WASHINGTON - As the United States implements new strategic guidance that increases its focus on Asia and the Pacific, it also needs to pursue “smart defense initiatives” as it continues to honor its NATO commitments, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured two Taliban facilitators and detained a suspected insurgent in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province.

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - With a little help from their father back home, three deployed siblings were able to reconnect at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, following a four-year separation.

WASHINGTON - Ten years of conflict has given rise, not only to the world’s best body armor and state-of-the-art battlefield technologies, but also to a new understanding about ways to prevent eye injuries and treat those who suffer from them.

WASHINGTON - Next month will mark a major milestone in advancing care for wounded warriors suffering debilitating eye injuries with a ribbon-cutting at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s new 10-year strategy will go “out the window” if the federal Budget Control Act’s additional spending cuts go into effect next year, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department leaders agree international economic pressure represents a better option than military action in dealing with Iran.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s new, 10-year strategy will ensure the United States remains the world’s strongest military power as force size adjusts to accommodate changing fiscal needs, DOD leaders emphasized in media interviews.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy’s Jan. 5 capture of 15 suspected pirates in the northern Arabian Sea demonstrates the Defense Department’s commitment to maritime freedom of navigation, Defense Department senior leaders said.

WASHINGTON - Alongside First Lady Michelle Obama, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has launched a new campaign to recognize, honor and support service members and their families.