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09/27/2012
Coalition-Afghan Partnering Operations Resuming
WASHINGTON - Afghan and NATO troops are resuming partnered operations which were suspended earlier this month because of a series of deadly insider attacks, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta says.
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09/27/2012
Army Surgeon Shares PTSD Struggles to Help Others
WASHINGTON - As the Army conducts a worldwide stand-down to draw attention to preventing suicide, among those taking notice is Dr. Tara Dixon, an Army Reserve surgeon who tried to take her own life.
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09/27/2012
Stavridis: Cooperation Key in Tackling Piracy Threat
WASHINGTON - Hoping to build on successes over the past year in combating piracy, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, the top U.S. commander in Europe, and other key stakeholders in the fight gathered in London to help chart the way forward.
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09/27/2012
Carter Visits F-16 International Training School
TUSCON, Ariz. - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter visited the 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International Airport in Arizona to learn about international F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft pilot training.
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09/27/2012
Face of Defense: Marine Recalls Camp Bastion Attack
AFGHANISTAN - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ethan Burk, who was wounded during the Sept. 14, 2012, insurgent night attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province, reported the insurgents' location to responding British forces.
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09/26/2012
DOD Focuses on Leaders, Recruits in Sexual Assault Prevention
WASHINGTON - Defense Department measures announced yesterday focus on military commanders, senior enlisted and frontline leaders as key in the battle to prevent and respond to sexual assault, said Army Maj. Gen. Gary S. Patton, director of DOD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
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09/26/2012
U.S.-Philippine Alliance Critical to Asia-Pacific, Official Says
WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Philippine alliance plays a prominent role in the security landscape of the Asia-Pacific region, and the Defense Department continues to build military-to-military relations with the nation, a senior Pentagon official said.
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09/26/2012
Coalition, Afghan Troops Arrest 2 Taliban Leaders
KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined coalition and Afghan security force arrested two Taliban leaders -- an attack commander and an improvised explosive device expert -- during an operation in the Ghazni district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.
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09/26/2012
Panetta Shares Perspectives From Latest Trip
WASHINGTON - In a message to the men and women of the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta shares his perspectives from his recent trip to the Asia-Pacific region.
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09/25/2012
Dempsey: Leadership, Trust Essential to Battling Suicide
WASHINGTON - Suicide prevention is a significant challenge and solving the challenge will require awareness, commitment and understanding from leaders, service members and veterans, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.
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09/25/2012
Official Reaffirms DOD Commitment to Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department remains vigilant and committed to cybersecurity, especially since its cyber operations present an attractive target for hackers, said David L. DeVries, DOD's deputy chief information officer for joint information enterprise.
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09/25/2012
DOD Backs Efforts to Keep Junk Food Out of Schools
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department underscored its support for the work of a group of retired generals and admirals who have again called on Congress to help in reversing the nationwide trend of obesity in young people.
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09/25/2012
Partnered Coalition Operations Continue Despite Insider Attacks
WASHINGTON - Partnered operations between coalition and Afghan forces are continuing despite a decision by the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan to scale them back in response to a series of deadly insider attacks, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
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09/25/2012
More Airports Offer Streamlined Security Screening
WASHINGTON - Active duty service members and other eligible travelers now have more opportunity to take advantage of streamlined security check-in, as Transportation Security Administration officials have added two more airports to the program.
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09/25/2012
DOD to Revise Sexual Assault Prevention Training
WASHINGTON - Calling sexual assault “an affront to basic human values,” Pentagon Press Secretary George E. Little announced that the Defense Department is revising its sexual assault prevention and response training requirements.
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09/25/2012
Silver Star Recipients Added to Valor Site
WASHINGTON - Officials have added the names of those who have received Silver Star awards to a website listing recipients of the nation’s highest awards for valor.
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09/25/2012
Comptroller Outlines Continuing Resolution, Sequestration
WASHINGTON - The continuing resolution the Senate approved Sept. 22, which the president is expected to sign, will affect short- and long-term Defense Department spending in coming months, Pentagon Comptroller Robert F. Hale said at a Government Executive defense briefing series event.
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09/25/2012
Benghazi Attackers Struck Against U.N. Ideals, Obama Says
WASHINGTON - The assault on the U.S. Consulate earlier this month in Benghazi, Libya, was an attack not only on America, but also on the ideals of the United Nations, President Barack Obama said in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly.
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09/25/2012
Combined Force Kills Taliban Weapons Dealer
KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban weapons dealer and destroyed his cache of illegal weapons during an operation in the Omnah district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province. The leader was responsible for distributing firearms, ammunition and explosives to insurgents under his command.
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09/24/2012
Pentagon Official Explains Asia-Pacific Focus
WASHINGTON - The entire U.S. government has made a concerted effort to improve U.S.-China relations while implementing the tenets in the defense strategic guidance, a senior Pentagon official told the audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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09/24/2012
Surveys Ensure Better-fitting Gear for Soldiers, Marines
NATICK, Mass. - When it comes to combat clothing and gear, the folks at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center realize that appropriate fit is more than simply a matter of a tailored military appearance.
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09/24/2012
Panetta Discusses Efforts to Tackle Suicide
WASHINGTON - In an interview with a North Carolina newspaper, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta expressed concern over suicide rates throughout the military and acknowledged the need for military and civilian leaders to continue addressing the complex issue.
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09/24/2012
Marines Charged in Desecration Incident Face Trial
QUANTICO, Va. - Charges against two Marines have been referred to trial for their alleged involvement in urinating on deceased Taliban fighters and for posing for unofficial photographs with human casualties in Afghanistan.
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09/24/2012
Guard Enlisted Leader Stresses Support Available
WASHINGTON - The National Guard Bureau’s senior enlisted leader recently noted the challenges that suicide prevention poses for all military leaders and addressed ways in which National Guard troops can help mitigate suicide risk within their own ranks.
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09/24/2012
Allen: Surge Bought Time for Afghan Forces to Grow, Mature
WASHINGTON - The goal of the U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan was not to defeat the Taliban, but to provide Afghan security forces the time needed to develop, said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of NATO forces in the country.
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09/24/2012
Combined Force Kills 2 Insurgents, Seizes Heroin
WASHINGTON - An Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents and seized several pounds of heroin during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. Officials said no civilians were harmed during the operation.
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09/21/2012
Threat of Terrorist IEDs Growing, Expanding, General Says
WASHINGTON - The threat posed by improvised explosive devices is growing and spreading across the globe, and will be the terrorists’ weapon of choice for decades, the commander of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization said.
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09/21/2012
Readiness Council Adds Family Reps, Prioritizes Troop, Family Support
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s Military Family Readiness Council recently stated that its priority for the upcoming budget year will be protecting troop and family support programs, followed by increasing support to service members transitioning out of the military.
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09/21/2012
Pentagon Ceremony Remembers Sacrifices of POWs, MIA Families
WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, honored former prisoners of war and those still missing in action during a National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon.
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09/21/2012
Civilians Can Help Prevent Military Suicides, Official Says
WASHINGTON - Defense Department civilians need to understand and recognize the warning signs for suicide just as their military counterparts are being trained to do, the acting director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office said.
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09/21/2012
Inspector Questions Accounting of Afghanistan Fuel
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has urged commanders in Afghanistan not to grant the Afghan government increased responsibility for fuel used by its security forces until questions about how it is managed and accounted for are answered.
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09/21/2012
Face of Defense: JPAC Strives to Find Missing Troops
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Somewhere amid the land and sea battlefields of World War II are more than 73,000 Americans still classified as missing in action, and every day work continues at the Hawaii-based POW/MIA Accounting Command to bring them home.
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09/21/2012
Forces Arrest Taliban, Haqqani Leaders in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition security forces arrested a Taliban leader, as well as a Haqqani chief, during a security operation in the Sayyid Karam district of Afghanistan's Pakitya province. The leader is a suspected improvised explosive device expert.
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09/21/2012
Obama: Nation Must Never Forget Missing Service Members
WASHINGTON - “As long as members of our Armed Forces remain unaccounted for, America will bring our fullest resources to bear in finding them and bringing them home. It is a promise we make not only to the families of our captured and our missing, but to all who have worn the uniform,” President Barack Obama said in his proclamation declaring National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
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09/21/2012
Defense Department Praises Companies for Support of Guard, Reserve Employees
WASHINGTON - Fifteen companies and organizations received the coveted Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Freedom Award, honoring private and public companies, large and small, which go above and beyond what the law requires to support their deployed Guard and reserve employees.
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09/21/2012
Panetta Honors Past, Present New Zealand Troops
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta placed a wreath in memory of New Zealand’s fallen and pinned U.S. medals on five Kiwi Afghanistan veterans during a visit to the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
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09/21/2012
Panetta Eases Restrictions on New Zealand Ship Visits
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced that he has eased the restrictions on New Zealand navy ship visits to Defense Department and Coast Guard facilities in the United States and around the world.
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09/21/2012
Panetta Announces Completion of Afghanistan Surge Drawdown
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The drawdown of U.S. surge forces in Afghanistan is complete as scheduled, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced during a news conference with New Zealand Defense Minister Dr. Jonathan Coleman in Aukland, New Zealand.
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09/20/2012
Officials Discuss Education Outreach for Hispanic Youth
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s director of Diversity Management discussed federal efforts to encourage young people of Hispanic descent to obtain the education and knowledge necessary to enter technical occupations.
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09/20/2012
Panetta Visits Chinese Navy Fleet, Tours Vessels
QINGDAO, China - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta visited the headquarters of one of China’s three naval fleets and toured a Chinese frigate and a submarine during his final stop in China before flying to New Zealand.
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09/20/2012
Panetta Arrives in New Zealand, Final Stop on Asia-Pacific Tour
AUCKLAND - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, the last leg of an Asian-Pacific tour that has also taken him to Japan and China. While there, Panetta will meet with senior leaders to discuss strategic defense partnership opportunities between the two countries.
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09/20/2012
Comptroller: Sequestration Would Devastate Defense Spending
WASHINGTON - Sequestration will devastate every aspect of Defense Department spending, from fighting the war in Afghanistan and supporting troop health and morale to carrying out the defense strategic guidance, Pentagon Comptroller Robert F. Hale told Congress.
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09/20/2012
Battaglia Cites Resilience as Key to Solving Suicide Issue
WASHINGTON - Resilience is the key to solving the military’s suicide problem, and the Total Force Fitness program is the key to developing resilience, said Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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09/20/2012
Combined Force Kills Armed Insurgents in Balkh Province
KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents, detained another and seized firearms and grenades during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in the Balkh district of Balkh province.
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09/20/2012
VA Fills First Phase of Veteran Retraining Program
WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department has approved applications for all 45,000 slots available in fiscal 2012 under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program and is in the process of approving applications for the slots available in fiscal 2013.
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09/20/2012
President Nominates Vollrath as Assistant Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated Frederick E. Vollrath to be assistant secretary of defense for readiness and force management. Vollrath has been performing the position’s duties as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness and force management.
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09/20/2012
Panetta Takes Questions From Chinese Cadets
BEIJING - Following a speech at the People’s Liberation Army’s Armored Forces Engineering Academy in Beijing, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta opened the floor to questions from cadets and officers in the audience.
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09/19/2012
VA, DOD to Fund $100 Million PTSD and TBI Study
WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense announced they are investing more than $100 million in research to improve diagnosis and treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
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09/19/2012
Carter Urges Stepped-up Progress on Cyber Defense
WASHINGTON - Even as the Defense Department increases investments in cyber capabilities, officials are working to reduce vulnerabilities in their own networks and in those of contractors who build sensitive defense systems, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said.
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09/19/2012
DOD, Nation Face Strategic Choices, Deputy Secretary Says
WASHINGTON - Grappling with the converging forces of strategic history and fiscal necessity, the Defense Department is making choices now that will determine how the nation transitions to the coming era, said Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter.
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09/19/2012
ISAF Official: Campaign Remains on Track as Surge Winds Down
WASHINGTON - Despite insider attacks, the International Security Assistance Force’s campaign in Afghanistan is on track to achieve the objectives and timeline set by NATO, and American surge forces are on schedule to return home by Oct. 1, said a senior ISAF official.
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09/19/2012
Dempsey: Insider Attacks Won’t Affect NATO’s Afghan Strategy
WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized that NATO’s decision to curtail closely partnered operations with Afghan forces because of on-going attacks on the coalition is only a tactical change that will not undermine the goal of producing a trained Afghan security force by the end of 2014.
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09/19/2012
VA Approves $28 Million in Grants for Homeless Veterans
WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced it has approved $28.4 million in grants to fund 38 projects in 25 states and the District of Columbia that will provide transitional housing to homeless veterans.
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09/19/2012
Combined Force Arrests Senior Insurgent Leader
KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested the senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader for Kunduz province in the province’s Qalah-ye Zal district. The leader is believed to have directed the terrorist organization’s insurgent activity throughout the province.
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09/19/2012
Conference Highlights Cyber’s Role in National Defense
FORT MEADE, Md. - The Defense Department is embracing cyber technologies that enhance its combat effectiveness while working closely with partners in the interagency, academic, industrial and international communities to address cyber domain challenges, said Navy Rear Adm. Margaret Klein, U.S. Cyber Command’s chief of staff.
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09/19/2012
Panetta, Xi Welcome Closer U.S.-China Military Relations
BEIJING - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping both said at the outset of a meeting in Beijing that the secretary’s visit to China will advance cooperation between the two nations’ militaries.
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09/19/2012
Panetta: U.S., Chinese Troops Can ‘Carry Relationship Forward’
BEIJING - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told a group of Chinese officers and cadets that the level of cooperation they and their U.S. counterparts achieve will determine much of the Asia-Pacific region’s future stability and prosperity.
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09/18/2012
Jackal Stone Promotes Special Operations Partnerships
WASHINGTON - The scenario for the Jackal Stone 2012 special operations exercise in Croatia reads like a Hollywood thriller, and goes a long way in building relationships critical to future operations, its commander says.
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09/18/2012
New Defense Health Headquarters Opens in Virginia
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Top leaders in Army, Navy and Air Force medicine are now housed under one roof for the first time to direct the future of military medicine, the Defense Department’s top health affairs official said as the new Defense Health Headquarters officially opened.
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09/18/2012
ISAF Officials: Reports on Partnering Change ‘Not Accurate’
WASHINGTON - Recent media coverage regarding a change in the International Security Assistance Force model for assisting Afghanistan’s security forces “is not accurate,” ISAF officials said in a statement released from the command’s headquarters in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
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09/18/2012
U.S., China Team Up for Counterpiracy Exercise
GULF OF ADEN - The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill and other U.S. Navy assets participated in a counterpiracy exercise with Chinese naval elements near the Horn of Africa.
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09/18/2012
Afghanistan Surge Achieved Its Mission, Dempsey Says
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The 33,000-man surge of U.S. forces into Afghanistan has achieved the goal set for it, and it will end on schedule at the end of the month, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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09/18/2012
U.S., Turkish Leaders Discuss Syrian War, Region
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - U.S. and Turkish leaders have a similar view of events in Syria and agreed to work together on that and other regional issues, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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09/18/2012
Panetta: Navy Will Invite China to Pacific Rim Exercise
BEIJING - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie, told reporters in Beijing that they see progress and room for growth in the two nations’ military relationship.
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09/17/2012
Shinseki: VA Honors ‘Exceptional’ Americans
WASHINGTON - The airmen of today's United States Air Force display the same guts, determination and skill as their forebears in the wars of earlier eras, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said at the Air Force Association's annual meeting.
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09/17/2012
Defense Department Honors Hispanic American Service
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is joining the nation in observing National Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events to recognize the service of Hispanic Americans throughout the department.
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09/17/2012
Airman Credits Panamanian Roots for Military Success
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Panamanian-American Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Yessica Lugo considers herself fortunate to be where she is today, given that a lot of her life could have turned out much differently.
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09/17/2012
Dempsey, Turks Discuss Regional Issues
ANKARA, Turkey - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has discussed a range of regional issues with Turkish defense officials in Ankara, including the civil war in neighboring Syria.
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09/17/2012
NATO Transformation Chief Encourages ‘Smart Defense’ Strategy
WASHINGTON - Despite fiscal challenges, NATO members should work together to develop the right capabilities to adapt to future challenges by pooling and sharing capabilities, setting priorities and better coordinating efforts, NATO’s top transformation officer said.
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09/17/2012
Panetta Addresses Osprey, Territory Disputes in Japan Visit
TOKYO - On a day that began in Japan and is ending in China, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta responded to questions on the U.S. deployment of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to Okinawa and the ongoing dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands.
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09/17/2012
Obama Proclaims Constitution, Citizenship Day
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama declared Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, encouraging Americans to reaffirm their commitment to the rights and obligations of citizenship during a week-long observance commemorating the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.
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09/17/2012
Face of Defense: Army Captain Looks After Her Troops
FORT RILEY, Kan. - Army Capt. Lisa Halvorson has earned the moniker "Mama Halvorson" amongst her soldiers because of her keen interest in getting to know her troops and her habit of mentoring them to better their lives.
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09/17/2012
Joint Team Assesses Eastern Afghanistan Airstrike
WASHINGTON - The International Security Assistance Force has sent a joint incident assessment team to gather facts about a coalition forces airstrike in Afghanistan’s Laghman province that resulted in several Afghan civilian casualties.
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09/17/2012
Panetta Arrives in China for Three-day Visit
BEIJING - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has arrived in Beijing for a three-day visit to China where he will meet with senior level officials and will visit several military sites in an effort to further develop the military-to-military relationship between the two countries.
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09/17/2012
U.S., Japan Begin Coordination on Second Radar Installation
TOKYO - The United States and Japan have begun coordination on a second U.S. anti-ballistic missile radar installation in Japan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced in Tokyo following separate meetings with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Koichiro Gemba and Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto.
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09/17/2012
Public Trust Requires Apolitical Military, Dempsey Says
ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wants service members and veterans to consider what using the uniform for partisan politics does to the trust Americans have in their military.
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09/16/2012
Dempsey in Turkey to Discuss Syrian Crisis
ANKARA, Turkey - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Ankara, Turkey, for talks with Turkish military leaders on the situation with neighboring Syria and the humanitarian crisis caused by the Syrian civil war.
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09/16/2012
Dempsey: U.S. Must Remain Engaged with Muslim World
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The recent anti-American demonstrations that have occurred in many Muslim countries “demands for us to be more engaged, not less engaged,” the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during an aircraft flight from Sibiu, Romania, to Ankara, Turkey.
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09/16/2012
NATO Chiefs Examine Afghan Campaign, Post-2014 Posture
ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - The NATO chiefs of defense reviewed events in Afghanistan and alliance plans in the region during discussions in Sibiu, Romania, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said aboard an aircraft en route to Ankara, Turkey.
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09/16/2012
Panetta Lists Goals for Asia Trip, Assesses Mideast
ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Leon E Panetta told traveling reporters that his current trip to Japan, China and New Zealand offers “an opportunity to further advance our strategy of rebalancing towards the Asia-Pacific.”
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09/15/2012
ISAF Provides More Details on Camp Bastion Attack
KABUL, Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Force officials are providing additional details about the attack on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan’s Helmand province in which two coalition service members were killed when insurgents attacked the base’s airfield.
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09/15/2012
Panetta Begins Trip to Japan, China, New Zealand
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta departed for his second visit to Japan and his first to China as defense secretary, as well as the first visit to New Zealand any defense secretary has made since Caspar Weinberger went there in 1982.
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09/15/2012
NATO Military Chiefs Discuss Afghanistan, Transformation
SIBIU, Romania - NATO chiefs of defense are fleshing out the post-2014 role for alliance forces in Afghanistan while planning how the alliance will reshape itself to face future threats during a meeting of the Military Committee in Sibiu, Romania.
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09/15/2012
ISAF Troops Defeat Camp Bastion Attackers
KABUL, Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Force troops defeated nearly 20 insurgents who had infiltrated the perimeter of Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province. The attackers targeted ISAF personnel and facilities using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide improvised explosive device vests.
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09/15/2012
Obama: Nation Must ‘Carry On’ Work of Fallen Heroes
WASHINGTON - As the loss of four Americans serving at a diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, resonates globally, President Barack Obama in his weekly address thanked the fallen for their service and pledged that their killers will not escape justice.
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09/14/2012
Obama Proclaims Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Week
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said the employers of Guard members and reservists are taking care of those who serve in the nation’s military by “hiring and retaining members of the Guard and Reserve, and by creating a culture of military support in the workplace,” in his proclamation declaring Sept. 16 through Sept. 22 as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week.
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09/14/2012
President Proclaims National Hispanic Heritage Month
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said the nation’s Hispanic citizens “have led movements that pushed our country closer to realizing the democratic ideals of America's founding documents, and they have served courageously as members of our Armed Forces to defend those ideals at home and abroad,” in his proclamation issued today declaring September as National Hispanic Heritage Month.
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09/14/2012
Olympians, Paralympians Get White House Welcome
WASHINGTON - Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, a U.S. Paralympic team swimmer and triple medalist in the recently concluded games, was joined by fellow U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they received a warm welcome at the White House from President Barack Obama.
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09/14/2012
Top U.S. Officials Honor Americans Who Died in Libya
WASHINGTON - As they touched down for the last time on U.S. soil, four Americans killed during attacks this week at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, were honored with eulogies by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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09/14/2012
Budget Uncertainty Hinders DOD Accountability Effort
WASHINGTON - DOD Comptroller Robert F. Hale, testifying before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, said that while modernization of the department’s business system environment is progressing, budget uncertainty has led to “time-consuming and unproductive planning efforts.”
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09/14/2012
DOD Sends Marine Team to U.S. Embassy in Yemen
WASHINGTON - A Marine security team has arrived in Yemen to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy there, following the earlier dispatch of Marines to Libya in the wake of anti-U.S. demonstrations across the Middle East.
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09/14/2012
DOD Artist Creates Hispanic Heritage Month Poster
WASHINGTON - Artist Peter Hemmer knew he wanted a one-of-a-kind design when he set out to produce a poster highlighting the Defense Department’s participation in this year's National Hispanic Heritage Month.
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09/14/2012
DOD Recognizes Hispanic-American Achievements
WASHINGTON - National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, gives the Defense Department an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions made by the nation’s Hispanic-Americans, said Stephanie Miller, DOD’s Diversity Management director.
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09/14/2012
Dempsey Arrives in Romania for NATO Talks
SIBIU, Romania - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Sibiu, Romania, to participate in NATO Military Committee talks. Dempsey will meet with his fellow chiefs of defense to discuss Afghanistan and other NATO issues.
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09/13/2012
F-22 Analysis Continues, Air Force General Tells Congress
WASHINGTON - With investigation continuing into oxygen-deprivation issues involving the F-22 Raptor fighter, a senior Air Force official told Congress he remains optimistic about the program’s future and the jet’s ability to perform.
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09/13/2012
Wounded Warriors Discuss Transitions to New Lives
WASHINGTON - Caregivers, National Guard and reserve support as well as sports for the wounded are at the top of the Defense Department’s priorities for wounded warriors and their families, according to the deputy assistant secretary of defense for warrior care policy.
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09/13/2012
DOD Overseas Voting Assistance ‘Never Better,’ Official Says
WASHINGTON - With less than eight weeks remaining before election day, American service members and other citizens overseas have more tools than ever available to help them register and vote, the acting director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program told Congress.
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09/13/2012
Pentagon Deploys Security Team to Libya
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has authorized deployment of a Marine Corps fleet antiterrorism security team to Libya to protect U.S. citizens there and to secure the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters.
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09/13/2012
Panetta to Visit Japan, China, New Zealand
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will leave this weekend for his third visit to Asia in 11 months where he will meet with defense counterparts from Japan, China and New Zealand to discuss bilateral defense issues.
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09/13/2012
Caldwell Supports Review of Troubled Afghan Hospital
WASHINGTON - A three-star general who commanded the NATO and U.S. training missions in Afghanistan told a House subcommittee his command conducted a transparent investigation into alleged corruption at the Afghan-run Dawood National Military Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.
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09/13/2012
Airstrike Kills Insurgent Transporting Weapons
KABUL, Afghanistan - A precision airstrike in the Mota Khan district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province killed an armed insurgent attempting to transport weapons toward a populated area. A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.
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09/13/2012
Face of Defense: Marine Develops His Own Legacy
PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan - When Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ethan Payne considered joining the military, he realized the Marine Corps could offer him more opportunities than simply earning a paycheck. It also could give him the ability cultivate his own path in life.
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09/13/2012
Widow Shares Marine’s Story to Save Others From Suicide
NATICK, Mass. - Speaking to standing-room-only audiences at the Natick Soldier Systems Center, Kim Ruocco described the chain of events that led to her husband Marine Corps Maj. John Ruocco’s death in February 2005.
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09/13/2012
USNS Mercy Heads Home From Pacific Partnership Mission
WASHINGTON - The crew of USNS Mercy is returning to their home port of San Diego after a five-month Pacific Partnership mission, the largest annual humanitarian civic assistance mission in the Asia-Pacific region.
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09/12/2012
Panetta Strongly Condemns Benghazi Attack
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta condemned the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in the “strongest possible terms,” said a senior government official, noting Panetta "also extends his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims.”
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09/12/2012
Troops Should Be Comfortable Seeking Help, Leaders Say
RENO, Nev. - Service members facing behavioral health challenges should feel comfortable asking for help, military leaders said at the 134th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Reno, Nev.
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09/12/2012
DOD Pursues Improvement in Operational Contractor Management
WASHINGTON - Efforts to improve management of civilian contractors performing critical mission support functions are creating a cultural shift in the way the military prepares for battle, senior Defense Department officials told the House Armed Services Committee.
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09/12/2012
Obama Directs Security Boost at U.S. Diplomatic Posts
WASHINGTON - The United States condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous and shocking attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other American personnel, President Barack Obama said.
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09/12/2012
Attack in Libya Should Shock World’s Conscience, Clinton Says
WASHINGTON - The attack in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans should “shock the conscience of people of all faiths around the world,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.
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09/12/2012
Officials Confirm Recent Taliban Death, Arrests
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed the death or arrest of three key Taliban operatives. Forces also detained several suspected insurgents and destroyed a cache of assault rifles, grenades, explosives and illegal narcotics.
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09/12/2012
Face of Defense: Twins Serve Together in Afghanistan
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Twin brothers, Marine Corps Sgt. David Haines and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Haines, saw each other for the first time in five years on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, where both are deployed.
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09/11/2012
Winnefeld: Events of 9/11 Remain ‘Frozen In Time’
WASHINGTON - Eleven years later, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reminded 9/11 remembrance ceremony attendees gathered in the Pentagon’s center courtyard why the war against terrorism is “personal.”
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09/11/2012
Panetta Remembers 9/11 Victims, Praises Service Members
WASHINGTON - With flags flying at half-staff and under a cloudless blue sky hauntingly similar to the day America was attacked 11 years ago, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta paid tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon and praised America’s service members.
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09/11/2012
Author Broke Promise to Country, Panetta Says
WASHINGTON - Military personnel who take part in sensitive operations like the one that took out Osama bin Laden must stand by the promises they made to the United States, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during an interview broadcast on “CBS This Morning.”
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09/11/2012
At 9/11 Service, Dempsey Memorializes a Hero Among Many
WASHINGTON - Thousands of heroes died during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, many while helping others in the chaos around them, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a service at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
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09/11/2012
Panetta, at Pentagon Memorial, Praises America’s Strength
WASHINGTON - The 9/11 victims at the Pentagon, the Twin Towers in Manhattan or in a Pennsylvania field will remain “heroes forever,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told a somber audience during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial.
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09/11/2012
Forces Confirm Deaths of 2 Taliban Leaders
KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the death of two senior Taliban leaders, including the suspected mastermind of an August 2008 ambush that left numerous French soldiers dead and 21 wounded.
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09/11/2012
Obama: Lives Lost on 9/11 Ushered in Stronger Nation
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, joined by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said America is stronger than ever during a 9/11 remembrance service at the Pentagon Memorial.
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09/11/2012
Face of Defense: Pilot Helps Iraqis Earn Wings
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Lachance is one of a handful of American airmen working to ensure that Iraqi Air force units at Al Sahra Airfield in Tikrit are getting the level of training they need to protect their skies.
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09/10/2012
Panetta Calls Flight 93 Memorial ‘Hallowed Ground’
SHANKSVILLE, Pa. - On the eve of the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta toured the Flight 93 National Memorial here and called the passengers and crew of the ill-fated plane American heroes.
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09/10/2012
President Proclaims Patriot Day, Day of Remembrance
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States as Patriot Day and National Day of Remembrance.
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09/10/2012
Combined Force Kills Insurgents in Laghman Province
WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed several armed insurgents during an operation to arrest a Taliban attack commander in the Alisheng district of Afghanistan’s Laghman province.
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09/09/2012
Former Paratrooper Now Serves as Paralympian
LONDON - Despite sustaining a spinal cord injury during a high-altitude jump in 2003, retired Army paratrooper Centra “Cece” Mazyck continues to answer the nation's call as a javelin thrower at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
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09/09/2012
Former Navy Officer Continues to Beat Odds After Stroke
LONDON - Many U.S. Paralympic athletes have persevered through tough circumstances and refused to give up after acquiring a disability. Former Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steven Peace is no exception. He continues to beat the odds after a stroke left him without the use of the right side of his body.
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09/08/2012
U.S. Paralympics Chief Lauds Athletes, London Games
LONDON - The Paralympic movement continues to grow as competition improves and opportunities to compete increase, providing fundamental growth to this burgeoning movement, the U.S. Paralympics chief said.
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09/08/2012
Obama Honors 9/11 Victims, First Responders, Troops
WASHINGTON - In his weekly address, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks and honored the first responders and U.S. service members who have fought and sacrificed ever since to keep the United States safe.
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09/07/2012
Airstrike in Helmand Kills Taliban Attack Cell Leader
KABUL, Afghanistan - A precision airstrike killed a Taliban cell leader during a security operation in the Nad-e Ali district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province. The leader is believed to have commanded an attack cell and directed insurgent activity throughout western region of the province.
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09/07/2012
Napolitano Honors Outgoing National Guard Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano honored the outgoing chief of the National Guard Bureau, Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, presenting him with the Homeland Security Department’s Distinguished Service Medal.
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09/07/2012
Branch Helps DOD Shippers Get Best Rates
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command’s special requirements branch is a one-stop shop for finding rate and transportation modes for Defense Department shippers.
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09/07/2012
Face of Defense: Family Man Turns Marine Communicator
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Standing over 6 feet tall, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justin Nobles can look pretty intimidating. But anyone who spends a few minutes talking to him quickly finds a soft-spoken guy with a country accent who loves to fix radios.
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09/07/2012
Panetta Welcomes New National Guard Chief
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta hosted a change of responsibility ceremony to swear in Army Gen. Frank Grass as the new National Guard Bureau chief and to pay tribute to outgoing chief Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley’s nearly 40 years of service.
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09/07/2012
Paralympian Cites Value of Leadership, Teamwork
LONDON - Leadership and teamwork are two of the primary attributes key to success for current and former service members competing in the 2012 Paralympic Games, said Will Groulx, U.S. wheelchair rugby team captain.
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09/07/2012
Marines Aid Fight Against Drugs, Transnational Crime
WASHINGTON - Officials at Joint Interagency Task Force South are welcoming the contributions that a 200-member Marine Corps detachment is making toward tracking drug traffickers and other transnational criminals.
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09/07/2012
Dempsey Honors Heritage, Families at Marine Corps Gala
WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the Marine Corps and thanked military families for their sacrifices in supporting service members during remarks at the Marine Corps Association and Foundation’s professional dinner.
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09/06/2012
DISA to Embrace New Internet, Communication Technologies
FORT MEADE, Md. - The Defense Information Systems Agency is taking a new tack by embracing smartphones, tablets and other commercial mobile-device technologies considered vital to improving communications access and data sharing.
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09/06/2012
Civil War Scholar: General McClellan Was Victim of History, Politics
WASHINGTON - In a presentation for the Defense Department’s historical speakers series, retired history professor Tom Clemens said Union Army Gen. George McClellan, considered by many historians to be an ineffectual commander, was in fact hamstrung by political and military jealousies that ultimately led to his removal from command.
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09/06/2012
Allen: ISAF ‘Absolutely Driven’ to Reduce Insider Threat
WASHINGTON - The threat of attacks on coalition service members by Afghan security forces is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive, integrated and combined response from coalition and Afghan officials, said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force.
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09/06/2012
Taliban Leader Arrested in Kandahar
KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban network leader in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province. The leader is believed to have directed distribution of weapons and explosives in the region.
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09/05/2012
Voting Assistance Program Eases Registration, Ballot Process
WASHINGTON - With Election Day about two months away, absentee military and overseas citizen voters can enjoy a streamlined process to register, obtain a ballot and exercise their right to vote, Pam Mitchell, Federal Voting Assistance Program acting director, told reporters.
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09/05/2012
Partners, Innovation Help Pentagon Deal with Budget Cuts
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is dealing with long-term budget reductions by working more closely with international partners and continuously improving performance, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics told an international audience of government and industry representatives.
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09/05/2012
General Assesses Progress, Momentum in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - Less than a week before the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a senior U.S. officer assigned to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said each such observance “serves to remind me of why we are here.”
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09/05/2012
ISAF Senior Leader Outlines ‘Insider Threat’ Response
WASHINGTON - Coalition forces and Afghan government leaders are attacking the issue of insider threats in Afghanistan on several levels, a top commander in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said.
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09/05/2012
Multinational Seminar Examines Violent Extremism
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - Professionals from 61 countries have gathered at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to share ideas about countering violent extremism across the globe.
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09/05/2012
Airstrike Kills Taliban Leader Involved in Aug. 7 Attack
KABUL, Afghanistan - A Taliban leader behind an Aug. 7, 2012, attack on a coalition base in Afghanistan's Logar province was killed by Afghan and coalition security forces in the Pul-e Alam district, military officials reported.
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09/05/2012
Face of Defense: Marine Breaks Down Language, Cultural Barriers
PATROL BASE DETROIT, Afghanistan - For deployed Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathan Pontious, the ability to speak Pashtu helps make life easier for himself and his fellow Marines as he continues to build relationships with Afghan soldiers and area residents who aren't able to speak English.
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09/05/2012
Pacom Exercise Program Integrates Disaster Response Preparation
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii - As they reach out to long-time allies and new partners alike to increase regional engagement through U.S. Pacific Command’s exercise program, officials are finding that one of the biggest enticements is a common threat: Mother Nature.
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09/05/2012
Registry to Provide Japan Response Radiation Info
WASHINGTON - Though no Defense Department personnel or their families were exposed to radiation causing adverse health conditions following the nuclear accident in Japan last year, the department has established a registry to provide information to those who served in the stricken country.
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09/04/2012
Upcoming U.S., Israeli Exercise Underscores Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. and Israeli forces will team up this fall for Austere Challenge 12, a major exercise that provides important training for the defense of both nations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
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09/04/2012
Concerns Persist Over Ex-SEAL’s bin Laden Raid Book
WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials continue to weigh their legal options against a former Navy SEAL who may have revealed classified information in a book he wrote about the Osama bin Laden raid, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a news conference.
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09/04/2012
ISAF, Afghans Working to Curb Insider Threats, Spokesman Says
WASHINGTON - U.S. special operations forces have paused training for 1,000 new Afghan local police recruits, but partnered operations between coalition forces and established members of the local police remain ongoing, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
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09/04/2012
Two Firefighting C-130s Head Home
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - National Interagency Fire Center officials sent home two military C-130s equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System over the Labor Day weekend, due to a decrease in fire activity.
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09/04/2012
Air Force Veteran Shares Wisdom With Young Paralympians
LONDON - Mario Rodriguez, a former Air Force staff sergeant and member of the U.S. Paralympic fencing team who competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, said athletic competition gives him a means to belong to something larger than himself.
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09/04/2012
Battaglia Asks Leaders to Engage, Troubled Troops to Reach Out
WASHINGTON - The military’s top enlisted leader wants service members to use September’s National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month as an opportunity to learn what to do when a fellow service member, family member or veteran reaches out for help.
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09/03/2012
Former Army Cadet Captures Paralympic Silver Medal
LONDON - Many Paralympic athletes participating in the 2012 Paralympic Games have overcome diseases, injuries or other afflictions. But not many have suffered through a combination of all of those factors and still rose above them to experience success in their chosen sports the way Jennifer Schuble has been able to.
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09/03/2012
Family Supports Marine During Paralympic Competition
LONDON - Marine Corps Cpl. Rene Renteria is one of three active-duty service members competing in the Paralympic Games and he credits his family with keeping him focused, especially during tough times.
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09/02/2012
ISAF Deputy: Operations Continue, Relations Remain Strong
KABUL, Afghanistan - Suspension of training for about 1,000 recruits in the Afghan Local Police program while officials re-vet 16,300 Afghans providing security in remote areas of Afghanistan has no operational impact for Afghan police and other security forces, the International Security Assistance Force’s deputy commander said.
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09/02/2012
Navy Lieutenant Sets Record En Route to Paralympic Gold Medal
WASHINGTON - Navy Lt. Bradley Snyder carried over his strong performance in June’s U.S. swimming trials by setting a Paralympic record in his qualifying event for the 100-meter freestyle and earning a gold medal in the final round during the Paralympic Games in London.
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09/01/2012
President Lauds Troops, Families in Weekly Address
WASHINGTON - A day after carrying his message of gratitude to soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas, President Barack Obama commended service members and their families in his weekly address to the nation.
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