SANTA FE, N.M. - New Mexico Army National Guard aviators put their hoist training to the test 57 times after Dolly caused flooding in the state's high desert.

WASHINGTON - While some troops will deploy to Afghanistan in the near future, large units must wait until an assessment of needs in Iraq is completed, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - A racially integrated U.S. military is a national strength, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the importance of diversity in today’s military during an interview with the Pentagon Channel.

WASHINGTON - A new Web site is giving the American public an opportunity to join entertainers, athletes and politicians in expressing gratitude to troops.

WASHINGTON - Balance is the key word of the new National Defense Strategy, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a news conference.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have signed a memorandum of understanding that will give troops access to commercial airports as they travel to and from combat zones.

GARMISCH, Germany - The George C. Marshall European Center, a German-American defense and security studies institute in Garmisch, Germany, graduated the first class of its new course on trans-Atlantic civil security.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained 12 suspected terrorists, including a suspect linked to the planning of al-Qaida suicide bombings, during operations in Baghdad and in the central and northern parts of the country.

BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers saw puppet shows, paintings and plays at an arts festival in Seddah, Iraq, the city's first since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.

WASHINGTON - Sixty years after an executive order to integrate the U.S. military, today’s troops still have work to do to make the most of diversity, the Navy’s top enlisted sailor said.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Frank Pflieger says working with the Iraqi people has given him a new sense of appreciation for their culture.

WASHINGTON - Citing improved conditions in Iraq, President Bush announced that soldiers deploying there will serve 12-month tours of duty. “This will ease the burden on our forces, and it will make life easier for our wonderful military families,” the president said.

WASHINGTON - Nine U.S. soldiers have been training throughout the United States for Olympic gold and will depart for Beijing in August.

WASHINGTON - The operation now under way to clear enemies from Iraq’s Diyala province is Iraqi-conceived, Iraqi-planned and Iraqi-led, a senior coalition officer said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition forces detained a dozen suspected terrorists during operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq leaders in the central part of the country, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department agencies are working with state and local emergency-preparedness groups to hone their coordination capabilities as part of "Noble Resolve 2008," a homeland defense and disaster-response experiment.

OMAHA, Neb. - Nearly 500 disabled veterans closed the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games by celebrating new friendships, pride in what they’ve accomplished, and confidence in their abilities.

WASHINGTON - “The Gigantic Garage Sale” at the South Florida Fairgrounds raised $500 for an organization to use for soldier care packages.

MATHER FIELD, Calif. - With the latest California wildfires mostly under control, National Guard support aircrews can finally begin to relax, as many aircraft are pulled from active support to a stand-by role.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Small but frequent accomplishments of Iraqi security forces are leading to their self-sufficiency throughout the country.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Even medical professionals need to take medicine to stay healthy. For Army Capt. James Hart, the remedy is Pittsburgh Steelers football.

OMAHA, Neb. - While some veterans were competing in the National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games, others were telling their war stories there as part of a project that preserves those memories in vivid and emotional accounts.

OMAHA, Neb. - As veterans tested their limits at the National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games, nearly 400 military volunteers provided the behind-the-scenes support to make the games a success.

WASHINGTON - An international security exercise in the former Soviet republic of Georgia is teaching lessons that will be applied in Iraq and around the world, the U.S. commander in charge of the exercise said.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s interior minister thanked U.S. servicemembers and their families for their sacrifices on behalf of his country during a visit with wounded U.S. troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department planners continue to look for capabilities to send to Afghanistan, a senior Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Reports of electrical hazards caused by negligence in Iraq are overblown and characterizatons of callousness are "flat-out wrong," a Pentagon spokesman said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Several militants were killed during a coalition forces operation targeting a Taliban leader in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, military officials reported.

BAGHDAD - Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers listened to the concerns of vendors and shoppers at a popular fish market in the Suleikh neighborhood of Baghdad’s Adhamiyah district.

HAYFORK, Calif. - California National Guard’s Task Force Pick came to the rescue when wildfires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Hayfork, Calif., threatened the nation’s tallest Ponderosa pine tree.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed a known terrorism facilitator during an operation in Baghdad when the man refused to follow instructions to surrender, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force captain, a National Guardsman and an Army wife were the top winners in an annual military-sponsored songwriting contest that showcases music inspired by service.

WASHINGTON - For the Brunson family of Fayetteville, N.C., President Truman's 1948 executive order to integrate the armed forces paved the way for Army service to become a family tradition.

KONDUZ, Afghanistan - More than 200 students participated in development training in Konduz as part of a program to create a professional and well-trained Afghan police force.

OMAHA, Neb. - Recently wounded combat troops are in Omaha, Neb., this week getting advice from those who understand best what they’re up against: other disabled veterans living with their disabilities.

OMAHA, Neb. - About 500 disabled veterans, including recently wounded warriors, are getting the benefits of therapy and fun when they compete in the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Omaha, Neb.

WASHINGTON - The opportunities that all servicemembers enjoy today are the result of people insisting things can be better, the first African-American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Individuals and organizations around the globe are planning to mark the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

WASHINGTON - Emphasizing that the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs are the best protection against roadside bombs, defense safety officials are promoting enhanced training to reduce rollovers and other accidents.

WASHINGTON - The latest GI Bill considerably improves the opportunity for today’s troops to obtain their education, a senior Defense Department official said.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Louisiana National Guard are supporting firefighters in California's Yosemite Valley.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured two wanted men and detained 28 additional suspected terrorists while targeting al-Qaida operations in central and northern Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Retired Air Force Gen. Robert T. Herres, the first vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died July 24 after a long illness. He was 75.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani discussed greater cooperation in the war on terror and economic matters during a White house meeting.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - By the time the Army was desegregated on July 26, 1948, Joe Murchison's all-black paratrooper unit had been absorbed into the 82nd Airborne Division.

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas - Members of the Texas National Guard assisted in a massive relief operation to help communities recover from Hurricane Dolly's damaging winds and rain.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Iraqi women will be among the more than 6 million illiterate adults the Iraqi government is targeting in a national literacy campaign.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team has embarked on a bridge-building strategy to connect the Afghan government to five districts.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lowers is a platoon chief whose soldiers say he's a true leader who always knows what to do.

LOVES PARK, Ill. - The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff returned to his hometown in northern Illinois to help dedicate a Korean War Memorial.

WASHINGTON - An exercise in the country of Georgia helps partner nations overcome language and cultural barriers to work more effectively in combat situations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed several militants and detained others during recent operations in Kapisa and Paktia provinces.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces continue to push terrorists and criminals in operations throughout Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Security in Iraq's northern provinces has improved, but troops will continue to pursue al-Qaida in Iraq, a U.S. commander said.

WASHINGTON - Ensuring the Army’s force is diverse now goes far beyond the initial integration of blacks into the service 60 years ago.

WASHINGTON - An Iraqi organization tasked with consolidating and coordinating that country’s counterterrorism effort is now capable of conducting unilateral missions, a U.S. military official said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called it a “sacred responsibility” to care for American military children affected by the deployment, and in some cases the death, of a servicemember parent.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers in Baghdad detained a suspect linked to roadside-bomb attacks against coalition forces during an operation in the city’s Risalah sector.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The medical platoon assigned to Task Force Out Front on Bagram Airfield conducts evacuation missions at a moment’s notice.

WASHINGTON - A North Carolina-based program offers short- and long-term living arrangements for veterans transitioning from war to peace.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Army Sgt. David Brocato, a 28-year-old UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, knows that proper preparation is a must before any operation.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - U.S. Army engineers with the 25th Infantry Division journeyed to northwest of Baghdad to monitor progress on the Grand Canal Bridge, damaged in 2007 by two terrorist attacks.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates got a glimpse into major changes ahead in the Air Force’s basic training program during a visit to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where he thanked trainees for their service and the contributions they soon will be making.

WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida terrorists have been largely marginalized in Iraq’s Babil province, thanks to the joint efforts of Iraqi and U.S. security forces, as well as local “Sons of Iraq” citizen security groups, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained five suspected terrorists and found weapons caches during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - An integration network called L2I, now in its second year of operation, is giving officials at the Center for Army Lessons Learned valuable insight from their forward-deployed theater observers.

WASHINGTON - The founder of a Texas-based troop-support group proved volunteer work can be glamorous when she was chosen as a winner in a magazine contest to honor women in their communities.

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Six soldiers of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit are living their wildest dreams, representing the United States at the Olympics Games.

BAGHDAD - In another sign of progress in Iraq, 62 tribes and 68 sheiks have organized four private trucking companies to form the Iraqi Transportation Network.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Lt. Col. (Dr.) Margaret Swanberg from Maryland brings especially important skills to the combat theater: She is the only Army neurologist deployed to Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Bush signed a proclamation commemorating the upcoming 60th anniversary of the integration of the U.S. armed forces.

WASHINGTON - The five-brigade troop surge was one of many surges responsible for progress in Iraq, a coalition spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military depends heavily on the support contractors provide in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is stepping up efforts to ensure dollars dedicated to their activities are spent appropriately, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told Congress.

WASHINGTON - The surge in Iraq has been a success by any measure, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said during a news conference.

BAGHDAD - The 926th Engineer Brigade has countered the effects of a dry winter on Camp Victory in Baghdad by assisting in repairs to water pumps and stabilizing water levels.

WASHINGTON - On the 60th anniversary marking the desegregation of the American military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on all services to continue to "be a great engine of progress and equality."

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff cited the need for additional troops in Afghanistan, potential troop reductions in Iraq, and the upcoming presidential election during a wide-ranging interview on PBS’s “NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.”

WASHINGTON - President Bush met with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon to discuss a range of security issues in a classified setting.

WASHINGTON - "Hurricane Hunters" from the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew through Hurricane Dolly, relaying critical data to National Weather Service forecasters in Miami.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s fledgling navy is gaining prominence within its country’s security forces due to its role in protecting the nation’s oil infrastructure.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed groups of enemy fighters during operations in Afghanistan this week.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces caught five suspected terrorists and seized two weapons caches in Iraq.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - While the number of Army recruits who need conduct waivers has increased, waivers are based on "solid judgment calls" and don't mean the military has relaxed its standards, a defense official said.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warriors looking for housing to fit their needs can turn to "Helping a Hero," an expanded pilot program in Texas.

LAS VEGAS - Army Staff Sgt. Dremiel Byers secured an Olympic berth by defeating his teammate in the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials.

PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - More than 600 villagers attended the opening of a 16-room high school, where classes were once held under trees.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Duty in Iraq isn’t stopping Army Sgt. Scott Sperling from pursuing Brazilian jujitsu fighting.

WASHINGTON - Given his background and the political issues at stake, it was somewhat surprising that President Harry S. Truman became a champion of racial integration in the military in 1948.

WASHINGTON - The director of the U.S. Army Military History Institute looks back over six decades at the history of racial integration in the U.S. armed forces and the impact of President Harry S. Truman’s July 26, 1948, executive order that drove integration.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. armed forces have exemplified racial diversity since integrating 60 years ago, but further efforts are necessary to diversify military leadership, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - Training Afghan security forces is the key to success in the country, but the effort continues to be plagued by a shortage of trainers, said Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, who is in charge of that training.

EUGENE, Ore. - An Air Force captain led military athletes competing in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team track and field trials by earning his second Olympic berth in the 20-kilometer race walk.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Northern Command has deployed a defense coordination unit in anticipation of the landfall of Tropical Storm Dolly in southern Texas.

WASHINGTON - The four-star general nominated to be the Air Force’s next chief of staff told Capitol Hill legislators that, if confirmed, he will continue to support warfighters deployed around the globe.

ARLINGTON, Va. - As Tropical Storm Dolly beat a northwestward path over the Gulf of Mexico toward southern Texas and Mexico, at least 600 Texas National Guard members prepared for storm duty.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 14 suspected terrorists and found weapon caches in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The acting secretary of the Air Force told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing that he’ll work to restore the Air Force’s reputation for excellence.

WASHINGTON - Today’s military is stronger and has more credibility among the American people in large part due to a presidential decision 60 years ago to integrate the force, the defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Like most of Afghanistan's provinces, Konar has historically been unable to meet the medical needs of its residents. But a coalition-led reconstruction team is working to meet those needs.

WASHINGTON - After matching troops re-entering the civilian work force with military friendly employers, “Hire a Hero” is trying some matchmaking of a different kind.

BAGHDAD - Iraqi children as well as U.S. and Iraqi leaders were among those to celebrate a new airport in southern Iraq, which is expected to facilitate travel, boost business opportunities and increase tourism.

HEIDELBERG, Germany - Although they're 2,000 miles from the nearest Army library, Troops at Camp Victory, Iraq, soon will have access to a broad spectrum of library resources through an e-Branch kiosk.

BAGHDAD - After serving in Afghanistan, Victor Faggiano left the Army and tried college. Now he's back in uniform, leading soldiers into combat in Iraq.

ST. LOUIS - Commanders agree that troops need good training and equipment before they deploy. But equally important to preparing servicemembers for war is readying their families, the nation’s top military officer said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed six enemy fighters and detained 17 suspected terrorists during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - For deployed troops, hearing about support from back home can do wonders for morale, but getting a big box full of goodies and necessities is even better.

WASHINGTON - The recent ribbon-cutting at the largest military child care center underscores the Defense Department’s commitment to providing more and better child-care for military families, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is looking for input from the enlisted medical community as it sets up a Web portal to enable medics and corpsmen to share lessons and suggest ways to improve patient care.

WASHINGTON - A United Nations counter drug group has awarded $750,000 to Afghanistan's Konar province, along the Pakistan border, for its elimination of poppy crops. Most of the money is to be used to train teachers.

WASHINGTON - The hospital ship USNS Mercy is preparing to leave the third country it has visited in the South Pacific during a four-month humanitarian deployment supporting Pacific Partnership 2008.

PATROL BASE MEADE, Iraq - Army Chaplain (Capt.) Eric Light sees ministering to soldiers as his true calling, a true leap into faith from one of his first jobs as a Hollywood stunt man.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - The people of Kut, Iraq, now have more reliable electricity, thanks to the upgrade of a substation switch gear, which increases the availability of power for transmission and distribution.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed an enemy fighter, detained dozens of terrorism suspects and seized illegal weapons stockpiles.

WASHINGTON - An undetermined number of enemy fighters were killed in separate air strikes in Afghanistan, with one of the engagements prompting an investigation into reports that Afghan National Police officers were killed.

WASHINGTON - Setting a timeline for U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq would be “dangerous,” and troop reductions there should continue to be based on security conditions on the ground, the nation’s top military officer said.

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Officials at the National Guard’s Eastern Aviation Training Site on Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., unveiled the new UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopter.

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Medical students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences are getting a healthy dose of the challenges in providing battlefield medicine during two concurrent field exercises under way on Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a pilot program in the Washington, D.C., metro area to encourage veterans in need to use the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline -- 1-800-273-TALK.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed several militants and seized weapons in Afghanistan in operations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained five suspected militants and seized weapons caches in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad over the past three days.

WASHINGTON - As Pentagon planners study ways to quickly get more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, a Defense Department spokesman said the U.S. would like to increase the troop level there by two brigade combat teams and about 4,000 trainers in 2009.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and Afghan National Army bands tackled a language barrier as they played together to learn the universal language of music during a four-day training event on Bagram Airfield.

WASHINGTON - Disabled veterans frustrated in the search for fulfilling work can now turn to a nationally based online recruitment application for help.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - In the heat of Iraq’s deserts, mail handlers from the 1st Armored Division bridge the distance between soldiers and their families -- just as they did when Patton’s tanks rolled across North African desert sands.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - While Army Sgt. Jason Ruckman joined the Army in part to pursue adventure, this two-time Purple Heart recipient is the first to admit a little fear is healthy.

MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. - After fighting California fires, Air National Guardsmen launched a search-and rescue-mission to save an ailing fisherman in a boat off the state's coast.

WASHINGTON - War fighters from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are testing battlefield systems that can discern friend from foe during a military demonstration on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

WASHINGTON - Troops treated at medical facilities in the national capital region now can recuperate with their families thanks to one group’s ingenuity and donors.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces caught 14 suspects and seized weapons caches in Iraq, military officials said.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - In just over six months, U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 2 have completed more than seven projects so far and lent their talents to several more, including the new 41st Fires Brigade tactical operations center.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III now are allowing medical personnel to care for larger numbers of patients over longer distances, at higher altitudes, with a greater ability to care for the seriously injured.

WASHINGTON - Commanders in Afghanistan have asked for more of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles the military calls “MRAPs,” the Pentagon’s press secretary said.

WASHINGTON - Top U.S. defense leaders said Pakistan must do more on its side of the border with Afghanistan to combat terrorist extremists.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in the Pacific has two buzzwords for U.S. military policy in the region: pre-eminence and partnerships.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in the Pacific said he and a top Chinese commander agreed to work toward bringing their militaries together for two bilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercises.

WASHINGTON - Insurgent attacks in Afghanistan yesterday resulted in coalition forces killing several insurgents as well as eight civilian bystanders.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 18 suspected terrorists and discovered weapons caches during recent operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended the Air National Guard’s director for a promotion that would make him the first four-star general in National Guard history.

WASHINGTON - Two U.S.-military economic programs are helping thousands of Iraqis find productive jobs while boosting the country’s business activity.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said diplomacy and development should lead American efforts abroad, and he warned against a “creeping militarization” of U.S. foreign policy.

COMBAT OUTPOST SUMMERS, Iraq - On a hot July morning on Combat Outpost Summers, U.S. soldiers are tuning up two Bradley fighting vehicles.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Colin Goldson concocts meals to keep his combat team healthy and happy.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Modern-rock band Sevendust performed like no other for troops on Bagram Airfield during the final stop on its first United Service Organizations tour.

WASHINGTON - Wounded veterans and their families looking for help reentering civilian life can turn to an Alabama organization that takes a holistic approach.

FORT MEADE, Md. - Since 1994, about 11,000 former troops with the Troops to Teachers program have taught in low-income and underprivileged schools.

WASHINGTON - A change-of-command ceremony on Fort Stewart, Ga., set against the backdrop of near-daily homecoming ceremonies, marked one of the last milestones for the surge force credited with helping to bring about a dramatic turnaround in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Iran’s launch of a missile with a 2,000-kilometer range is an example of the threat the world faces from missile proliferation, the chief of the Missile Defense Agency said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Africa Command works in partnership with African nations to help make the continent more secure against terrorism and criminal enterprises and to promote prosperity, a senior defense official said at a Capitol Hill hearing.

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of military family members will gather next week for Marine Parents United’s 5th Annual Marine Family Conference, where they’ll have opportunities to better understand military life.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department program that provides cultural and linguistic training to soon-to-deploy military personnel has activated a new Web site.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department DNA identification lab has helped bring to a close a near-century-old mystery, laying to rest a search for the remains of two children executed alongside the rest of the family of Russia’s last czar.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq continue to round up terrorism suspects while Iraqi citizens continue providing tips leading forces to weapons caches, military officials reported.

BAGHDAD - Chants rang loud and clear from the bleachers as if it were a high school pep rally. But this was not a student gymnasium gearing up before a homecoming game against a crosstown rival. This was men, women and children of all ages chanting, “Iraq is free!” and celebrating the reopening of a neighborhood gym.

RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq - Amid showers of candy and shouts from family and friends, more than 250 new lieutenants joined the Iraqi army and air force after graduating from the Iraqi Military Academy in Rustamiyah, Iraq.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. military doctors saved the eye -- and maybe the life -- of a 6-year-old Afghan girl by removing the serious tumor engulfing her left eye.

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve and the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia signed a partnership agreement that will help both organizations meet critical manning needs.

WASHINGTON - An Air Force Reserve wing from Colorado is working at the pace of an active-duty unit to deliver fire retardant to wild fires in Southern California.

WASHINGTON - Security progress in Basra is “overwhelming” and Iraq’s second-largest city could be “another Dubai in the coming decade,” the commander of Multinational Division Southeast said, referring to the bustling international business hub.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - A 326th Airlift Squadron aircrew made a very unusual delivery when it landed a C-17 on Dover Air Force Base, Del., with two giant squids in its cargo compartment.

WASHINGTON - Even with positive trends in Iraq, Defense leaders will not rush the assessment process for determining U.S. force levels in the country, but they will wait for the recommendation of ground commanders, Pentagon officials said.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Underscoring its unique role in mental health response, U.S. Northern Command co-sponsored more than 200 mental and behavioral specialists at a conference to discuss the possibility of widespread mental health problems related to national disasters.

WASHINGTON - The deaths of nine NATO International Security Assistance Force soldiers in Afghanistan’s Kunar province highlight the need for cooperation with Pakistan’s military and a tougher Pakistani stance against extremists, Defense officials said.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Deployments usually separate families, but for two brothers from Arkansas, deployment to Iraq brought them closer.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained five suspected al-Qaida terrorists during operations in Mosul and the Tigris River Valley, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - An untold number of veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will benefit from an unlikely new partnership.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is expanding efforts to finance university research on social science issues such as religious fundamentalism and cultural change, a senior Pentagon official said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A soldier from 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team was awarded a Silver Star Medal in a ceremony at Bagram Airfield.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Coalition forces responded to the top request of sheiks in rural Wasit province by providing basic medical care to hundreds of residents, many of whom suffered from waterborne illnesses.

WASHINGTON - Afghan national security forces and coalition forces killed at least 40 insurgents during an ongoing operation in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained several suspects, including three wanted individuals, during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq and foreign-terrorist operations in central and northern Iraq.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with Pakistan’s military and civilian leaders in Islamabad, Pakistan, to discuss issues concerning Pakistan’s lack of pressure toward insurgents flowing from its border into Afghanistan.

KORENGAL VALLEY, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took the opportunity to present 12 paratroopers in Afghanistan awards for valorous and heroic achievements in combat.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates delivered a tribute to servicemembers’ courage, dedication, adaptability and patriotism to the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Continental Congress.

WASHINGTON - Midway through the “101 Critical Days of Summer,” 50 servicemembers have died in off-duty accidents, half on motorcycles.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - U.S. Marines who are charged with the “critical, top-priority mission” of training the Afghan National Police are "on the leading edge" of positive changes in Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on a visit there .

WASHINGTON - The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has identified human remains found in Iraq as those of two 10th Mountain Division soldiers who had been missing since a May 2007 ambush.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to state active duty to boost ongoing firefighting efforts and prepare for the threat of additional fires.

WASHINGTON - The dedication of the 39th Fisher House, built next to McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Va., fulfills a pledge to provide family living quarters at each of the VA’s four Level 1 polytrauma centers.

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. - The 146th Airlift Wing in Port Hueneme, Calif., isn’t equipped to drop fire retardant, but the California Air National Guard unit has found another mission that will keep them involved in the effort to battle wildfires.

WASHINGTON - A team of U.S. noncommissioned officers returned from a trip to China where they spent time with their Chinese Army counterparts for whom technical skills takes precedence over leadership.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained an alleged al-Qaida leader and eight other suspected terrorists during separate operations in Mosul, Beiji and Baghdad, military officials said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - A U.S. Air Force well-drilling team has created an oasis across Forward Operating Base Sharana where intensely hot and dry conditions made water a distant memory.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq - Iraqi security forces are ready and capable "for any needs that arise" in the Madain Qada region of Baghdad, an Iraqi commander told U.S. Army leaders at a July 8 meeting.

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Army Sgts. Daniel and Timothy DeKoeyer have been inseparable all their lives. With that sense of togetherness, the twins volunteered to deploy together to Afghanistan where they will be on a year-long military police mission.

WASHINGTON - Coalition trainers and mentors are making progress turning around corrupt police forces in southern Afghanistan, a military official there said.

WASHINGTON - A company that publishes an annual deployment guide sped up its schedule to release the 2009 guide this fall to include large-scale troop rotations scheduled for later this year.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Years of preparation by U.S. Army South, Brooke Army Medical Center and Northrop Grumman Corp. came to fruition on July 2 when three kidnapped American contractors set foot in San Antonio.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S. military’s senior officer and the commander of international forces in Afghanistan met with reporters in Kabul, Afghanistan, to discuss the situation and threats coalition and Afghan forces are facing.

WASHINGTON - The Senate has confirmed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus as the new commander of U.S. Central Command and given the nod for Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to succeed him as commander of Multinational Force Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials pointed to the 13th consecutive month of recruiting success as a sign that the all-volunteer force, now 35 years old, remains solid.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces, working with a local women’s center, distributed more than 130 sewing machines to women in the Gereshk district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi security forces’ increasing capabilities have been making a world of difference in the country, a top coalition military commander said.

WASHINGTON - As of Nov. 30, Defense Department travelers on official business will carry a credit card issued by Citibank instead of Bank of America, which has provided the service for 10 years.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained 30 suspected terrorists during anti al-Qaida operations conducted across central and northern Iraq.

BAGHDAD - U.S. soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team have made a big splash in Baghdad by helping Zawra Park officials reopen a public swimming pool.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Patriotism is in full tilt at Ted Levitt's Annapolis deli where every morning begins with the Pledge of Allegiance and a restored 1931 Buick displays the the faces of 43 American heroes.

WASHINGTON - Army Sgt. Murray Spence -- a 30-year-old sniper assigned to Multinational Division Baghdad -- is a full-blooded Sioux who was raised by German Mennonites in Canada after he was put up for adoption at birth.

WASHINGTON - If you cut Paul Brady, he would probably bleed sea water. Brady is Navy through and through, and he is retiring after more than 50 years of service as a sailor and a civilian.

WASHINGTON - Communities across America are once again pledging to honor the country's ill and wounded veterans.

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi government is "firmly in control of Baghdad, Basra and Mosul," the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department announced new standards for cluster bombs to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure from the unintended consequences of unexploded munitions.

BAGHDAD - U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi air force during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has reopened the bidding process for a multibillion-dollar midair refueling tanker contract, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Iran’s test of short- and medium-range missiles is a disturbing development and points to the need for a European missile defense system, Pentagon officials said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi soldiers and police are becoming more capable, yet more work needs to be done in view of the continued terrorist threat in Iraq, a senior U.S. military officer said at a Capitol Hill hearing.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed three armed militants, detained 14 suspects and seized weapons in Afghanistan this week.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers who patrol Iraqi Family Village on the outskirts of Baghdad are conducting a census to give them a better understanding of who lives in the village and what they need to improve their quality of life.

WASHINGTON - The number of acts of violence in Iraq is at a four-year low, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq said in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained four suspects and seized caches of weapons in Iraq.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - U.S. Army Spc. Matthew Duras uses his diverse background to help his fellow soldiers and reach out to the community.

WASHINGTON - The Independence Fund helps severely injured veterans, focusing its efforts on providing the tools, therapies and guidance.

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - Defense Secretary Robert Gates took advantage of a visit home to Washington state to visit soldiers, airmen and their families at Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.

MOSUL, Iraq - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with more than 200 soldiers and airmen in the lower enlisted ranks in Mosul, Iraq, to thank them for their service and to give them the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns.

WASHINGTON - Long known to protect the waters surrounding the United States, the question asked each time someone sees the duo at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, is, “What is the U.S. Coast Guard doing here?”

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - Some areas of Parwan province have been without water for years, while other areas are nearly flooded, presenting a water distribution challenge that coalition forces are working to change.

BAGHDAD - With the delivery of two truckloads of medical equipment, hundreds of mothers-to-be will benefit from the opening of a refurbished maternity hospital in western Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Blockbuster stores nationwide, in partnership with United Service Organizations, are making it easy for Americans to donate video games and DVDs to deployed forces.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - One motivated American soldier with Arabic skillls is making life easier for his platoon and the 100 Iraqi national police officers working with them.

FORT MEADE, Md. - About 60 servicemembers have gathered at Fort Meade, Md., to begin five days of seminars and workshops to help them tap into experience and skills gained through the military as they transition to civilian careers.

BAGHDAD - The U.S. military’s top-ranking officer encountered one of Iraq’s most dangerous areas and saw first-hand the improvements Iraqi and U.S. forces have made during recent months.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The first group of 200 California National Guard members called out by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to support the fire line have competed classroom training and are ready for hands-on experience.

WASHINGTON - American contractors Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, who were among 15 hostages held in Colombia by leftist rebels until their July 2 rescue by the Colombian military, released a statement through U.S. Army South.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Air Force major who mentors the Afghan National Army’s print plant staff in Kabul said he sees tremendous gains -- but may have worked himself out of a job.

BAGHDAD - The top U.S. military officer traveled to Kuwait and Iraq for the first stops of a seven-day trip to support troops and take part in a United Service Organizations tour.

WASHINGTON - Defense personnel have completed the transfer of 550 metric tons of Iraqi-owned uranium ore to a buyer in Canada, Defense officials said.

ANNVILLE, Pa. - For three days this month, the Pennsylvania National Guard will offer free, guided tours of a rare butterfly colony at the Fort Indiantown Gap Training Center in Annville, Pa.

WASHINGTON - The total number of security incidents in Iraq now sits at 2004 levels, Navy Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured 11 suspected al-Qaida operatives in Mosul and Balad, while Iraqi soldiers in Kadhamiyah found a cache of weapons and explosives.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi and coalition personnel are making tremendous progress on the energy front through restoration projects and repairs, the director of energy for Multinational Force Iraq said.

MATHER FIELD, Calif. - Crews from the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing are the first and only certified to perform water bucket operations in the Air Force and Air National Guard.

WASHINGTON - AMVETS, a leading veterans service organization, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness signed a memorandum of understanding to share mental health resources.

KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - As the security situation becomes more stable in five of the southern districts in Konar province, coalition civil affairs teams are helping improve governance and infrastructure.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Coalition and Iraqi military and government leaders broke ground to revitalize the road from Baghdad International Airport to the heart of the Iraqi capital.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Army Master Sgt. Isaac Alexis is a rap artist who rhymes with passion and tells stories with his lyrics to entertain and inspire troops deployed in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed two enemy fighters, captured 35 suspects and seized weapons caches in Iraq the past three days, military officials said.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Although soldiers here didn't have a traditional Independence Day celebration, they made the most of the time they had celebrating with new friends -- soldiers of the Iraqi Army.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed more than a dozen enemy fighters, captured two others and seized a weapons cache in Afghanistan the past three days.

KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 50 U.S. sailors rendered a salute as their nation’s colors were raised over Camp Eggers. What made the Independence Day ceremony so special was an American flag with only 48 stars.

KABUL, Afghanistan - U.S. servicemembers assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan celebrated America's 232nd Independence Day in the traditional way, but in a non-traditional setting.

BETHESDA, Md. - Instead of participating in rounds of Gulf diplomacy, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spent part of the day here observing a round of golf.

WASHINGTON - In his weekly radio address, President Bush thanked America's men and women in uniform, past and present, for defending freedom from Bunker Hill to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Baghdad - More than 1,200 U.S. troops from all over Iraq gathered here July 4 in the Al Faw Palace rotunda on Camp Victory, to re-enlist and celebrate America’s Independence Day.

WASHINGTON - TriWest and the Montana Army and Air National Guard recently launched a pilot program to help Guard members and their families deal with post-deployment stress.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has approved a NATO-led request that the 2,200 Marines of 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit remain in Afghanistan a month longer than planned.

WASHINGTON - Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick assumed command of Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq and the NATO training mission in Iraq during a ceremony at the Iraqi Cultural Center in Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Leaders from across the U.S. intelligence community dedicated the National Center for Medical Intelligence at Fort Detrick, Md.

WASHINGTON - More than 1,100 servicemembers stationed in Iraq will celebrate the nation’s birthday by re-enlisting, the senior enlisted leader for Multinational Force Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - President Bush kicked off construction of the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center during a groundbreaking ceremony in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Afghanistan killed several enemy fighters and detained eight others in recent days, military officials said.

TALLIL, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Steven Roode, a squad leader, is using his previous deployment experience to prepare his troops for combat.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warriors and the PGA tour kicked off their Independence Day celebration with food and festivities at Mologne House on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus.

WASHINGTON - Colombia's military rescued 15 hostages, including three U.S. government contractors, from leftist revolutionary captors who had imprisoned the group in jungle camps since 2003.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed enemy fighters, detained terrorism suspects and found illegal weapons stockpiles in operations, military officials reported.

SHINDAND AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - At the Shindand Agricultural Experiment Station within Shindand Airfield, Afghans are learning agricultural skills such as beekeeping and how to jumpstart agricultural production in the Shindand district.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - U.S. soldiers in Iraq who decide to stay in the Army face another choice besides the basic question of re-enlistment: whether to re-enlist while deployed or wait until they’re back in the United States.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE - The U.S. Air Force core values of “integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do” will remain, Acting Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said.

BETHESDA, Md. - Two military children helped pro golfer Fred Couples kick off the second AT&T National golf tournament in Bethesda, Md.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Absenteeism, corruption, low pay, lack of equipment and weapons, and a high casualty rate are just some reasons policemen show up at the Jalalabad Regional Training Center in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Lasting security in Iraq is one of the benchmarks for withdrawing U.S. forces from the region, a senior military officer said.

WASHINGTON - A new enlistment waiver-reporting policy for all of the services will assist the Pentagon to better gauge force quality, a senior defense official said.

WASHINGTON - Back from a trip to Israel, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said there is broad concern about instability in the Middle East.

WASHINGTON - President Bush and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued Independence Day messages, paying tribute to troops in the armed forces.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are very concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, where violence has increased significantly from a year ago, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - The cast of the Lifetime cable network drama “Army Wives” visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center to help kick off the July Fourth week and salute troops' often-forgotten spouses.

WASHINGTON - President Bush will emphasize during the G8 summit in Japan that the war against violent extremism is a long-term struggle while urging continued support in Iraq and Afghanistan, he told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces captured seven suspects and seized weapons in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered about 200 National Guard members to provide support to state efforts to try to put out wildfires.

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan - An airman, a sailor and other coalition medics teamed up with Afghan doctors to host a medical outreach event that incluced animal care in the village of Nilay in Parawan province.

CONVOY SUPPORT CENTER SCANIA, Iraq - A military intelligence officer in Iraq is finally working where her heart is -- in the medical community.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Village of Hope students in Hawr Rajab began cleaning irrigation canals in the area to improve the flow of fresh water to nearby farms.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The new 230-mph, No. 4 National Guard IndyCar was unveiled at a guard center in Arlington, Va., revving up National Guard recruiting.

WASHINGTON - A new Defense Department program for senior-level civilians seeks to develop the skills and competencies needed to lead the 21st century national defense effort.

WASHINGTON - Former troops who disagree with their disability ratings when they were discharged as unfit for duty can apply to have those ratings reviewed by a new Physical Disability Board of Review.

DES MOINES, Iowa - A National Guard counterterrorism unit has been wet and waist-deep in its battle against hazardous materials caught up in floodwaters in Des Moines, Iowa.

WASHINGTON - A new book released by the Army to help future military leaders offers fresh details of the 18-month transition after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in April 2003.

WASHINGTON - Thirty-one soldiers celebrated the 35th anniversary of the all-volunteer force by enlisting or re-enlisting in the Pentagon courtyard.

STUTTGART, Germany - As U.S. Africa Command prepares to go fully operational, one of its big challenges will be communicating not only what it aims to achieve, but also what it doesn’t, senior officials at the Pentagon and at the new command agree.

WASHINGTON - With competitive salaries, a top-notch retirement package, and now the option to share education benefits with family members, a career in the U.S. military has become far more attractive since the days of the draft.

WASHINGTON - Delegates to the fourth annual U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program symposium recently identified five new priorities in advancing care for wounded soldiers.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Afghanistan killed 34 militants and captured four others during separate operations in Khowst and Nimruz provinces, military officials said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The first class of the Afghan National Police’s “Jump Start” program has graduated from the Central Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers seized a quantity of munitions during four security operations conducted in Baghdad on June 29, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - A California-based group will fulfill the promise of a major milestone, as a soldier at Fort Lewis, Wash., receives a free Jeep Liberty.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Craig Bedard learned how to fight fires in the Navy. Now an Army staff sergeant, he deals with surveillance systems and hopes to turn that into a career when he leaves the service.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - Four new greenhouses, each 500 square meters, now dot the skyline of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, marking a step forward in efforts to revitalize and modernize Iraqi agriculture.