WASHINGTON - Air Force Secretary Michael Donley thanked airmen for their service during holiday visits to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., and Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

NEW YORK - As revelers head for Times Square to welcome 2011, members of the New York National Guard will be on duty to ensure that the holiday is safe and secure.

WASHINGTON - The countdown to the new year is on, and with it, a ban on smoking below decks aboard Navy submarines. Navy officials announced the new rule April 8, to take effect Navy-wide when the clock strikes midnight Dec. 31.

WASHINGTON - NATO International Security Assistance Force leaders condemned an improvised-explosive-device attack by insurgents in Afghanistan's Helmand province that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians.

WASHINGTON - With defense leaders emphasizing the importance of language and cultural training to support military operations worldwide, the Defense Language Institute has stood up a new detachment in Germany to provide follow-on sustainment training for military linguists based in Europe.

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Air Force Capt. Sylvia Kim employs her fluency in the French language to communicate with U.S. partners in eastern Africa.

WASHINGTON - A NATO patrol that came under small-arms fire in the Helmand province called in an airstrike that killed one insurgent and derailed the enemy attack.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - After nearly 25 years of Army service, illustrator and artist Master Sgt. Martin Cervantez believes his decision to join the military remains the best of his career.

WASHINGTON - The sights of children going to school or flying kites - forbidden under Taliban rule - are subtle signs of measurable progress in Afghanistan’s Khost and Paktia provinces, said Army Col. Viet Luong, commander of the American task force in the area.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard has issued its Top 10 list of the most memorable missions and events of 2010, ranging from Pakistan flood relief efforts to oil spill clean-up in the Gulf Coast states.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured a Haqqani network leader during a security operation conducted in Khost province.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - A Marine who at first barely qualified on the rifle range in boot camp will compete in an international shooting competition next year.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to China next month to meet with his counterpart and other defense and political leaders to confirm recent progress in military relations. He'll also stop in Japan and South Korea to discuss security.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Each year, more than a million people successfully quit tobacco, and the Defense Department wants more military members included in that number in 2011.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - If the landmarks at the U.S. Air Force Academy could speak, the B-52 Stratofortress bomber sitting near the academy’s north gate would have quite a Vietnam War story to tell.

WASHINGTON - More than 400 National Guard members have been activated in response to an East Coast winter storm that left as much as 2 feet of snow in some areas and prompted six governors to activate their local Guards.

WASHINGTON - NATO’s International Security Assistance Force joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning an insurgent suicide attack that killed at least one civilian in Kandahar City.

WASHINGTON - Military leaders and troops alike need more time at home between deployments to help diagnose and receive treatment for the "invisible" wounds of war such as posttraumatic stress, a senior Army officer said.

WASHINGTON - The deadline for eligible servicemembers, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been extended to March 4, Defense Department officials announced.

BALTIMORE - Christmas came early as more than 300 servicemembers arrived in Baltimore, Md., on special flights from deployments to get them home in time for the holidays.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed numerous insurgent fighters and seized weapons caches in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Dedie Davis, an Army spouse, has turned past misfortune into a passion for helping homeless veterans and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

WASHINGTON - MTV’s college network bypassed a plethora of pop, rock and movie stars to name Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates as its inaugural Man of the Year, calling him a “true role model."

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers on overseas deployments during the holidays make the most of it with the support of family and other caring Americans.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama thanked legislators for overcoming partisan differences in approving the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and in repealing the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

WASHINGTON - In a 71-26 vote, the U.S. Senate today ratified the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, a pact to level the arms playing field between the United States and Russia.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents and found weapons in operations today throughout southern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Army Spc. Joshua R. Wood's soft, southern drawl and calm demeanor belies his hard-hitting job as a mortarman attacking the enemy in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush Mountains.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends his personal holiday greetings to troops worldwide.

WASHINGTON - A jubilant audience greeted President Barack Obama as he signed the act that, when implemented, will allow gay Americans to serve openly in the nation’s military for the first time.

WASHINGTON - American officials praised Iraqi leaders for the formation of an inclusive, broad-based government in Baghdad.

OBSERVATION POST MACE, Afghanistan - The Afghan National Army has assumed control of Observation Post Mace in the Kunar province.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama officially overturned the law he said required gay servicemembers to serve in secrecy and isolation, and said military policies will change quickly to catch up to the new law.

WASHINGTON - After seven months of debate and more than 20 hearings on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and Russia, the full Senate has agreed to proceed to a final vote.

WASHINGTON - In 2010, Defense.gov published nearly 3,000 stories ranging from Tricare health care benefits to the status of gays serving openly in the military to the Defense Department budget. The top 10 stories most viewed on Defense.gov may surprise you.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces destroyed a Taliban bomb-making center in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Building a professional, independent and capable air force to keep Afghanistan secure is well on its way to completion by 2014, a NATO commander said from Kabul.

WASHINGTON - Neither the United States nor NATO forces are planning to conduct ground operations in Pakistan, Pentagon and International Security Assistance Force officials said.

WASHINGTON - Families are facing the holidays without a deployed loved one, while upholding traditions or creating new ones, and working to keep spirits high.

FORT McPHERSON, Ga. - Seymour S. Lavine enlisted in the U.S. Army to do his part to end World War II. Nearly 69 years later, he collected a Bronze Star for his heroic actions in the South Pacific.

WASHINGTON - Veterans of the 101st Airborne Division are making a big difference in the lives of wounded warriors and their families through the outreach efforts of the division and regimental associations.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will “move out carefully, deliberately and purposefully” to implement the repeal of the ”don’t ask, don’t tell law,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Self-proclaimed “technogeeks” at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are working to develop new computer systems that resist cyberattacks, learn from the attack and perform self-repair.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed and detained several insurgents after two air strikes were conducted in the Helmand and Kunar provinces.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Pfc. Jasmine Irving, of U.S. Army Alaska, has spent much of December collecting items to benefit families in need in Anchorage, Alaska.

DORAL, Fla. - The U.S. Southern Command opened its new $402 million headquarters outside Miami in an event that underscored the United States’ ongoing partnership with Latin America and marked a new phase of the command’s history in South Florida.

WASHINGTON - “We are making progress on all fronts” in Afghanistan, although “more in some areas than others,” and remain on track to begin the U.S. troop drawdown in July, Vice President Joe Biden said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama used his weekly address to call on Congress to ratify the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty before recessing for the holiday, warning of the consequences of delays in moving forward on “an urgent national priority.”

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed the Senate’s vote to repeal the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, while emphasizing that the current law and policy will remain in effect until they and President Barack Obama certify the plan to implement it.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama hailed the Senate’s vote to repeal the law that banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military and expressed confidence the Defense Department can institute the new policy while maintaining military strength and readiness.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama expressed disappointment that the Senate blocked a bill that would have granted a path to citizenship for certain immigrants who serve in the military, but vowed to continue pressing for its passage.

MANAMA, Bahrain - Regional security issues and strengthening the U.S.-Bahraini alliance were on the table during a meeting between Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. - First Lady Michelle Obama joined military and civilian volunteers at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in the nation's capital to sort gifts for the Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” program.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department is on its way to eliminating its claims-processing backlog within four years, said its chief of staff.

WASHINGTON - A partnered Afghan and NATO patrol killed several insurgents during an operation targeting two Taliban leaders in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

BETHESDA, Md. - The National Intrepid Center of Excellence offers a new level of care for warriors suffering from traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is preparing for passage of a law that overturns the ban on gays serving openly in the military, said a Pentagon spokesman.

WASHINGTON - U.S. trainers and observers will be present for South Korean live-fire artillery drills planned to begin Dec. 17 and to continue until Dec. 21, said Defense Department officials.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy is yielding results that are “trending in the right direction,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell during an MSNBC television interview.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Army Sgt. 1st Class Rogelio Fulinara recently returned to Fort Hood, Texas, from Afghanistan, where he helped train and mentor Afghan soldiers so they could reach their full potential.

WASHINGTON - An online event is challenging computer aficionados to develop tools that crimefighters can employ to gather legal evidence found in computers and on digital storage media.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The coalition now has the right strategy backed by the right resources to succeed in Afghanistan, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

KABUL, Afghanistan - All aspects of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan have contributed to significant progress there over the past six months, said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. and coalition forces.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said he’s pleased with Congress's vote to expand the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that took effect last year.

WASHINGTON - The relationship with Pakistan is central to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, where coalition troops will continue to focus on al-Qaida safe havens along the countries’ shared border, said Michele Flournoy, the Pentagon’s top policy official.

WASHINGTON - As part of the training effort, NATO forces are teaching 146,000 Afghan soldiers and 115,000 police how to procure the equipment they need to buy.

WASHINGTON - Warriors will get an unprecedented capability to track and monitor activity on the ground with the deployment of a new ultra-high-resolution camera.

WASHINGTON - The new U.S.-Russian strategic arms reduction treaty “in no way limits” U.S. plans for missile defense or modernizing its nuclear arsenal, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. annual review on Afghanistan and Pakistan demonstrates that the strategy driving the mission is sound, and with the resources in place to accomplish it, is making progress, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, got the clear and unvarnished truth about conditions in some of the toughest areas in Afghanistan when he visited troops.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan is showing significant signs of progress in halting Taliban momentum in Afghanistan and dismantling al-Qaida operations in the region, President Barack Obama said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition goals in Afghanistan are attainable, but whether achievements can be sustained long-term depends on the growth of Afghan security forces, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Results achieved by U.S. troops “surged” to Afghanistan beginning last summer have been greater than expected, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed and detained several insurgents in operations throughout eastern and southern Afghanistan, military officials reported.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The Afghanistan-Pakistan review validates what servicemembers have been doing throughout the theater, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said.

WASHINGTON - Joint U.S.-South Korean exercises are sending an unmistakable message to North Korea that its provocations won’t be tolerated, the top U.S. general in South Korea said.

WASHINGTON - The Afghanistan and Pakistan Annual Review, released today, offers a national security staff-led assessment of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Korean War veterans attended a commemoration of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, which featured a viewing of the documentary “Chosin” followed by a panel discussion on the film.

SALT LAKE CITY - Whether on television or handling his daily public affairs duties, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Sterling Poulson is always ready to provide the upcoming weather forecast.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Barack Obama applauded the House of Representatives vote to repeal the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, and urged the Senate to follow suit before its session ends.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has urged Congress to approve an omnibus appropriation bill rather than requiring the Defense Department to operate under a year-long continuing resolution.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Marine Corps has returned to its amphibious roots with exercise Bold Alligator 2011, an operation with the Navy's U.S. 2nd Fleet that re-establishes Marines in their traditional role as "fighters from the sea."

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed and detained several insurgents and found a number of weapons stockpiles in southern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Top scientists and technologists are working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to give arms and hands back to warriors who lose them in battle.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers stationed from Antarctica to Afghanistan lent their talents and time to craft a video for a poem titled “’Twas a Night in December,” based on Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” but rewritten with a military twist.

WASHINGTON - Alexander Vershbow, a senior U.S. Defense Department official, has been named the next deputy secretary general of NATO.

WASHINGTON - With Afghan forces leading operations in and around the spiritual home of the Taliban in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, a new Afghan-led model is emerging for the region, a senior U.S. officer said.

WASHINGTON - Recruitment and retention remained high throughout the services for the first two months of the fiscal year, with only the Air National Guard missing its accessions goal, departmental officials said.

WASHINGTON - Sexual harassment and assault cases at the service academies are up from last year, but officials say it could be due to more education and training.

WASHINGTON - Spiritual fitness can help troops and their families deal with stressors, whether they’re facing combat, dealing with health issues or just managing life.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Terrain and population make the fight against extremists in eastern Afghanistan different from conflicts in other parts of the country, the commander of NATO’s Regional Command East said.

WASHINGTON - Most military housing allowance rates will decrease slightly for 2011, but servicemembers will receive, on average, as much or slightly more money than they did this year.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The United States wants Pakistan to do more to end terrorist sanctuaries in North Waziristan, a defense official said.

WASHINGTON - A suspicious package resulted in the closure of the Pentagon station entrance of the Metro rapid-transit system for more than an hour while security officers investigated the threat.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - U.S. surge troops only reached Afghanistan last month, but they already are achieving successes, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pakistani reporters.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The death of Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke will be felt in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pakistani media.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed more than 10 Taliban fighters during an operation in the Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he mourns the death of U.S. Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, who was the special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Gates praised Holbrooke's "uncommon passion, energy, tenacity and intellect."

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is in Pakistan to meet with senior Pakistani military leaders to discuss a variety of issues, including the defining of mutual interests and objectives.

WASHINGTON - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and a military mom, works unceasingly from the comfort of her home or overseas in rocky terrain and boiling temperatures to support programs that assist troops and their families.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army 1st Sgt. Mark D. Heyliger is a paratrooper following the footsteps of his grandfather, Frederick “Moose” Heyliger, one of the "Band of Brothers" from World War II.

FORT POLK, La. - Soldiers on Fort Polk, La., are among the first to try a new workout under the U.S. Army's physical readiness training program, which is changing to better prepare warriors for combat situations.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met at the Pentagon to continue discussions on a range of bilateral and regional security issues, including the Iranian threat.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces disrupted a Taliban plot to carry out suicide bombings in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Pouring rain didn’t dampen the holiday spirit as thousands of paratroopers descended over Fort Bragg, N.C., kicking off the world’s largest combined airborne operation while ensuring Santa doesn’t overlook a single needy child.

BAGHDAD - In a meeting with Iraq's prime minister, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stressed that now is the time for the United States and Iraq to plan for a normal, long-term military-to-military relationship.

BAGHDAD - On a day-to-day basis, it is the Iraqi security forces who are maintaining the current level of improved security in the country, a senior U.S. military officer in Baghdad said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Reserve-component servicemembers can nominate their employers for 2011 awards that honor exceptional support for employees who serve in the National Guard or reserves.

WASHINGTON - In 1944, Navy fighter ace William E. "Bill" Davis flew a bombing run on the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku. He recalled the harrowing experience during a “DOD Live” bloggers roundtable.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saluted the National Guard's 374th birthday and praised its missions stateside and overseas.

WASHINGTON - Army Pfc. Raymond Cecil, an artilleryman in Afghanistan and the fourth generation in his family to deploy to war, likes to train and stay in the thick of things.

BAGHDAD - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is in Baghdad to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and senior American civilian and military officials, and to visit U.S. troops.

WASHINGTON - Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs threw for 186 yards against an anemic Army pass defense as the Midshipmen beat the Black Knights, 31-17, at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

WASHINGTON - Attending this year’s Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the contributions of U.S. military members serving around the globe.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s policy chief says the Defense Consultative Talks between the U.S. and China at the Pentagon moved the ball forward in fostering Chinese candor and transparency.

WASHINGTON - Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry “Bud” Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, helped the Guard mark its 374th birthday at a Capitol Hill celebration.

WASHINGTON - Doctors at the Air Force Acupuncture Center on Joint Base Andrews in Maryland have trained 60 military physicians so far this year in the ancient healing practice.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed several insurgents, found weapons and confiscated drugs during operations in Afghanistan in recent days.

WASHINGTON - The 156th Airlift Wing of the Puerto Rico National Guard helped save an injured manatee by transporting the 840-pound sea mammal from Florida to a rehabilitation center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Acquisition University has launched a casual gaming website that’s designed to hone the skills of DOD’s acquisition and logistics work force.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Army Capt. Kelly Calway, a long-distance runner, wife and mother, earned a berth in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Marathon with a fast finish in a recent marathon.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates returned from an overseas trip, he had some extra passengers aboard this Air Force E-4B: soldiers deployed to Afghanistan who were heading home on rest and recuperation leave to spend time with their families during the holiday season.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is returning to Washington after visiting with troops, getting a ground-view perspective on operations in Afghanistan, and meeting with leaders in Oman, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Repeating his warning that the Defense Department would be unable to prepare properly if a court strikes down the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he hopes the Senate repeals the law before its session ends.

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The battle to save Combat Outpost Margah lasted nearly 12 hours. By the end of the battle, five U.S. Army soldiers were wounded, 92 enemy combatants were killed and two insurgents were wounded and captured.

WASHINGTON - In maintaining computer network security in an era of persistent cyber threats warfighters are balancing the need to know certain kinds of information with the need to share it.

WASHINGTON - Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan confirmed that two Afghan civilians were killed during an insurgent attack on a coalition base in Kunar province.

BETHESDA, Md. - An Indiana-based organization is working to build community support of servicemembers and their families throughout the state in the hope of serving as a model for the rest of the nation.

WASHINGTON - The relationship between the National Guard and its parent components has never been stronger, the Guard’s top officer said.

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indiana Guardsman who's played soccer all his life reached a career high when he helped the All-Army team win gold at the Armed Forces Soccer Championship.

WASHINGTON - The Navy and Marine Corps are about to embark on their first brigade-level, joint amphibious exercise in a decade.

WASHINGTON - A new Defense Department initiative will expand the quality and quantity of community-based child care options for reserve and active-duty families.

WASHINGTON - Army researchers are working to integrate command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities during the early stages of research and development.

WASHINGTON - The Army and Marines have deployed female engagement teams to gain insight into Afghanistan’s mostly silent female population.

TOKYO - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed optimism that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ visit to China next month could invigorate the two countries’ stalled military-to-military relationship.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Abu Dhabi to meet with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nubayan and to discuss a range of bilateral and regional security issues.

TOKYO - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff encouraged Japanese leaders to foster closer multilateral cooperation, not only to confront current threats like North Korea, but also to tap new opportunities to advance regional security.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Cooperation between the U.S. military and diplomatic missions in Afghanistan will endure beyond the end of combat, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told embassy workers in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A Baltimore man has been charged in an alleged plot to bomb a military recruiting center in suburban Maryland, federal officials said.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is in Japan to discuss how to leverage their military expertise and improve defense cooperation in light of North Korean aggression.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HOWZ-E MADAD, Afghanistan - The 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team in the Kandahar province is serving at “the tip of the spear” in the war effort, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - As the number of improvised explosive device attacks rises in Afghanistan, a combination of strategies and technologies are being used to halt the harm they cause to troops and civilians.

WASHINGTON - Senior Defense Department leaders strongly support the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, better known as START, both for what it does and what it doesn’t do, a defense official said.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked hundreds of U.S. Marines on Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, noting the valuable work the 1st Marine Logistics Group does for the war effort.

WASHINGTON - Officials from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan confirmed the identity of a Haqqani network leader captured yesterday in Khost province

WASHINGTON - Residents of Afghanistan’s Helmand province have more usable roads, more food, and better health care and education than they did even six months ago, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills said.

BETHESDA, Md. - The Defense Department is doing a “pretty good” job at hiring talented disabled people for its civilian work force, but it needs to do much better, said Clifford L. Stanley, the Pentagon’s top personnel official.

KABUL - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence that Afghan forces will be able to take the lead for security throughout the country by the end of 2014.

WASHINGTON - Commanders in Afghanistan are re-balancing the strategy to confront the realities on the ground, said Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Early studies are indicating mild traumatic brain injuries may increase a soldier’s future risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a researcher said.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates visited with some 200 sailors and Marines assigned to the 1st Marine Logistics Group in Afghanistan, thanking them for their service and telling them their work is critical to the counterinsurgency mission.

NEW ORLEANS - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matt McGuiness grew up in a military family, but battled a collapsed lung and other challenges before achieving his own dream of serving.

SEOUL, South Korea - The top U.S. military officer cited growing security challenges created by North Korean aggression and called on China to join other regional nations to help counter it.

SEOUL, South Korea - Following what he called “a very full day of meaningful discussions” with leaders, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned North Korea’s aggression and praised South Korea for its restraint.

SEOUL, South Korea - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Seoul to meet with South Korean defense officials and reinforce U.S. commitment to the U.S.-South Korean alliance amid escalating tensions on the peninsula.

WASHINGTON - A top U.S. Navy commander called for today’s generation to remember the sacrifices of Americans during World War II, and to match their efforts as the country fights now into its 10th consecutive year of war.

WASHINGTON - For the first time, America officially will recognize the contributions and dedication of military widows on ''Gold Star Wives Day'' Dec. 18.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Mullin, his wife and six children have become the National Military Association's 2010 Family of the Year for their selfless service.

WASHINGTON - The coalition’s struggle against insurgents in the Helmand province is essentially over in Marjah and efforts are shifting to the Sangin district.

WASHINGTON - Teachers are vitally important to military readiness, the Army’s top civilian official said during a ceremony recognizing the top teachers in the Defense Department’s worldwide school system.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - U.S. troops are re-doubling their efforts to advise, assist and equip Iraqi security forces before the December 2011 deadline for withdrawal.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and U.S. leaders in Afghanistan’s Helmand province paid tribute to all those serving with coalition forces in the area.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces are continuing to make and solidify gains while pushing out the enemy and retaining control of key districts in hotly contested provinces, said the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

CAMP EGGERS, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited two forward operating bases in eastern Afghanistan to personally thank 101st Airborne Division soldiers who have been engaged in tough fighting and to ask them to thank their families for him.

SAN DIEGO - Daniel J. Sanchez has gone from a high school dropout sleeping on park benches to an Army private. He wants to support himself, go to college and make his recruiter proud.

WASHINGTON - When Marine Corps Cpl. Bryan Lett deployed to Afghanistan, he created a video blog of his life there so his family could share in his experiences. Soon, the world came to know him too.

WASHINGTON - Stopping the construction and use of improvised explosive devices is more than a military problem and must be addressed globally, the director of the agency devoted to that effort said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Afghanistan for troop visits and meetings with key U.S. and Afghan leaders as the National Security Council continues to assess the U.S. strategy for war there.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department employs about 45,000 workers with disabilities, but needs to boost awareness of a program to support, hire and retain them, the DOD’s director of disability programs said.

WASHINGTON - Before he visited Afghanistan's Helmand province in October 2009, the commander of the 7th Marine Regiment said he wondered if success was possible. A year later, Col. Randy Newman says he's "convinced that it absolutely can be done."

MUSCAT, Oman - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln for its support of the war effort in Afghanistan, as he toured the supercarrier off the coast of Oman.

WASHINGTON - A Taliban leader, who NATO officials believe is responsible for attacks on security forces, has been captured in the Paktika province.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will fly to South Korea tonight for high-level consultations with defense officials and to demonstrate the strength of the U.S.-South Korean alliance.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - It’s not often that a father and son meet in a combat zone, but that’s what happened to an Army staff sergeant and Marine corporal in Afghanistan.

MUSCAT, Oman - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates flew out to the USS Abraham Lincoln cruising off the Omani coast for an overnight visit with the aircraft carrier’s 5,000-member crew.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy are partnering for Exercise Bold Alligator 2011, a training exercise that will test the Marines’ famed amphibious capabilities.

MUSCAT, Oman - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Oman to meet its monarch, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, and the sultan’s minister responsible for defense affairs. His visit also provides an opportunity to visit U.S. sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

WASHINGTON - Enemy sanctuaries throughout southern Afghanistan are being cleared, and the results are encouraging, a senior military official said.

WASHINGTON - Air Force researchers have created a Condor Cluster supercomputer, a machine built from commercial parts that can change the supercomputing landscape.

WASHINGTON - Repeal of the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military is a change the nation’s top military officer said he personally and professionally feels needs to be made.

WASHINGTON - When a middle of the night call from Afghanistan bears tragic news, the 'Rear D,' for the 101st Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, goes into high gear to honor the fallen and take care of their families.

WASHINGTON - Though he believes the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military eventually should be repealed, the Army's senior officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee, repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law now would be a distraction during wartime.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama thanked American servicemembers and civilians for their bravery, resolve, expertise and commitment during a surprise visit to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Allowing time to adequately prepare servicemembers prior to implementing a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is vital to continued mission effectiveness, the Air Force chief of staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - NATO officials confirmed the death of a Taliban leader killed by a recent airstrike in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Though the Marine Corps would comply if Congress repeals “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” its top officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee, he recommends against repealing the law at this time.

WASHINGTON - A repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law would not damage naval readiness, effectiveness and cohesion, the Navy’s senior military officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recommended the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law during testimony on Capitol Hill.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The quick actions of Air Force Senior Airman Jordan Gunterman led police to save the life of a former co-worker living halfway around the world.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the Newman’s Own Foundation for its support of servicemembers and nine military charities that shared a $2.5 million award from the foundation.

WASHINGTON - When troops travel the road to medical recovery, families often must travel that road with them, First Lady Michelle Obama said at the opening of a new Fisher House at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON - Forces captured an alleged bomb and weapons facilitator after being targeted for kidnapping and ransoming local residents in the Wardak province.

WASHINGTON - Army researchers are studying the relationship between computer networks and their human operators to create more reliable and secure information systems.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in South Korea has introduced a new policy prioritizing what positions qualify for highly sought-after command sponsorships for family members.

WASHINGTON - Enactment of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would expand the eligible recruiting pool for the U.S. military, said a senior Defense Department official.

WASHINGTON - A Fort Campbell, Ky.-based program is helping families of fallen soldiers get the support and services they need and reassurance that the Army won’t forget them or their sacrifices.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military can manage allowing gay servicemembers to serve openly, provided the change is handled in an orderly and reasonable manner as outlined in the working group's report, the group's co-chairs told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Congress should repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law now to ensure a systematic and orderly implementation of gays being permitted to serve openly in the military, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - When Army Sgt. Autumn Hughes re-enlisted in Afghanistan, she renewed her commitment to the Army while remaining dedicated to her role as a wife and mother.

WASHINGTON - U.S. troops supporting the humanitarian relief effort to flood-stricken Pakistan ended their mission as officials there hosted a ceremony marking the occasion in Islamabad, the country’s capital.

WASHINGTON - The Navy’s Operational Stress Control program is having success in helping sailors and their families build psychological resilience to the form of stress while also increasing awareness.

WASHINGTON - Children with parents in the National Guard and from local schools joined Dr. Jill Biden to kick off the holidays by making ornaments and writing letters to troops.

WASHINGTON - Army researchers are working to develop smart-phone technology and applications to aid warfighters in tactical environments and on the battlefield.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Marine Corps families to the White House for an event that highlighted the Toys for Tots charity and allowed military children to make holiday crafts with the first lady.

WASHINGTON - A hallmark of the four-phase U.S. approach to European missile defense is its ability to adjust to the unpredictable, a top Defense Department official told members of the House Armed Services Committee.

WASHINGTON - U.S.-China military-to-military relations are on "an upward trajectory," said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he discussed continuing challenges for cooperation between the nations.

WASHINGTON - NATO officials confirmed the identity of a Haqqani terrorist network leader captured by Afghan and coalition forces in Khost province.

WASHINGTON - The successful completion of a four-day U.S.-South Korean military exercise should send "a message of collective and unified deterrence," the commander of Task Force 70 said.

WASHINGTON - Michigan Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jose Saenz teaches the use of nonlethal weapons, riot control and other detainee operations tactics to soldiers preparing for deployment to Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Training and education would be needed to overcome resistance in the ranks if Congress repeals the law banning gays from serving openly in the military, Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told MSNBC.

WASHINGTON - A military program is continuing its work to protect troops from HIV infection while reducing the disease’s global impact.

WASHINGTON - Cybersecurity is a NATO priority and member nations are taking steps to improve the distribution of intelligence and protect networks, said the alliance's supreme allied commander for Europe.