members and families posted in Japan to register with an online resource intended to keep family and friends back home informed of their welfare.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama thanked Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen for his country’s contributions in Afghanistan and said the two will continue to work closely on that issue and others.

WASHINGTON - Navy and Marine Corps leaders have signed an agreement by which the Corps will join the Navy in buying the F-35 joint strike fighter variant designed for aircraft carriers, service leaders announced.

WASHINGTON - Amid reports that indicate Moammar Gadhafi’s troops are gaining the upper hand over the opposition, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell spoke during an MSNBC interview about the situation in Libya.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents in a shootout in the Darah-ye Pech district of Kunar province.

WASHINGTON - Japan’s earthquake and tsunami are tragedies on an epic scale, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said, and the U.S. military is standing by to deliver what aid the Japanese need during relief efforts.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Christian Kapler, an Iowa Guardsman, uses his considerable carpenter skills to improve his outpost on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. 7th Fleet has temporarily repositioned its ships and aircraft away from Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant after detecting low-level contamination in the air and on its aircraft providing relief operations in the area.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military forces are working alongside their Japanese counterparts to provide aid as the country digs out in the aftermath of the massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck March 11.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said while Bahrain’s rulers are serious about coming to terms with the opposition, governments across the region must understand that reforms must come quickly.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has taken steps to prevent another massive leak of its classified information, a senior official told a Senate committee.

WASHINGTON - Of all their talents and capabilities, leadership is the most important value they bring to the force, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told students at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

WASHINGTON - America will pay its respects to its last World War I veteran March 15, when former Army Cpl. Frank Buckles is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is making great strides in the field of traumatic brain injury that will benefit service members and further research.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and international pressure has “raised the ante significantly” against Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Military options are under consideration as pressure mounts on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - The United States stands ready to help Japan deal with the aftermath of the massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Bahrain.

WASHINGTON - The nation's military veterans have made extraordinary sacrifices and deserve the support of the American people, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - A NATO airstrike targeted two Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan terrorist organization leaders in the Dara Soof Payan district of Samangan province.

WASHINGTON - A Marine Corps KC-130 aircraft has airlifted 45 Egyptians from Djerba, Tunisia, to Cairo in the latest U.S. transport of refugees from Libya.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Manama, Bahrain, to meet with the country's leaders and urge dialogue and a process of reform in response to weeks of protests there and across the region.

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan - Airmen and volunteers at Yokota Air Base, Japan, are helping more than 500 commercial airline passengers whose flights were diverted there after a magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck off the Japanese coast.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has partnered with the nation’s governors, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Homeland Security Department to strengthen support to governors when they request military assistance for disaster response.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Army Guardsman Staff Sgt. Jennifer Kohany used to sing in front of her mirror, but now performs for thousands of people at military functions and sporting events.

WASHINGTON - People's protests in the Middle East and North Africa demonstrate the desire for change and the rejection of violent, repressive ideologies possessed by al-Qaida and the current Libyan and Iranian regimes, said National Security Advisor Tom Donilon.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces are swinging into action to help Japan in the wake of a magnitude 8.9 earthquake.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has made it clear Libya's Moammar Gadhafi “has lost legitimacy to lead, he’s lost the confidence of his people and should leave,” said National Security Advisor Tom Donilon.

WASHINGTON - Two high-level intelligence chiefs described their top concerns for U.S. national security -- to include terrorism, cyber-threats, weapons of mass destruction -- during their testimony on Capitol Hill.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates challenged a gathering of 48 NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Belgium, to commit money and people, at what he called “a critical juncture for our mission in Afghanistan.”

WASHINGTON - It is just as important to invest in diplomacy and development as it is to invest in troops and their equipment, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told the Senate Budget Committee.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO’s defense ministers are concerned about Moammar Gadhafi's attacks on the Libyan people and have agreed to plan for all military options, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates after meeting with alliance officials in Brussels, Belgium.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is surveying employers to find out how the use of reserve-component forces has affected their civilian workplaces.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed global security issues involving the Middle East, North Africa, Somalia, Pakistan and North Korea during a virtual town hall meeting.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed eight enemy fighters and detained several others in operations throughout Afghanistan.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - Air Force 1st Lt. Candice Killian pursued her love of flying to become the first qualified female pilot of the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

WASHINGTON - Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members provide a vital service to the nation by supplementing U.S. military forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas locales.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - What started as a super-secret program to protect ground troops in Iraq from roadside bombs has matured into a coveted asset in Afghanistan.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Regional Command East forces are expanding security around the Afghan capital of Kabul and providing continued defense along Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Bill Gross has maintained the first KC-10 tanker plane throughout most of his career -- and even survived a lightning strike with it.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. C-130s will transport Egyptian refugees from Tunisia to Cairo, said Defense Department officials.

WASHINGTON - We have removed an article posted March 8 titled "Plan Bridges Gaps in Homeland Responses" to correct some inaccurate information. Please do not use that article in your publications. We will post a new version as soon as possible.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed two enemy fighters and detained several others, including a Haqqani network terrorist leader, in the Sabari district of Afghanistan’s Khost province.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, to meet with his fellow NATO defense ministers about the security transition in Afghanistan and the situation in the Middle East.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates hailed U.S. Marines posted in the Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province for bringing nearly unprecedented security to an area that was once a Taliban stronghold.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The Defense Department’s secure collaborative platform has expanded beyond the Army to include more members of the other service branches, providing access to secure knowledge management tools mirroring popular social media platforms.

SINDELFINGEN, Germany - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presided over the change-of-command ceremony as Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward passed the reins of U.S. Africa Command to Army Gen. Carter F. Ham in Germany.

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Instructors at the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce’s predeployment training course strive for realism to prepare civilians for service in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas locales.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - A new network that promotes information and intelligence sharing among coalition partners is improving situational awareness.

COMBAT OUTPOST KOWALL, Afghanistan - A program through which villagers augment the police in providing and maintaining security is taking root in the Arghandab district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, a former Taliban stronghold.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - BRAC is bringing major changes to historic Aberdeen Proving Ground with the exodus of the Army Ordnance Center and School and the influx of high-tech organizations that are making it a technological hub.

COMBAT OUTPOST KOWALL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates finds conditions “very encouraging” in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province, as he ended his second full day of high-level in-country meetings, troop visits and commander briefings.

GEELONG, Australia - U.S. Air Force officials discussed the merits of the F-16 fighter jet with members of the Australian Air League, an organization for youths interested in aviation.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several enemy fighters and detained many other suspected insurgents in operations throughout Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has thanked Marines fighting and manning outposts in eastern Afghanistan, a region he said was one of the world's most dangerous places before the Marines arrived.

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - The Civilian Expeditionary Workforce’s predeployment course prepares civilians to support combat and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and other overseas locations.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force couple is documenting their daily experiences as they serve separate deployments in Afghanistan in the blog, “Double Duty: Know Before You Go.”

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James Grove turned to a new form of rehabilitation to recover from a motorcycle accident.

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - A U.S. Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command team arrived in China in mid-February to search for 12 missing Americans lost as the result of an alleged November 1950 U.S. aircraft crash.

WASHINGTON - As the men and women who serve in today’s military leave active duty, communities around the country should tap their potential as employees for the benefit of the nation, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - A commission created to improve diversity among military leaders has issued 20 recommendations to make the military better reflect the composition of the U.S. population.

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration announced the conclusion of its review of detainee policies at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and will resume military commissions there.

SOUDA BAY, Crete - Air Force members projecting humanitarian airlift missions into North Africa in the wake of civil unrest in Libya say they're happy they've been able to help the hundreds of refugees.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama met with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the White House and thanked the Australian military and their families for the sacrifices and efforts they are making in Afghanistan.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - Dr. Jill Biden promised Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing that she and First Lady Michelle Obama will support them during every deployment.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Civilian casualties and the impending drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan highlighted a discussion between Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the Afghan capital city of Kabul.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured several suspected insurgents, including two Haqqani terrorist leaders and a Taliban weapons trafficker.

WASHINGTON - A commission that studied diversity among military leaders recommends the Defense Department rescind its policy that prevents women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed Australia's $3 million donation toward the completion of an education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial while also noting the contributions of Australians during the war.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited Regional Command East troops at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to share his thoughts, seek their concerns and express his thanks.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The Base Closure and Realignment Commission has transformed Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., where the plan's initiatives are well under way and slated to be completed on time and under budget.

MANAMA, Bahrain - The crew of the Combined Maritime Forces warship USS Bulkeley secured the release of the Japanese-owned oil tanker Guanabara and its 24 crew members from the grip of suspected pirates in the Somali Basin southeast of Oman.

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. - Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Disney has triumphed over wartime wounds to pursue his dream of being the best pararescue trooper and guitarist he can be.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has arrived in Afghanistan to visit troops, meet with President Hamid Karzai and talk with NATO military leaders about progress made toward transitioning security responsibility to Afghan forces.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military aircraft flew 640 Egyptians home from the Tunisia-Libya border where the refugees fled to escape the violence that continues between government forces and rebels in Libya.

NAVAL AIR STATION SOUDA BAY, Crete - Several units from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, have been key to providing airlift support for the humanitarian crisis on Libya’s borders .

WASHINGTON - Four U.S. military aircraft flew 312 Egyptians home from the Tunisia-Libya border where they fled to escape the violence that continues between government forces and rebels in Libya.

WASHINGTON - Harvard University’s decision to formally welcome the return of the Reserve Officer Training Corps to its campus honors the contributions of service members, the White House press secretary said.

DJERBA, Tunisia - The U.S. military’s contribution to an international effort to end the suffering of Libya’s evacuees began in Italy when two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft picked up humanitarian aid and headed to Tunisia.

WASHINGTON - An Army official has recommended that the accused gunman in a 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, be tried before a general court-martial.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed four armed insurgents, including a Haqqani terrorist network leader, in Afghanistan’s Khost province.

WASHINGTON - Few Defense Department agencies have a more important mission than the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told a Pentagon audience.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals NHL team have honored service members and their families in the 8th Annual Military Appreciation Night, including military children who were guests of the "Me and a Friend" Program.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, speaking at the U.S. Air Force Academy, urged cadets to have the courage to speak up as they move forward as the next generation of military leaders.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. military must be able to contend with a wide range of asymmetric and conventional threats now and in the future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Air Force leaders must apply a view that balances traditional roles with the reality of new threats, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Air Force Academy cadets in a speech during his last visit to the school.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Air Force cadets that their service branch has to change to face new foes and challenges.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. military aircraft are set to deliver humanitarian supplies to Tunisia and transport Egyptian refugees from Libya, a Pentagon spokesman announced.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A Navy sailor was welcomed home by hundreds of Marines as he received the Bronze Star for saving the life of one of their own in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Retired Army chaplain Neal J. Buckon was selected by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as an auxiliary Roman Catholic bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

WASHINGTON - America and its allies will face varied and unpredictable security threats in the future, the leaders of the two most intensely engaged U.S. military commands told House Armed Services Committee members.

DALLAS - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised the Boy Scouts of America for instilling principles, integrity and honor in tomorrow’s leaders during remarks at a Circle Ten Council Friends of Scouting dinner held in Dallas.

WASHINGTON - Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy credits notable military and civilian women of the past for providing the opportunities, responsibilities and accomplishments available to today’s defense women leaders.

WASHINGTON - The AfPak Hands program trains military and civilian personnel from all services to build trust between the U.S. military and local populations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has alerted two Army National Guard brigade combat teams to deployments to Kuwait and Afghanistan beginning early next year.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has approved the use of U.S. military aircraft to help Egyptians who have fled to the Tunisian border get back home to Egypt.

WASHINGTON - The fight against insurgents in Afghanistan’s Helmand province may have turned the corner and the trend lines are going up, the commander of Regional Command-Southwest said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces employed an airstrike that killed several insurgents in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has signed legislation to keep the government funded and running through March 18. He urged congressional leaders to avoid another such extension by passing the fiscal 2011 departmental budgets.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of NATO's Joint Command, has offered his condolences via a video recording for a March 1 helicopter strike that left nine boys dead in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are taking extensive measures to ensure service members have access to quality education opportunities while off duty.

WASHINGTON - The Army's fiscal 2012 budget request marks a transition point between restoring balance to the force and sustaining that balance in the long term, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Dean Miller is using his 21 years of military experience to assist Iraqi air force officials in developing their own public affairs professionals.

FORT LESLEY J. MCNAIR, D.C. - The Army has added 22 charges in the case of a military intelligence analyst accused of leaking classified material.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell pledged the United States will work with German authorities after a shooting outside Frankfurt International Airport claimed two U.S. airmen lives and wounded two others.

WASHINGTON - Holly Petraeus is set to put her hard-won financial knowledge to good use as head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs, which aims to protect service members from predatory financial practices.

WASHINGTON - Service members, veterans and beneficiaries held on active duty under the Stop-Loss program between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, must apply by March 4 to receive retroactive pay.

WASHINGTON - Across Afghanistan, effective attacks using homemade bombs has declined, said Army Lt. Gen. Michael L. Oates, director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. plan to defend Europe from a rapidly increasing ballistic missile threat will reach a milestone with the first deployment of missile defense technology in the region.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Pacific Command is preparing to launch an interagency, international mission -- Pacific Partnership 2011 -- to provide a fast, coordinated response should disaster strike the Pacific Ocean region.

WASHINGTON - Congress must take steps now so that troops in Afghanistan get the gear and capabilities they need, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a congressional panel.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court has issued three decisions with military connections involving picketing at military funerals, service members' civilian employment rights, and deadlines for veterans' benefits.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Special Operations Command troops have had an impact far above their relatively small numbers, especially in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, Socom commander Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson told a Senate committee.

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Andreas Buttner is proud to have gained his U.S. citizenship as he fights alongside his fellow Americans for the stabilization of Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has revamped financial and wartime operations and initiatives with the use of leading-edge technology.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. military forces move toward withdrawal from Iraq and transition in Afghanistan, mission requirements remain numerous and strategically vital, Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, the head of U.S. Central Command, said.

WASHINGTON - The wave of reform sweeping North Africa and the Middle East is a set-back for Iran and al-Qaida, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon press briefing.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended Navy Vice Adm. Wiliam H. McRaven to succeed Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson as head of U.S. Special Operations Command and Army Gen. James D. Thurman to succeed Gen. Walter “Skip” Sharp as head of U.S. Forces Korea. They must both be confirmed by the Senate.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is losing billions of dollars by Congress’ failure to pass the department’s fiscal 2011 budget, putting readiness, modernization and efficiency initiatives at risk, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition troops detained six suspected insurgents and found several weapon stockpiles in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The United States must remain engaged in the broader Middle East, where recent events have altered the strategic landscape, Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have recommended a number of ways to cut costs in the military health system, while still providing high-quality care and protecting the wallets of active duty service members and their families, a senior defense official said.

HARTFORD, Conn. - A Connecticut Army National Guardsman is a professional boxer and single father who strives to make the best life possible for himself and his son.