WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed the Defense Department’s supplemental war-funding bill, which includes $33.5 billion to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, exotic animals and human beings remains the biggest challenge for U.S. military forces in Central and South America, the commander of U.S. Southern Command said.

WASHINGTON - A claim by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange that the U.S. government had an opportunity to review stolen military documents published on the group’s website is untrue, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured numerous suspected insurgents in recent operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 10 suspected associates of the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist organization in several operations.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, attended a special screening at Fort Belvoir, Va., for an episode of the Lifetime television series “Army Wives” in which Dr. Biden plays herself.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is adjusting its child care fees, adding categories for its highest income earners, to compensate for six years without fee range increases.

FORT JACKSON, S.C. - Before donning an Army combat uniform, Pvt. Hannah Grossman, a human resource information management student, was a professional cage fighter.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials announced the death of a sailor who went missing in Afghanistan's Logar province last week and had been listed as “duty status whereabouts unknown.”

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced he has asked the FBI to help Pentagon authorities investigate the leak of more than 90,000 classified documents published online by the WikiLeaks organization.

WASHINGTON - Women in today’s military serve closer to the front lines than ever before, and as they become veterans the Veterans Affairs Department will be ready to handle their care, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said.

WASHINGTON - An Army task force has released more than 250 recommendations to reduce suicides and improve mental health care for troops.

WASHINGTON - A new report recommends broad changes to long-term Defense Department strategies and priorities.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials want to ensure that anyone whose military enlistment was involuntarily extended under the so-called “stop loss” provision applies for a stipend by the Oct. 21 deadline.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Utah National Guard's 141st Military Intelligence Battalion will deploy to Iraq with 83 soldiers who have earned Eagle Scout badges from the Boy Scouts of America.

WASHINGTON - Insurgents killed six Afghan civilians and wounded three more in roadside bomb attacks in southern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested six people affiliated with the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorism organization in combined operations with U.S. advisors.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged that some people in Pakistan’s intelligence community had supported the Taliban, but he said that situation is changing.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said a series of tours around Guam gave him broader insight into the challenges that lie ahead for that U.S. territory.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said he’s departing Guam with a better understanding of the troop realignment challenges that lie ahead there.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team received a rousing welcome home from Iraq, not only from fellow soldiers, family members and community leaders, but also from Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.

WASHINGTON - The classified military documents released by WikiLeaks.org could not only threaten the lives of U.S. troops, but the Afghan civilians with whom they work, a top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, an Eagle Scout himself, shared his passion for Boy Scouting with tens of thousands of Scouts and their families gathered for the Boy Scouts of America centennial.

AGANA, Guam - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III reiterated his commitment to respect Guam’s culture and to preserve its resources throughout an upcoming U.S. troop realignment.

WASHINGTON - Although insurgents continue to threaten progress in Afghanistan, their efforts are becoming increasingly desperate, the top U.S. military commander in Eastern Afghanistan said.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has identified two sailors who went missing in Afghanistan’s Logar province, and U.S. forces there are focused on finding one still unaccounted for, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Defense Department’s supplemental war-funding bill, already passed by the Senate, most of which will be used to pay for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Eligible servicemembers and veterans have less than three months to apply for Retroactive “Stop Loss” Special Pay.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - When Betty Hoapili was selected to attend the Department of Defense’s Executive Leadership Development Program, she got the chance to walk in a warfighter’s shoes.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis called for harmony and consistency in the U.S. Central Command area of operation during his Senate confirmation hearing.

BAGHDAD - The United States military is committed over the long-term to a positive, productive partnership with Iraqi security forces, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a visit to Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - NATO's Afghanistan force has investigated allegations regarding a civilian casuality incident near the Charkh district and confirmed they are false.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama issued his first comments on WikiLeaks’ release of Afghanistan war documents, saying he is concerned about the leaks, but that they don’t reveal any new issues.

WASHINGTON - The Army's Criminial Investigation Division will take the lead in the investigation into how thousands of classified military documents were leaked to WikiLeaks.org, a Defense Department spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to commemorate the anniversary of the conclusion of Korean War hostilities at Panmunjom and to honor veterans of the conflict.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jose Pena, a warehouse chief on Camp LeJeune, N.C., has been playing soccer at the highest levels for the Corps almost since the day he enlisted nearly 13 years ago.

U.S. NAVAL BASE, GUAM - Nearly a decade into war, America’s military members continue “stepping up every time,” no matter how difficult or extensive the task, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III told servicemembers at U.S. Naval Base, Guam.

MANGILAO, Guam - The people of Guam are making an “incredible contribution” to the U.S. military, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

MANGILAO, Guam - The realignment of forces on Guam is key to maintaining an effective U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he is “appalled” by the breach of security represented by the WikiLeaks case.

MANGILAO, Guam - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said the department is committed to protecting Guam's resources, and will adjust the pace of incoming U.S. troops to match the island's ability to accommodate them.

WASHINGTON - Progress is being made to improve the public education of military children, but parents still should be involved at the local level, the head of the Military Child Education Coalition said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Though the battle in Regional Command East in Afghanistan is more difficult than expected, U.S., NATO and Afghan forces are making progress there, Army Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell, the commander of the 101st Airborne Division as well as the regional command, said.

FORT JACKSON, S.C., July 26, 2010 - Carole Coveney, the new general manager for the NCO club at Fort Jackson, S.C., has served soldiers and their families for more than two decades.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon condemned the actions of WikiLeaks.org, which released thousands of classified U.S. military documents on its website. “The leaking of classified information is something we take very seriously,” Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters.

WASHINGTON - Four passengers suffered minor injuries when a NATO helicopter made a hard landing in Kabul province, and elsewhere forces arrested a Taliban leader.

CAMP NATHAN SMITH, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told community leaders in Kandahar, Afghanistan, that creating jobs is the key to ridding the area of the Taliban and reassured them that United States will not leave the country until the job there is done.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized the need for all aspects of national power to contribute to defeating extremists in Afghanistan during an “all-hands” talk at the U.S. embassy in Kabul.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S. mission in Afghanistan has not changed, despite its new leadership, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a news conference in Kabul.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed America’s commitment to Afghanistan and the region during interviews with Pakistani TV and print reporters in Islamabad.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The Pakistani military and government are grappling with the problems of militants in the country and don’t get enough credit for the sacrifices they are making.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who resigned last month as commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, retired in a ceremony marked by praise for his three-decade career.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - Defense and education officials are working together to ensure quality education options are offered to all military families, said Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden.

WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama became the first-ever presidential spouse to christen a new U.S. Coast Guard cutter, the USCG Dorothy C. Stratton, during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss.

WASHINGTON - Afghan-international forces seized enemy weapons caches, captured or killed numerous insurgents, and reopened a long-closed school during recent operations.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - It’s no small feat to gather the service chiefs at one event, but they were united in Maryland to support the cause of helping military children.

WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. military commander praised the work performed by Afghan security forces during the recent international meetings held in Kabul.

NEW DELHI - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is disturbed by a new terrorist trend that Lashkar-e-Taiba – the group that attacked the Indian city of Mumbai in November 2008 – epitomizes.

NEW DELHI - The United States is committed to South and Central Asia, and deeper U.S.-Indian military-to-military relations will make the region and globe safer and more secure, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Sanders battled a bad knee to earn the coveted master parachutist wings, a high-level airborne skills award.

WASHINGTON - As summer temperatures peak, people are encouraged to pay attention to proper diet, sleep schedules and hydration.

WASHINGTON - Afghan Ministry of Interior officials are helping to embed a code of ethics into the foundation of Afghanistan's police education system.

NEW DELHI - The growth of military-to-military cooperation between India and the United States is “stunning,” and it is poised to continue to increase, U.S. officials told reporters in New Delhi where the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is in meetings.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces deployed in Iraq are seeing a return on their investments as aspects of a fully-functioning nation come into sight.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers, civilians and contractors should be aware of scams cyber criminals may employ to steal money, information and even identities.

WASHINGTON - Caring for wounded and injured servicemembers is among the highest priorities within the Defense Department, Jack Smith, acting deputy assistant defense secretary for clinical and program policy, told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Retired Air Force Col. Claude M. Schonberger received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic actions as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot on Feb. 16, 1945.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s first director of operational energy plans and program hopes to decrease the risk in transporting and guarding the military’s fuel.

WASHINGTON - Since 2003, the Army has worked hard to establish processes that will improve the speed at which post-traumatic stress is diagnosed.

WASHINGTON - NATO Training Mission Afghanistan’s new liaison officer is finding ways to protect and serve the Afghan people.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces discovered large weapons, detained several suspects and provided medical treatment to civilians.

JAKARTA, Indonesia - In a commentary appearing in today’s edition of the Indonesian newspaper Kompas, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates noted the growth of the U.S. relationship with Indonesia, as well as Indonesia’s emergent role as a regional and global leader.

JAKARTA, Indonesia - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said discussion of “broadening, deepening and elevating ties” between the United States and Indonesia highlighted the meetings he had with its president and defense minister in Jakarta.

JAKARTA, Indonesia - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, for meetings aimed at enhancing defense ties between the two nations including a re-engagement with the Indonesian army's special forces.

ABOARD A U.S. AIR FORCE C-17 - The military-to-military relationship between the United States and India has grown dramatically in the past 20 years, said U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he traveled to New Delhi.

WASHINGTON - With his tenure winding down as commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno shared what he believes the U.S. needs to be successful.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said a meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan, where nations gathered to support Afghan goals and policies, represents a milestone in a long and difficult journey.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has nominated Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis to serve as commander, U.S. Central Command. Mattis will succeed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who now commands U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Proposed changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would improve military readiness while aiding recruitment and retention efforts.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will have troop strength down to 50,000 well in time to meet the September drawdown schedule, said the commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq during a Pentagon briefing.

WASHINGTON - Numerous insurgents were killed or captured during recent Afghan-coalition operations conducted across Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The influence of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in the development of Afghanistan’s military forces is possibly most apparent in its training regimen.

SOUTHERN SHORSURAK, Afghanistan - Marines in Lima Company think U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Matt Garst is the luckiest guy in the battalion, and one of the most dedicated.

SEOUL, South Korea - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Seoul, South Korea, with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, announced new measures to prevent North Korean weapons proliferation, curb illicit activities that fund its weapons programs and discourage further provocative actions.

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea - The fact that the United States is a steadfast ally of South Korea is one of the messages carried by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, who visited with U.S. troops stationed at Camp Red Cloud.

PANMUNJOM, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to South Korea during a visit to the demilitarized zone that separates the U.S. ally from its communist neighbor to the north.

CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea - Good leadership can help to bring down the military's suicide rate, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told more than 200 soldiers and airmen at an "all hands" at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea.

WASHINGTON - James R. Clapper, Jr., undersecretary of defense for intelligence and the nominee for director of national intelligence, said during his confirmation hearing that intelligence is a team effort and the director is in a unique position to ensure that.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. Africa Command matures and strengthens ties with African nations, American interests on the continent become more stable, said Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward, the command's top officer.

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Sgt. Maj. Kevin E. Smith is the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the National Guard’s newest Domestic All-Hazards Response Team.

WASHINGTON - The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program will resume Oct. 25, but with some significant changes to the popular program.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed or captured numerous insurgents during operations in various locations.

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - Soldiers' opinions are vital as the Defense Department looks at ways to make "smart" changes if Congress repeals the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - Tour lengths for troops assigned to South Korea and the Army’s deployment cycles were on the minds of soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division’s 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team when they met with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Camp Casey, South Korea.

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - The delay in shifting wartime operational control for forces to the South Korean military will give both countries time to forge a stronger, more effective alliance, said U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will visit the demilitarized zone with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and their South Korean counterparts in a show of the “steadfast” U.S. commitment to South Korea.

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Meetings between U.S. and South Korean defense leaders mark a reaffirmation of the commitment the United States showed in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea, said U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

SEOUL, South Korea - Planned military exercises with U.S. and South Korean troops are designed to send a strong, clear message to North Korea to stop its provocative and warlike acts, defense leaders from both countries said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. National Guard is sending 1,200 troops to the Southwest border states to provide temporary support for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

WASHINGTON - An Afghan-international security force killed and wounded several insurgents yesterday during an operation in Nimroz province, officials reported, and a top Taliban leader ordered subordinates to kill innocent Afghan civilians.

U.S. COAST GUARD STATION KEY WEST, Fla. - Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Carlos Camacho, an expert on his service’s newest class of boats, earned a prestigious award during his first tour-of-duty.

WASHINGTON - An aviation English language lab in Kabul, Afghanistan, is helping to equip Afghan airmen for the cockpit, where English is the standard language.

SEOUL, South Korea - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in Seoul, South Korea, for a visit intended to underscore the United States' commitment and provide a framework for further strengthening of an alliance between the two nations.

BUSAN, South Korea - The USS George Washington, the U.S. Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, will visit Busan, South Korea, July 21 to 25. It will host a reception and conduct a number of guided tours.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces killed or detained numerous enemy fighters and seized illegal drugs and weapons.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Two brothers, who wear different military uniforms, have found themselves not only deployed at the same time but also assigned to the same base.

WASHINGTON - Sending North Korea a strong message of deterrence and underscoring the strength of the U.S.-South Korean alliance are key aims of an upcoming visit to South Korea by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

CAMP CROPPER, Iraq - The last major U.S.-run detention facility officially was transferred to the Iraqi government.

WASHINGTON - Plastic sheet protectors for documents, a frank discussion and an 8x10 photo taped to the car seat -- these are a few of the tips Army spouse and mother Rebekah Sanderlin has come up with to help cope after more than a half-dozen deployments.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are committed to providing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses with contracting opportunities, Linda B. Oliver, the Pentagon's head of small business programs, told a House panel.

WASHINGTON - Military efforts along the Gulf Coast continue as part of the federal response force to clean up the oil spill with 1,900 Defense Department and associated personnel providing ongoing support.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has the opportunity to save billions of taxpayer dollars through acquisitions reform, but only if it grows its workforce with the right federal workers in place to oversee contracts.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces are making steady progress in Helmand province, Afghanistan, the commander of Regional Command Southwest said during a teleconference from Camp Leatherneck.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - Army 1st Lt. Jessica Larson gave up a lucrative private sector career designing airports to provide medical care to troops and residents in Iraq's Anbar province.

WASHINGTON - NATO's Combined Security Transition Command is working to educate Afghans to fill its army and police ranks, where illiteracy hovers around 90 percent.

WASHINGTON - Because Congress has yet to pass a supplemental funding bill, the Defense Department must start planning to take measures to ensure uninterrupted war operations, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has approved a program that will set up local police forces in towns and villages where the Taliban are attempting to infiltrate and intimidate the population, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will join with South Korean leaders in the first “2-plus-2” meetings in Seoul, South Korea, on July 21, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Trident Warrior, one of the largest and most complex annual U.S. Navy experiments, serves as a real-world lab for testing new technologies and innovations.

WASHINGTON - Preventing suicide among servicemembers and veterans calls for comprehensive education and communication, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested four suspected criminal associates of al-Qaida in Iraq members in operations in Baghdad and Taji with U.S. advisors.

WASHINGTON - Combined security forces detained suspected insurgents in separate operations while pursuing various Taliban leaders.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nelson "Gene" Blakey of Moweaqua, Ill., enlisted in March 1953 and retired June 1 from the Illinois National Guard.

WASHINGTON - The military has more than enough large transport planes, and the appropriation of any more in the next budget year will force some into premature retirement, Defense Department officials told a congressional panel.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - U.S. Transportation Command-coordinated airdrop missions in Afghanistan are providing record amounts of supplies to warfighters.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Hundreds of U.S. soldiers will return early from Iraq over the next two months, including some whose service was extended under "Stop Loss."

WASHINGTON - All active-duty services met or succeeded recruiting goals during June as many high school graduates entered the military.

WASHINGTON - Taliban fighters and an Afghan civilian were killed when insurgents made an unsuccessful attack on the village of Aalai Shahea in the Ghazni province.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Navy Ensign Ian Kriegish received his oath of commissioning from his uncle, Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, the commander of a unit in Afghanistan.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Soldiers, sailors and airmen assigned to Joint Task Force New Horizons have made major progress on their engineering and medical missions in Haiti.

WASHINGTON - Eight more homeland response force units will be established in fiscal year 2012 as regional forces that will cross state lines when needed.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department plans to publish a final regulation intended to improve access to health care and ease the claims process for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

WASHINGTON - Forty years ago, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, said, “I do” -- not just to each other, but to four decades in the Navy.

WASHINGTON - Submissions are now being accepted for the 2010 SAVE Award program, which asks federal employees to submit their ideas for eliminating government waste and saving American taxpayers’ money, President Barack Obama announced.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested several terrorism suspects in separate operations in Jululah, Baghdad, Sadiyah, Hawijah and Taji.

WASHINGTON - Afghan National Police and the subgovernor of Ghazni province thwarted an insurgent attack in Gahzni’s Khwajah Omari district.

FORT JACKSON, S.C. - Before coming to Fort Jackson, S.C., to train, Army Pfc. Joseph Mortensen spent his days sliding down frozen luge tracks around the world.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warriors, servicemembers and military families were honored during a Major League Baseball game between the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department will begin making it easier for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to obtain the benefits and treatment they need, President Barack Obama said in his weekly message, calling veteran care the nation’s “solemn responsibility.”

WASHINGTON - Survey responses on the possible repeal of the law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military will help leaders make informed decisions, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

WASHINGTON - Leaders of the new U.S. Cyber Command have a long to-do list in overseeing the military’s computer networks, including synchronizing what the services already have in place.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized enemy weapons and munitions.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested four terrorism suspects in Mosul and Kirkuk in separate operations.

WASHINGTON - The push to increase Afghanistan’s security forces to 305,000 members by October 2011 is ahead of schedule, but obstacles still remain.

EL PASO, Texas - Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Butler is a former Marine now serving as an instructor with the Texas Air National guard, preparing troops to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Noting the importance of the opinions of those most affected by a possible repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged servicemembers to provide their input.

WASHINGTON - The newly refurbished Three Servicemen Statue at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., was unveiled after six weeks of restoration.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department needs to cooperate with the media, but first needs to clean up its act in how it goes about it, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recommended Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis to be the next commander of U.S. Central Command. If confirmed by the Senate, Mattis will succeed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who now commands U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A joint assessment team has determined that a fatal air strike was the result of miscommunication between the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan forces.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are reaching throughout government and the private sector to lay the framework for long-term solutions in computer network security.

WASHINGTON - A program is equipping Defense Department employees with the skills needed to deploy for humanitarian, reconstruction and combat-support missions.

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan-international security force captured a Haqqani terrorist network bomb component facilitator and several other suspected insurgents in Khost province.

WASHINGTON - NATO Training Mission Afghanistan is developing a system that will help integrate training provided to Afghanistan’s security forces and civil servants.

TOLEDO, Ohio - Army Brig. Gen. John “Jack” O’Connor, commanding general of Army Materiel Command Southwest Asia, plans to follow in his father's military footsteps.

WASHINGTON - A Sudanese man pleaded guilty in a military commission to conspiracy and providing material support to al-Qaida in the five years leading up to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against the United States.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials have e-mailed surveys to 400,000 servicemembers as part of a review to prepare for a potential repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military.

WASHINGTON - The commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Afghanistan has made changes to improve command and control in the key province of Helmand.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces are making steady progress in Afghanistan, and the coalition and government are regaining the momentum from the Taliban, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command said.

WASHINGTON - A NATO and Afghanistan team is looking into the facts and circumstances surrounding an operation in which Afghan soldiers were killed and injured.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested three terrorism suspects, including two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members.

WASHINGTON - An Army officer emerged from a field of more than 700 applicants to earn a spot in a program designed to give participants hands-on experience with the inner workings of the U.S. government.

BAGHDAD - Criminal charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including transferring classified data onto a personal computer, have been preferred against a soldier assigned to the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - In a memo to senior civilian and military leaders, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reiterated the need for leaders to take media engagement seriously, and to stay within their levels of knowledge.

WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration is reminding military members that explosives are not allowed on commercial flights.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces conducted combined operations in Afghanistan’s Ghazni, Helmand and Logar provinces last night, detaining a Taliban commander and several suspected insurgents, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested 10 suspects with ties to various terrorist organizations.

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq - A deskbound pilot is managing two “advise-and-assist” brigades as they swap places for the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the beginning of Operation New Dawn.

CAMP PROSPERITY, Iraq - Reintegration, education and support for single soldiers’ families were among the issues Texas Army National Guard soldiers raised during a discussion with Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden.

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan’s army, with help from the NATO training mission, is working to increase its growth and develop leaders.

WASHINGTON - A Major League Baseball game in the nation's capital marked the kick-off of the USO’s “Me and a Friend” program, which provides free tickets to major league sporting events, theater performances, museums and other venues for military children and their friends.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - As Americans back home celebrated with fireworks and festivities, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, opted to spend their Fourth of July holiday in Iraq, thanking U.S. troops for the service and sacrifice that help to ensure the nation remains free.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, presided over a naturalization ceremony in Iraq to honor 156 servicemembers who earned their U.S. citizenship through service to the nation.

WASHINGTON - As the nation observed Independence Day, First Lady Michelle Obama issued a statement urging Americans to support servicemembers and their families.

WASHINGTON - The objective in Afghanistan is to win, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said as he formally assumed command of the International Security Force in Afghanistan.

BAGHDAD - The United States is on track or ahead of schedule to end its combat mission in Iraq this summer, and the lack of a permanent government there will not serve as a deterrent to that plan, senior administration officials traveling with Vice President Joe Biden said.

BAGHDAD - Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, arrived in Baghdad for a surprise visit to celebrate Independence Day with U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials have notified 33 agency employees who are facing suspension or termination after they were found ineligible to meet the sensitivity requirements of their job.

WASHINGTON - In recognition of Independence Day, President Barack Obama issued a statement praising the women and men who protect our nation, noting their sacrifices in the name of freedom "have been extraordinary."

WASHINGTON - Insurgents conducted a vehicle-borne bombing attack on an International Security Assistance Force combat outpost west of Kandahar City.

WASHINGTON - The nation’s top military officer and the USO of Metropolitan Washington teamed up for the Pentagon’s first Operation USO Care Package stuffing party for servicemembers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, salutes military members serving at home, those deployed overseas in harm's way, and their families, while wishing all a happy and safe Fourth of July.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s efforts to have more language-qualified servicemembers are beginning to pay off.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials are reaching out to top scientists to solve emerging issues in the development of renewable energies, such as the effect of wind turbines on radar.

WASHINGTON - One year after U.S. forces withdrew from Iraqi cities, Iraqi security forces have proven themselves capable of conducting independent operations.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces killed an al-Qaida in Iraq financier and arrested three terrorism suspects.

WASHINGTON - Military leaders are working hard to create the same kind of support network for the reserve components that exists for active duty military members and their families, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife in a joint podcast.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. - Air Force Chief Master Sgt. George Vasiloff played a round of golf alongside Tiger Woods at the AT&T National Pro-AM at Aronomink Country Club in Newtown Square, Pa.

FORT CARSON, Colo. - On Independence Day, Army Capt. Fred Babauta marks the fifth anniversary of his awakening from an 11-day coma after being wounded by an improvised explosive device in Ramadi, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and international security forces conducted numerous operations capturing a Taliban district chief and killing or capturing other insurgents.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq member and two suspected criminal terrorist associates.

WASHINGTON - India is an increasingly important partner to the United States, and the relationship between the nations is maturing, the undersecretary of defense for policy told members of the Asia Society.

WASHINGTON - A soldier is undergoing a procedure at a National Marrow Donor Program clinic to donate his bone marrow to help save the life of a man he’s never met.

WASHINGTON - Military partnerships between the United States and Colombia are “absolutely vital” to global peace and security, the top U.S. military officer told graduates of the Columbian naval cadet school in Cartegena.

WASHINGTON - Unity of purpose in Afghanistan is essential to winning the counterinsurgency fight, the new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan said during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Belgium.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan National Police force needs to grow, and be able to train itself for the NATO mission there to be successful.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Key U.S. defense, military and NATO leaders met this week to discuss efforts to enable civil and military forces to operate in and secure global shared and ungoverned spaces such as outer space, international waters, airspace and cyberspace.

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - Commanders fighting the battles in Afghanistan and Iraq need a better “common operating picture” for supplies and other logistical requirements, Army Lt. Gen. Kathleen M. Gainey, the Joint Staff’s logistics director, said during a speech in Germany.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s readiness reporting system, designed to provide an overview of a unit’s capabilities, is nearily fully operational.