WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has made helping veteran employment and reintegration a top priority and issued a memorandum calling on federal agencies to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunity for service members within federal employment.

LONDON - In double record-setting fashion, U.S. Army Sgt. Vincent Hancock became the first shotgun shooter to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in men’s skeet at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.

WASHINGTON - Navy veteran Tim Pollard has a new lease on life thanks to his connections to veterans groups and the Veterans Affairs Department, along with employment and housing assistance from the Labor Department’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - Along with more rotational deployments, U.S. Pacific Command is eyeing opportunities to pre-position some of the logistics assets being drawn down in Afghanistan to support a future disaster response or other contingency in the Asia-Pacific region.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan is on the right trajectory to move to the next stage in its development at every level -- economic, governance and security, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan C. Crocker said during an interview with NPR.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force called in an airstrike that killed several insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Muqer district of Ghazni province. Several insurgents were detained after the airstrike and no civilians were during the operation.

TEL AVIV, Israel - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will meet with senior Israeli leaders and defense officials to discuss the threat Iran poses to the Middle East and the world, and the situation in Syria.

CAIRO - Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi “is his own man” and is committed to implementing democratic reforms in his country, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said after meeting with him in Cairo.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - After undergoing a near-death experience, Army Sgt. Merrell Lowe pledged to himself that he'd eat better and exercise regularly, and help other soldiers to lead healthier lives.

WASHINGTON - The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have released a free Apple and Android smartphone mobile application called PE Coach for use with post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

HONOLULU - As U.S. Pacific Command implements new strategic guidance focused on the Asia-Pacific region, its commander, Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, is tapping into a pool of expertise within his headquarters to enhance the command’s regional engagements.

LONDON - U.S. service members were among more than 10,000 Olympians from around the world who marched into Olympic Stadium here during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London.

WASHINGTON - Officials from the Defense Department and the U.S. Geological Survey have gathered to unveil what the director of a DOD task force called a “treasure map” of Afghanistan's mineral resources.

CARTHAGE, Tunisia - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has again said the United States “is prepared to exercise all options” to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons.

CARTHAGE, Tunisia - The 6,565 American troops memorialized at the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunisia signify America’s commitment to freedom, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a visit to the site.

LONDON - Four-time Olympian Army Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski knew right away that his game was not clicking in the Olympic 10-meter air pistol qualification round July 28 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Married Air Force officers 1st Lt. Andrew Caulk and 1st Lt. Jennifer Caulk play together on a local ice hockey team in San Antonio, Texas, for exercise and to keep their marriage fresh.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed one insurgent, detained two drug dealers and seized a weapons and drug cache during a counter-narcotics operation in the Nad ‘Ali district of Helmand province.

FORT MEADE, Md. - Retired Air Force Lt. Col. David Jensen knew what he had to do to get a job after 28 years in the military, and it landed him the position he wanted at Oshkosh Defense as a manager of the company’s global purchasing and supply chain.

LONDON - In front of an enthusiastic crowd eager to witness presentation of the first medals of the London Olympic Games, Jamie Gray, wife of a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit soldier, finished fifth in women’s 10-meter air rifle.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The United States recognizes Israel is a sovereign nation and can make its own security decisions, “but at the same time, we have developed a very close partnership with regards to dealing with threats in the region, … and my goal is to strengthen that partnership,” U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

LONDON - Despite having a difficult Olympic debut, Navy Reserve Petty Officer 1st Class Sandra Uptagrafft’s experience in London featured enough goosebumps and memories to last a lifetime.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The Syrian regime’s attacks on the citizens of Aleppo ultimately will lead to Bashar Assad’s fall from power, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said North Africa and the Middle East present a confluence of challenges he will explore during his trip to the region.

LONDON - Army Olympian Staff Sgt. John Nunn will teach Americans how to race walk on NBC’s “Today” show.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta begins a trip to North Africa and the Middle East to meet with leaders and take the temperature of a crucial and volatile region.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - After a 10-day Asia trip, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he had succeeded in informing allies and partners about specific aspects of the U.S. strategic rebalance, and had, in turn, received strategic and practical information about what the shift means to other nations.

WASHINGTON - The level of cooperation between the State and Defense departments in recent years is unprecedented, said the assistant secretary of state for political military affairs.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate has confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Frank J. Grass to be the next chief of the National Guard Bureau and Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel as the bureau’s vice chief.

WASHINGTON - After years of problems and delays, the reform of the U.S. government’s export control process is nearing completion, said Andrew J. Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political military affairs.

WASHINGTON - The bond between the United States and South Korea was built on blood and sacrifice, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted as he observed a ceremony for the 59th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

LONDON - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jamel Herring, a 26-year-old light welterweight boxer, is gunning for a gold medal at the Olympic Games in London.

WASHINGTON - A coalition airstrike killed two enemy fighters during a search for an al-Qaida-associated insurgent leader in the Gelan district of Ghazni province. The insurgent leader is responsible for planning insurgent attacks throughout the region.

WASHINGTON - When Corey Wynn, an Iraq military veteran, was struggling with a lengthy job search and a bout with unemployment, a group of veterans’ organizations helped him to land a job.

ASPEN, Colo. - The United States is not adequately prepared for a serious cyber attack, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command told the audience at the Aspen Institute’s annual security forum today.

ASPEN, Colo. - Internal and external threats to the United States are legion, and the Defense Department is partnering with industry and the international community to defend against them, senior defense officials said today.

WASHINGTON - While there may be some extremists among Syrian rebels, al-Qaida is not establishing a strong footprint in the country, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said, noting the U.S. is working with governments in that region to disrupt, defeat and dismantle al-Qaida.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will travel to the Middle East with stops in several nations that have seen governments toppled in the Arab Spring, including key ally Egypt.

FORT MEADE, Md. - After going through a number of jobs after leaving the Army, Cheryl Blackburn has found valuable help with the Veterans Affairs' Veterans Retraining Assistance Program.

WASHINGTON - Having the right people in the right places with the right training is the best defense against a real-world attack and the same holds true in the cyber world, military commanders told Congress.

SEOUL, South Korea - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter got a close look at some of North Korea’s forces and spoke to some 300 of the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to deter them.

WASHINGTON - Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. William Earl Brown Jr. flew fighter planes his entire military career, but his experiences as a young pilot in the Korean War left a lasting impression.

GOLDSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue recently signed legislation that streamlines the process for military members, spouses and veterans to obtain the necessary occupational licenses required to work in the state.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan special operations unit, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Haqqani network explosives expert in the Khost district of Afghanistan’s Khost province. The explosives expert conducted bomb attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

LONDON - Army World Class Athlete Program pistol shooter Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski is taking a businesslike approach to his fourth Olympic Games.

FORT HOOD, Texas - A military judge ruled that an Army psychiatrist accused in a November 2009 shooting rampage on Fort Hood, Texas, is in contempt for his failure to comply with an order to appear in court clean-shaven and within Army grooming standards.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department-supported “Feds Feed Families” program and affiliated nonprofit food banks assist thousands of hungry people each summer, and this year's DOD goal is to contribute 1.5 million pounds of donated food to help the charitable cause.

ASPEN, Colo. - The nation's special operations forces are known for daring raids like the one that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, but they’re not wholly about combat, Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, said during a discussion at the Aspen Institute’s annual security forum in Aspen, Colo.

WASHINGTON - The United States and its military are stronger today because of the service and sacrifice of people of all faiths, including Muslim Americans, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at the 13th annual Pentagon iftar dinner as part of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force has reinvigorated its nuclear mission, incorporated unmanned aerial capabilities and made progress in acquisition, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz told reporters at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki warned Congress that looming budget cuts as well as the surge of troops returning from a decade of wars will further challenge the government’s ability to provide for veterans in a timely manner.

WASHINGTON - The nation's social workers have signed on to help service members, veterans and their families in a broad effort as part of the White House’s “Joining Forces” campaign, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, announced at the National Association of Social Workers' annual convention.

WASHINGTON - The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are building an integrated military and veteran support system that is fundamentally different and far more robust than in the past, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told a congressional panel.

WASHINGTON - Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Vernon “Mick” Trainor recalls his first assignment as a replacement officer in charge of a rifle platoon and the leadership lessons he learned as a nervous, young lieutenant during the Korean War.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized more than 40 pounds of explosives during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Nawah-ye Barakzai district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE PASAB, Afghanistan - Army Spc. Michael Hilario, a former Navy Seabee who now serves with the Kentucky National Guard, is putting his old construction skills to work as part of an agribusiness development team in Afghanistan.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - An intelligence effort being advanced by each of the military services is promoting more complete intelligence analysis, better collaboration across the services and faster delivery of actionable intelligence to support combat operations.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department unveiled a new website that's designed to raise awareness of service members’ heroism and to help deter those who falsely claim military honors.

TOKYO - Air Force Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, commander of U.S. Forces Japan, said the U.S.-Japan alliance remains strong, with room to grow, noting that Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter's recent visit “ensures our critical work and cooperation with Japan is on track.”

SEOUL, South Korea - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter arrived in Seoul, South Korea, where he will meet with South Korean leaders, senior U.S. military commanders and diplomats and U.S. troops as he wraps up a 10-day Asia-Pacific tour.

HYDERABAD, India - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he had "very instructive" talks with Indian defense industry leaders in Hyderabad, India.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is nearing completion of an agreement with post-secondary schools to ensure service members have the best possible experience in continuing their education.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta delivered remarks during a ceremony marking the change of directorship at the Defense Intelligence Agency as Army Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr., who joined DIA as director in 2009 and is retiring after 38 years of military service, relinquished the directorship to Army Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn.

WASHINGTON - The insurgent violence that left at least 100 people dead across Iraq recently poses a potential challenge to the Baghdad government, but U.S. defense officials believe Iraq’s military is capable of handling it, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is satisfied the Air Force has identified the cause of hypoxia-like symptoms 12 F-22 pilots suffered, and restrictions he placed on use of the fifth-generation fighter will be lifted gradually.

WASHINGTON - When infantryman David Mills joined the Army on his 17th birthday and was sent to fight in the Korean War as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division, his mission was to hold Outpost Harry “at all costs.”

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Army Spc. Deme Ergie employed running to maintain good cardiovascular health while deployed to Afghanistan, and now inspires fellow 25th Infantry Division soldiers to get in shape at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader in the Baraki Barak district of Afghanistan’s Logar province.

WASHINGTON - “Transition GPS,” a redesigned transition program for service members separating from the military, will help veterans better apply the experience they’ve gained in uniform, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in a statement.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has paid tribute to the military victims of the July 20 shooting spree in Aurora, Colo., and urged Defense Department personnel to honor the victims’ memory through hard work and sacrifice.

WASHINGTON - The military’s active and reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for fiscal 2012 through June and are on target to achieve their fiscal year attrition goals.

WASHINGTON - Syrian leaders should not even think about using chemical weapons, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters as he reaffirmed the United States' committment to help end the violence in the country.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SMART, Afghanistan - Air Force Maj. John Matthews was assigned to the Pentagon after a successful tour in Afghanistan, and soon volunteered to return.

WASHINGTON - Fifteen public and private-sector employers have been chosen to receive the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

NEW DEHLI - The two central tenets for the new U.S. defense strategy are an increased focus on the Asia-Pacific region and a new approach to security cooperation through enhanced partnerships with other nations, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told Indian defense industry representatives, journalists and others in New Dehli.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents after coming under attack while searching for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan senior leader in the Chahar Darah district of Kunduz province.

NEW DELHI - During remarks at an event hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter noted that defense cooperation is central to making the relationship between U.S. and India one of the defining partnerships of the century.

WASHINGTON - A group of World War II veterans have been recognized for their gallantry during the second largest amphibious invasion of the war which took place in southern France during the late summer of 1944.

NEW DELHI - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter arrived in India, where he will attend meetings with India’s Secretary of Defense Shri Shashi Kant Sharma and other senior Indian defense officials, including chiefs of acquisition and research and development. He will also meet with U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell.

BANGKOK - While visiting Thailand, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told Thai officials he welcomes the opportunity to discuss ways to enrich the two nations’ strategic cooperation to meet shared regional challenges.

ABOARD THE USS BLUE RIDGE, Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter spent some time aboard the USS Blue Ridge berthed in Yokosuka, Japan, visiting U.S. service members who are, as he put it, “at the epicenter” of the nation’s strategic transition to an Asia-Pacific focus.

WASHINGTON - The July 20 mass shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., has claimed the lives of two U.S. service members who were assigned to units at the nearby Buckley Air Force Base.

TOKYO - As the United States rebalances its defense strategy toward the Asia-Pacific region, America's "central and anchoring” ally, Japan, also is beginning a strategic shift, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told reporters in Tokyo.

TOKYO - Many countries that are partnering with the United States in the F-35 joint strike fighter program will have a role to play in the aircraft’s assembly, but the U.S. government will not decide which country does what, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said in Tokyo.

TOKYO - The U.S. will work with Japanese aeronautical expects to confirm the airworthiness of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told Japanese media representatives in Tokyo.

WASHINGTON - Federal agencies, including the Defense Department, are being asked to free up 500 megahertz of space in the radio spectrum for the ongoing expansion of wireless services and to help further national economic growth.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials have confirmed at least one sailor and two airmen to be among the casualties in a mass shooting that took place during the midnight premier of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," in Aurora, Colo.

WASHINGTON - Speaking to the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Debora Plunkett, director of the National Security Agency’s Information Assurance, laid out the strategy behind “putting mobile devices in the hands of government users.”

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Two female soldiers, who enlisted during the mid-1970s when Army women served in a separate branch, share their experiences and reflect on challenges overcome as they watched the military transition into today’s force.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Takhar province.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department must do more to protect sensitive information, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey testified during a closed hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said after his meetings with Guamanian and military leaders over the past two days, he is more convinced than ever that Guam has a central role to play in the strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.

WASHINGTON - Responsibility for the security of chemical stockpiles in Syria rests upon the regime, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said, explaining that the combination of violence against civilians, a large supply of chemical weapons and unacceptable leadership highlight the country's need to quickly begin a new era.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III in his confirmation hearing to become the next Air Force chief of staff, was optimistic about the service’s fiscal challenges, but warned there are limits to how much it can cut.

WASHINGTON - Latin America and the Caribbean hold nontraditional security challenges for the United States, but each challenge offers a chance to work with countries in the region, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly told a Senate panel.

FIFTH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS - An MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron-15 crashed 58 miles southwest of Muscat, Oman, while conducting heavy lift support operations. The status of the five crew members is still being determined

FORT McCOY, Wis. - Army Spc. Dustin Chavez, a reservist who serves as an operating room technician, also works as a woodland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service when he's not in military uniform.

WASHINGTON - The Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony from Army Lt. Gen. Frank J. Grass, who’s been nominated by the president for promotion to full general and to become the new chief of the National Guard Bureau.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department Trusted Defense Systems Strategy provides an overarching framework for design and delivery of trusted systems with a focus on supply chain threats and minimizing risk exposure, a senior Pentagon official said recently.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban leader responsible for directing improvised explosive device attacks in the Andar district of Ghazni province.

AGANA, Guam - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter arrived in Guam on the second leg of a 10-day Asia-Pacific tour that will also include stops in Japan, Thailand, India and South Korea.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Standing on the deck of the USS Missouri, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter told service members gathered in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, they will witness “a new purpose in a new moment in our nation’s national security history.”

WASHINGTON - A Pentagon audience learned about the impact and legacy of the War of 1812 on the United States from a historian specializing in the conflict.

WASHINGTON - Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser delivered 900,000 gallons of a blend of advanced biofuels and traditional petroleum-based fuel to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz strike group, which is taking part in an exercise off Hawaii.

HONOLULU - With a new agreement that promotes increased information sharing and talks under way about more military-to-military engagements and potential U.S. troop rotations in the Philippines, Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said he is confident after his recent visit there that a historic alliance is advancing.

WASHINGTON - British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond will take the first international delivery of an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters during a press conference alongside his British counterpart.

WASHINGTON - Nearly 1.7 million veterans and service members have registered for the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense web portal, which provides online information and access to a wide variety of military and veteran benefits resources.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta described the situation in Syria as "rapidly spinning out of control" and said the international community must place maximum pressure on President Bashar Assad to accept a peaceful transition from power.

WASHINGTON - Iranian leaders must understand that the international community will ensure the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf will remain open, the American and British defense secretaries told reporters at the Pentagon.

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Army Sgt. Colton Hurley never knew his mother, an Army combat medic who passed away when he was just a baby. However, he knows what she believed in, and joined the Army to honor her memory and service.

WASHINGTON - Two International Security Assistance Force service members were injured following a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - In a new plan for 2012-2017, the Defense Department’s Defense Intelligence Agency is updating one of its core missions -- strategic warning for policymakers -- to reflect the world’s growing volatility.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, capped off his visit to the Philippines, getting a firsthand view of the fruits of a decade-long partnership between the two allies that has helped make solid progress in countering terrorism.

WASHINGTON - Frank Kendall, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, oversaw the logistics of the military withdrawal from Iraq and sees a much greater challenge looming with the pending drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Military food and beverage workers who gathered in San Antonio for an annual training workshop were met with an appeal from a senior Defense Department official: help promote healthier living.

WASHINGTON - Building partnership capacity is one of the least understood facets of the new defense strategy, and one in which the National Guard has taken the lead, according to Kathleen Hicks, the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.

WASHINGTON - In an increasingly competitive fiscal and security environment, major powers need to develop partnerships, and partnerships take work, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the audience at the National Guard Symposium on Mutual Security Cooperation.

WASHINGTON - While current Defense Department contracts funded with fiscal year 2012 dollars remain unaffected by sequestration, the looming threat of the budget-cutting maneuver means funding for all DOD contracts in FY 2013 is at risk of being cut, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

WASHINGTON - A multinational minesweeping exercise scheduled for this fall in the waters of the Middle East is intended to increase U.S. capabilities and cooperation with allies, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is taking a leading role in a governmentwide effort to stop the nation’s obesity problem, Barbara Thompson, director of the DOD’s Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is awarding nearly $100 million in grants that will help approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Air Force 1st Lt. Noel Carroll left her job as an emergency room nurse in Seattle to enlist in the military after her brother was killed in combat. Now, serving in Afghanistan, she has devoted her service to helping wounded service members.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader during an operation in the Archi district of Kunduz province. The leader was directly responsible for shipping explosive components to insurgents across the district.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials continue to work to avoid the looming threat of sequestration, said the new undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, who believes that additional budget reductions called for through sequestration would damage the department's ability to defend the nation and create a hollow force.

WASHINGTON - Frank Kendall describes his new job as all about supporting the new defense strategy and the budget that puts that strategy in place, noting there are important ideas and goals that must be considered to maintain the long-term health of national security.

U.S. NAVY 5th FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS - A security team aboard the USNS Rappahannock fired on a small motor vessel after the Navy said it disregarded warnings and rapidly approached Rappahannock near Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Col. Josie Fernandez credits providence as much as persistence for her journey from Cuban refugee to the duel-hatted role she has today with the Air Force Reserve and the National Park Service.

WASHINGTON - The Navy will deploy the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and its strike group four months early and shift its destination to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, DOD officials said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter will travel to the Asia-Pacific region during a 10-day trip to visit leaders, troops and facilities in Hawaii, Guam, Japan, Thailand, India and South Korea.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban weapons specialist in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province.

MANILA, Philippines - Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Mark W. Rudes, senior enlisted advisor to Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, praised the progress being made within the Philippine military's noncommissioned officer corps during a visit with students attending the country's Sergeant Major Academy in Manila.

WASHINGTON - The men’s and women’s U.S. national basketball teams, which are preparing for the upcoming Olympics in London, put on a show for service members, their families, and other fans at the District of Columbia National Guard Armory.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed the men and women representing USA Basketball as they held an open practice here for service members, their families and fans from the metropolitan area.

MANILA, Philippines - The senior U.S. commander in the Pacific region arrived in Manila to reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and to explore how the United States can support efforts to boost Philippine military capacity.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave a motivational talk to players on the USA Basketball men’s and women’s national teams at the District of Columbia National Guard Armory as the players prepared for upcoming Olympic competition in London.

WASHINGTON - The International Security Assistance Force condemned the "senseless and cowardly" suicide-bomber attack at a wedding in Afghanistan’s northern Samangan province that killed at least 19 people, including a member of the country's parliament, and wounded dozens.

WASHINGTON - Much has changed in the 20 years since the Defense Department ramped up its family support programs by providing policy and guidance from the Pentagon to installations and that support is continuing into the future with more programs and a much broader reach, Robert L. Gordon III, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, said.

WASHINGTON - To achieve additional cost savings and improve operations throughout the government, the White House recently launched the fourth annual Securing Americans Value and Efficiency Award competition.

CROWNSVILLE, Md. - Army Sgt. Jonathon Biddle never imagined that the challenge of learning to ride a horse would help him recover from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and severe anxiety. A program called Horses for Heroes, however, is helping the wounded warrior do just that.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Black and his military working dog, Lobo, keep fellow troops safe by searching for deadly mines and improvised explosive devices buried along Afghanistan's roads.

WASHINGTON - There are no indications that Syrian chemical weapons stockpiles have become less secure, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents and detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation to apprehend a high-level Haqqani network leader in the Giyan district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province.

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia has been a staunch U.S. ally for more than 60 years and its leadership will continue to be critical to regional security and the future of the Asia-Pacific region, said U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia has been a strong U.S. partner in Afghanistan, and the lessons learned through a decade of shared operations there lays a foundation for closer future U.S.-Australian cooperation in addressing regional challenges, said U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with his Russian counterpart at the Pentagon to discuss international security issues and methods to foster military relations.

WASHINGTON - A Congressional Budget Office analysis suggesting the Pentagon budget will be $123 billion higher than expected over the next five years dismisses many of the proposals the department has made to control costs, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Despite being grievously wounded by enemy fire during a patrol in Afghanistan in 2010, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Cole continued to provide suppressing fire that kept his fellow Marines safe until help was able to arrive.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Gen. C. Robert “Bob” Kehler said a “safe, secure and effective” nuclear deterrent is vital in a “complex and uncertain world” that includes nuclear weapons and nuclear-armed states, and where several of those states are modernizing their weapons and systems.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is not just an ordinary office building, William E. Brazis, the director of Washington Headquarters Services, said at a dedication ceremony for the newest history exhibit to open in the building.

WASHINGTON - As Missouri National Guard members met with Dr. Jill Biden this week to discuss their family challenges and areas of support, Jenn Whitacre’s feedback was both professional and personal.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons dealer and seized 110 pounds of explosives in the Maidan Shahr district of Wardak province. The detained individual acquired and provided weapons to the Taliban for use in attacks throughout the region.

WASHINGTON - Transitioning service members and veterans will be able to learn how to become entrepreneurs through a U.S. Small Business Administration-sponsored pilot program.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the ThanksUSA nonprofit organization for its efforts in providing need-based scholarships to the children and spouses of active-duty U.S. military members during a gala at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

CANBERRA, Australia - Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, discussed ways to continue to bolster the already-robust military-to-military relationship between the United States and Australia during meetings with senior Australian military leaders in Canberra.

CANBERRA, Australia - The militaries of 22 nations are participating in the largest-ever Rim of the Pacific exercise that Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said exemplifies the type of multilateral cooperation his command is working to promote.

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration is expanding a program that’s designed to provide faster processing for traveling service members passing through the nation’s airports while allowing TSA inspectors to concentrate on threats to travelers’ safety.

WASHINGTON - Education and people are key to the development of the military’s future leaders, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who hosted an assumption of command ceremony to welcome the National Defense University's 14th president.

WASHINGTON - Smart investing and less reliance on petroleum-based fuels will help ensure an agile, lethal and adaptable combat force, and ultimately, national security, Sharon Burke, assistant secretary of defense for operational energy plans and programs, said.

WASHINGTON - The turnaround in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province can be traced to the troop surge and the resulting growth and increasing professionalism of Afghan forces, the Afghan governor and U.S. commander in the province said.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Thanks to the ingenuity of Marine Corps Cpl. Frank McDermott, a small group of Marines on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, are enjoying their daily workouts without the hassle of an overcrowded gym.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons smuggler in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The smuggler was responsible for the movement of insurgents and equipment throughout the province.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The top U.S. officer in the Pacific said he’s more convinced after his recent visit to China that the two countries can build on common ground as they strive to get their military-to-military relationship back on track.

WASHINGTON - The International Security Assistance Force has made significant improvements to save what had been a “broken” medical system for treating Afghan security forces, Defense Department officials told a congressional committee.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is working to avoid the possibility of budget sequestration, a maneuver which would trigger massive across the board cuts in defense spending, something Pentagon Press Secretary George Little described as an “absurd” situation.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines considering separating from the active-duty military may seek employment options in the railways industry thanks to a pledge by the Association of American Railroads to create 5,000 new jobs for veterans.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon Press Secretary George Little noted a multitude of successes in Afghanistan during a press briefing with reporters, pointing out that the country is showing progress in military capabilities, literacy and economic development.

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Air Force Capt. Kyle Alderman, a C-130J Hercules aircraft pilot, consolidated multiple map displays into one heads-up digital map, giving aircrews one-look situational awareness and enhanced digital map capabilities.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed several insurgents, detained one suspected insurgent and seized multiple weapons during a search for the leader of a Taliban attack cell in the Chimtal district of Balkh province.

WASHINGTON - Technology has opened tremendous opportunities for the world, but also poses tremendous challenges for those who work to ensure access to cyberspace, said Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 400 volunteers descended on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery for the 16th annual Renewal and Remembrance, an event that honors the nation’s veterans and fallen service members by sprucing up the landmark’s grounds.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are closely monitoring events in Syria, including the military exercises that recently began, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government’s designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally is “extremely important” to the Defense Department, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters during a media briefing.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGEE, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Cpl. Jordi Inoke, a native of Micronesia serving as a radio operator with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, said he’s proud to be in Afghanistan on his second deployment and supporting the International Security Assistance Force.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force conducting an operation in the Terayzai district of Afghanistan's Khost province detained a Haqqani network leader in the process of equipping his followers with military uniforms for a planned attack on an Afghan government facility.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The International Security Assistance Force commander condemned the terrorist attack against the governor’s compound in Afghanistan’s Farah province that killed one civilian and injured several others.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials are hopeful the defection of Syrian Army Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass, a close, personal friend of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, will ignite a new trend within the oppressive regime's inner circle.

WASHINGTON - In 140 airdrop missions since they were called into action to battle fires in the Rocky Mountain region and other western locales, Defense Department C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System have discharged more than 332,400 gallons of retardant.

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. - Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of the Air Combat Command based on Langley Air Force Base, Va., completed his F-22 Raptor pilot qualification to aid efforts to identify the root cause of unexplained physiological incidents involving a small number of Raptor crews.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban improvised explosive device expert in the Ghorak district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

STUTTGART, Germany - When a pro-democracy revolution swept Tunisia, launching what became known as the Arab Spring, the Tunisian military looked to its U.S. partner, the Wyoming National Guard, for help in teaching democratic values to the country’s youth.

WASHINGTON - NATO seeks to assume a more global perspective and forge closer links with partners in Asia, Africa and elsewhere in order to ensure future security in the Euro-Atlantic region, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

WASHINGTON - Pakistan’s decision to reopen ground supply routes on its border with Afghanistan will allow the Defense Department to save tens of millions of dollars transporting material in and out of Afghanistan, a senior Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - In 123 airdrop missions since they were called into action to battle fires in the Rocky Mountain region and other western locales, Defense Department C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System have discharged more than 320,000 gallons of flame retardant.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban weapons supplier while he was in the process of acquiring improvised explosive devices in the Chimtal district of Balkh province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE NOLAY, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Marine Corps Cpl. Nathan Karasch has had a longtime passion for music and enjoys playing bluesy tunes on his harmonica for his comrades-in-arms.

STUTTGART, Germany - U.S. Africom and interagency participants are providing training and other aid to African partner nations so they can better confront the challenges of drought and famine as part of ongoing humanitarian response and security efforts on the continent.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a Fourth of July party for hundreds of service members and their families on the South Lawn of the White House while thanking them for their service and sacrifice.

WASHINGTON - Twenty-five U.S. service members filed through the White House East Room in dress uniforms, proudly displaying their service and sacrifices to America, and took their citizenship oath before their commander in chief.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta offered his gratitude and best wishes to the Defense Department’s service members, civilian employees and their families in his Independence Day message, noting that the blessings of freedom come from a legacy of sacrifice, courage and leadership.

WASHINGTON - North Carolina Air National Guard officials released the names of four crew members killed when their C-130 cargo plane equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting System crashed July 1 as they fought South Dakota's White Draw Fire.

WASHINGTON - Eligible military members and federal civilian employees who face financial loss when selling their primary residence may receive compensation, provided they apply for the Expanded Homeowners Assistance Program by Sept. 30.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s core business is security, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Brussels as he outlined the role of the alliance and the international community in Syria and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the death of Hanzallah, an al-Qaida leader who acted as a military advisor to insurgents in Kunar, Nuristan and Laghman provinces and provided them with improvised explosive device training.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta welcomed Pakistan’s decision to open ground lines of communication on its border with Afghanistan and reiterated the United States' continued committment to improving its partnership with the country.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Afghanistan - From a small town in Montana to a small base in Afghanistan, Army Spc. Nathaniel Rose feels at home -- to a degree -- in Afghanistan’s mountainous Ghazni province.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The military’s C-130 Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting System fleet will resume operations to support the National Interagency Fire Center and its firefighters battling wildfires in several states.

STUTTGART, Germany - Several robust programs at U.S. Africa Command are helping to ensure that when African partners pull together to support shared security interests, they have the logistical capabilities they need to deploy and sustain their operations.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama took a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by airmen battling wildfires in the Rocky Mountain region, calling them “heroes who deserve the appreciation of a grateful nation,” in response to the crash of a North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 aircraft flown by a crew fighting a South Dakota wildfire.

WASHINGTON - The Labor Department recently awarded 90 grants, totaling more than $20 million, through its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to fund job training and support services that officials said will help more than 11,000 veterans succeed in civilian careers.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - In what officials describe as “a prudent measure,” all military C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System have been placed on operational hold after one of the aircraft crashed in South Dakota.

ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard soldiers and airmen are responding to damage left behind by severe weather along the East Coast and in parts of the Midwest, as well as destructive wildfires in several Western states.

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Theodore Kavich, a fire team leader with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, may be young at age 20, yet he's responsible for the management and care of three fellow Marines.

WASHINGTON - Veterans and their families will have better access to local bus, vanpool and other transportation options with $29 million in grants, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced recently.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader responsible for supplying weapons and explosives to fellow insurgents during an operation in the Panjwa’i district of Kandahar province.

STUTTGART, Germany - As the Defense Department was embracing a counterinsurgency strategy that recognized the need for “whole-of-government” solutions in Iraq and then Afghanistan, U.S. Africa Command was busy putting the model into practice on the African continent.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan national army Maj. Gen. Abdul Hamid, commander of the Afghan army’s 205th Hero Corps., said he is certain that Afghan forces are ready to independently maintain security in southern Afghanistan during a ceremony on Camp Hero in Kandahar province.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army Spc. Ricky G. Elder, the subject of a criminal investigation surrounding the shooting on Fort Bragg, N.C., of two soldiers with the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, has died of self-inflicted injuries at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, N.C.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Four of the eight Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 military aircraft stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to combat wildfires in Colorado and other western states will soon begin operating out of the Wyoming Air National Guard’s base in Cheyenne.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The soldier who was shot and killed June 28 on Fort Bragg, N.C., has been identified as Army Lt. Col. Roy L. Tisdale, commander of the 525th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

WASHINGTON - Eight Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems now are assisting in multi-agency efforts to control wildfires in Colorado and other western states.