WASHINGTON - Iraqi police have achieved operational proficiency, allowing coalition trainers to shift their focus to professional development.

NEW AL MUTHANA AIR BASE, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi firefighters have developed a relationship that protects people, structures and aircraft at Baghdad International Airport.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops in Honduras are helping provide clean drinking to local communities hurt by flooding from a tropical storm that brought more than a week of rain.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates describes Gen. David H. Petraeus as "a model of a modern commander: part general, part diplomat, part administrator.” He said the new commander of U.S. Central Command brings experience from Iraq that he can apply to the region as a whole.

CONTINGENY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - “Rough Rider” soldiers found cameraderie and some stiff competition in a soccer match against the Iraqi army's Motorized Transportation Regiment.

WASHINGTON - Many military sexual assault victims are disclosing the details of the assault confidentially and receiving treatment without triggering the official investigative process.

MOSCOW, Idaho - An innovative scholarship through the Universtiy of Iowa is letting wounded veterans realize their full academic potential.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s acquisition directorate saved billions of dollars for taxpayers after adjusting the purchase schedule of several procurement programs.

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey turned over command of U.S. Central Command to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus during a sun-drenched ceremony on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed a terrorist leader and captured 10 suspects in their ongoing effort to break up terrorist groups across the country.

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus assumed leadership of the U.S. military command charged with helping to build peace in a tough and war-torn part of the world.

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Master Sgt. William "Spanky" Gibson who lost a leg in Iraq is headed to Washington to represent the Marine Corps in Congress.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ concerns about the state of the nuclear weapons program and a “serious brain drain” at laboratories that design and develop them is resonating within the research and engineering community.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Northern Command has moved from a past with friction among commanders and agencies to an international model of integration.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Africa Command’s headquarters will remain in its current location in Stuttgart, Germany, for the foreseeable future, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces further debilitated al-Qaida in Iraq networks, capturing four wanted men and detaining six additional suspects.

WASHINGTON - No matter who wins the election Nov. 4, Defense Department officials will work to ensure a smooth and efficient transition to the new administration.

FORT LEE, Va. - The Defense Commissary Agency will join other organizations to observe Warrior Care Month in November.

WASHINGTON - Nearly 20,000 runners tackled the 26.2 miles of the 33rd Marine Corps Marathon, many to raise money for the troops and their families.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - The deadline is approaching for servicemembers to apply for the Sears “Heroes at Home Wish Registry,” which enables America to fulfill holiday wishes for up to 20,000 servicemembers and their families.

BAGHDAD - Children got into the swing of things after coalition soldiers helped renovate a Baghdad carnival and turn it into a neighborhood park with rides and vendor kiosks.

FORT DETRICK, Md. - An Army officer who lost his left hand in Iraq is not letting his injury end his goal of a military career.

WASHINGTON - The Army and the National Institute of Mental Health have begun a five-year, $50 million research program into the factors behind soldier suicides and how to prevent them.

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Navy Reserve Intermediate Maintenance Activity provides essential products to support fleet operations around the world and improve shipboard quality of life.

WASHINGTON - Change is the cornerstone and is at the heart of every aspect of today’s military, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told more than 800 Air War College students.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said broad initiatives within the Air Force are helping to return its nuclear mission to “the standards of excellence for which it was known throughout the entire Cold War.”

WASHINGTON - Defense Department civilians and military members in the Thrift Savings Plan should try to stay calm after recent stock market gyrations have reduced many retirement account balances.

WASHINGTON - The United States will support the Afghan government in efforts to step up its reconciliation with the Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan, but not with al-Qaida or those who support it.

WASHINGTON - In what could serve as the model for the Navy’s “soft power” efforts in the future, the USS Kearsarge has cruised the Atlantic for the past few months delivering disaster relief and humanitarian aid to a handful of countries in that region.

WASHINGTON - The United States is holding out hope that issues delaying a status of forces agreement with Iraq will be resolved before the U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing U.S. forces there expires Dec. 31.

WASHINGTON - Complete security and governance responsibilities transferred to Iraqi officials in Wasit province today, giving Iraq’s government responsibility for more than two-thirds of the country.

WASHINGTON - Top leaders on both sides in Iraq are working to reach an agreement that would shape the future of U.S. operations there and ensure that hard-fought security, economic and political gains are not lost.

WASHINGTON - Coalition troops in Iraq captured a suspected financer and four others associated with an Iranian-backed terrorist group believed to be responsible for bombings.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Proactive measures taken by masters and crews of targeted commercial shipping vessels thwarted five piracy attempts in the Gulf of Aden.

BASRA, Iraq - U.S. military policemen are helping to make Basra, Iraq, a safer place by staying at Combat Outpost Perry and mentoring the Basra police force.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Tribal elders in the Tagab district of Afghanistan’s Kapisa province met to try to find a political solution to the security problems plaguing the area.

WASHINGTON - A program, founded last year to improve the lives of amputees, is developing a caregiver education program to ease the burden on families of combat-injured troops.

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq - When Navy Cmdr. Dennis McKenna took his Hippocratic oath as a doctor in 1992, he vowed to devote his life to improving the welfare of human beings. He's doing that in Iraq.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - The Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., is the nexus for the global air mission for the U.S. military.

WASHINGTON - The next president will “take a fresh look” at plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said, but he dismissed Russian objections to the system as political.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The winner of the 33rd Marine Corps Marathon was Andrew Dumm, a first-time marathoner recruited by his older brother, Air Force 1st Lt. Brian Dumm, who finished fifth.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces in southern Baghdad once needed nearly 10,000 American troops to maintain security, but the number of coalition troops there will drop to fewer than 1,800 by next month.

STUTTGART, Germany - A military working dog team is waiting to find out whether a canine warrior will be awarded the Combat Action Badge. The warrior in question is Rex, an 11-year-old Belgium Malinois shepherd who didn't budge during a two-hour firefight.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - As far as Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb is concerned, U.S. Transportation Command is “a championship team” that delivers on its promises.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Communication maintainers on Camp Victory make sure that warfighters on the battlefield can talk to each other.

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard received a large budget increase for fiscal 2009 as part of the Consolidated Security Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition officials invited elders onto Bagram Airfield to see progress on a creek that causes both floods and droughts in nearby villages.

MCLEAN, Va. - “Our Military Kids,” a nonprofit support group, will award $2 million in grants for sports, fine arts and tutoring programs to the children of National Guard and Reserve members.

WASHINGTON - Calling nuclear weapons one of the world’s "messy realities," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said as long as other nations that could potentially use them against the U.S. possess or seek them, it's critical that the United States does as well.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq - For building more than 25,000 square feet of housing and offices for 1st Cavalry Division soldiers, 29 airmen received cavalry spurs – symbolic of service in a combat zone -- from the squadron’s commander.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Foreign languages are vital to an effective military force, the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center’s provost said in an interview.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces apprehended 11 suspected terrorists as they continued operations to dismantle al-Qaida in Iraq networks.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces in Afghanistan killed 12 militants and detained one other while securing the site where a coalition helicopter was forced to land after taking enemy fire.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - A coalition soldier motivated by a World War II hero joined the exclusive company of soldiers who earned membership in the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - An 82nd Airborne Division combat team is training to re-assume its role in June as the U.S. global response force, a role it had to relinquish to the 101st Airborne Division last year when it deployed to Iraq as part of the troop surge.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - The 138,000 military and civilian men and women of the U.S. Transportation Command “are really the jewel in the crown” of the American military.

WASHINGTON - Officials from all military services and the Defense Department will conduct “Financial Readiness Challenge” events to help military families deal with the effects of today’s economy.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A new approach to acquisition that puts warfighters, not program managers, in the driver’s seat is paying off by ensuring deployed troops have the tools they need to succeed in combat, the 82nd Airborne Division’s deputy commander said.

WASHINGTON - The mood of Afghan citizens has changed dramatically in the past year due to the progress the Afghan security forces have made.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Army Spc. Wilson Alnar worked as a school custodian until he decided to use his native Arabic skills to become a translator for coalition forces in Iraq.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - When Tarmiyah students returned to school in September, they found new classrooms, new furniture and supplies, thanks to coalition and Iraqi officials.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed five militants after a small-arms attack in Baghdad's New Baghdad security district.

MONTEREY, Calif. - Students at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center meet exceptionally high academic standards while studying languages.

WASHINGTON - A New Jersey woman has launched a Web site to offer ideas on what to include in care packages to deployed troops.

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Many spouses of servicemembers returning from deployments discover firsthand that the rush of emotions after redeployment can both draw a couple together and pull them apart.

QALAT, Afghanistan - Medical staff members of the Zabul provincial reconstruction team helped hundreds of malnourished Afghan children regain their health.

WASHINGTON - President Bush kicked off the weekend by signing protocol agreements endorsing Albania and Croatia as NATO's newest members and called on other Balkan and former Soviet countries to join the alliance.

KIRKUK, Iraq - Engineers with the Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are teaching and mentoring their Iraqi counterparts on every aspect of reconstruction project development, preparing them to continue building and managing Iraq’s infrastructure after the coalition leaves.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained one wanted man and four other suspects as part of anti-al-Qaida operations throughout the country, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents and uncovered a weapons and ammunition cache in Farah province’s Bala Boluk district Oct. 23, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. advisors are working with Iraq’s Interior Ministry to move the Iraqi police into a “primacy role” in securing urban areas.

MONTEREY, Calif. - The Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., adapts to the Defense Department's changing needs to provide highly-trained military linguists for missions around the world.

WASHINGTON - The Air Force will launch a new major command specifically to manage its nuclear assets.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department recognized military agencies for their outstanding anti-drug programs at a Pentagon ceremony.

WASHINGTON - The commander of Army Special Operations Command updated Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates about ongoing missions and progress in growing the force to keep pace with ever-increasing requirements.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces continued efforts to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq car bomb networks, capturing terrorists and discovering weapons caches during operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three armed militants and detained four others during an operation in Paktika province.

MONTEREY, Calif. - At the Defense Language Institute, Extra Curriculum gives students a chance to see faculty in a new light.

ALEXANDRIA, La. - Newly wrapped tractor trailers, covered with an American flag design and National Guard logo, are rushing to distribution points to make deliveries to soldiers and residents in need of supplies.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - A new organization housed by the Defense Logistics Agency will provide acquisition support for joint operations involving the Defense Department and other government agencies.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Army Spc. Michael Kim found himself uniquely qualified to take on the care of a seriously ill Iraqi girl: he is a combat trauma specialist and ordained Dominican friar monk.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - After six months of training, Army 1st Lt. Ryan Fisher is the proud leader of an explosive ordnance disposal unit under the motto, "They make 'em, we break 'em."

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - As U.S. soldiers fight in the Taliban-infested terrain of Konar province, Task Force Spader medics are fighting a different battle: one to save lives.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A virtual Afghan village exists at Fort Bragg, N.C., where soldiers role play with other troops and civilian specialists to prepare for deployment as a provincial reconstruction team.

WASHINGTON - Less than three months before the next administration takes office, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’ll leave his post satisfied he made a difference, especially for warfighters.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates toured facilities at Fort Bragg, N.C., meeting with troops and their families. “These people are in the forefront of protecting our country, and I am just very proud to be associated with them in any way,” he said.

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - Presiding over a naturalization ceremony at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called it an honor “to welcome into citizenship 42 men and women who have served and sacrificed for their country before it officially was their country.”

WASHINGTON - With life returning to normal in Iraq’s Anbar province, the way forward now is driven more by the economy than security, the commander of Multinational Force West said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces have turned over primary security responsibility for Iraq’s Babil province to the Iraqis, another sign of improvements being made in Iraq, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush issued a statement commemorating the 25th anniversary of a terrorist bombing of a Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 23, 1983, that claimed the lives of 241 U.S. servicemembers.

MONTEREY, Calif. - An Army intelligence officer's in-depth understanding of Afghanistan's language and culture have helped him to communicate and connect with his Afghan counterparts during his deployment.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Government officials, leaders and the provincial reconstruction team's medical staff in Panjshir province joined forces to offer health care and help to Afghans, including 320 children.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured five terrorism suspects during separate operations in and around Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - For the past 16 years, the United States has worked with leaders in Eurasian countries to reduce the numbers of weapons of mass destruction in former Soviet-bloc states, an achievement aided by America’s skilled foreign linguists.

MONTEREY, Calif. - The Defense Department agency tasked with securing and dismantling weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union has added new cultural and linguistic experts.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - U.S. Army leaders have joined local leaders to check on Iraqi government-funded projects in Taji.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled to the home of the 82nd Airborne Division and Army Special Operations Command to meet troops preparing for or recently returned from combat deployments to get an update on their operations and concerns.

DALLAS - An audience made up of soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines, military retirees, disabled veterans and family members attended a special taping of the CBS daytime game show "The Price is Right."

COMBAT OUTPOST TREBIL, Iraq - A military police officer with a background in cooking and restaurant management has transformed the chow hall at a remote Iraq outpost into a place her fellow Marines relish.

NEW ORLEANS - Many New Orleans residents are becoming comfortable with the security the soldiers and airmen of the Louisiana National Guard have been providing.

WASHINGTON - U.S. defense leaders have noted Pakistan’s improved efforts to crack down on al-Qaida and other terrorists operating there, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said at a news conference.

WASHINGTON - U.S. defense leaders remain focused on getting a status of forces agreement with Iraq, and not on contingency plans.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed dozens of militants, including two Taliban commanders, in two days of fighting in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - As the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, the Air Force has made conserving resources a priority.

WASHINGTON - Security improvements throughout northwestern Baghdad have prompted reconstruction and residents’ returns to their homes.

WASHINGTON - The draft status of forces agreement between the governments of the United States and Iraq contains adequate protections for U.S. military members, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Defense Logistics Agency employee Sasha Puyans doesn't let her lifelong battle with diastrophic dysplasia get in the way of a federal career she loves.

WASHINGTON - Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are among more than 120 disabled vets attending the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in Riverside, Calif.

WASHINGTON - With the national election less than two weeks away, Defense Department officials are stressing to troops and civilian employees that federal law and DoD directives limit their involvement in certain political activities.

WASHINGTON - The military has made "some significant steps forward" in caring for wounded warriors, including the creation of wounded warrior transition organizations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon Channel interview.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working with Iraqi officials to shore up construction on new piers and a seawall in Iraq’s southern province of Basra.

SHANNON, Ireland - There is “not a lot of give” in putting in place the draft status of forces agreement between Iraq and the United States, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

VILNIUS, Lithuania - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reaffirmed America’s commitment to the collective defense of NATO in meetings in the Baltic republics.

WASHINGTON - Two units of the 82nd Airborne Division will be treated to a heroes’ welcome in November when Holmdel and Middletown, N.J., host a joint homecoming for their “adopted” troops.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan children are benefiting and thriving thanks to sustained efforts by a U.S. task force and a program that is helping to expand and improve their schools.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Soldiers of Task Force Mountain will be making their voices heard this election year, many of them thanks to their unit voting assistance officers.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is constantly looking for ways to proactively conserve and reuse energy.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates honored career civilian employees from throughout the department, crediting them with providing extraordinary support to warfighters and their families while improving efficiency and saving taxpayer dollars.

RIGA, Latvia - Following a meeting in Helsinki, Finland, with his Russian counterpart, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff traveled to Riga, Latvia, to discuss defense issues with Latvian officials.

HELSINKI, Finland - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he is encouraged that his Russian counterpart reached out to keep the dialogue between the two countries open.

ARLINGTON, Va. - An increase in full-time manning for the Army National Guard and controlled grades for both the Army and Air National Guard were included in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Bush on Oct. 14.

WASHINGTON - A day-long event netted a plethora of items for Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon to ship to members of the New Jersey Army National Guard.

WASHINGTON - A Navy P-3 Orion airplane overshot the runway while landing at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, injuring one crew member and destroying the airplane.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 12 suspects, including members of Iranian-backed illegal militias and the Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group, in operations throughout Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The National Fraternal Order of Police formalized its support for those who wear both the military uniform and that of their local law enforcement agencies.

CAMP ECHO, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and police who live and work together at the Joint Security Station in Diwaniya are dedicated to one goal: a self-sustaining and independently secure Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Mine Action Center at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, conducted a controlled burn of 39,725 square meters of dense brush and overgrowth to allow de-mining operations to begin in the area and to clean out a creek vital to two local villages.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A mother’s job is not easy duty, especially for a soldier mom in Iraq.

HELSINKI, Finland - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with his Russian counterpart in Helsinki, Finland, in the first face-to-face meeting between the two powers since Russia’s invasion of Georgia.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Iraq is running out of time to approve a status of forces agreement that will let U.S. forces remain in the country past Dec. 31.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Serbian and American military officials understand the two nations disagree about Kosovo, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, but they recognize the relationship has to be about more than just that nation.

WASHINGTON - Suvivors of the 1983 terrorist bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, joined loved ones of their fallen comrades at Arlington National Cemetery to remember.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq apprehended 11 suspected terrorists and siezed numerous enemy weapons stockpiles.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, speaking at the first Wounded Warriors Family Summit, vowed to “press forward” to provide top-level care and support for wounded warriors

WASHINGTON - Defense Department marketers launched a new television and online advertising campaign today, but its primary target is not potential military recruits – it’s their parents.

SAN ANTONIO - SpouseBuzz, a support group that connects military spouses online, held its fifth live conference in San Antonio over the weekend.

WASHINGTON - Luke's Wings provides travel arrangements for families to be with their wounded servicemembers during recovery.

BELGRADE, Serbia - The military-to-military relationship between the United States and Serbia is growing closer, the top military officers of both countries said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - Iraqi citizens gathered in Baghdad’s Karadah district Oct. 17 to celebrate a new micro-power generator that will provide electricity to about 300 homes.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Media Activity gives public affairs within the Defense Department a new structure to move forward as a consolidated and integrated team, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said during the organization’s activation ceremony.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The staff at Craig Joint Theater Hospital on Bagram Airfield took a respite from war-related treatment and made history earlier this month when they successfully delivered an Afghan baby. The little girl, Zahra, has exceeded doctors' expectations.

BELGRADE, Serbia - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived in Belgrade to work to improve American military-to-military relations with Serbia.

TAJI AIR BASE, Iraq - When he graduated from Air Force basic training six years ago, he knew he'd be back one day, "pushing" his own flight of fledgling airmen through their first military paces.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed three militants in two separate engagements in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, and detained eight Taliban fighters in Ghazni province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi troops hit the al-Qaida and Kataib Hezbollah terrorist groups during operations across the country.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi officials discussed the pace of civil-military rebuilding in Baghdad’s Sadr City district.

WASHINGTON - As the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment continues to enhance security in Afghanistan, Marines there are experiencing decreased enemy engagements, the battalion’s commander said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates swore in acting Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley as the 22nd Secretary of the Air Force during a ceremony held at the Air Force Memorial.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and South Korean defense officials reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to keep the defense alliance strong and to continue transforming to meet 21st-century defense needs.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers should not be concerned about the status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq.

CORONADO, Calif. - If an innovative program at Naval Special Warfare Group 1 in San Diego proves as successful as expected in helping Navy SEALs and their families cope with multiple deployments, officials hope to expand it military-wide.

WASHINGTON - Two new first-aid products being sent into the combat theater could save more soldiers’ lives, Army medical officials said at a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured two wanted men and one additional suspect during operations targeting terrorist networks in Baghdad and Kirkuk.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines, sailors, family and friends, each displaying a mixture of cheerful and solemn expressions, gathered around the fuel pump house of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to honor their fallen hero.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward brought the celebration of U.S. Africa Command’s activation home to Germany as he praised those who came together to stand the command up so quickly and urged them to continue working together so it can reach its potential.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Coalition soldiers, community leaders and Iraqi security forces handed out backpacks and school supplies to children at four schools in the Abu Tshir community.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier born and raised in Russia is scheduled to become a U.S. citizen in November.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers at a remote outpost in Afghanistan's mountainous, northeast regions create relationships with local residents to help keep foreign terrorists out of the area.

WASHINGTON - Today’s increased price of oil is fueling Iraq’s ability to pay more for its reconstruction costs that up to now have been heavily funded by U.S. taxpayers, a senior U.S. official said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 90 National Guard members in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are on duty after Hurricane Omar struck.

BALTIMORE - The current global financial crisis is a far-reaching problem that has implications for the U.S. military and other organizations, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is consulting with congressional leaders on the U.S.-Iraq status of forces agreement that will allow American troops to remain in Iraq after Dec. 31.

WASHINGTON - Judith C. Gilliom, a senior Pentagon civilian who for 25 years championed Defense Department programs for disabled employees and work force diversity, died at age 65. She once summed up the reason for inclusion in two words: "We belong."

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon Library's new project will spare users the trek to the library, allowing them to click through documents on the library’s Web site.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces continued to drive al-Qaida in Iraq out of the country, targeting terrorists during operations in Mosul and Baghdad.

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. - As the unmanned aerial system mission continues to grow in the Air National Guard, the 163rd Maintenance Group is training more people to support these systems.

HAWIJAH, Iraq - The first graduation of a pilot literacy program was held at the soccer stadium in Hawijah in Kirkuk province.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The rooms of an abandoned school once used to help children learn were recently used to help Afghans heal. Coalition forces provided medical and dental care as well as toothpaste and soccer balls.

HEIDELBERG, Germany - Teachers and staff at an elementary school in Heidelberg, Germany, have a better understanding of life for deployed families thanks to the efforts of several spouses.

ALEXANDRIA, La. - The first Louisiana National Guard soldier certified to train others in rendering honors at military funerals wants to show veterans and their families the respect they deserve.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he’s struck by universal interest in bridging stronger ties with the United States in the roughly 50 countries he’s visited since taking office, and that allowing the evolving U.S.-China relationship to unravel would be a huge strategic mistake.

WASHINGTON - The war on terror, particularly in Afghanistan, has put the United States and its allies and partners to the test as they strive to apply both “soft-” and “hard-power” capabilities to ward off violent extremism.

WASHINGTON - A program headed by National Defense University works to match experiences and technologies to aid relief efforts for people suffering in areas ravaged by war, disaster or poverty.

WASHINGTON - The Army will activate its first company of native linguists-turned-soldiers to act as interpreters and translators, representing a new phase in the service's approach to foreign language.

WASHINGTON - The work of nearly 30 provincial reconstruction teams deployed in Iraq is paramount to achieving success in that country, President Bush said.

TRIANGLE, Va. - With the 25th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut just days away, the National Museum of the Marine Corps unveiled a temporary exhibit in memory of the 238 U.S. Marines killed that day.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Determination and a bit of serendipity allowed a Marine and his soldier son to spend a rare three days together in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - After three months commanding Multinational Division Southeast in Iraq, British Marine Maj. Gen. Andy Salmon said he’s struck by the progress of the Iraqi Army and Iraqi security forces.

WASHINGTON - The National Military Family Association has named three military members and two military spouses "Very important Patriots" in its annual volunteerism award.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Thanks to the efforts of a team of Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, combat vehicles undergo a few structural changes at this forward operating base in Baghdad’s Rashid district.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Nine linguists who make up the 4th Infantry Division's Media Monitoring Analysis Cell in Iraq are leading the effort to win the war on terror's information campaign.

WASHINGTON - While calling the recent killing of al-Qaida in Iraq’s No. 2 operator “significant,” a senior defense official emphasized that succeeding against terrorists requires taking down cells rather than individuals.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed the second-ranking commander of al-Qaida in Iraq in a raid earlier this month, senior U.S. officials confirmed.

WASHINGTON - President Bush said he will construe restrictions imposed in the fiscal 2009 defense budget “in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority and obligations of the president.”

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured three suspects in a bomb-making ring in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Ghazni and killed five Taliban fighters, including a subcommander in another operation.

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - The 109th Airlift Wing is preparing to begin its 20th year of Operation Deep Freeze, supporting the National Science Foundation in Antarctica.

KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 200 members of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan and their Afghan National Army counterparts met recently to discuss plans to improve medical readiness.

WASHINGTON - The Army has launched an initiative to include soldiers’ mental and emotional fitness, along with their physical form.

WASHINGTON - The United States will help the Iraqi government sustain the country’s security gains, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq said in an interview on Fox News Channel.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - Coalition forces have passed control over the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group program to the Iraqi government and army. As part of the transition, Sons of Iraq members will transfer into Iraqi security forces or technical specialty jobs.

WASHINGTON - President Bush signed the fiscal 2009 defense budget into law, authorizing a $512 billion base to support military readiness, as well as $66 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces targeting al-Qaida in Iraq operatives in northern and central Iraq killed two enemy fighters and detained 13 terrorism suspects.

WASHINGTON - Operation Gratitude is planning to send 70,000 care packages to troops in its 6th annual holiday drive.

WASHINGTON - A new warfighter training program for Iraqi soldiers represents an important milestone in the ongoing effort to increase the Iraqi Army’s capability and capacity, a senior U.S. officer who leads the training advisory team told Baghdad reporters.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Children were among those receiving medical aid and toys during three simultaneous cooperative missions conducted by Iraqi and coalition forces in Hayy, Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - An Afghan cooking class brought together the Panjshir provincial director of women's affairs team and members of the provincial reconstruction team in a moment of fellowship at the end of Ramadan.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A Montana National Guard noncommissioned officer recently named the Army’s Warrior of the Year said the best warrior is the one who knows when he needs help.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces kept the pressure on terrorists over the past several days, capturing suspects and shutting down their operations, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed 14 militants and captured weapons caches during operations in Afghanistan over the past several days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Coalition officials denounced the “barbaric” and “cowardly” acts of terrorists who killed more than a dozen Iraqis and injured scores of others with bombings in Iraq over the past several days.

WASHINGTON - Despite transitioning Anbar province to Iraqi control last month, it’s still too soon for U.S. troops to withdraw from the region, the commander of Multinational Force West said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi citizens were killed and 18 wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near an Iraqi police mounted patrol in the northern city of Mosul, military officials said. Two Iraqi police also were wounded in the attack, they said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Less than a year ago, Sunni and Shiia tribal groups in the north of Iraq’s Babil province were divided. Now, they celebrate and share meals together.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - The U.S. military needs to continue working on technological advances to fight a pair of wars that are “winnable,” the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Nearly 100 Armed Forces Retirement Home residents attending a Navy birthday observance were lauded as heroes during a ceremony that underscored what makes the home stand apart from other retirement facilities.

WASHINGTON - All military services, including their reserve components, met their recruiting goals for fiscal 2008, marking one of the strongest recruiting efforts in four years.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force Reserve C-130 crew recently sprayed insecticide in southern Louisiana to combat insect infestation, the squadron’s commander said.

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Forty years ago, they served in Vietnam. Now deployed in Iraq, they're using that experience to teach younger soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Troops, retirees and their family members received free, anonymous screenings for depression at military bases nationwide during National Screening for Depression Day.

WASHINGTON - The National Defense University is leading a coalition of foreign governments and the U.S. military to develop solutions to help people who live in "stressed" environments.

STUTTGART, Germany - Americans and Germans gathered in Stuttgart, Germany, to pay tribute to 66 American troops who died there five decades ago.

ARLINGTON - An Army general and his wife are speaking publicly about the tragic deaths of their sons in an effort to prevent suicides.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - NATO defense ministers approved a proposal that will allow the International Security Assistance Force soldiers in Afghanistan to shut down drug networks that funnel money to the Taliban.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said his five-day trip to southeastern and central Europe was important to allies in the region and to relations among NATO nations.

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - The ear-piercing detonation of simulated car-bombs has become commonplace at a U.S. Army base in Germany where soldiers train for Iraq and Afghanistan missions.

BAGHDAD - Schools are now in session in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, an area that six months ago was the scene of some of the war’s fiercest fighting.

WASHINGTON - A Milwaukee couple is leading an effort to take deployed troops "to the movies."

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A new park is setting the stage for progress in one of Afghanistan’s most impoverished areas.

WASHINGTON - It’s still not too late to register to cast an absentee ballot in the Nov. 4 general election in many states.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army’s new “how-to” manual on stability operations is a unique document that embraces joint effort as a reflection of the realities of a 21st-century world.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - NATO has proven it is up to the job in Afghanistan, and the alliance is adjusting to changes in the country, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - NATO should go after the drug trade in Afghanistan to take away funding for the Taliban and al-Qaida, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at a defense ministers conference in Budapest, Hungary.

WASHINGTON - Forces have been successful in setting the conditions for sustainable security in Iraq, but significant challenges remain, a senior military commander in the country said.

WASHINGTON - Security and stabilization efforts in three southern Iraqi provinces are going well, with significant improvements since July.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan national security forces killed numerous militants and detained two others in various operations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists during operations that further dismantled al-Qaida in Iraq's network in and around Mosul.

WASHINGTON - With just over a year as the top U.S. military officer, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said he's impressed by the force's resilience despite repeated deployments, and vowed to ensure troops get more time at home between deployments.

WASHINGTON - Operation Life Transformed, which supports wounded-warrior caregivers and military spouses, honored six scholarship recipients during its “Celebrate 100” reception.

WASHINGTON - Just weeks after wrapping up his stint as the top commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said that progress there has become a little less fragile and more durable.

WASHINGTON - The changing situation in Afghanistan, particularly increased violence along the Afghan-Pakistan border, warrants a full review of U.S. strategy there to broaden its scope and improve interagency coordination.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - NATO will send its Standing Naval Maritime Group to the waters off Somalia, where piracy has become an increasing concern.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan national security forces will receive a huge mobility boost with more than 6,000 up-armored vehicles and 75,000 M-16 rifles from Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have created a framework with the military services to help wounded troops survive and thrive back in their communities.

BAGHDAD - For one soldier serving in the 18th Military Police Brigade in Baghdad, returning home meant deploying to Iraq.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Concrete T-walls also dubbed "concrete warriors" surround coalition bases in Iraq, protecting troops from bomb and sniper attacks.

FALLUJAH, Iraq - After being inspired by his Marine brother's death in Iraq to join the Navy, a corpsman visited the site where his brother was killed and talked with an officer who worked with him.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Meetings with NATO and troop-contributing nations making up the alliance’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan will help chart the way ahead in the troubled nation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reaffirmed the U.S. and NATO pledge for Georgia’s aspirations to join the alliance at a meeting with Georgian Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili in Budapest, Hungary.

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England praised the work and contributions of disabled Defense Department contract employees at an award ceremony.

WASHINGTON - As the world’s most skilled counterinsurgency warfare force, the U.S. Army has been the catalyst for reduced violence in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Efforts to lengthen U.S. military tours in South Korea to three years and to turn wartime operational control of South Korea forces to their own military are on track and moving full-speed ahead.

WASHINGTON - Dozens of injured troops set out on a seven-day cycling trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds and to let other wounded troops know they can be active.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed two insurgents and captured 12 suspects, including two wanted men, during operations to break up terrorist networks in the northern city of Mosul.

WASHINGTON - North Korea’s assertions of its nuclear weapons capability and the likelihood that it’s proliferating weapons of mass destruction represent a huge security risk for the region and the world.

WASHINGTON - As a follow-on investigation into a coalition operation in western Afghanistan that claimed civilian lives nears completion, a senior defense official emphasized the U.S. military’s strong record of accountability.

BAGHDAD - As U.S. soldiers help improve the skills of Iraqi security forces, those forces continue to take the lead in securing the people living in Baghdad’s Kadhamiyah district.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The provincial reconstruction team in Farah province works with residents to improve life in one of the country’s most austere regions.

RAWAH, Iraq - Teaching martial arts to fellow Marines is Cpl. Trevor Ryan’s true passion.

WASHINGTON - A policy change to expand eligibility for the Purple Heart award to prisoners of war who died in captivity recognizes their sacrifice.

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve will honor Sgt. Gregory S. Ruske, who earned the Silver Star medal for extraordinary heroism in Afghanistan.

LAKE OHRID, Macedonia - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on southeastern European nations to consider helping the military training effort in Afghanistan.

LAKE OHRID, Macedonia - The United States continues to support NATO membership action plans for Ukraine and Georgia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said following a meeting with Ukraine’s defense minister.

WASHINGTON - The Armed Forces Retirement Home has received accreditation from the prestigious Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities - Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.

WASHINGTON - Warrior Transition Units and an increased dedication to nurturing wounded troops back to health have helped the Army improve its wounded-warrior care significantly.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is set to honor the AbilityOne program, which provides jobs for wounded veterans and blind and severely disabled people.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed 43 militants in Qalat district of Afghanistan’s Zabul province.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Egyptian hospital staff in Bagram, Afghanistan, provides care for coalition troops and Afghan citizens and helps them understand the coalition’s desire to assist.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Threat Reduction Agency marked its 10th anniversary by reaffirming its dedication to reducing the present threat and anticipating future threats.

CHIÈVRES, Belgium - Replicas of the streets and markets of Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo dot Chievres, Belgium, now as part of a "true-to-life" mock village to train U.S. soldiers for deployment to Afghanistan.

GJILAN, Kosovo - Some U.S. soldiers in Kosovo have a job similar to that of a beat cop, and they took Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates along with them as they walked the streets.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured an alleged weapons smuggler in Kut, southeast of Baghdad, and 11 other suspects.

GJILAN, Kosovo - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates toured Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, met with servicemembers there and in Gjilan, and saw for himself the changes U.S. and NATO forces have brought to the nation.

WASHINGTON - A senior Defense Department spokesman dismissed Iranian-sourced reports that a U.S. military aircraft had been forced down in Iran.

CAMP RIPPER, Iraq - In the ongoing effort to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis in western Anbar province, Regimental Combat Team 5 has been engaging local citizens with one of its most effective weapons systems: Marine Corps medicine.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Baird juggles fixing everything from broken doorknobs to electric grids to keep the headquarters building on Camp Victory, Iraq, running smoothly.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - To help depolyed troops deal with hardships, people from some 30 states are providing home-baked goods and other essentials through the Soldiers’ Blessing Store in Baghdad.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Military families and friends who donated school supplies and children's clothing are helping New York Army National Guard soldiers train the Afghan national security forces and support the Afghan people.

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates congratulated the citizens of Kosovo on their progress in establishing the newest nation on Earth.

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited with U.S. troops assigned to NATO’s Kosovo Force in what was the first visit to Kosovo by a defense secretary since 2001.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - While the alliance’s transformation is the focus at the NATO defense conference in Hungary, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Afghanistan and Russia also will be high on the agenda.

WASHINGTON - The Army will recognize the value of its enlisted leaders at all levels of command as it observes “The Year of the Noncommissioned Officer” in 2009, Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has launched a new Web site to educate the public about chemical and biological testing from the 1940s through the mid-1970s.

BALTIMORE - The Maryland National Guard had the distinction of welcoming home Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps when it escorted the 14-time gold medalist by humvee through his hometown of Towson, Md.

WASHINGTON - During a visit to the Pentagon, U.S. Military Olympians and Paralympians expressed their gratitude for the Defense Department’s support of their efforts.

WASHINGTON - The new combat fitness test being introduced in the Marine Corps represents broad recognition within the military that ground troops need to train for the physical demands they’re likely to face on the battlefield.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - With help from coalition soldiers, the police force of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, is building a district response team to take over for the military in working the city's hardest law enforcement cases.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - When officials needed the most specialized aircrew and helicopters to recover the remains of pilot Steve Fossett in the Sierra Nevada mountains, they turned to the California Army National Guard.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Army Sgt. Mark Shamburger takes pride in caring for soldiers in his roles as a noncommissioned officer and equal opportunity leader in Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Four soldiers and a sailor are responsible for transporting troops along the dangerous roads of Afghanistan from Camp Eggers to Bagram Airfield.

WASHINGTON - The State Department conferred its highest award on the U.S. commander and diplomat who oversaw a dramatic drop in violence in Iraq and forged a model for future military-civilian partnership.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured 10 suspected terrorists in northern and central Iraq as they continued to disrupt al-Qaida in Iraq networks.

WASHINGTON - Attacks in northern Iraq have dropped by 60 percent in the past year, and regional progress has broken the insurgency.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel this week to participate in a southeastern Europe defense ministerial conference in Macedonia and a NATO meeting in Hungary.

JAMILLA, Iraq - Iraqi children in Baghdad’s Sadr City district are preparing to start the school year in safer, refurbished facilities, thanks to the work of U.S. soldiers.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Two Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers streamlined the voting process for hundreds of servicemembers and civilians serving in Iraq to vote in upcoming the U.S. general election.

WASHINGTON - A home-front group of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program has received a $2,000 grant from the Newman’s Own Foundation.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed five enemy fighters in operations Oct. 3, targeting al-Qaida and Taliban terrorist networks in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A terrorist detonated a suicide vest Oct. 5 in Mosul as coalition forces were trying to capture a wanted man.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S. helicopters collided Oct. 4 as they were landing at a coalition force base near Adhamiyah in northwest Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - With terrorists on the run and violence down, coalition forces are now also able to concentrate on areas other than the battlefield, thanks to the improvement of the Iraqi security forces.

WASHINGTON - Continuing to build the capacity and the strength of the Afghan National Army is strategically important to progress in Afghanistan and eliminating the insurgency’s influence over the population, a Marine official there said.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan civilian was killed and four were wounded when militants attacked a village in eastern Afghanistan where coalition and Afghan troops were on patrol.

PHILADELPHIA - A year and a day after taking office as the nation’s 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke about leadership to the students of the Wharton Business School.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured five suspected Iranian-backed illegal militia members during an operation in Baghdad's Rusafa neighborhood.

WASHINGTON - Time is running out to nominate outstanding military spouses for Military Spouse magazine’s 2009 Military Spouse of the Year award.

WASHINGTON - “Big Jim” McCrindle is best remembered for his Paul Bunyan-sized heart and a dedication to soldiers that led to a special resort for them within Walt Disney World resort.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Handing out toys to children is one of the tasks Iraqi police officers do as they transform their operation from a paramilitary force to a more traditional one.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Senate confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley to receive his fourth star and serve as the 26th chief of the National Guard Bureau.

WASHINGTON - Nearly 80 soldier-medics re-enlisted at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., as the Army surgeon general recited Lincoln's charge to "bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle..."

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard will sponsor driver Landon Cassill in the Mountain Dew 250 Fueled by Winn-Dixie NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala.

WASHINGTON - Comedian Robin Williams and President Bush competed for laughs during the 2008 USO World Gala, but it was five troops who got the greatest applause.

WASHINGTON - Individuals seeking a fast track to executive careers within the Department of Defense or other federal agencies might investigate the Presidential Management Fellows Program.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Inova Health System of Northern Virginia has pledged to give employment, training programs and career opportunities to military spouses.

WASHINGTON - When the commander of U.S. Africa Command discusses the new command's potential as a partner with other U.S. agencies and African nations working to promote stability on the continent, his excitement is palpable.

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - Airmen on Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., began shipping new Army high-mobility engineer excavator vehicles to warfighters in Southwest Asia.

WASHINGTON - Military Health System officials want wounded or ill troops and their families to respond to new questionnaires so that officials can better understand their needs and expectations.

WASHINGTON - Troops overseas or serving away from home states should file their absentee ballots soon so their votes can be counted in the Nov. 4 general election.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured seven terrorism suspects, including two wanted men.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Army Pfc. Serena Norman enjoys her rapport with the soldiers and Iraqi police officers she treats.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - A soldier deployed with the 10th Mountain Division Band organized a group to knit prayer shawls for families of fallen troops.

WASHINGTON - A law imposing penalties for operating undocumented semi-submersible vessels in international waters would help drug-interdiction efforts.

SAN DIEGO - A group of recently wounded veterans learned a variety of skills -- from sailing to cycling -- during a new veterans sports pilot program in San Diego.

WASHINGTON - A new U.S. unified command that seeks to meld civilian expertise with military planning and logistics raised its flag during a Pentagon ceremony.

WASHINGTON - President Bush cited the “incredible” progress that has been achieved in Afghanistan after he was briefed on the situation by U.S. Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, NATO’s top commander there.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s top military commander in Afghanistan said he is “cautiously optimistic” regarding recent Pakistani military efforts to rein in insurgent activity near the border with Afghanistan.

CLACKAMAS, Ore. - In a landmark project, the Oregon National Guard is relying on gold-mining technology to restore the land at a century-old shooting range on Camp Withycombe.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is moving forward with setting up a global expeditionary force for civilian employees.

WASHINGTON - The war against radical Islamists operating in Afghanistan will be won, despite the challenges, the senior U.S. military officer posted there said.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - A delegation of secretaries of state and chief election officials from Pennsylvania, California, Indiana, Mississippi and Florida has visited Balad to get updates on the voting process for troops in Iraq.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A new organization is improving the Afghan National Army’s ability to move capable forces from its training center to the operational commands.

BAGHDAD - Coalition troops captured two wanted men and four others suspected of aiding al-Qaida in Iraq in Mosul and Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warriors in San Diego can soon recover in a second Fisher House.

WASHINGTON - Warrior Adventure Quest is a high-adventure program helping soldiers transition out of combat, reducing the potential for high-risk behaviors.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Martin Parker just might be the oldest corporal in the Army -- or so his friends like to tell him.

SAN DIEGO - More than 50 recently wounded veterans are experiencing the healing power of recreation through the first National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic Pilot Program.