CYPRESS, Texas - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presented retired Marine Capt. Dan Moran, a warrior severely wounded in Iraq, with the keys to a new home on behalf of the Helping a Hero organization.

GREENVILLE , Texas - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave a pep talk to employees outfitting the MC-12 Liberty aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, telling them their work is saving lives on the battlefield.

FORT WORTH , Texas - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter factory, calling the plane “the heart of the future of our tactical combat aviation.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California National Guard is part of a 17-agency endeavor to protect the state’s forests from marijuana growers.

BAGRAM AIR FIELD - Afghan forces and NATO-led International Security Assistance troops have captured two key Taliban leaders, including a commander.

WASHINGTON - Researchers at the Naval Medical Research Center are testing a malaria vaccine officials hope will protect both troops and civilians in tropical and subtropical regions.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, with U.S. forces advisors, arrested 10 terrorism suspects in recent days, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan has completed his assessment of the situation there and has forwarded it to NATO and U.S. leaders.

WASHINGTON - Military working dogs have a chance to go to deserving adoptive homes when their service is complete. The defense department adopts out about 300 dogs per year, about 100 of those to law enforcement agencies.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Leaders at Contingency Operating Base Adder in Iraq are engaging local sheiks and key leaders.

WASHINGTON - Harvard University has recognized a Defense Department program that identifies chemicals that have emerging environmental and health risks and finds alternatives to using them.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - As U.S. forces take extra precautions to protect civilian lives in southern Afghanistan, an Army reservist used his civilian skills to preserve the life of a local truck driver.

WASHINGTON - A research association supports its part-time troops despite having a heavy workload and a small team.

WASHINGTON - When Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided at the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe graduation in New Jersey, he witnessed a rite of passage being shared by about 8,000 at-risk youth across the country every year.

TRENTON, N.J. - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen congratulated more than 100 high school graduates here who pursued their diploma through a New Jersey National Guard program.

ARLINGTON, Va. - A poor, pregnant woman wrote to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy with a plea for medical care. Kennedy responded, and the child she was carrying, now a soldier, will participate in the senator's burial honors.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s first joint family readiness conference in nearly a decade will take place in Chicago and offer the latest research on family care.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff calls on Americans “to take a harder look” at strategic communication and emphasizes the need to boost the nation’s credibility by building relationships and trust, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces worked together to provide advanced medical training to Iraqi forces in southern Iraq’s Maysan province.

WASHINGTON - Afghan forces and troops of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force protected civilians from insurgent attacks.

WASHINGTON - Pirates often are in the news for their criminal activities at sea, but their antics are far from new, a Navy historian explained.

SAHL SINJAR, Iraq - Marine Corps snipers and designated marksmen have found themselves evolving to meet the changing needs of the Iraqi military and political landscape.

WASHINGTON - An Air National Guard major credits his civilian employer with providing extraordinary support for his military service.

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - A critically wounded airman is impressed with the support he's received as he recovers from an Afghanistan bomb blast.

WASHINGTON - Sunni fighters who once considered themselves enemies of the Iraqi government now are filling the ranks of Iraq's ministries and armed forces.

WASHINGTON - Boosted by a few strong years of testing successes, much of the United States’ missile defense technology is now ready to be fielded.

WASHINGTON - Senior defense leaders will use a recently issued report on the National Security Personnel System when they decide what to do with the civilian personnel system this fall.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff called for brain injury treatment that produces solutions as quickly as possible.

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - The Army National Guard dedicated the first and only academy designed to help soldiers receive their high school diplomas.

WASHINGTON - Wounded veterans have one thing in common, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen. They want to keep serving.

WASHINGTON - Officials from a transition command in Iraq are improving the environment and saving money by increasing energy efficiency.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi police and special operations forces arrested 11 terrorism suspects in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Somali pirates aboard a hijacked ship fired at a U.S. Navy helicopter, which was not hit and did not return fire, Navy officials said.

SUFFOLK, Va. - U.S. Joint Forces Command officials called on warfighters to help in evaluating the effectiveness of the command’s high-technology systems and to offer suggestions for improvements.

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq - Moving several hundred detainees across Iraq is a daunting task, but for two Wisconsin Army National Guard companies, it's just another day.

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq - Army Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Foesch of Portland, Ore., lights up with pride when he talks about the enlisted soldiers he leads.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department federal employees could receive up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a military family member injured in the line of duty if a government proposal is adopted.

WASHINGTON - The Post-9/11 GI Bill will mean more college-educated professionals will enter the professional work force, the Veterans Affairs secretary said.

WASHINGTON - Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's care and compassion for American men and women in uniform are reflected in his tireless work and voting record.

WASHINGTON - Acting on warrants issued by Iraqi courts, Iraqi forces arrested five terrorism suspects, killing another who attacked them while they were serving one of the warrants.

WASHINGTON - Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near his brothers. He served in the Army from 1951 to 1953.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. Central Command cautioned that success in Afghanistan demands more than battlefield victories.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Iraq - U.S. soldiers taught Iraqi nursing students how to handle the medical side of a mass-casualty situation.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. European Command, who also serves as NATO’s top military commander, shared his views on Afghanistan in a “From the Bridge” blog post.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - While some people join the Army to find adventure for the first time, a soldier deployed to Iraq said she joined to add to the adventures she’s already had.

WASHINGTON - Waking up for work rarely ranks high on people’s “favorites” lists, but a frequently deployed Army Reserve soldier said he is perfectly happy to be in the minority.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is striving to build an engine that will propel a hypersonic jet at Mach 4 and faster, while also bringing new efficiencies to ships and ground vehicles.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The U.S. military must leverage information technology to deliver capabilities to the battlefield and needs to catch up with technology before the nation falls behind in cyberspace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The new Defense Department Web site is designed to increase access to military news and information, and invite greater public participation.

WASHINGTON - For the first time within the Defense Department, military doctors and scientists are working hand in hand to understand and improve the treatment of complex wounds.

WASHINGTON - Today’s wars need a new type of thinking and strategies to help local citizens and defeat terrorists, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department's new "Family Matters" blog is resonating with military families by engaging them on topics ranging from deployments to day-to-day life.

WASHINGTON - In its final report, a Defense Business Board task group has recommended a “reconstruction” of the National Security Personnel System.

ABOARD USS THACH, At Sea - The guided-missile frigate USS Thach has helped to protect Iraq's critical infrastructure since arriving on station in mid-July.

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Thanks to technology, an airman deployed to Southwest Asia witnessed the birth of his third child 6,000 miles away without leaving his post.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stressed relevance, adaptability and affordability as top concerns for programs ranging from nuclear weapons to satellites.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces have sacrificed greatly to build security and develop a democratic process in Iraq, and after nearly seven years, the hard work is paying off.

WASHINGTON - As the Defense Department overhauls the Pentagon’s acquisition system, officials are asking warfighters to define what they need, then holding industry to fixed-price contracts to meet those capabilities.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department is helping veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - U.S. soldiers and their Iraqi counterparts handed out food and supplies to residents of Faddaqhryah and Bahar, Iraq. Each package will feed a family of eight for 30 days.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces conducted an air assault to disrupt insurgent communication and an Afghan civilian thwarted a bomb attack.

WASHINGTON - Providing security is a key component of President Barack Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, aided by U.S. advisors, detained eight suspected terrorists in Iraq.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Deployments usually separate soldiers from their families. However, for one “Red Bull” soldier, it provided the chance to reunite with her brother.

WASHINGTON - The Santa Ana, Calif., police department will receive the Defense Department's award for providing financial and emotional help to its employees who deploy as National Guard or Reserve members.

WASHINGTON - Hollywood's quintessential drill sergeant, R. Lee Ermey, shared his views of the mlitary with 'DoDLive' bloggers, saying troops "are just as ready to eat their own guts out today as they ever were back in my time."

CHEVY CHASE, Md. - More than two dozen people whose job it is to care for very young children of military families recently gathered to learn how to better care for themselves.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised Afghans for their courage in participating in their national election despite threats by the Taliban to disrupt the process.

WASHINGTON - August is National Immunization Month, and a senior Navy medical official encouraged servicemembers to be up to date on flu vaccines.

WASHINGTON - Nearly a century after Thomas Edison proposed a military research lab, the Naval Research Laboratory still is forging the way on developments from nonpolluting hydrocarbon fuels to the solution to nuclear fusion.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama threw his weight behind the Defense Department’s acquisition reform efforts, noting unnecessary spending hurts taxpayers and the warfighters on the front lines.

GUATEMALA CITY - Guatemalans lined up for rare medical care from about 40 Arkansas Air National Guard members, who went to Guatemala City as part of their annual training.

WASHINGTON - Military transportation experts used ships and planes to deploy an Army combat unit to Afghanistan last month, marking a notable milestone for U.S. Transportation Command.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Veterans from the wars in Iraq and Vietnam have joined New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine in launching an oral history project to preserve the Garden State’s military legacy.

BAGHDAD - Ensuring energy use is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective helps to build Iraq’s security capabilities, a U.S. military planner said.

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - A senior noncommissioned officer assigned to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., recently returned from a recovery mission to find the remains of an American pilot in Laos.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, working with U.S. advisors, have arrested 10 people in Iraq on terrorism charges related to bombings, murder and kidnappings against Iraqi and U.S. forces and Iraqi civilians.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Women’s Poultry Project in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province is a giant leap forward for the women who call the Panjshir River valley their home.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - The Kaiserslautern Military Community American Little League all-star team begins its quest for the Little League World Series title in Williamsport, Pa.

ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan - As Afghans took to the streets to exercise their right to vote authorities worked together to provide security for polling stations across Zabul province.

WASHINGTON - When a TriWest Healthcare Alliance nurse who serves in the Kansas Air National Guard got notice of an upcoming deployment in 2006, TriWest President David McIntyre ensured the company would see to her family’s needs.

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Deployed troops can rest assured their pets are well-taken care of when they call on a group of "guardian angels."

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama pledged to keep ramping up pressure on insurgents in Afghanistan, citing developments aimed at “squeezing them from both sides” to ultimately “flush them out.”

BUTLERVILLE, Ind. - Ohio National Guard members spent a week at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., to test their ability to respond to chemical and other attacks.

WASHINGTON - A U.S. commander in Iraq condemned a wave of attacks in Baghdad that killed at least 95 people, saying a security lapse allowed the deadly assault.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard are playing a supporting role in Afghanistan's elections.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama paid tribute to NASCAR champions at the White House, but not before honoring the wounded warriors attending the ceremony.

MADAIN REGION, Iraq - Baghdad's suburbs are more pleasant compared to the bullet-riddled streets of the Iraqi capital, but U.S. troops say they must remain just as alert.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Army Maj. Gina Garbedian has become the Martha Stewart of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, glamourizing her containerized housing unit to create a sanctuary to recharge.

WASHINGTON - The creation of 20,000 Defense Department jobs is the first step in reshaping the acquisition process as part of reforms initiated by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Air Force doctors say they are treating more cases of hearing loss than ever in Afghanistan and are urging troops to use new ear plugs that won't impair battle performance.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Space Command has activated the 24th Air Force, combining all service space and cyberspace capabilities into a single unit to keep pace with the rapid changes in information technology.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have launched interactive, virtual town hall sessions through the Internet.

WASHINGTON - NATO forces in Afghanistan are supporting efforts to secure polling centers, reduce insurgency and counter voter apathy before the nation's elections.

WASHINGTON - A recently published Army handbook addresses the unique set of topographical, cultural and operational challenges facing troops in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - At FMC Technologies in Stephenville, Texas, military experience not only is welcomed, but also is highly sought after.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - With help from the NATO-led security force, a local businessman delivered enough supplies to a girls school to keep more than 50 students supplied for a year.

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Julianne Cacal often gets a second look when diagnosing and treating patients. She's a medical technician working under a supervising doctor.

WASHINGTON - Despite the wave of violence this week in Afghanistan’s capital, military officials there believe Afghans will turn out to vote in their national election Aug. 20, said a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

WASHINGTON - When Afghans go to the polls to cast their votes Aug. 20, they’ll see Afghans providing for their security, not U.S. or NATO forces, the military head of NATO's election task force said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces, working with U.S. advisors, have arrested six suspects in connection with terrorist attacks throughout the country.

WASHINGTON - A warrior wounded by a homemade bomb in Baghdad pinned stripes on the soldier who saved his life.

PATROL BASE MAHAWIL, Iraq - Despite the threat of sandstorms and extreme heat, the Multinational Division South command sergeant major visited soldiers to view improved conditions and morale.

MOSUL, Iraq - Chew toys and leashes in hand, Iraqi police dog handlers and their working dogs arrived on Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, to fine-tune their skills.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in Iraq has proposed a tripartite arrangement between American, Iraqi and Kurdish forces to shore up security in disputed areas of northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - America’s men and women in uniform have done their duty and fulfilled every responsibility that’s been asked of them, President Barack Obama said.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - The volunteer efforts of the Quilts of Valor Foundation has blanketed more than 23,000 combat veterans with love and admiration.

WASHINGTON - Terrorists are plotting to attack the United States again, so defeating them is “fundamental to the defense of our people,” President Barack Obama told veterans at the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars convention.

WASHINGTON - The Yellow Ribbon Program is “off and running,” said the program’s deputy executive director, James “Scotty” Scott.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and U.S. forces monitored the release of dozens of detainees and apprehended nine suspects during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials have recognized Perpetual Technologies Inc. for providing exceptional financial and emotional support to employees who deploy as National Guard or Reserve members.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials expressed condolences over the passing of longtime Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon, remembered for his characteristic bow tie and his matter-of-fact style in addressing the press corps.

NOME, Alaska - Army and Air National Guard and Coast Guard medical personnel traveled 6,600 miles to visit three Alaskan communities.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Members of the provincial reconstruction team in Iraq’s Dhi Qar province are building Iraq’s self-sufficiency by teaching fundamental skills to civilians in the province’s new, specialized training facility.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - The Iraqi air force and army hit a milestone Aug. 11 when they established radio communication in an effort aimed at improving collaboration between the two services during operations.

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Maj. Dawud Agbere, an Army chaplain, has found that being an outgoing Muslim from Africa with an easy smile makes him someone soldiers want to talk to.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials at the Pentagon have redesigned the Defense Department Web site to use social networking tools to engage the American public -- particularly 18- to 24-year-olds.

WASHINGTON - Under a personnel rule that takes effect next month, some military spouses could be quickly hired for federal jobs without going through the usual competitive process.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government is contemplating the best way to deliver high-speed wireless Internet capabilities to its citizens, underscoring how much times have changed there.

WASHINGTON - The new virtual lifetime electronic record is slated to help prevent misplaced paperwork and help providers continue to offer quality health care, the acting director of the program said.

WASHINGTON - NATO has approved the idea of an intermediate military headquarters in Afghanistan, Pentagon officials said. It is a corps-level organization that would oversee the tactical, day-to-day operations.

WASHINGTON - Google is tinkering with a new service that could transform the way troops on the frontlines communicate with their families.

WASHINGTON - A National Defense University research project is leveraging talent and resources from within and outside the military to support people in need worldwide.

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Army Staff Sgt. Megan E. Brunty's desire to serve her country led her from waiting tables to an Army career, earning Central Command's NCO of the Year award.

WASHINGTON - AstraZeneca International, which employs about 100 troops, has been selected as one of 15 recipients of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard will add Liberia to its State Partnership Program this year, bringing the number of African nations in the program to eight.

WASHINGTON - The United States must maintain relationships with Pakistan for the long term to build trust between the nations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - The recent sacrifices of coalition servicemembers in southern Afghanistan will allow more Afghans to vote in the national elections next week, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARRY OWEN, Iraq - U.S. soldiers who attended a recent graduation of Iraqi police say they are pleased with their improvements and that training them has been mutually beneficial.

KABUL - Afghan soldiers, aided by NATO toops, captured suspected Taliban fighters in the Sayed Abad district of eastern Afghanistan’s Wardak province.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff used his induction speech at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Hall of Fame this week as a platform for praising the U.S. military’s resilience.

MANAMA, Bahrain - The combined task force of international navies that counter piracy off the coast of Somalia and throughout the Gulf of Aden was returned to U.S. command.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army Spc. Claudy Bellanger's childhood experiences with U.S. troops in Haiti set him on a path that eventually led him to join the Army.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Africa Command is hitting its stride as it works with African nations to confront common security challenges and provide logistics and transportation support to peacekeepers in the region.

WASHINGTON - A 95-year-old Native American veteran who wore sacred tribal symbols with his uniform during World War II was among 16 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department and unmanned systems developers must do a better job fielding unmanned capabilities to troops on the front lines.

WASHINGTON - Senior defense officials are getting a glimpse of the latest in unmanned systems technologies.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Even in the 140-character brevity demanded of a “tweet,” the enthusiasm National Guardsmen have for communicating through Twitter is evident.

WASHINGTON - While building its capabilities from the ground up, Afghanistan’s National Army Air Corps is deeply involved in an operational mission in direct support of the upcoming elections.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are developing a training program to teach military members and civilians to be culturally competent and aware when interacting with people from different lands.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA - U.S. soldiers, airmen and civilians in Basra, Iraq, are taking part in a special opportunity to learn Arabic. A two-week class focuses on language and math.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers have launched an offensive in southern Afghanistan to secure the area for upcoming elections.

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - George McClure enlisted in 1953 and has served the nation 10 years longer than the average age of his co-workers at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa.

WASHINGTON - Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Lawrence’s said support from his employer for the past 25 years made it possible for him to become the Colorado National Guard’s top enlisted soldier.

WASHINGTON - Education in critical foreign languages and cultures is crucial to the U.S. military, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

LINCOLN, Neb. - Two Afghan surgeons general traveled to Nebraska for talks about ways the state's National Guard can help Afghanistan develop its medical infrastructure.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces are prepared to back up Afghan security forces to ensure 17 million registered voters have safe access to the polls, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Recent high-profile attacks against civilians near Mosul, Iraq, reflect al-Qaida in Iraq’s continued desire to incite sectarian strife.

WASHINGTON - The fight against the Taliban and their al-Qaida allies will be long and hard, but they will not win the war in Afghanistan, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces there said.

WASHINGTON - A soldier in the opening scene of “GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” wasn't able to see the film's debut -- he's in Iraq with the 4227th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military officials are crediting Kuwaiti security services with foiling a planned terrorist bombing aimed at a major U.S. logistical hub and staging operation in Kuwait and several other Kuwaiti sites.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - U.S. soldiers took part in a rare celebration of religious and cultural proportions during a Catholic Mass performed by Basra's acting bishop on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Improvements in safety plus $2.5 million in small-business grants to 900 local store owners are revitalizing the area around the Al Askari "Golden" Mosque of Samarra, Iraq, once a thriving open-air market that served thousands annually.

PHILADELPHIA - The Army Experience Center in Philadelphia offers potential recruits, and anyone else curious about the Army, a fun and interactive way to find out about Army life.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - NATO’s International Security Assistance Force is giving voice to residents of a remote area of Afghanistan through a radio station run by one of their own.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - NATO forces working to secure and develop rural areas of Afghanistan's Logar province are finding support from the provincial governor.

WASHINGTON - Ramping up the numbers of Afghan soldiers and police is part of President Barack Obama’s multi-pronged Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy, National Security Advisor James L. Jones said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces are going after terrorists who feed off the drug trade in Afghanistan, a senior Defense Department spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - July was a boom month for military recruiting, with more than 15,000 young men and women entering the active-duty force.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces detained an Iraqi man who attacked a U.S. convoy with a grenade in Iraq’s Kirkuk province.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan - A mother working as a nurse and her son, both soldiers, are serving in Afghanistan and seeing each other more frequently than at home in the United States.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama strode into the Roosevelt Room at the White House uttering apologies for being late as he approached four military journalists to shake their hands and thank them for coming to talk about veterans’ issues.

WASHINGTON - The Senate adjourned without voting to confirm New York Rep. John M. McHugh as Army secretary, but Pete Geren will remain on the job until formally replaced.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military officers have “very great prestige,” and their status is climbing, according to an annual Harris Poll.

WASHINGTON - Scientists are developing flexible braces that could get paralyzed veterans back on their feet and recreate a natural walking motion.

WASHINGTON - An updated Defense Department policy will encourage more managers to adopt telework arrangements for their employees.

WASHINGTON - American Forces Press Service has launched a military blog called “Family Matters” dedicated to helping military families deal with the challenges and situations unique to a military lifestyle.

WASHINGTON - If history is any guide, the new Post-9/11 GI Bill may be the most effective piece of legislation Congress ever has passed.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is shifting the way it selects the civilian companies that move troops and defense civilians to new duty stations by focusing on customer service rather than cost.

WASHINGTON - The commander of one of the largest and most diverse wings in the Air Force highlighted the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing’s contributions to operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in a recent blogger's roundtable.

CAMP CROPPER, Iraq - Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston discussed key concerns and possible solutions with soldiers during a visit to Camp Cropper, Iraq.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The main mission for U.S. soldiers on Forward Operating Base Baylough is to disrupt enemy activities, but they also work to help nearby villages.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army Lt. Col. Mary Cheyne's motto, “Make it happen,” enables her to conduct business every day in Afghanistan with focused determination.

WASHINGTON - A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force’s nuclear deterrence mission will be made with the activation of the service’s Global Strike Command.

WASHINGTON - As the military ramps up its program to identify health problems from "burn pit" smoke exposure, President Barack Obama pledged to see that troops are protected and treated.

WASHINGTON - The global financial crisis and other challenges facing the world today are the most daunting and complex in his lifetime, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a student leadership group.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi soldiers and police serving in the southern part of their country are performing the lion’s share of security duties.

WASHINGTON - As Pentagon officials weigh the benefits and risks of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, they hope to craft a policy that shores up security vulnerabilities without requiring a ban.

HILLAH, Iraq - Iraqi nurses recently completed a four-day day medical symposium on infection control and patient assessments led by U.S. soldiers.

CHICAGO - The Army Reserve and National Guard signed partnership agreements with dozens of Chicago and Illinois state employers to enhance job opportunities for soldiers and veterans.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A new warfighting tool enables soldiers to acquire and engage targets from the safety of their armored vehicle.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi police from the Basra special weapons and tactics team, along with U.S. advisors, arrested a suspected terrorist commander in an Iraqi-led operation.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Infantry soldiers in Zabul province take turns going on missions and maintaining their small base.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Iraqi women discussed opportunities in business development and contracting with U.S. soldiers and contractors.

BAGHDAD - The Army teaches soldiers to leave a place better than they found it. One soldier has applied this adage to the Multinational Division Baghdad area of operations by thinking “green.”

WASHINGTON - If more resources are required after the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan assesses the situation there, a separate process would follow, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Ruggiero’s heroic actions saved lives and earned him the first Purple Heart awarded to a Coast Guardsman since the Vietnam War.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Women now make up 15 percent of the Army and have expanded their footprint in the U.S. military.

WASHINGTON - The days of the Department of Veterans Affairs waiting passively for veterans leaving the military to seek benefits and services are over, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - It is crucial that U.S., NATO and Afghan forces make progress in Afghanistan in the next 12 to 18 months, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he hopes increasing the size of the force will help reduce incidents of post-traumatic stress disorder.

WASHINGTON - Officials from a transition command are creating a unified, sustainable medical service in Iraq.

HILLAH, Iraq - A medical symposium at Babil Maternity Hospital in Iraq’s Babil province highlighted the differences between Iraqi and American nurses.

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan forward observers, fire control personnel and artillerymen conducted live-fire exercises, following training from U.S. Marines.

BAGHDAD - The engineering arm of a transition command in Iraq and Army engineers are using alternative energy systems at Iraqi border checkpoints.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - A military police soldier inspired by his career-soldier grandfather also credits his wife and his drill instructor for his many accomplishments.

WASHINGTON - In ongoing discussions about health-care reform, President Barack Obama offered assurance to those receiving medical care through Tricare or the Department of Veterans Affairs: Your benefits are safe.

WASHINGTON - As the administration works with Congress to shore up gaps in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, President Barack Obama said he wants to be inclusive in extending those entitlements.

WASHINGTON - Insurgent activity across the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders has declined as a result of complementary operations by the two countries and coalition forces in the region.

WASHINGTON - Adding more troops in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province, one of the country's poorest areas, has expanded security efforts, making it safer for roughly 80 percent of the people there.

WASHINGTON - Department of Defense Education Activity officials are reminding parents to review their children’s immunization records to ensure they’re up to date by the first day of the school year.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department review is weighing the benefits of social networking and other Web 2.0 platforms against potential security vulnerabilities they create.

WASHINGTON - Tricare is enhancing its programs and services as part of an ongoing commitment to provide quality health care for military families, the new deputy director of Tricare Management Activity said.

FORT JACKSON, S.C. - Army Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King will serve as the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School's next commandant and hopes her selection will encourage other women.

WASHINGTON - Commands exploring the best way to get involved in social media might want to consider the experience of U.S. Southern Command, the first combatant command to embrace these new communication forms.

BAGHDAD - In an effort toward "national unity government," the Iraqi National Police have undergone a name change.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghan National Police and U.S. military police assigned to Task Force Mountain Warrior conducted training to boost security for Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential election.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made an unannounced trip to Belgium to get an update from commanders in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama saluted the implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill during a ceremony at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

WASHINGTON - Scientists are using virtual online worlds to improve the flow of information and support to servicemembers returning from deployments.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan and U.S. forces completed an operation aimed at improving security for Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential election.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq - Soldiers assigned to the 29th Field Artillery Regiment's Company A, 2nd Battalion have been learning new skills and taking on new challenges as they adapt to a different mission in Iraq.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Two medics are using their medical skills to help fellow soldiers and aid local Afghans.

FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. - A soldier from Fort Monmouth, N.J., has played a key role in improving personal protective equipment.

WASHINGTON - Remains found in Iraq’s Anbar province are those of Navy Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, who was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet during operation Desert Storm.