United States Department of Defense

Veterans Affairs Program Delivers 20 Millionth Home Loan

Elizabeth Carpenter, widow of Army Cpt. Matthew Carpenter, has become the 20 millionth recipient of the Veterans Affairs Home Loan Guarantee Program, a no-money down benefit that veterans and their families have enjoyed since 1944. Story | Photos

Federal Agencies Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has initiated widespread preparations, including joining forces with the Defense Department and other federal agencies to brace for Hurricane Sandy. Story

• DOD, Other Agencies Monitor Hurricane Sandy
• National Guard Troops Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

Secretary: Congress ‘On The Clock’ to Avert Sequestration

Congress “is on the clock” and has critical work to accomplish when lawmakers return to work after the Nov. 6 election, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a joint news conference with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Story | Photos | Transcript

Panetta, Dempsey Respond to Reporters on Benghazi Attack

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters during a Pentagon press conference that he feels "confident" that American forces were alert and responsive to what was "a very fluid situation" in the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Story | Photos

Secretary: Defense Alliances Key to 21st Century Security

The United States' defense alliances and security partnerships are essential to meeting the challenge of projecting power and maintaining presence in an era of decreasing resources, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters during a press briefing. Story | Photos | Transcript

Florida Airmen Brace for Hurricane Sandy

As Hurricane Sandy crept up the Atlantic coastline blowing a mix of sand, rain and salt mist, 920th Rescue Wing airmen at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., moved the wing's six HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters inside an aircraft hangar to protect them from the storm. Story

DOD Funds Study of Omega 3 Benefit in Reducing Suicides

The Defense Department is funding a new study to determine if something as simple as drinking smoothies with high concentrations of the fatty acids found in fish oils can help to reduce suicides among veterans. Story

Stavridis: Arctic Presents Opportunities, Risks, Challenges

The melting of the arctic ice cap opens new opportunities -- as well as risks and challenges -- that will require increasing cooperation among regional nations, said Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, the commander of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Story

Counterpiracy Flagship Comes Under Fire Off Somalia

The flagship for NATO’s Ocean Shield counterpiracy mission came under sustained fire from suspected pirates off Somalia’s coast. Story

Industry Partnerships Key to Mobility Strategy, Official Says

The Defense Department's partnerships with industry, particularly in the mobile realm, are essential to its future success, the department’s deputy chief information officer for command, control, communications and computers and information infrastructure said. Story | Special

DOD Official Promotes Private-sector Technology Innovation

The Defense Department has stepped up efforts to encourage private-sector technology innovation and its adaptation into the federal government, a senior Pentagon official said during a Security Innovation Network workshop. Story | Special

DOD Seeks Ways to Streamline Information Sharing

Streamlined information sharing between the government and the private sector would benefit efforts to protect the nation from a cyberattack, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy said. Story | Special

Historian Analyzes Aftermath of Cuban Missile Crisis

Fifty years after the United States stood on the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, a historian told a Pentagon audience how President John F. Kennedy dealt with a still-dangerous situation in the aftermath of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Story

Officials Improve Process for Transition to Civilian Life

Officials from the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments took part in a panel discussion on efforts to prepare service members for the transition to civilian life. Story

Military Works to Prevent Domestic Violence

The Defense Department and each of the services are drawing attention to the plight of domestic violence because of people like Amanda Tenorio, a victim advocate for Army Community Services at Joint Base Henderson Hall, Va., and a domestic violence survivor. Story

Red Ribbon Week Honors Success in Curbing Drug Abuse

Drug and substance abuse among Defense Department military and civilian personnel and their families is at its lowest point in the department’s history, the Pentagon’s director of operational readiness and safety said. Story

DOD Identifies Airmen Missing Since Vietnam

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office has identified the remains of two U.S. airman, missing in action since the Vietnam War after their aircraft crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Khammouan Province, Laos.. Story

DOD Helps Military Families Maintain Financial Readiness

As service members prepare for any and all possible military operations, the Defense Department is reaching out to ensure that there are no contingencies back home to distract them from the mission, namely their personal finances. Story | Video

Commissaries to Offer New Innovations, Conveniences

The new commissary rewards card now offered at all 247 military commissaries worldwide offers a glimpse into what the Defense Commissary Agency is working to provide its customers: the same selection, conveniences and quality as popular commercial grocery store chains with better customer service and lower prices. Story

Organization Offers Online Self-assessments for Depression

Anonymous, online mental health screenings are available to service members, veterans and their families in conjunction with the observance of National Depression Screening Day. Story

All Active Services Meet Recruiting Goals Through August

All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal 2012 through August, Defense Department officials announced. Story

TRICARE Advises Patients About German Ban on Meds

TRICARE officials are working with beneficiaries located in Germany as they prepare for changes to their mail-order pharmacy service to accomodate a German law that prohibits importing medications into the country. Story

ISAF Condemns Faryab Mosque Bombing

The International Security Assistance Force condemns with grave conviction the suicide attack carried out at the Eid Gah Mosque in Maimana, Faryab province, in Afghanistan. Story

Force Arrests Taliban Leader, Seizes Weapons

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader, detained two additional suspected insurgents and seized several firearms and grenades in Logar province. Story

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Fighter

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban fighter in Kunduz province. The arrested insurgent fighter is suspected of organizing and executing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Kunduz province. Story

Security Force Arrests Insurgents, Seizes Afghan Uniforms

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Nangarhar province. The arrested insurgent leader is believed to be directly responsible for the coordination of weapons and equipment used in attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. Story

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Kunduz province. The arrested leader is suspected of being involved in planning and executing improvised explosive device attacks as well as weapons and explosives facilitation, military officials said. Story

Security Force Arrests Taliban Leader

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Kandahar province. The arrested insurgent leader facilitated the use of homemade explosives and bomb-making materials across Afghan borders into Helmand province. Story

Afghan-led Security Force Arrests Taliban Leader

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban senior leader in Kandahar province. Story

Coalition Expresses Regret for Possible Civilian Casualties

International Security Assistance Force officials expressed regret that an Oct. 14 coalition operation against suspected insurgents may have killed three Afghan civilians. A joint investigation into the incident is being launched by ISAF and Afghan officials. Story

Security Force Arrests Haqqani Leader in Ghazni

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani network leader in Ghazni province. The detained Haqqani leader is believed to be directly associated with suicide-bombing and improvised explosive device attacks, military officials said. Story

Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Haqqani Leader

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader in Afghanistan's Paktiya province. Story