WASHINGTON - Military fighter jets will be busy this week preparing to protect the skies around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6.

WASHINGTON - For the second straight year, Defense Department employees donated or pledged more than $17 million in the Combined Federal Campaign, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - The situation in Egypt is volatile, but the Egyptian military is focusing on providing a stabilizing influence during this time of crisis, the top U.S. military officer said in a podcast for service members.

WASHINGTON - A nonprofit group is teaching veterans the political ropes such as how to start and finance a campaign, in the hopes of having more elected representatives with military experience.

WASHINGTON - The future of the Defense Department’s reserve component is the topic of a review due this week, a senior defense official said, noting that "ideas about the reserve component have changed very, very significantly.”

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition killed numerous insurgents and detained several others in recent operations throughout Afghanistan, military officials reported.

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Maj. (Dr.) Patrick Smock ran his personal-best time during a 26.2-mile marathon in Afghanistan just hours before his brothers competed in a Miami race.

WASHINGTON - The plan to end the ban on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military is progressing quickly, said senior Defense Department officials in the first of a series of briefings that will chart the department’s progress in repealing of the law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler as the new chief of U.S. Strategic Command during a change-of-command ceremony.

WASHINGTON - The Defense and Energy departments are working under a government-to-government agreement signed with China to establish a regional center of excellence there for nuclear security, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - NATO officials have joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning a suicide-bomb attack that killed several civilians in the country’s capital of Kabul.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Army Chaplain (Maj.) Randal H. Robison joyfully dedicates himself to attending to his soldiers' spiritual needs as they accomplish their missions.

WASHINGTON - Two military families shared their stories – one of perseverance through deployment, one of recovering from a life-changing war injury - with the nation. The families, and the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, appeared along with First Lady Michelle Obama and journalists Tom Brokaw and Bob Woodward on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama pledged her support for military families and praised their courage and “willingness to sacrifice without complaint" during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

OTTAWA, Canada - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Canadian National Defense Minister Peter MacKay discussed a range of bilateral military issues during meetings in Ottawa, Canada.

FORT JACKSON, S.C. - First Lady Michelle Obama visited Fort Jackson, S.C., to learn from Army leaders about how childhood obesity and physical inactivity affects military readiness, and what the Army does to combat these effects.

WASHINGTON - A senior Navy official criticized a major “think tank” for its outlook on the military's development of alternative fuel technologies in part because the report failed to link such advances to national security.

WASHINGTON - A new whole-of-government approach will bring the federal government’s vast reach to help millions of service members and their families, said a senior Defense Department official.

WASHINGTON - A new concussion care program being fielded by the Marine Corps is giving psychiatrists, chaplains and sergeants a better way to treat those with the battle injury.

WASHINGTON - Though various changes may affect how service members handle the nature of war, the stress and anxiety felt by their families never changes, said Deborah Mullen, wife of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Dr. Jill Biden invited the fiancée of an Army Guardsman to a White House event to unveil a whole-of-government plan to strengthen military family support.

WASHINGTON - A coalition airstrike targeting a Taliban leader killed two suspected insurgents in Afghanistan’s Zabul province’s Tarnek wa Jaldak district.

OTTAWA, Canada - Civilian and military officials in the Defense Department are in agreement on the budget, and that bodes well for real fiscal change, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Ottawa, Canada.

OTTAWA, Canada - The failure of Congress so far to pass the fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill has become “the crisis on my doorstep,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Most spouses of active duty military members endure the hardship of separation during a deployment, but one couple is serving together in the same overseas unit.

BETHESDA, Md. - The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress offers help to couples that experience intimacy issues when troops return home from deployments.

WASHINGTON - While the jury is still out on China’s apparent fifth-generation J-20 stealth aircraft, China’s capabilities and North Korea’s recent provocations make the question of U.S. force presence in the region an important one.

WASHINGTON - Collaboration is at the heart of the government’s new military family support directive and is the key to supporting service members and their families in the months and years ahead, a Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - The first briefing on the Defense Department’s progress in implementing a repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is coming soon, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are closely watching protests that have flared over recent days in Egypt and Lebanon, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has arrived in Ottawa, Canada, to meet with Defense Minister Peter MacKay to discuss U.S.-Canada defense issues and areas of cooperation, including mutual efforts in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Pirates off the coast of Somalia are using bigger vessels to extend their reach in a move that could prompt U.S. Navy forces to intensify techniques for pursuing them.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s plans to cut $78 billion from its budget over five years and find more than $100 billion in savings for reinvestment was a collaborative effort, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

WASHINGTON - NATO troops in southern Afghanistan killed or wounded several insurgents during recent operations.

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Iowa Army Guardsman 1st Lt. Gerry Holloway is using his experience as a former noncommissioned officer to develop mission plans and lead soldiers in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - In his latest blog post, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praises the new whole-of-government approach to supporting military families.

WASHINGTON - In a State of the Union address marked by a call for renewed American innovation and cooperation, President Barack Obama pointed to the nation’s military as an example to follow.

WASHINGTON - Leaders from the top echelons of the Defense Department and other government agencies expressed support for a groundbreaking new effort to support and strengthen military families.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Members of Congress from both parties say the Defense Department has cut too much, or too little from the defense budget - a sign that efficiencies efforts are on target, said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Cyber threats have increased in numbers and sophistication and while NATO’s thinking has evolved since a massive denial-of-service attack on Estonia in 2007, there is more work to be done, said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III.

WASHINGTON - A system is in the works that will strengthen the ability of military services to contribute to civilian-led disaster response in the Western Hemisphere.

WASHINGTON - While progress remains fragile in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, a civilian-military partnership is helping people there make strides in several areas including governance and education, said a senior British official involved in the effort.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - NATO is moving ahead with plans to protect its cyberspace domain, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said in Brussels, Belgium, during a trip to discuss cybersecurity issues with leaders.

WASHINGTON - Continued hard work will produce sustained progress against insurgents in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, said in a letter to his troops.

WASHINGTON - NATO troops killed several Afghan insurgents and found caches during separate clearing operations in the southern and eastern regions of the country.

PINEVILLE, La. - U.S. Army Spc. Alejandro Zuniga of the Louisiana National Guard lost 100 pounds en route to scoring 401 points on his most recent physical fitness test.

WASHINGTON - Military health care has helped troop survival, recovery and rehabilitation, but providers, patients, families and leaders must keep investing their efforts, Defense Department officials said.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, called the government’s new military family support effort an “important next step” in the support of troops and their families.

WASHINGTON - Improving the quality of life for military families is a priority, President Barack Obama said in announcing new programs to help support families coping with a broad range of issues, from mental health to their financial well-being.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III spent the day in Brussels, Belgium, meeting with NATO and U.S. leaders at the alliance headquarters there to discuss the way forward in cybersecurity.

WASHINGTON - A coalition airstrike in the Pol-e Alam district of Logar province killed a Taliban logistics leader, and forces detained a Taliban leader responsible for suicide attacks in Kandahar province.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama released the results of a review of military family support that unveils a governmentwide approach to providing better support and an interagency effort to strengthen families.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - People say it’s not what life throws at you, but how you handle it that determines your character. For U.S. Army Spc. Diego Medina, that’s the story of his life.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III has traveled to Belgium to meet with NATO and European Union officials and strengthen cyberdefense capabilities.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - In January 1981, the U.S. Military Academy served as a historic waypoint when the nation cheered the return of a group of Americans taken hostage from the U.S. embassy in Iran. Thirty years later, West Point has welcomed them back for a reunion and to share their insights.

WASHINGTON - Military members must hold themselves to the highest professional and ethical standards to maintain the relationship of trust with the public they represent and protect, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Federal Voting Assistance Program officials will use winning entries from slogan and poster contests to encourage absentee voting in U.S. elections by troops, their families and other citizens living overseas.

WASHINGTON - Upgrades to the TRICARE military health plan’s website are giving beneficiaries easier access to their data, more convenient appointment scheduling and better communication with their providers.

WASHINGTON - Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa has joined the efforts of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in building support for the realignment of U.S. forces based in Japan.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan child was killed and 12 other Afghans were wounded in insurgent roadside-bomb attacks in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Joining the Marine Corps wasn't a career choice for Gunnery Sgt. William Abernathy, but rather a decision to fulfill a belief that all Americans should serve their nation.

WASHINGTON - The American Red Cross is continuing its support of military families by offering ongoing comfort, support, emergency communication services and immediate financial aid.

WASHINGTON - An upcoming Defense Department summit will focus on ensuring that the military has enough people fluent in critical languages, a department official said

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate ratified the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, yet more work lies ahead to advance the nation’s nuclear security, a State Department official said.

WASHINGTON - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he’s looking forward to moving ahead during the first half of 2011 on missile defense cooperation with Russia.

WASHINGTON - A spate of bombing attacks are killing and wounding civilians following weeks of relative calm in the country, said a Defense Department spokesman.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - Mobility airmen supporting operations in Afghanistan have airdropped 60.4 million pounds of cargo throughout the country, setting a record in 2010.

WASHINGTON - Three Afghan civilians were killed by an insurgent attack in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province as Afghan and international forces increased efforts to squelch enemy fighters, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Command and its staff have received top billing from a History Channel program that studies their task of packing and shipping every single item the U.S. military needs to keep operating.

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Spc. Steven Starkey and his son, Army Pfc. Andrew Starkey, are from Iowa. But the word “home” now represents a five-minute walk up a hill.

WASHINGTON - The year ahead presents broad opportunities for U.S. Africa Command to contribute to the stability in support of vital U.S. national interests in Africa, said Army Gen. William E. “Kip” Ward, the organization’s commander.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - U.S. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, said he is confident the transition process to increase Afghan-led missions over the next three years will be successful.

WASHINGTON - Suicides among active-duty soldiers dropped last year to 156 confirmed deaths, from 162 in 2009, the Army vice chief of staff said.

WASHINGTON - The United States and China have affirmed that a healthy, stable and reliable military-to-military relationship is an essential part of a shared vision for a positive U.S.-China relationship, President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a joint statement.

WASHINGTON - More than three decades after the war’s end, the Defense Department has begun a project to pay tribute to the nation’s Vietnam War veterans.

WASHINGTON - When a devastating tornado struck Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., New Year’s Eve day, the Army Claims Service moved into overdrive to help residents of 159 housing quarters that were damaged or destroyed.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is using the Second Life virtual world to reach out to warriors with post-traumatic stress who are reluctant to deal with the condition and may be socially isolated.

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Leaders implementing the federal government’s new consumer protection agency have met with Joint Base San Antonio service members to discuss the unique financial issues facing military families.

WASHINGTON - A NATO spokesman joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning the killing of more than a dozen civilians in a roadside-bomb attack.

ARABIAN GULF - Sailors like Petty Officer 2nd Class Harlan Jones who wear a rating badge with a crossed quill and key provide a multitude of services to the crew of USS Ponce.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces have removed dozens of insurgents from the fight across broad sections of Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Minnesota National Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program has established 45 troop and family support networks across the state that assist troops and their families before, during and after deployment.

WASHINGTON - A commission of military officers and civilians plans to recommend lifting the ban on allowing women in combat while also ensuring that Defense Department policies promote equal opportunity.

BAGHDAD - U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and his spouse, Staff Sgt. Tanoka Johnson, are deploying together and can offer moral support to each other while overseas.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff recalled diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke as "the ultimate discoverer," who used his wartime experiences to shape his passion for international relations.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised the life and contributions of veteran U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke calling him the leading light of a generation of American diplomats whose work improved thousands of lives.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan gave him a chance to spotlight deployed U.S. forces and civilian workers.

WASHINGTON - Three Air Force Reserve Command units are focusing their efforts to hunt hurricanes, combat natural disasters and protect troops from airborne diseases.

WASHINGTON - Forces continue to remove the insurgent leadership in southern Afghanistan, where they detained suspects in both the Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ recent trip to China advanced U.S. relations there, continuing the groundwork laid by Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

WASHINGTON - A new TRICARE program will allow qualified, unmarried military children to buy health care coverage under their parents’ health insurance plans through age 26.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will review the forthcoming report of a congressional commission created to offer recommendations on how to improve diversity within the armed forces.

WASHINGTON - A week after President Barack Obama officially authorized Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to dissolve U.S. Joint Forces Command, the command’s staff is coming up with the best way to do it without compromising critical capabilities.

WASHINGTON - Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Diane Singh will compete in the amateur figure bodybuilding competition at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with South Korean leaders to demonstrate U.S. solidarity against North Korean provocations, saying "we are all concerned about the tense situation on the peninsula."

TOKYO - The U.S.-Japan defense pact has demonstrated its value over the past 50 years, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told students at Keio University in Tokyo.

TOKYO - The U.S.-Japan alliance, negotiated and signed during the height of the Cold War, may be even more important today, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the students of Keio University in Tokyo.

WASHINGTON - As the National Security Personnel System fades into history, the Defense Department is exploring new modifications to the personnel system, said a DOD official.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces and their civilian counterparts in southern Afghanistan are focused on extending gains in the area before a likely spring offensive by the Taliban, said U.S. officials.

WASHINGTON - A year ago, the crew of the USS Gunston Hall was providing relief services in Haiti after a devastating earthquake struck the nation.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s transfer of more than 170,000 civilian employees out of the National Security Personnel System since 2009 has been smooth, said the director of the transition.

DORAL, Fla. - Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, commander of U.S. Southern Command, praised the hard work and dedication exhibited by his troops when they responded to last year's devastating earthquake in Haiti.

WASHINGTON - After a six-year hiatus, the Air National Guard is back in the critical care air transport team business and plans to enlist the help of 18 teams from 17 states.

WASHINGTON - After meeting in Iraq with its new governmental leaders and U.S. officials, Vice President Joe Biden pledged the United States will draw down its Iraq-deployed forces in a way that preserves their achievements and honors their sacrifices.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces continued to target Taliban and Haqqani terrorist network operatives in operations conducted around Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military has contributed to the struggle for equality, helping embody the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said at Pentagon ceremony honoring the civil rights leader.

WASHINGTON - Five Department of Defense Education Activity teachers deployed to Afghanistan to provide English instruction to Afghan security forces and other personnel.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Army Sgt. Toby Hall's experiences as a rough-and-tumble rodeo cowboy didn't inspire him to join the military -- but rodeo patriotic ceremonies did.

TOKYO - The danger of escalation of force by North Korea still exists and the United States, Japan, China and South Korea must work together to ensure stability and peace on the Korean peninsula, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Tokyo.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama honored the memory of the 250,000 Haitian people who died in a massive earthquake a year ago, and highlighted relief and recovery efforts.

WASHINGTON - Building a strong U.S.-China relationship is important from a national security strategy perspective, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a briefing at the Foreign Press Center here.

WASHINGTON - America’s national security strategy remains focused on countering terrorism in Afghanistan and the region, and the plan's implementation remains on track, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - A medical home team concept is aiming to create a consistent, long-term relationship between patients and a provider team while controlling costs.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several Taliban leaders and other insurgents in operations in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - All active services met or exceeded their recruiting and retention goals for the fiscal year through December, Defense Department officials said.

RAPID CITY, S.D. - A retired South Dakota National Guard officer was one of the bystanders who subdued the gunman who allegedly killed six people and shot U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 8.

DALLAS - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. welcomed the flight carrying the millionth service member to come home from the combat theater for rest and recuperation leave.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for discussions White House officials said are focused on U.S. relations with that country and joint efforts toward regional peace and stability.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has arrived in Tokyo where he will meet with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and other senior leaders.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Army Spc. Carlos Mendez, an OH-58D Kiowa helicopter crew chief, said he joined the military to selflessly serve his country.

MUTIANYU, China - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the discussions he had with Chinese officials will take the military-to-military relationship between the two countries to the next level.

WASHINGTON - At least 337 National Guard members have been activated in support of relief operations for the winter storm that has blanketed most of the Southeast.

WASHINGTON - Speaking at a National Defense University conference, two retired generals stressed the value of moral courage and the need for candor in advising senior leaders.

WASHINGTON - Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force Joint Command today confirmed the identity of two Taliban leaders killed recently in Afghanistan.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Last year, Alexander Archer was a college student enjoying his chemistry studies. Today, he is headed to Iraq with his California Army National Guard unit.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and local leaders as he continued what White House officials have described as a visit to assess progress and reinforce the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan.

BEIJING - If it continues on its current path, North Korea could become a direct threat to the United States in five years or less, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said after meeting with Chinese officials.

BEIJING - U.S. arms sales to Taiwan may evolve into a less of a hot-button issue for future U.S.-China relations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a roundtable discussion with reporters in Beijing.

BEIJING - The United States and China should engage in a strategic dialogue focusing on four areas: nuclear, missile defense, space and cyber, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during his visit to Beijing.

WASHINGTON - As a winter storm rolls through the southern United States, some governors have placed their National Guard units on state active duty.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition killed at least 15 insurgents and detained numerous others in operations throughout southern and eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - As the military enjoys support from Americans, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said now is the time to step back, assess the impact of 10 years of war and ensure the institution remains on course.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Afghanistan for a previously unannounced visit that White House officials said is designed to assess progress and reinforce U.S. commitment there.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department civilian employees affected by the federal pay freeze for 2011 and 2012 will still have the opportunity to receive performance awards, promotions and normal longevity increases.

LATHAM, N.Y. - Justin Olsen earned a gold medal for the United States in the Winter Olympics last year. Now he’s in the New York Army National Guard, serving his country another way.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed the fiscal 2011 defense authorization act into law Jan. 7. The act governs various department activities.

BEIJING - The meetings held between Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese officials are one step toward strengthening the military-to-military relationship between the United States and China, officials said.

BEIJING - The United States and China are powers that need to cooperate and should have strong, reliable military-to-military contacts between them, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a news conference with the nation's minister of defense.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) for her support of the military and wished for her full recovery after she was critically wounded by a gunman during a Tucson, Ariz., shooting rampage.

WASHINGTON - The United States is pursuing a strategy that aims to foster stability and good, cooperative relationships with nations on the African continent, said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is traveling to China, where he will seek to expand the military-to-military relationship and continue a strategic dialogue between the U.S. and the Asian nation.

WASHINGTON - The United States and China have restored military ties, giving Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates the chance to discuss substantive issues with his Chinese counterparts next week, said senior defense officials.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents and found weapon stockpiles in recent operations throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The wife of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus hopes to reach out to service members as she leads up efforts to create the Office of Servicemember Affairs.

WASHINGTON - As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presses for a modest increase in health plan premiums for working-age military retirees, the head of the TRICARE Management Activity reported progress already made in improving efficiencies as well as the quality of health care services.

WASHINGTON - Though Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates seeks modest premium increases for working-age military retirees who use the TRICARE Prime health plan, the benefit will remain free to service members.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates described the Pentagon’s three-step process for preparing to allow gays to serve openly in the military services, and said the goal is to "move as quickly, but as responsibly, as possible."

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama issued an official memorandum authorizing Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to dissolve U.S. Joint Forces Command while reassigning its missions to other organizations.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Afghanistan-deployed Army Spc. Brian Stowe is an accomplished musician who's set to cut a record as part of a recording contract when he returns stateside.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ official visit to China next week is designed to lay the foundation for a lasting military-to-military relationship between the two nations, said a senior Defense Department official.

WASHINGTON - About 1,400 service members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will deploy, with infantry, aviation and logistics assets, to southwestern Afghanistan, said U.S. Central Command officials.

WASHINGTON - Connecting scientists to elementary and high school students worldwide was one of many accomplishments during last year’s Operation Deep Freeze, the military’s support of National Science Foundation research in Antarctica.

WASHINGTON - Budget pressures that have proven greater than anticipated mean the Defense Department will trim end strength in its ground forces beginning in four years, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will reduce its senior ranks and freeze civilian staffing levels, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

WASHINGTON - The members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are fully behind Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ proposed efficiencies for the military, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the nation’s top military officer.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey as the next Army chief of staff, replacing retiring Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has found $154 billion in efficiencies over the next five years and will be able to invest $70 billion of that saved money in more deserving accounts, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents and detained several others in recent operations throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The wife of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, will head up an office devoted to strengthening consumer financial protection for service members and their families.

WASHINGTON - A study has linked the issues some troops face with depression, irritability and alcohol abuse after a brain injury to a form of post-traumatic stress.

WASHINGTON - Though China has demonstrated its ability to field advanced military prototypes speedily, how soon it can put those capabilities to use remains a key question, the Navy’s intelligence chief said.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Burkhart spent his youth working on four-wheelers and trucks. Today, he's repairing every type of vehicle in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - “Information as warfare” requires operational commanders to employ intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to dominate the information realm even as they direct combat actions, said the Navy’s senior intelligence officer.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops and Afghan security forces serving in eastern Afghanistan are displacing the Taliban while making room for economic growth and governance, a task force commander serving in the area said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents and detained many others in recent operations throughout Afghanistan.

BETHESDA, Md. - A Fisher House Foundation-sponsored program will offer airline tickets so that families needing assistance can participate in the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors seminar and the Warrior Games.

WASHINGTON - Nominations are being accepted for the 2011 Military Child of the Year Award, which honors an outstanding military child from each branch of service.

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Pfc. Bruce S. Simms left the high-paying investment world to serve his country while atoning for the behavior of his wayward father.

WASHINGTON - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen released his guidance for 2011 that charts his plans to move forward in America’s wars, improve the health of the force and balance global risks.

BETHESDA, Md. - The Fisher House Foundation isn’t basking in past achievements as it prepares to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the opening of its first home on the grounds of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON - A Navy captain whose shipboard videos have made headlines since they surfaced in the media has been relieved of command of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise for demonstrating poor judgment, a senior Navy officer announced.

WASHINGTON - Cooperation among troops and the reintegration into society of a growing number of war-weary insurgents are adding to success in northern Afghanistan, the commander of Regional Command North said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgents and detained several others while searching for a Taliban leader in the Kunduz province.

WASHINGTON - A Navy program is equipping troops and their families with the skills needed to weather the psychological and physical challenges bred by war.

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Clinton W. Walker has spent the last 20 years balancing his career as an active-duty Marine with his love for music.

WASHINGTON - Four civilians were killed and at least eight others seriously wounded in two insurgent attacks over several days as Afghan and coalition troops targeted insurgent leaders in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A suicide prevention task force for troops and veterans has been added to a national alliance that officials hope will help bring more attention to the issues and offer solutions in the future.

WASHINGTON - America's toughest problems are solved by great leaders, and it is important for the mililtary to continue to develop and encourage such leaders, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a CNN interview.

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - With health, safety, conservation and morale at the heart of her mission, Janice Ellis, a U.S. Air Force landscape architect, strives to help things bloom on every front.

WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano paid a New Year’s visit to Afghanistan, where she focused on efforts to shore up security along the Afghan-Pakistan border to disrupt the flow of terrorists and the materials to support their operations.