NORFOLK, Va. - First lady Michelle Obama welcomed home the crews of two Navy ships and expressed her support for their families while speaking to more than 500 servicemembers at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The secret to the U.S. Marine Corps’ success is a blending of bedrock principles with innovation, the commander of U.S. Central Command said.

WASHINGTON - More than 25,000 servicemembers have pre-applied for the Post-9/11 GI Bill's option to transfer unused educational benefits to eligible family members.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Air Force Capt. Joshua Daniels is in charge of arranging entertainment -- from rock concerts to Internet surfing -- for servicemembers assigned to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - As the scientific community works to understand the changing climate, the chief of naval operations has created a task force to better understand and evaluate the implications for maritime security.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Local Iraqi leaders met with U.S. forces at the trash dump in Basra, Iraq, to assess the progress of a project to facilitate the mass cleanup of trash.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - An agreement for a new school to be built and a new bridge over the Kunar River highlight continued improvements in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - An unanticipated result of the U.S.-Iraq security agreement is that relationships between Iraqi and U.S. commanders have improved, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The most frustrating part about suicide prevention is the uncertainty about what causes troops to take their lives, top military leaders said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John McHugh said his inspiration to serve as secretary of the Army lies in his desire to repay the devotion to duty exuded by military members.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV discovered the power of social networking in 2007 when he was the U.S. military’s top spokesman in Iraq. Now he’s working to share that recognition throughout the military as he helps develop a new generation of social-media savvy military leaders.

WASHINGTON - Increasing the numbers of Afghan military forces and police is essential for Afghanistan ultimately to assume responsibility for its own security, a senior U.S. diplomat said.

WASHINGTON - For the first time, 12 nations have come together, independently of NATO, to fly in support of their national requirements under the provisions of the Strategic Airlift Capability program.

WASHINGTON - Although the Taliban recently issued a “code of conduct” booklet aimed at projecting a more positive image to the Afghan people, their actions directly contradict this goal, the spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said.

SUFFOLK, Va. - U.S. Joint Forces Command and its partners have completed an experiment designed to enhance national security by providing joint force commanders with a better capability to share information with agencies during crisis operations.

COMBAT OUTPOST CARVER, Iraq - After five long days of intense training and battling a pair of fierce sandstorms, more than 20 Iraqi soldiers graduated from the “Cold Steel Training Academy” on Combat Outpost Carver, Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Members of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan’s Kunar province are working with Afghans to address Kunar’s timber situation with the aim of building a better Afghanistan.

CAMP AL TAQADDUM, Iraq - A woman who has been a high school teacher, professional soccer player and firefighter in her local town still wanted to pursue something more.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised Turkey as a steadfast ally of the United States and noted the decades-long relationship between the two countries.

WASHINGTON - One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives.

WASHINGTON - The United States had high goals for the recent Moscow Summit, and while significant progress was made, distinct challenges were identified as well, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian policy said.

WASHINGTON - The new U.S. advisory role in Iraq includes educating both Iraqis and Americans on everything from cultural awareness to flight skills.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department remains committed to meeting President Barack Obama’s one-year timeline to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he is heartened by his visit to Iraq, and that he urged Arab and Kurd Iraqis to use the good offices of the United States to help solve their problems.

WASHINGTON - Security improvements have enabled renovations to begin on a water treatment plant near the villages of Hitaween and Adamiyah, Iraq.

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Maj. Richard “Bart” Bartolomea says he feels at home serving with his brother, Bill, in an operational environment. In fact, he calls it "awesome."

INCIRLIK, Turkey - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said conditions in Iraq have improved to the extent that the U.S. combat brigade drawdown from the country may accelerate.

ERBIL, Iraq - Arab and Kurdish Iraqis should take advantage of the remaining time U.S. forces will be in the country to work out their differences, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - The commander of Multinational Forces Iraq said he’s extremely pleased with the way Iraqi security forces have stepped to the plate following the June 30 withdrawal of American forces from the cities and towns of the country.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - The Air Force is sending an assessment team to Iraq to look at how the Iraqi military can field an air defense once American forces leave in 2011.

WASHINGTON - Three new federal response units are being created to assist civil authorities in the event of a chemical, biological or other form of attack, the latest effort in maintaining a full arsenal of response capabilities, a top Pentagon official told House members.

WASHINGTON - The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review now under development envisions a U.S. military with the ability to confront current threats such as al-Qaida as well as having the capacity to meet future security challenges.

WASHINGTON - Plans are under way for the United States and China to take the first steps toward resuming their stalled military-to-military dialogue, the top U.S. officer in the region said.

TALIL, Iraq - The movement of American forces out of Iraqi cities has been a psychological turning point for the Iraqi security forces, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

TALIL, Iraq - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates began a visit to Iraq with a stop to examine the prototype of the U.S. advisory and assistance brigades.

CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah - The Utah National Guard has enlisted the help of more than 1,200 goats and sheep to lessen the potential of wildfires at Camp Williams, Utah.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Servicemembers of 3rd Air Operations Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, and civilian employees of Skylink Arabia work together to ensure successful air operations at Basra International Airport in Iraq.

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti - When Army Reserve Sgt. Maj. Samuel Stoner first became a soldier, he expected to serve two years. That was 40 years ago.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Members of a U.S. development team got a first-hand look at how Afghan businesses have been affected by 30 years of war when they toured a cement-making plant.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces arrested an assailant and destroyed weapons during operations in Iraq, military officials said.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - As part of the Army’s first Advise and Assist Brigade, Task Force Pathfinder provides military support to developing civil capacity across three provinces in southern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces seized dozens of suspected enemy fighters during recent operations in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - When young people began flocking to MySpace about two years ago, the Army recognized social networks as a whole new way to reach its primary recruiting population.

WASHINGTON - The United States and the People’s Republic of China can cooperate on a number of security issues of mutual interest, such as preventing the spread of nuclear arms and combating global extremism, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - Though troop morale is high in Afghanistan, the Taliban is a tough organization and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he doesn’t expect conditions to change soon.

MANAMA, Bahrain - The head of U.S. Central Command visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge to thank sailors for their work while deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet, as well as for their role in the rescue of the cargo ship captain held captive by Somali pirates.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Tech. Sgt. Alyson Angeles-Kimbrell has found in the Air Force Reserve a way to make a big difference in her life and that of many others.

AMMAN, Jordan - The United States and Jordan enjoy a strategic partnership aimed at promoting peace in the greater Middle East, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - An innovative restoration program in Afghanistan is giving troops the tools they need to “stay in the fight” by helping them overcome the stresses and challenges of being deployed.

JERUSALEM - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed the Iranian nuclear problem and other defense issues with Israeli leaders during a visit to Jerusalem.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is on a trip to the Middle East with stops in Israel and Jordan.

CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua - After four months of treating thousands of people in seven countries during Continuing Promise 2009, members of the hospital ship USNS Comfort's crew say the experience affected them.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s senior uniformed officer saluted a group of high school student leaders interested in learning about the U.S. government and political processes.

WASHINGTON - The risk of attack against senior government leaders always has been high, making protection of the Pentagon and other buildings in the national capital area a top priority, a senior official involved with a recent bio-attack drill said.

WASHINGTON - Plans to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within President Barack Obama’s one-year time frame are on track, the Pentagon’s top lawyer said.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden emphasized U.S. support for Georgia’s aspirations to join NATO and said a new bilateral charter will focus on modernizing the country’s military.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international forces killed several enemy fighters, detained nine suspects and destroyed a weapons stockpile in operations in Afghanistan’s Ghazni, Khost and Kandahar provinces.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will posthumously award Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - National police in Iraq’s Wasit province now are capable of sustaining their own training needs after coalition forces leave, thanks to the efforts of a Massachusetts National Guard police company.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - At 18, Army Spc. Amanda Cleveland has already taught nearly 1,000 soldiers first-aid skills that could save lives.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed Iraq security issues and the need to get equipment to Iraqi military and police more quickly during a Pentagon meeting.

WASHINGTON - Nearing the end of his 42-year career in the Navy, Adm. Timothy J. Keating reflected on those who served alongside him, giving special emphasis to troops whose fates remain unknown.

WASHINGTON - Coalition efforts on the ground in Afghanistan and the Afghan people’s willingness to turn their backs on the insurgency will be the most decisive measures for success there.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s expanded overseas use of unmanned aircraft will serve as a template for the Air Force in 2047, just in time for the service's 100th birthday.

WASHINGTON - An extension of a law that authorizes minor and quick construction of military facilities would give servicemembers better options in child care and fitness centers, a Pentagon official told a congressional panel.

WASHINGTON - International forces in Afghanistan must work to garner popular support among residents to defeat the insurgency.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A small preventive medicine team on Forward Operating Base Kalsu does big things to protect troops from disease-borne foods, water, bugs and animals.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military plays a role in the monitoring of North Korean actions that may violate a U.N. Security Council resolution prohibiting North Korea from weapons proliferation, a senior Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces have been helping their Iraqi counterparts celebrate a few job and military training milestones.

WASHINGTON - The Post-9/11 GI Bill takes effect Aug. 1, but in the meantime, servicemembers may submit a request to transfer benefits to their spouses and children now.

KABUL - U.S. Forces Afghanistan’s Facebook page has logged its 20,000th fan, passing the milestone a little more than two months after going public by adding more than 250 followers a day.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Twelve U.S. Navy sailors in Bahrain are working to help disabled teenagers and their families by teaching them English.

SAN DIEGO - Two California teenagers are honoring National Guard parents in a project they have named “Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs.”

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ EAST, Iraq - Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel L. Mayfield, a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of service, has re-enlisted, focusing now on the future and the young people he serves with in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Those who best managed resources and improved the quality of life at military installations received the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

WASHINGTON - Using emerging technologies to collect and analyze intelligence -- and then testing better ways to get it to warfighters is the focus of a project called Empire Challenge.

WASHINGTON - The transfer of Iraq’s towns and cities to Iraqi control last month is emblematic of the U.S. fulfilling its commitment to the country, President Barack Obama said.

ABOARD THE USNS COMFORT OFF THE COAST OF CORINTO, NICARAGUA - When surgeons aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort separated the webbed fingers of a Nicaraguan teenager, they opened the door for him to realize his dream.

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - A woman is dead and a man is being treated after a shooting at the main post exchange at Fort Lewis, Wash.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are preparing to launch the first militarywide survey to assess morale, welfare and recreation programs.

WASHINGTON - Sounds of dribbled basketballs and players’ shouts filled the Wagner Gym at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for a wheelchair basketball tournament.

WASHINGTON - Military children were honored by a troop-support group when the Washington Nationals played the New York Mets.

WASHINGTON - The top Pentagon policy official’s recent visit to Beijing could be a sign of China’s willingness to resume its military-to-military dialog with the United States, the top U.S. military commander in the Pacific said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - American volunteers flying P-40 Tomahawks protected China during World War II, and their legacy has become a fixture in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials want military families with special needs to enroll in the department’s Exceptional Family Member program.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces aided Afghan farmers and villagers in operations aimed at cultivating a brighter future in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several enemy fighters, detained one other and destroyed weapons caches in operations in Afghanistan.

HILLAH, Iraq - Multinational Division South’s leaders and troops received a tour of Iraq’s ancient past in an effort to assess its future.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised a Senate vote that struck down $1.75 billion in additional funding in the fiscal 2010 defense budget for more F-22 Raptor fighter jets.

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - Army Sgt. Jerrod Fields hasn’t just learned to adapt as an amputee since hitting a roadside bomb in Iraq. He is becoming a record-holding sprinter.

WASHINGTON - A wounded airman and his wife plan to use the life lessons they’ve learned through military service to help troops struggling after deployment or injury.

WASHINGTON - Construction efforts took center stage in Mosul, Iraq, recently as U.S. soldiers built a new combat outpost and took on a new renovation mission.

WASHINGTON - Several weeks after American forces in Baghdad handed over security leadership to their Iraqi counterparts, friction is giving way to a smoother transition of power, a top U.S. commander in the Iraqi capital said.

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A 12th-grader at a Kabul high school translated for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during an opening ceremony for a new school in Afghanistan's Panjshir province.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard’s agribusiness team in Afghanistan will get a touch of home when Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals and Fox Sports Network honor them.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Two Navy admirals consider mentoring other female sailors to be part of their responsibility as leaders.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said American commanders are “sparing no effort” to locate a U.S. soldier who went missing early this month in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced plans to add up to 22,000 soldiers to the U.S. Army’s ranks to support commanders in the field.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FUTURE, Iraq - At the Iraqi National Training Academy on Victory Base Complex near Baghdad, Iraqi instructors are training four platoons of recruits to become the foundation of the Iraqi correctional system with help from Wisconsin National Guard soldiers.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - As combat missions increase in Afghanistan, a Maine National Guard battalion is getting increasingly busy delivering supplies to forward operating bases under dangerous conditions.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Air Forces Central expressed condolences to the families and friends of two Air Force officers killed in the crash of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S forces delivered new skills, and hope, to Iraqis in recent training and humanitarian operations.

WASHINGTON - The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have forged a collaborative effort to help servicemembers and veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed enemy fighters, detained others and seized weapons in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces made headway in an investigation of a rocket attack on a base in Iraq, and Iraqi-led forces detained suspected terrorists and seized weapons.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - For Army Staff Sgt. John A. Rosado, it is an honor to ensure fallen heroes are returned home in a timely and dignified manner.

FORT MYER, Va. - Defense leaders bestowed honors on Army Secretary Pete Geren at his farewell ceremony and Geren turned the event into a paean of praise for soldiers and their families.

NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates congratulated the Navy’s 971 newest sailors as they graduated from boot camp among much pomp and pageantry.

WASHINGTON - At least 59 of the 96 living Medal of Honor recipients are expected to attend the upcoming annual convention of the society named for them.

KHANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he is returning home from Afghanistan with a sense that the overall situation there will improve as the Afghan people's trust and support grows.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Coalition and Afghan forces raided several terrorist compounds disrupting bomb networks and seizing suspects and weapons.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The South Carolina National Guard recently dropped 32 armored personnel carriers and M-113 track vehicles into the Atlantic Ocean to contribute to an artifical reef.

WASHINGTON - Army officials are offering the public a chance to find out what it’s like to be an astronaut.

CHICAGO - The nation is facing multiple, complex challenges, but none so pressing as the situation in Iran, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said following his speech at the Economic Club of Chicago.

WASHINGTON - A ground-breaking study of behavioral health in the Army may provide answers soon on what causes suicide and what programs can best prevent it.

BAGHDAD - U.S. Army engineers are managing projects that improve Iraq's environment, from cleaner water to solar-powered street lights.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Members of an agribusiness task force visited villages in Kapisa province to assess grain bins that once occupied Nebraska farmlands.

NURESTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - When there’s an attack on Forward Operating Base Kalagush, it's the job of Army Staff Sgt. Cory J. Cummings to react and fire back.

CHICAGO - Defense spending cannot be divorced from the real threats of today and the growing ones of tomorrow, the defense secretary told members of the Economics Club of Chicago.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates began his day by thanking the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division for their sacrifices over the last two decades.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is considering proposals to temporarily expand the Army to relieve stress on the force, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - “Sesame Street” usually conjures visions of Muppets teaching young children their letters and numbers, but they also teach life lessons to help military children cope with deployments, injuries, and now, loss.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department's civilian personnel system must be reconstructed from the ground up to fix flaws, not just tweaked, according to a recently released task force report.

WASHINGTON - An Army study has determined there was no single factor, or grouping of factors, to explain a cluster of violent crimes that took place between 2005 and 2008 at Fort Carson, Colo.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is encouraged by the results of the latest U.S. Marine-led offensive in Afghanistan.

KABUL - Patience and time are keys to success in Afghanistan, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan said during a recent media briefing.

FORT LEE, Va. - Army Sgt. 1st Class Brad Turner, also known as “The Grill Sergeant,” had a real surprise when acclaimed chef and grilling expert Bobby Flay challenged him to a "throwdown."

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, NFL Hall of Famer Don Shula and other celebrities in the USO's summer tour visited troops assigned to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - The U.S. ambassador to Iraq recently met with soldiers to thank them and discuss military support of provincial reconstruction teams.

WASHINGTON - More than 500 disabled veterans are participating in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

WASHINGTON - Children in the Panjshir province soon will trade tents and temporary classrooms for a school with a real roof, blackboards and desks.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates begins a two-day trip tomorrow that will take him to Fort Drum, N.Y., home of the 10th Mountain Division, and Chicago.

WASHINGTON - While the Defense Department fully supports the goal of a tobacco-free military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has made it clear he does not plan to restrict tobacco use among troops in war zones.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, set for a budget talk in Chicago, will be pressing his point with Congress that the Defense Department doesn’t need more than 187 F-22 aircraft.

WASHINGTON - Veterans Affairs Department leaders are encouraging troops to act now to claim their Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits this fall.

WASHINGTON - When Army Maj. Gen. Michael L. Oates poses a question to his 10th Mountain Division soldiers on his blog, the floodgates open in a dialogue once considered unimaginable between junior troops and their commander.

FORT MYER, Va. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commended Army Gen. David D. McKiernan’s leadership at every military level during a retirement ceremony for the former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.

PANJSHIR VALLEY, Afghanistan - Afghanistan’s future depends on its ability to educate youth, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the opening of Afghanistan’s newest elementary school.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. soldiers, detained five suspects and discovered several weapons caches during multiple operations throughout Iraq.

CONTENGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - A new law and order force is on duty to provide a safe and secure environment for servicemembers on Contengency Operating Base Basra.

FORT POLK, La. - Some Fort Polk, La., soldiers do a double take when two of their newest captains are together.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Advisors to a military "Women's Iniatiatives" program witness the tolls of Iraqi women living in poverty and provide hope for the future.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Army’s top judge gathered with other U.S. and Afghan leaders in Bagram district to celebrate the groundbreaking of the first in a series of new courthouses.

WASHINGTON - The creators of a new Web portal are hoping to attract disabled veterans seeking employment.

WASHINGTON - North Korea’s recent provocations underscore the importance of the strong U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance, the top U.S. commander in South Korea said.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - American Forces Press Service reporter Fred W. Baker III found that three days aboard the USNS Comfort was not enough to tell the stories of the people it serves.

WASHINGTON - A human rights conference, a meeting of Iraqi and Kurdish forces and medical technician training are just a few events U.S. forces in Iraq have been involved in recently to give hope in Iraq’s future.

WASHINGTON - The layers and diversity of the U.S. missile defense program are its biggest strengths, the Missile Defense Agency’s director said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offered some guidance and his gratitude to about 300 military members during an all-hands call at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Four new advisory and assistance brigades will deploy to Iraq beginning this fall in the next regularly scheduled troop rotations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces reclaimed an Afghan village after a firefight with Taliban militants.

WASHINGTON - Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team have made a positive impact on security and quality of life in Iraq’s Basra province.

BAGHDAD - U.S. forces apprehended a wanted man suspected of being the leader of a bomb-making cell during a civil affairs mission west of Baghdad.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Joint operations have become a key term for U.S. and Afghan forces, particularly for soldiers assigned to the Cherokee Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, in Afghanistan's Logar province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq - U.S. forces issue microgrants of up to $5,000 to help Iraqi small-business owners build or revitalize their businesses.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Army Chaplain (Capt.) Rebekah Montgomery, who says she's been a student of religion since high school, will receive the Chaplain of the Year award.

CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua - American Forces Press Service reporter Fred W. Baker III is aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort, where he notes that sometimes doctors can only ease the pain.

KIRKUK, Iraq - Despite historical differences that challenge progress in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a visit there that he’s struck by the governance and security milestones achieved.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Guardsmen from Texas and Oklahoma assisted local firefighters over the weekend as they worked to extinguish wildfires about 20 miles east of Austin, Texas, and in Major County, Okla.

WASHINGTON - Army researchers are simulating environmental extremes, such as the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro or the high desert of Afghanistan, to better understand and protect troops from the challenges of operating in such conditions.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - The landscape of Contingency Operating Base Basra is changing rapidly as numerous new buildings go up thanks to the efforts of Air Force engineers.

USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several celebrities embarked the USS Ronald Reagan to visit sailors.

WASHINGTON - A joint Afghan and coalition force detained a suspected militant after searching a compound in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.

WASHINGTON - The Military Health System is one of the many Defense Department organizations embracing social networking in order to provide information to and receive feedback from servicemembers.

DICKINSON, N.D. - Almost 100 North Dakota Army National Guardsmen were called to duty last week to respond after a tornado struck a town south of the Heart River.

ABOARD THE USNS COMFORT OFF THE COAST OF CORINTO, NICARAGUA - American Forces Press Service reporter Fred W. Baker III has embarked on the USNS Comfort off the coast of Corinto, Nicaragua, the last stop of a four-month humanitarian mission. In his first blog from the trip, Baker recounts a family's "blessing from God" to save a boy's vision.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Surrounded by rugged rock faces, U.S., Afghan and Pakistani troops sat in lawn chairs on the Afghan side for discussions ranging from border security to family updates.

ACCRA, Ghana - More than 150 U.S. servicemembers in Ghana and more than 1,000 sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima came together in the West African country to form a task force to support the president's visit.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When Army Pfc. Joseph James deploys to Iraq this month he won’t have to say goodbye to his wife -- she will be going with him.

WASHINGTON - If anyone can build on the achievements of the National Defense University’s outgoing president, it’s her successor, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a change-of-command ceremony.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard is changing recruiting policies to lower its end strength by the end of the fiscal year.

WASHINGTON - The day he assumed his post as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, Navy Adm. James Stavridis reached out in a way none of the previous 15 NATO commanders since Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had: he posted a blog.

WASHINGTON - Options exist to help NATO members better meet their obligations within the alliance, the former NATO commander said.

WASHINGTON - An Institute of Medicine report calls for the Defense Department to set a timeline to eliminate smoking on military installations.

WASHINGTON - All active-duty military components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in June, with the Marine Corps adding the highest percentage.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s information technology acquisition process is too slow to be cost-effective, a senior Pentagon official told Congress, citing the need for acquisition reform within the department.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several suspected militants during operations to disrupt Haqqani terrorist network activity in Afghanistan.

BAGHDAD - Army Spc. Russell Madden crunches numbers in Iraq that translate into essential equipment for his unit's soldiers. He also has the task of accounting for that equipment at all times.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Soldiers in Iraq are keeping an eye to the sky to protect their fellow soldiers against mortar and rocket attacks.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Airmen in Afghanistan hit a major milestone when they completed their 2,000th combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

WASHINGTON - To honor the military, the rock group Def Leppard and Raven Drum Foundation are giving away 100 free concert tickets to military members and veterans with military ID for each show in the band's summer concert tour.

WASHINGTON - A key measurement of success in Afghanistan will be the attitude of Afghans affected by U.S.-led operations, the military’s second-ranking military officer said.

WASHINGTON - A long-term partnership with Pakistan is key to promoting stability in Afghanistan and the region, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

WASHINGTON - The United States is right to keep a watchful eye on North Korea, the president’s nominee to be the next commander of U.S. Pacific Command said.

WASHINGTON - The military is sending thousands of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles to Afghanistan to protect troops against their biggest threat: improvised explosive devices.

WASHINGTON - A detainee transfer and two base renaming ceremonies recently signified the changing role of U.S. forces in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by coalition advisors, arrested suspected terrorists, including an insurgent cell leader.

WASHINGTON - For military journalists, the weapon of choice isn’t an M4 carbine with a laser sight, but rather a D3 with a 17-to-200mm lens.

BAGHDAD - A San Antonio-based Army Reserve unit is getting much praise for its road improvements around Baghdad.

NANGAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A group of Army mechanics keeps troops on the move over eastern Afghanistan's rugged terrain.

WASHINGTON - An Army Reserve soldier who earned the Silver Star destroyed enemy positions with his grenade launcher and then helped a bleeding soldier before seeking aid for his injured leg.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

WASHINGTON - To Army Secretary Pete Geren, who is preparing to step down, the Army is people – soldiers and families – serving something larger than themselves.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen touched on a wide range of issues during a speech and follow-on question-and-answer session at the National Press Club.

WASHINGTON - Combat operations with some 4,000 Marines have begun in southern Afghanistan and an influx of additional forces represents a big step toward carrying out a more comprehensive U.S. strategy there.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - U.S. forces are helping Iraqi officials ring in a new era with services like trash collection.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces strengthened relationships with their Iraqi counterparts as they worked to improve health care and quality of life.

WASHINGTON - The United States continues to face severe security and governance challenges in Afghanistan this year, but U.S. efforts remain fixed on defeating extremism and boosting the Afghan government.

WASHINGTON - Bright blue skies above the National Mall belied the solemnity of the ceremony commemorating the first two American combat casualties of the Vietnam War.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained suspected militants and destroyed homemade bombs.

WASHINGTON - The commander of a U.S. Marine brigade in southern Afghanistan is cautiously optimistic at progress made in the first week of an offensive there, but says more Afghan forces are needed.

ACCRA, Ghana - A North Dakota Army National Guard officer is on the front end of President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department schools are taking on the tough topic of suicide to prevent what is a leading cause of death among teens.

WASHINGTON - Closing the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and reforming military commissions will enhance national security, the Defense Department’s chief legal advisor told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The strategy in the greater Middle East “is not about how many enemy we kill, but about how many civilians we protect,” the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a Washington think tank.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces are helping to equip Afghan forces with the tools they need to improve security and commerce.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, speaking at a university in Moscow, called on generations free from Cold War antipathy to chart a new course of U.S.-Russian relations.

WASHINGTON - A 54-year-old Georgia man spent more than four weeks walking to draw attention to the needs of deployed troops.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces demonstrated their ongoing commitment to building Iraqi sovereignty with a historic first visit by a U.S. Navy ship.

BAGHDAD - A team from MTV’s “Real World” program spent a week in Iraq filming a follow-up story on one of the show’s former guests.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. soldiers are assessing security at polling sites in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province in preparation for next month’s national elections.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ-EAST, Iraq - Army Sgt. 1st Class JennyAnne Bright believes noncommissioned officers have to practice what they preach.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev agreed in Moscow to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons stockpiles by up to a third.

WASHINGTON - The United States and Russia agreed to resume bilateral military cooperation, which has been on hold since the conflict between Russia and Georgia erupted in August.

WASHINGTON - Robert S. McNamara, the defense secretary who presided over the department during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, has died. He was 93.

WASHINGTON - An agreement signed in Moscow permits the United States to transit troops and weapons across Russian territory en route to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. soldiers and coalition forces, arrested several suspected terrorists in operations in Iraq over the past five days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A new tactical directive for coalition forces serving in Afghanistan re-emphasizes the importance of preventing civilian casualties.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces foiled an attack on a combat outpost, captured a key terrorist leader and destroyed a bomb-making facility in operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - When shouting isn’t enough to stop someone who poses a threat, nonlethal weapons increasingly provide warfighters with an alternative to deadly force.

BAGHDAD - Three years after a bomb destroyed the Tarmiyah police station, a new building has risen from the ashes.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden and Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, presided over a July 4 naturalization ceremony in which 237 U.S. troops deployed to Iraq became American citizens.

BAGHDAD - Known only as Army Spc. "Brown," a U.S. soldier returned to his native Iraq to take the oath with 236 other servicemembers to become new Americans.

ABOARD USS RONALD REAGAN AT SEA - Aircraft departed the decks of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, bound for Afghanistan to support coalition ground forces.

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Tennessee National Guard’s agribusiness development team is the first of its kind in Afghanistan’s Paktia and Paktika provinces.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed the situation in Iraq, relations with North Korea, China and Russia and possible changes to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy during an appearance on a television news show.

WASHINGTON - Adding more U.S. troops in Afghanistan has put pressure on al-Qaida and the Taliban in the southern part of the country.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama invited about 1,200 military families to the White House for an Independence Day bash to personally thank them for their service and sacrifice.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Marines and Afghan security forces are continuing Operation Khanjar in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Timothy Maxwell, a founder of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, says his work for the military's wounded is not done even though he's retired.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Members of the 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, 2nd Battalion, couldn’t leave Iraq in the troop drawdown without taking time to say a special goodbye to local orphans they had helped.

BETHESDA, Md. - Tiger Woods took time to honor America's servicemembers at the beginning of the Pro-am golf tournament named for his father, who served as an Army officer during the Vietnam era.

WASHINGTON - In an ongoing mission to provide support to the Afghan people, Afghan and coalition forces distributed humanitarian aid to several villages and a reconstruction team helped celebrate mothers in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A partnership forged with the Helmets to Hardhats organization promises to translate into construction careers for Army Guard and Reserve soldiers.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the first women in American history to fly military aircraft.

WASHINGTON - It’s “so far, so good” in Iraq since U.S. combat forces withdrew from the country’s cities and towns.

WASHINGTON - The American military contingent in Honduras has limited its contact with Honduran forces as the U.S. government evaluates the situation in the Central American country.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq to visit U.S. troops and meet with Iraqi leaders to reinforce the United States' commitment to draw down forces there.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi officials are learning to accept modern inspectors general within their government and the investigative program is ready to stand on its own.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. James Stavridis has become the first admiral to serve as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe.

WASHINGTON - North Korea’s launch of four short-range missiles didn’t surprise Defense Department officials.

WASHINGTON - A giant, unmanned airship capable of hovering at about 70,000 feet promises to give future warfighters an unprecedented eye on the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by coalition advisors, detained an alleged senior leader of a terrorist group along with other suspected terrorists.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A Nebraska National Guard agriculture development team is helping Afghan farmers capitalize on their investments.

WASHINGTON - Thousands of American troops and hundreds of Afghan soldiers have launched Operation Khanjar to provide security to the Helmand River Valley in southern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - In his annual Independence Day message, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff evokes a speech Abraham Lincoln delivered in Chicago in 1858.

WASHINGTON - It would be easy to confuse Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the NATO International Security Assistance Force there because they share the same commander. But the two have distinctly different missions.

VICENZA, Italy - A soldier who earned the Silver Star in Afghanistan wants his story to help younger soldiers understand the importance of motivation.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Iraq helped to bolster Iraqi sovereignty with the opening of a new health care center and the return of two combat outposts to Iraqi control.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Soldiers serving with a medical task force completed nearly a year’s worth of missions satisfied that they’ve helped to improve health care in Iraq’s Wasit province.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon discussed operations in Afghanistan, counter-piracy initiatives and continuing military-to-military ties.

WASHINGTON - The Yellow Ribbon Fund is working to make sure wounded warriors and their families aren't bound to hospital grounds.

WASHINGTON - Several U.S. units took on new tasks in Afghanistan, and a reconstruction team helped to celebrate the opening of a new school.

LANDSTUHL, Germany - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, meeting with wounded warriors and the staff that treats them.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Coalition forces in Logar province have learned that outreach to residents can make a big difference in their ability to accomplish military operations.

WASHINGTON - A retired Army captain who survived third-degree burns over 30 percent of his body believes that through family, faith and a lot of hard work, anything can be overcome.