United States Department of Defense United States Department of Defense

Secretary Thanks Congress, Seeks End to Sequestration

File photo: Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta

DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta expressed his gratitude to U.S. lawmakers for delaying sequestration, Jan. 2, 2013. Panetta also voiced optimism for finding a permanent way to avoid an additional $500 billion in budget cuts.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Army General Martin E. Dempsey Becomes 18th. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

SpecialsMore »

  • Year in Photos 2012

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    The men and women of the U.S. military serve in operations around the world. In this review, Year in Photos 2012, we offer a selection of some of the most compelling pictures they produced.

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  • Biosurveillance

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    The DOD uses global biosurveillance networks to identify and track biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorist attacks, extreme weather events, and naturally-occurring infectious diseases to help defend the United States.

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    This AFPS special report provides regular updates on DOD's efforts to help improve the lives of military families.

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Featured Photos

  • U.S. Army Spc. Kaleb Propst provides security overwatch at a meeting for leaders at a Bala Boluk district building in Afghanistan's Farah province, Jan. 2, 2013. Propst is a security force team member for Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, which trains, advises and assists Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district, and provincial levels in Farah province. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup
  • U.S. Army Capt. Jeremiah Gebhart greets Sayed Mohammed, Bala Boluk district governor, at the beginning of a meeting in the district in Afghanistan's Farah province, Jan. 2, 2013. Gebhart is a civil affairs officer with Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, which trains, advises and assists Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district and provincial levels in Farah province.  U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup
  • U.S. Army Capt. Jeremiah Gebhart, first from left, chats with Sayed Moohammed, Bala Boluk district governor, through an interpreter during a meeting with leaders in the district in Afghanistan's Farah province, Jan. 2, 2013. Gebhart is a civil affairs officer with Provincial Reconstruction Team, which trains, advises, and assists Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district and provincial levels in Farah province. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup
  • Abdul Qayoom, left, Farah City prison commander, points out the prison's sewer area to U.S. Army Sgt. William Russell, center, security force team member for Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Martin, right, during a meeting with key leaders at the prison in Farah City, Afghanistan, Dec. 29, 2012. The team's mission is to train, advise and assist Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district and provincial levels in the province. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Hospital Corpsman Josh Ives
  • Supplies drop to U.S. soldiers deployed to the mountainous Paktya province on Forward Operating Base Lightning, Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2012. Military leaders coordinated the air drop to resupply the base when adverse weather made roads through mountainous areas too difficult to traverse.  U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Ricca
  • U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Hetrick mans an M2HB .50-caliber machine gun aboard the guided missile destroyer the USS Jason Dunham while under way in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, Dec. 27, 2012. The Dunham, part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, was deployed to conduct maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts to support Operation Enduring Freedom.  U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Deven B. King
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Fabio Perez greets his son during a homecoming celebration on Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Dec. 20, 2012, following a regularly scheduled deployment to the areas of responsibility for the U.S. 5th and 6th fleets. The homecoming marks the end of  deployment for the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, during which its ships supported Operation Enduring Freedom, and African Lion and Eager Lion exercises. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Julie Matyascik

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