WASHINGTON - The Navy canceled the tsunami warning it issued for Hawaii and ordered the return of ships that left Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, following an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile.

WASHINGTON - The Navy is taking precautionary measures in response to the Tsunami warning issued in the wake of 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Chile today.

WASHINGTON - In Alaska, the largest radio transmitter on Earth sends high-frequency signals into the ionosphere to better understand the influence of charged particles on radio communications and satellite systems.

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials hope a series of reforms envisioned for the 28-country NATO alliance will be available for review by member nations when they convene later this year.

WASHINGTON - A new Defense Department policy authorizes users to access social media sites like Twitter from nonclassified government computers, as long as it doesn’t compromise operational security or involve prohibited activities or Web sites.

WASHINGTON - Progress in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the decision to allow women to serve on Navy submarines and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” review now under way are the topics the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discusses in his latest podcast.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member believed to be responsible for numerous assassinations during a joint security operation conducted southwest of Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international patrols found three weapons caches in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Female sailors will begin serving on submarines by the end of next year, with this year's Naval Academy graduates leading the way, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and other Navy leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Inspired by his young son, a Marine Corps noncommissioned officer shattered the glass roof of his dream by wrestling his way to the top.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - Army National Guard Outstanding Athlete Program bobsled pilot Sgt. Shauna Rohbock teamed with Michelle Rzepka to finish sixth in the Olympic women’s bobsled event.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department must “plan more diligently” and “seek to envision” internal threats to prevent tragedies like the mass shooting at Fort Hood last year, Army Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates hosted Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack at the Pentagon to continue their ongoing discussions about a broad range of security issues, including Iran.

WASHINGTON - Operations in Marja, Afghanistan, are transitioning from the clearing to the holding phase, as today’s turnover of the government center there marks a symbol of progress, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - The military is addressing the problem of sexual assault, but more needs to be done, officials acknowledged in testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

WASHINGTON - The Navy and Marine Corps are performing at top level and maintaining high morale, but the high operational tempo is seriously overtaxing equipment and vehicles, service leaders told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Eating healthy and maintaining a regular exercise program can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

WASHINGTON - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined USO volunteers in putting together care packages for the families of 3,000 Florida National Guard servicemembers who will deploy in the coming weeks.

WASHINGTON - At the invitation of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Gov. Gulab Mangal, the Nad-e Ali deputy district governor recently held a “shura,” or meeting, in Marja that was attended by 200 local Afghans.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi police arrested nine terrorism suspects in recent combined operations with U.S. advisors.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - As the four-man bobsled event draws closer, Vermont National Guardsman Sgt. John Napier said he feels at home with World Class Athlete Program brakeman 1st Lt. Chris Fogt in his Olympic sled.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - The military is employing cutting-edge medical technology to help wounded warriors harness their own body’s power to regenerate itself and repair disabling and disfiguring battlefield injuries.

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. James Roberts Jr. leaves behind a legacy of being a positive leader who cared about his troops and was never comfortable sitting behind a desk.

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines - Philippine national police and U.S. forces are teaching Philippine children how to be good citizens.

WASHINGTON - The United States should devote more energy and overseas aid dollars towards developing the local security forces of other countries, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a speech advocating an overhaul of U.S. foreign capacity building.

WASHINGTON - The final request for proposals to solicit bids for a new aerial tanker was designed to promote fair, open competition that provides the best warfighting capability for the best value, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - The United States is in the middle of a “cultural transformation” in mental health treatment led by the Defense Department and the military services, the department’s top mental health expert told a congressional panel.

WASHINGTON - Youth ChalleNGe, a National Guard program that helps high school dropouts transform their lives, is closing in on its 100,000th graduate.

WASHINGTON - A week after announcing the temporary halt of the Defense Department’s Military Spouse Career Advancement Account operations, the head of the program assures participants with approved financial assistance that their enrollment will be unaffected.

ARLINGTON, Va. - As Army Sgt. Shauna Rohbock prepared for women's bobsledding events during the Winter Olympics, she knew she was facing an incredibly fast track.

WASHINGTON - Wounded, ill or injured troops and veterans now have improved access to an online directory providing a one-stop resource for support.

KABUL - A combined Afghan and international security force arrested a suspected bomb maker after discovering an explosives cache in Afghanistan’s Helmand province as part of Operation Moshtarak.

WASHINGTON - The United States and eight other nations are supplying trainers and advisors to Afghanistan to help it train and develop its growing army.

BEDFORD, Ind. - Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis, who served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam, boosted morale when he visited an Indiana National Guard support company.

MARAWI, Philippines - American servicemembers are helping Philippine health care professionals improve the dental health of the country's populace through education and outreach programs.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has informed Congress that the Navy plans to repeal its ban on women serving on submarines, an idea that was the brainchild of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force’s budget request for fiscal 2011 provides the right balance between supporting the war efforts and other current-day commitments while posturing for future challenges, top Air Force leaders told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Funding programs to support soldiers and their families, and help them be more resilient, is the Army’s top priority in the new fiscal year, the service’s secretary and chief of staff told a Senate panel.

WASHINGTON - NATO is wrestling with budget issues that may impact how the alliance perceives and responds to threats in an era when its scope has widened beyond traditional Cold War boundaries, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - Former Army World Class Athlete Program bobsled driver Steven Holcomb said he looks forward to the upcoming Winter Olympics' four-man bobsled at Whistler, British Columbia.

KABUL - Signs of steady progress are evident in the central part of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, with bridge and road repairs under way and bazaars re-opening for customers.

KABUL - Afghan soldiers, assisted by coalition forces, captured a Taliban leader and known weapons facilitator in the Bala Balouk district of Afghanistan’s Farah province.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremy Teela of the Vermont National Guard battled illness to finish 29th in the Olympic men’s 15-kilometer mass start at Whistler, British Columbia.

COTABATO, Philippines - U.S. explosive ordnance disposal troops are in the Philippines to teach that nation's soldiers how to detect and safely remove and dispose of forgotten ordnance left over from years of war and terrorist actions.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shares observations from his recent Middle East trip, where he visited with civilian and military leaders in Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

WASHINGTON - Letitia Long, deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, will serve as the next director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

WASHINGTON - Coalition operations in Helmand province are the first stage of a broader offensive to change the course of the fight in Afghanistan, Defense Department leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cited widespread concern about Iran’s nuclear program, but emphasized the importance of diplomatic and economic pressure to stem it.

WASHINGTON - Expressing deep regret over the loss of innocent civilians during a NATO air strike, top U.S. defense leaders said they support a strategy that puts as much emphasis on protecting Afghans as hunting insurgents.

WASHINGTON - With national elections scheduled for March, Iraq presents a solid and unique opportunity to help stabilize the Middle East, said Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - Army Staff Sgt. Steven C. Staley, an information network analyst deployed in Afghanistan, is known for his selfless volunteerism and his sense of humor.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - U.S. soldiers helped a nongovernmental organization deliver and set up nearly 100 tents for earthquake victims in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

WASHINGTON - Combined Afghan and international forces in Afghanistan killed or detained militants and seized enemy weapons in recent operations.

WASHINGTON - With U.S. forces entering the second week of a 12- to 18-month campaign in Afghanistan, the general in charge of U.S. forces in the region acknowledged that the way ahead will be tough.

BALTIMORE - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helped to honor the accomplishments of Army and Navy members during the 24th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards gala.

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines - Eliminating foreign terrorists in the southern Philippines is the No. 1 priority of U.S. forces deployed there, said the region’s top U.S. military officer.

TRIANGLE, Va. - Dozens of veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima and their families gathered at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the iconic World War II battle.

WASHINGTON - New guidelines from U.S. Strategic Command allow troops to use “thumb drives” and other flash media to store computer data under specific circumstances.

WASHINGTON - During a tour through Southwest Asia, U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spent time focusing on what he calls his No. 1 priority: servicemembers and their families.

WASHINGTON - All four active services and the six reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of January.

WASHINGTON - The only thing worse than obsolete weapons in war is obsolete thinking, a top U.S. commander cautioned in remarks on revitalizing America’s military officer corps.

WASHINGTON - Though training an Afghan army essentially from the ground up has been a difficult undertaking, an Army general involved in the effort said that he’s seeing positive results.

WASHINGTON - The Naval History and Heritage Command is working on a project documenting the history of diversity in the U.S. Navy from 1775 to the present through a variety of products.

KABUL - Combined Afghan and international patrols uncovered six caches scattered throughout Afghanistan, netting rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds, rifles and a multitude of other weapons.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Members of a U.S. special operations civil affairs team visited a sprawling tent city here as part of an effort to assess conditions in the camp and better align the delivery of food and medical aid.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - The three men's U.S. Olympic bobsled teams -- all to be piloted by a current or former National Guard member -- are ready for action.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela of the Vermont National Guard sat out the Olympic men’s 20-kilometer individual race because of illness.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Thirteen of the 17 passengers stranded in a remote region of West Virginia’s Pocahontas County have been evacuated from a Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter that was forced to land in the area.

CAMP ADDER, Iraq - An Oregon National Guard member, who is a line-haul driver for FedEx in his civilian job, is helping to improve the convoy routes for military logisticians in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Plans to strengthen conventional U.S. military equipment and warheads will allow the United States to draw down its nuclear arsenal while maintaining deterrence, said Vice President Joe Biden.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has temporarily halted a popular employment assistance program for military spouses while it conducts a “top-to-bottom” review of its services.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is on track to transition most of its more than 220,000 civilian employees out of the National Security Personnel System by Sept. 30, and into the decades old General Schedule, more than a year ahead of the deadline.

WASHINGTON - The recent capture of the Afghan Taliban’s No. 2 leader and top operational commander represents a “significant win,” said White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs.

WASHINGTON - NATO and Afghan forces have made early progress in an ongoing offensive on a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, but likely will need 25 to 30 days more to secure the entire area.

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, EDINBURGH, Ind. - The first group of the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce has completed an intense 10-day course at Camp Atterbury, Ind., aimed at preparing them to be at peak performance on the first day of deployment.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard stands ready to confront current and future challenges and is working to refurbish its aging fleet, said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen.

WASHINGTON - Combined patrols of Afghan and international security forces uncovered multiple weapons caches during operations throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The first woman appointed to the rank of major general in the Air Force and the Department of Defense, Jeanne M. Holm, died Feb. 15.

WASHINGTON - The popularity of the Armed with Science webcast in its first year has prompted the Defense Department to expand its on-line presence with the new Armed with Science blog, http://science.dodlive.mil.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III’s meetings with Australian leaders over the last several days have helped to set the stage for new levels of cooperation between the long-time allies.

WASHINGTON - The number of suspected soldier suicides increased for the first month of this year, and the Army’s head of suicide prevention vowed to sharpen the focus on combating the problem.

WASHINGTON - The need for U.S military forces in Haiti is dwindling as Haitian authorities and nongovernmental organizations begin to accept a greater share of relief efforts in the ravaged country, an American military official said.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - Army World Class Athlete Program biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela was penalized for starting early and finished 24th in his Olympic event.

WASHINGTON - Combined Afghan and international forces uncovered weapons caches and detained suspected insurgents during multiple operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq weapons dealer and two other suspected terrorists during a series of combined operations in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - As national elections in Iraq loom on the horizon, Iran continues to subvert its western neighbor’s security and political infrastructure, said top American military officials, including the top commander in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Medical professionals in Iraq are making advancements in training – and, ultimately, in saving lives -- with the assistance of U.S. forces.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army helicopter crews from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade inserted nearly 300 Marines and Afghan security forces into Marja, Afghanistan, under cover of darkness as part of Operation Moshtarak.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Internal strife that tore Colombia apart in the 1990s affected the lives of many, including a 15-year-old now deployed to Iraq as a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. Army has been developing holistic approaches to the physical challenges facing soldiers deployed in Iraq.

WHISTLER, British Columbia - On Valentine’s Day, U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremy Teela was all heart as he gave the best American performance at the Winter Olympics in biathlon history.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military officer criticized Iran’s recent announcement that it would increase levels of uranium enrichment to 20 percent, saying the move further destabilizes the Middle East.

KABUL - Ongoing operations in Helmand province highlight the strong partnership between U.S., coalition and Afghan forces, U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Force said.

WASHINGTON - The United States recently donated water trucks, field artillery cannon and patrol boats to the Pakistani government. The boats will enhance Pakistan's coastal interdiction efforts.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and international force interdicted three vehicles in three separate engagements, resulting in more than 10 militants killed while pursuing a Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Three feet of snow with eight-foot drifts didn't stop two West Virginia National Guardsmen from rescuing a stranded mother and her new baby from a mountaintop.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - A combined unit of active duty and National Guard soldiers, nicknamed the “Black Jacks,” is finding out how hard it can be to travel Afghanistan's thoroughfares, let alone clear them of explosives.

CANBERRA, Australia - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III concluded his visit to Australia by paying tribute to Australian troops who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. He placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian.

WASHINGTON - The clearing phase of Operation Moshtarak in the center of Afghanistan’s Helmand province continued with combined Afghan and international forces conducting a number of mounted and dismounted patrols.

ADELAIDE, Australia - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III observed the opening of the heart of one of the most modern shipbuilding plants in the world in Adelaide, Australia.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A Utah National Guard soldier posted the best American finish ever in the biathlon at the Winter Olympics.

KABUL - International forces in Afghanistan have suspended use of an artillery rocket system, pending a review of an incident in which two rockets missed their target and killed 12 civilians in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Operation Moshtarak, the Afghan-led initiative to assert government authority in the center of Afghanistan’s Helmand province, completed its first day of clearing operations.

SYDNEY - U.S. officials are “very satisfied” with the contributions Australia is making in Afghanistan and will not ask the nation for more troops in the country, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

KABUL - Key military clearing operations for Operation Moshtarak have begun in the central part of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

SYDNEY - The U.S.-Australian alliance must honor its past by staying united against the threats of the future, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said in Sydney.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 3,000 National Guard members in eight states continue to assist in the massive recovery efforts after back-to-back, history-making winter storms crippled the mid-Atlantic region.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in the Marja region of Afghanistan are engaged in a series of missions to prime the Taliban stronghold before a massive assault that’s expected soon, defense officials said.

WASHINGTON - An interstate agreement is easing the school transition process for military children, many of whom will attend six to nine schools over the course of a parent’s military career, an education official said.

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa - Australia is already one of America’s strongest allies, and Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III will visit the nation to see how the alliance can become even stronger.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan-international joint security force killed more than 20 enemy militants and captured five others during an operation in pursuit of a Taliban commander believed to responsible for organizing suicide-bombing attacks.

WASHINGTON - Two more U.S. Navy Seabee battalions are being deployed to Afghanistan to build bases, pave roads and construct airfields.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors have arrested more than two dozen suspected terrorists and killed others during a series of operations to break up terrorist groups in Iraq.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wanner, an Ohio Guardsman and medic, earned the Silver Star Medal for his actions in treating a wounded comrade in Afghanistan.

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - Airmen and soldiers assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Fort Lee, Va., loaded nearly 70 tons of gear and supplies aboard two C-17 Globemaster III transports in support of Operation Unified Response in Haiti.

WASHINGTON - Some U.S. servicemembers are facing real cold as they support the National Science Foundation's efforts in Antarctica.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers and airmen of the District of Columbia National Guard completed more than 500 emergency missions in the wake of back-to-back storms that dumped several feet of snow on the nation’s capital.

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah - A Utah National Guardsman has his sights set on becoming the first U.S. biathlete to win an Olympic medal.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Security Forces captured an explosives and assassination-cell leader and four additional suspected terrorists during three operations in Baghdad and northern Iraq to suppress al-Qaida in Iraq.

KABUL - Afghan and international forces captured one Taliban commander and killed another as part of multiple operations across Afghanistan last night, military officials reported.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan children and their families are receiving aid from coalition forces, volunteers and Afghan doctors after avalanches struck a high pass in Parwan province.

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Air Force Maj. Jon Earles was among four critical-care nurses forever changed by the treatment they provided hundreds of patients in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in the days after the earthquake.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today remembered former Rep. Charlie Wilson, a 12-term Congressman from Texas, as “an extraordinary patriot” for his work in liberating Afghanistan from Soviet occupation.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces captured two suspected enemy subcommanders and seized caches of weapons and drugs in recent operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 20 suspected terrorists in operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force family stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea, is reaching out to help Ethiopian children by adopting one and sponsoring another.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, which bans gays from serving openly in the military, will help to ensure readiness and unit cohesion remain intact if Congress repeals it, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces seized enemy weapons and killed insurgent attackers in operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors arrested numerous suspected terrorists and seized enemy weapons in various operations in Iraq.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Ask Army Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Potter what it takes to reach more than 2,000 combat flight hours and he'll say the support of a loving family and fellow soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Noting signs that the new strategy in Afghanistan “is beginning to bear fruit,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates also said during an interview that the effort to build up Iraq’s security forces and move forward with the U.S. drawdown plan there remains on track.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he will remember U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania as a patriot and long-time champion of the nation’s men and women in uniform.

PARIS - Iran’s continuing nuclear development program only serves to put the Middle East in danger of nuclear weapons proliferation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Paris.

WASHINGTON - Members of the District of Columbia National Guard have been on the job through an historic snowstorm and post-storm cleanup in the nation's capital.

ROME - There is still time to toughen sanctions to pressure Iran into complying with international demands that it halt its nuclear program, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at a press event in Rome.

WASHINGTON - More than 100 soldiers and airmen from the District of Columbia National Guard are supporting the district's emergency response to a weekend blizzard.

ANKARA, Turkey - Iran’s nuclear program continues to put security in the Middle East at risk despite international pressure to halt its efforts, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at a roundtable with traveling U.S. and Turkish press.

WASHINGTON - As the excitement builds in the minutes before the Super Bowl kickoff, four Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fighter jets will scream over Miami’s Sun Life Stadium in a dramatic show of military support for the big game.

WASHINGTON - When millions of Americans gather around their TV sets for Super Bowl XLIV, they’ll have lots of company from U.S. forces around the world and at sea, thanks to the American Forces Radio and Television Service.

ISTANBUL - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pledged more mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles and expanded access to classified information to U.S. allies to combat the threat of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, aided by U.S. advisors, arrested seven terrorism suspects in operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Army scientists and a Columbia University professor are working on a collaborative study measuring brain damage on traumatic brain injury patients.

WASHINGTON - Fighter jet crews from North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Continental United States Region will be busy Feb. 7 protecting the skies around Sun Life Stadium in Miami during Super Bowl XLIV.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will continue to reach out to China’s military to foster relations as both nations expand their presence in the Asia-Pacific region, said the Pentagon’s deputy assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific affairs.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard is on duty in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia in anticipation of a major winter storm expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow and bring high winds.

KABUL - A combined Afghan and international security force detained several suspected insurgents, and seized weapons and opium in recent operations.

WASHINGTON - Leaders need self-reflection and sober analysis in all situations, especially in the heat of battle, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during the National Prayer Breakfast.

KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq - Now in Iraq, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark Duran credits his positive attitude and faith for staying cancer-free for six years. And these days, he's grateful for every moment.

WASHINGTON - As he prepares to take command of Afghanistan's Regional Command East, the 101st Airborne Division commander is able to finally focus on a single combat theater.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department office that oversees the military's sexual assault prevention and response needs more oversight to continue to progress, a task force created to assess the program told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s military leaders say the new Quadrennial Defense Review strikes the right balance between today’s wars and the need to combat future threats.

WASHINGTON - Cybersecurity is seizing more attention and budget dollars from the Defense Department at a time when China’s alleged cyber attack on Google has underscored the urgency of the threat and the vulnerability of U.S. networks.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are working to cut extraneous and wasteful programs, despite a requested modest increase for the fiscal year 2011 budget, said the department's chief financial officer.

ISTANBUL - Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, predicts continued progress will be achieved against Taliban and other insurgents.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - Active-duty Army and National Guard members retrained to perform route-clearance patrols in Afghanistan experienced many “firsts” during their maiden mission.

ARLINGTON, Va. - About 1,000 National Guard members will assist Puerto Rico’s police for up to a year while new police recruits are trained, said officials.

KABUL - A combined Afghan and international security force captured a Taliban leader and seized multiple weapons in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - Army Sgt. Sophia Malone, an Alabama National Guard soldier, is a wounded Iraq war veteran with a Purple Heart who wants to return to duty on the front lines.

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii - U.S. servicemembers are supporting Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica by coordinating a strategic airlift, field support airlift, emergency response and aeromedical evacuation.

ISTANBUL - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is in Istanbul to work with NATO allies to help in prioritizing the organization’s spending and to garner a larger commitment of troops and resources for the war in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials encourage military families to once again take advantage of the free electronic tax filing services offered through Military OneSource.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials who helped write the Quadrennial Defense Review and the related Ballistic Missile Defense Review offer insights into their analyses in a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable.

WASHINGTON - A multilateral exercise under way in Thailand is helping the United States and its Pacific-region partners improve their ability to respond to regional crises.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department collected $17.2 million in last year’s annual federal fundraising campaign, a record-breaking sum of charitable donations.

WASHINGTON - A review of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prevents openly gay people from serving in the military will seek input from those affected throughout the chain of command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested eight suspected terrorists during separate operations conducted in northern Iraq and Baghdad

WASHINGTON - The violent extremist threat is evolving with an increased focus on possible attacks planned by individuals and small groups, U.S. intelligence leaders told a Senate committee.

PASADENA, Calif. - Army Capt. Matt Pratt and his wife, Lisa, are on an all-expense-paid trip to southern California where Lisa, the winner of the 2009 Operation Rising Star competition, recorded a CD and they met comedien Jay Leno.

WASHINGTON - Calling health care for wounded warriors a top Defense Department priority, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff urged Congress to support the request for $2.2 billion to improve treatment and other services.

WASHINGTON - Any policy change permitting homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces must be carefully derived, sufficiently thorough, and thoughtfully executed, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote in his blog. “My personal belief is that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would be the right thing to do," he wrote.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Civil engineers from the Kansas Air National Guard are expanding a medical triage facility in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by assembling a support hospital.

West Point, N.Y. - Army Capt. Scott Smiley lost his vision in Iraq, but regained his drive through family and faith. He's now the commander of the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point, N.Y.

WASHINGTON - The 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will deploy to Afghanistan as part of the surge of American troops into that country, Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has established a Defense Department panel to prepare the military for the potential elimination of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that bans openly gay people from serving in the armed forces.

MIAMI - Scientists, researchers and former NFL players have joined together to raise awareness about post- traumatic stress disorder, depression and brain injuries, a spokesman for the Defense Department “Real Warriors” program said.

WASHINGTON - Military children are one of the many groups poised to benefit from President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget request.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff did not speak about money during his testimony on the fiscal year 2011 defense budget request before the Senate Armed Services Committee, but rather what that money will do.

WASHINGTON - A network of strong relationships with U.S. allies around the world as well as civilian partners at home is critical to executing the Defense Department’s long-term strategy, Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2011 Defense budget request grows as the department is fighting two wars and attacking an amorphous terror network, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and international security force detained several suspected militants in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province during two operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested a wanted Baghdad cell member and seven additional suspected terrorists, and discovered a large weapons cache during two joint security operations in Baghdad and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is not asking for Tricare premium increases this year, but said he wants to work with Congress to find ways to control escalating military health-care costs.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department agency responsible for U.S. missile defense systems has requested $8.4 billion for fiscal year 2011, an increase of about a half billion dollars.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced a restructuring in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter office to provide increased oversight of a program he said was behind in meeting key benchmarks.

WASHINGTON - The Fiscal 2011 Defense Budget Request and the Quadrennial Defense Review look at personnel as a strategic asset, the Joint Staff’s director for force structure, resources and assessments said.

WASHINGTON - The departure of the USS Carl Vinson and other military assets from the humanitarian mission in Haiti in no way signals a winding down of U.S. military operations there, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he hopes that the U.S. and China quickly resolve any potential issues that emerge in the wake of a U.S. arms deal to Taiwan.

WASHINGTON - The Ballistic Missile Defense Review aligns U.S. missile defense posture with regional missile threats and sustains the ability to defend against limited long-range missile attack, said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy.

WASHINGTON - The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review is the first to identify “prevailing in today’s wars” as a primary objective as part of the overall defense planning and budgeting process, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

KABUL - Two U.S. airmen working as journalists in Afghanistan are the focus of a new Web project to highlight the work of the 44-nation International Security Assistance Force.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested a wanted Baghdad explosives-cell member and a suspected accomplice during a combined security operation in a rural area south of Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces responded to two suicide bombers in Qalat City, Afghanistan, preventing the attacks.

WASHINGTON - The Quadrennial Defense Review seeks to rebalance the military to better fight today’s wars and to institutionalize department reforms, the undersecretary of defense for policy said.

WASHINGTON - The fiscal year 2011 Defense Department budget request continues an overall reform agenda and seeks $708 billion in total budget authority, a 1.8 percent increase, said the Pentagon’s chief financial officer.

WASHINGTON - Though the Defense Department is exempt from a proposed federal spending freeze, President Barack Obama said wasteful defense spending has been trimmed from the $3.83 trillion fiscal year 2011 budget he submitted to Congress.

PHILADELPHIA - The Defense Logistics Agency's Philadelphia Supply Center stocked the USNS Comfort hospital ship with supplies, filling hundreds of requisitions, before it departed Baltimore en route to Haiti.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Technical Information Center's scientific and technical “wiki” Web site increases real-time exchanges between experts inside and outside the Defense Department.