A SPOUSE'S COMMITMENT

Army Sgt. John Tomsich and his wife, Catrina, play with their son, Brayden, in a play area at the Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Nov. 10, 2011. Tomsich came to Brooke Army Medical Center for treatment for a spinal injury. Catrina Tomsich put her business on hold to join him and urged him to get tested for post-traumatic stress disorder. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis and she has remained with him on Fort Sam Houston as his caregiver. DOD photo by Linda Hosek

A QUIET MOMENT

A sailor embraces a family member before the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson departs Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif., Nov. 30, 2011, for deployment to a western Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class James R. Evans

HOLIDAY LAUNCH

First Lady Michelle Obama launches a holiday event for military families as Jennifer Jackman of American Gold Star Mothers stands by her side at the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 30, 2011. The first lady invited military families, including families of the fallen, to be among the first to view the White House's holiday decorations. During the event, military children decorated cookies and created ornaments. DOD photo by Elaine Sanchez

CONFERENCE CHAT

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deanie, talk with British pensioner Dorothy Hughes as part of the Royal United Services Institute conference in London, Nov. 29, 2011. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

DEFENSE MEETING

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meets with his British counterpart Gen. Sir David J. Richards and the British defense staff in London, Nov. 29, 2011. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

TIMES INTERVIEW

Journalists from the Financial Times interview and photograph U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in London, Nov. 29, 2011. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

ANNUAL MEETING

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, center right, and Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter listen as John Hamre, Defense Policy Board chairman, center left, discusses the board's issues and conclusions during its annual meeting at the Pentagon, Nov. 30, 2011. The board was established to provide the defense secretary and senior staff an independent source of expert analysis, recommendations and opinions on security issues. DOD photo by R.D. Ward

FORMER SECRETARIES

Former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry A. Kissinger embrace before sitting down to a meeting of the Defense Policy Board at the Pentagon, Nov. 30, 2011. The board provides the defense secretary and senior staff with independent, expert analysis, recommendations and opinions regarding security policy issues. DOD photo by R.D. Ward