WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured 18 suspected terrorists, including several wanted men, during operations throughout Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces have killed more than 220 militants during ongoing operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

BATON ROUGE, La. - More than 7,000 citizen-soldiers and -airmen are assisting local authorities with evacuation and security efforts in New Orleans and performing dozens of other missions across the state as Hurricane Gustav approaches.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the activation of all available Louisiana National Guard forces to assist with emergency operations in preparation for Hurricane Gustav.

WASHINGTON - Double the amount of available equipment compared to when Hurricane Katrina struck three years ago will strengthen the National Guard’s response to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, the National Guard Bureau’s director of domestic operations said.

WASHINGTON - Local, state and federal agencies are coordinating responses well in advance of Tropical Storm Gustav's anticipated landfall as a Category 3 hurricance.

WASHINGTON - The Reserve Health Readiness Program ensures that reserve-component servicemembers have the ability and access to meet their deployment requirements.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained eight suspected terrorists as they continued to run down the al-Qaida in Iraq network, especially in the Hamrin Mountains region.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed more than two dozen militants and detained two others during two operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - A group of family members, survivors and first responders visited the nearly completed 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and described what it means to them.

WASHINGTON - Though every chaplain in today’s military has important roles, Muslim chaplains are called upon often to support units in Iraq and Afghanistan because of their expertise and cultural influence, said a military chaplain at the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON - The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is one of the most complex periods for coalition forces to conduct operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and being culturally aware of the environment is critically important, military officials at the Pentagon said.

WASHINGTON - With more than 250,000 U.S. troops serving throughout the Middle East -- including Iraq and Afghanistan -- a U.S. Army Muslim chaplain said the need for understanding Islamic culture is as important as basic soldiering skills.

WASHINGTON - Improvements in the security situation south of Baghdad have enabled economic and political progress, and the continued development of the Iraqi security forces will advance those gains, a U.S. commander said.

WASHINGTON - Military members receive some buffers from hard times through benefits like housing and meal allowances, commissaries and a strong support network. But they feel the crunch of increasing prices like everyone else.

WASHINGTON - Personal finance expert and motivational speaker Suze Orman spoke to American Forces Press Service about taking her wealth-building formula to the troops.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Through Emergency Management Assistance Compacts, National Guard members from around the country are signing up to support states in the path of Tropical Storm Gustav.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - As central and northern Florida communities recover from Tropical Storm Fay's flood waters, Florida’s Department of Military Affairs and the state’s National Guard are refitting and shifting focus to the potential effects of other storms.

WASHINGTON - With Armed Forces Voters Week underway, a federal program has launched a full-court press to get troops, their families and Defense Department civilians the absentee ballots they need to vote in the upcoming election.

WASHINGTON - The husband and wife who designed the Pentagon Memorial spent a misty afternoon with their creation before its public opening.

BATON ROUGE, La. - As Tropical Storm Gustav gains strength and approaches the Gulf Coast, about 3,000 Louisiana citizen-soldiers and -airmen have been activated in support of emergency operations and are prepared to support civil missions and assist with various needs and emergencies expected to arise across the state.

WASHINGTON - Starting a business requires cold, hard cash and moral support, both of which are now available to military spouses through a Virginia-based organization.

WASHINGTON - Though Iraq’s military medical system has gained significant capability over the past five years, recruiting qualified physicians remains a challenge, the coalition’s top advisor to the Iraqi surgeon general said.

BAGHDAD - Since moving from Sadr City to Multinational Division Center, helicopter pilots from the 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, have seen improvements in security and a more relaxed operational tempo.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - With the robust nature of the provincial reconstruction team mission in Afghanistan’s Konar province, some sailors find themselves contributing to the mission in ways they never imagined.

WASHINGTON - Oshkosh Corp. is slated to receive the Defense Department’s top award for supporting its employees who volunteer to serve in the National Guard and reserves.

GALESBURG, Ill. - Army Staff Sgt. Norris Crooks, who has served from Vietnam to Iraq, is about to hang up his combat boots after nearly 40 years.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Marines in Afghanistan face daunting challenges in legitimizing the Afghan police and turning them into an effective counter-terrorist force, but perseverance and focus have served them well, a Marine officer said.

WASHINGTON - Thousands of National Guard troops are mobilizing as Tropical Storm Gustav moves toward the Gulf Coast, where it is expected to make landfall within days as a Category 3 hurricane.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in the Madain community south of Baghdad are shifting their efforts from offensive operations to improving central services and further developing the local government.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed the security situation in Iraq, the need for more U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the Georgia challenge during a Pentagon news conference.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Pakistani military leaders continued their ongoing dialogue about the war on terrorism during a meeting aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indian Ocean.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed more than 100 enemy fighters during combat operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan - The National Guard Bureau chief visited guard troops in Afghanistan, thanking them for being citizen-soldiers willing to respond to the nation's needs.

NORTH ARABIAN SEA - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln at sea, thanking sailors and telling them: "Hands down, you're the best I've ever seen."

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained nine suspected terrorists, including two alleged al-Qaida in Iraq leaders, and found an improvised explosive device during operations in Baghdad and the Hamrin Mountains region of Diyala province.

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard Cutter Dallas has finished off-loading humanitarian aid in the Georgian city of Batumi and has left port, a Defense Department official said.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Iraqi army maintenance soldiers were honored for their recent achievements during a ceremony at the Taji Level III Wheeled Vehicle Maintenance Facility.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps, like the Army, is “still waiting for that technological breakthrough” to build a combat vehicle that’s light and agile, but also protects crewmembers inside, the Marine Corps commandant said.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi National Police once owned an unenviable reputation for unreliability, but that has all changed, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Doctors from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research are trying a regenerative medicine powder in hopes of stimulating tissue growth in soldiers with missing extremities.

WASHINGTON - The National Military Family Association is awarding significantly more scholarships to military spouses, now returning to school in record numbers.

WASHINGTON - The founder and president of a troop-support group in the Defense Department’s America Supports You program will be honored for her efforts.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department and U.S. European Command stand ready to assist to save lives and relieve suffering during the humanitarian crisis in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a EuCom official said.

BAGHDAD - A human resources specialist serving in Iraq uses his love of singing to help get him through his deployment.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Coalition air forces unleashed a new precision-guided weapon when two F-16 pilots employed a GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition against a moving enemy vehicle in Diyala province.

WASHINGTON - Russia’s invasion of the former Soviet republic of Georgia was unjustified, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told members of the American Legion veterans group.

WASHINGTON - The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is one of 15 organizations receiving the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for supporting military workers.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard has enlisted two superstars to attract new members and remind those already serving what the Guard is all about.

WASHINGTON - The United States will maintain its commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of its offensive strategy to defeat global terrorism, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told American Legion members in Phoenix.

WASHINGTON - Iraq’s once-deadly Anbar province could become the 11th province to be turned over to Iraqi control, paving the way for a reduced U.S. Marine Corps presence there, the Marine Corps commandant said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan security forces detained four militants and killed more than a dozen others in separate operations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed three terrorists - two of whom were wearing suicide vests - and detained six suspects, including an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq leader, in Iraq’s Diyala province.

WASHINGTON - Military Spouse magazine is accepting nominations for its 2009 Military Spouse of the Year award, which recognizes military spouses’ myriad contributions.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - Army Spc. Timothy Roy serves his country, and the needy.

BEIDA, Iraq - In what was once a recruiting hotbed for terrorists in northern Baghdad, community leaders gathered to celebrate the reopening of a pool complex.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - In a matter of days, American and Australian combat engineers completed the emplacement of two Mabey Johnson bridges in eastern Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, has asked his fellow mayors around the nation to publicly declare their support for their military employees.

MIAMI - The Defense Department soon will reach a new milestone as U.S. Southern Command completes a major reorganization.

WASHINGTON - President Bush condemned what he called Russia’s “irresponsible decision” to recognize the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

BEIJING - Air Force Capt. Eli Bremer, an Air Force World Class Athlete Program modern pentathlete, finished 23rd in the Olympic men’s modern pentathlon in Beijing.

WASHINGTON - Though “significant Russian movements” have taken place in Georgia, Russia still is not living up to the terms of the cease-fire agreement, a senior Defense Department official said.

SCOTT AIR FOCE BASE, Ill. - Two military commands dealing with transportation and distribution have announced a new automated system to move the household goods of troops and government civilians.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured two suspected Kataib Hezbollah associates during operations in Baghdad.

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - Elmo and other "Sesame Street" stars are traveling to 43 military installations across the country to help kids and families adapt to loved ones' deployments and returns.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - An Iraqi agricultural official signs a document that will go into a time capsule to mark a new beginning for farmers in Iraq's Babil province.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Two tours in Iraq have helped an Army corporal develop into an effective leader.

WASHINGTON - The agreement between the United States and Poland on ballistic missile defense is important for the two countries' relationship and for NATO, a senior State Department official said.

WASHINGTON - The Military Health System is planning a late-September update to its behavioral health Web site, AfterDeployment.org.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department employee who lost her sister in the Sept. 11, 2001, Pentagon attack works to honor her memory.

WASHINGTON - The Coast Guard is testing and compiling initial lessons learned from its ongoing Arctic operations.

WASHINGTON - As military veterans who understand the sacrifices troops make, top leaders of the law firm Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice have created a military-friendly workplace.

BAGHDAD - Coalition forces captured two suspected senior al-Qaida in Iraq leaders, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Russia continues to defy international calls for the country to pull its forces out of Georgia as aid operations proceed, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq detained nine suspected terrorists, including five wanted men, during operations around the country targeting al-Qaida in Iraq leaders.

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. - A 10-man relay team arrived at Arlington National Cemetery after completing a cross-country run to honor all the American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - A staff sergeant serving in Baghdad lost 50 pounds by revamping his physical fitness routine and is now training to run a marathon.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq - Members of the Sons of Iraq have started the transition from neighborhood guardians to full-fledged members of the Iraqi security forces on Forward Operating Base War Eagle.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - An Afghan family who returned to Panjshir province after the fall of the Taliban is donating land for an eight-room girls' school. The family doesn't want local girls to have to leave the area to get an education.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition forces killed “multiple militants” during an operation to disrupt militant activities in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces caught 11 terrorism suspects while targeting al-Qaida in Iraq bombing and leadership networks across Iraq.

TBILISI, Georgia - The commander of U.S. European Command traveled to Georgia to ensure the U.S. relief effort is proceeding smoothly.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military has delivered more than 1 million pounds of humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia, and plans to continue its aid missions.

WASHINGTON - The United States needs to strengthen its defenses against those who would target the country’s financial, business and military computer systems, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said.

WASHINGTON - The Oak Ridge Boys will perform at the 4th Annual National America Supports You Freedom Walk at the Pentagon on Sept. 7.

WASHINGTON - Although some movement of Russian troops in Georgia has occurred, it’s difficult to determine whether it’s an indication of withdrawal or just a repositioning of forces, a Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Labor Department launched a Web site called “America’s Heroes at Work” to help veterans afflicted with traumatic-brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder succeed in the workplace.

WASHINGTON - During the Democratic and Republican national conventions, Homes for Our Troops will present a wounded veteran from each of the communities where the conventions are being held with keys to a specially adapted home.

WASHINGTON - Being chosen to design the Pentagon Memorial that will be dedicated here Sept. 11 is an achievement that may never be topped in an architect’s career, one of the Pentagon Memorial’s lead designers said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Multiple militants were killed and one was detained by coalition forces during an operation to disrupt militant activities in Afghanistan's Kapisa province.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces picked up two suspected associates of the Kataib Hezbollah criminal network in Baghdad’s New Baghdad district

BAGHDAD - With coalition soldiers providing security, the 11th Iraqi Army Division delivered medical supplies and treated citizens in the Sadr City district.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Army Majs. Lesley and Dennis Ortiz are married, stationed in Baghdad and serving as logistics staff officers in the latest move in their parallel military careers.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Recent fighting between the Taliban and Pakistani forces in Pakistan’s Bajwar Agency has forced thousands of families – many of whom fled to Pakistan after the 1979 Soviet invasion – to cross into Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - The Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, with headquarters in Reno, Nev., excels at supporting its employees who serve in the military.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - As Tropical Storm Fay moved slowly up Florida's east coast and caused flooding in coastal communities, members of the Florida National Guard continued to support the storm relief efforts by first responders.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she and her Polish counterpart agreed to place 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland to defend against threats from Iran and North Korea, not to weaken Russia.

WASHINGTON - Anticipation is key to protecting the United States against threats from air, land, sea, cyberspace and even Mother Nature, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said.

WASHINGTON - Washington and Baghdad are close to reaching a status of forces agreement, but negotiations on the deal to determine the future U.S. military role in Iraq are ongoing, a Defense Department official said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - More than 30 militants are dead after Afghan National Army commandos and coalition forces conducted a cordon-and-search operation in Laghman province to disrupt suspected Taliban safe havens and roadside-bombing cells.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Leaders from coalition and Iraqi security forces have confirmed the situation in Iraq’s Wasit province is stable after the Georgian government redeployed the 1st Georgian Brigade to help with its domestic crisis.

WASHINGTON - The United Warrior Survivors Foundation will host its fifth annual West Coast Survivors Conference Aug. 22-25 in San Diego.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces detained 15 suspected terrorists during continuing operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq's influence around the country.

WASHINGTON - A group of American Humvees seized by Russian forces in Georgia should be returned immediately, a Defense Department official said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Thanks to the efforts of the Afghan government and U.S. forces, Bagram Village Girls High School reopened Aug. 19 with three new classrooms, running water, a fresh coat of paint, new desks and a wall surrounding the perimeter.

BAGHDAD - Army Spc. Noe Barrientos, a combat engineer deployed to Baghdad, is taking advantage of the opportunities the National Guard offers to further his education and become a U.S. citizen.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Tricare military health system’s 9.2 million beneficiaries now have an easy way to receive the latest newsletters and stay informed about changes in coverage, pharmacy updates and other news.

WASHINGTON - Military families, mental health professionals, educators and pastors are among those invited to attend an educational seminar addressing issues facing military families who don’t live near installations.

NAPLES, Italy - Two U.S. Navy ships and a Coast Guard cutter are transporting humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia.

PANAMA CITY, Panama - Participants in the Fuerzas Aliadas-Panamax exercise under way in Central America and the United States are helping to ensure the real-life lessons they learned during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan get translated into the training environment.

WASHINGTON - Influencing, countering and ultimately defeating regional threat networks in the greater Middle East will require an interagency and international approach, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - The United States is beholden to troops fighting the war against terrorism and to veterans who served in past conflicts, President Bush said at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Orlando, Fla.

WASHINGTON - A new campaign, America’s Heroes at Work, aims to ease the transition to employment for employees afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury.

WASHINGTON - When they found out one of their own was going overseas with the Tennessee National Guard, the leaders and employees of Lochinvar Corp. worked together to help him and his unit.

WASHINGTON - The United States remains steadfast in its support of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, President Bush pledged to U.S. military veterans.

WASHINGTON - The United States must remain on the offensive to defeat global terrorism, President Bush told U.S. military veterans in Orlando, Fla.

JOINT SECURITY STATION ZAFARANIYAH, Iraq - Army Pfc. Jonathon Owens is a cannon crewmember, but has yet to touch a cannon since his arrival to eastern Baghdad in November.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 15 suspected terrorists and found two weapons caches in operations throughout Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Unofficial reports indicate that Russian troops have begun to withdraw from the Georgian town of Gori, a senior Defense Department spokesman said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Through a program in which Afghan people can turn in munitions for money, troops on Forward Operating Base Methar Lam have received rocket-propelled grenades, hand grenades and even a couple of suicide vests.

WASHINGTON - More than 100 runners are expected to participate in a 99-mile run Aug. 23-24 hosted by a North Carolina-based group to honor the 117 state residents who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - When Army Staff Sgt. David Cox looks at a map of Baghdad and sees the neighborhoods that form a little block in the southern part of the city, he realizes how tenuous a position his fellow soldiers are in.

PANAMA CITY, Panama - A Walt Disney moviemaker is one of many civilian movers and shakers the U.S. military invited to Panama to observe an exercise in which forces from 20 countries confront a fictional terrorist group.

PANAMA CITY, Panama - The annual Fuerzas Aliadas Panamax exercise is a 20-nation coalition that has committed about 7,000 troops, more than 30 ships and a dozen aircraft to countering the fictional Liberation Martyrs’ Brigade.

ST. PETE’S BEACH, Fla. - Scientists and battlefield medical clinicians shared their knowledge and experiences to advance medicine during the military’s premier trauma care conference.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. forces here are using commercial banking services to bolster Afghanistan’s economy by putting about $100 million worth of monthly business transactions into private banks.

BEIJING - In his fourth and possibly final Olympics, Army World Class Athlete Program Maj. Michael Anti just missed making the final and finished ninth in the 50-meter rifle prone event in Beijing.

WASHINGTON - A suspected member of an Iranian-backed “special group” turned into an informant for coalition forces, and Iraqi and coalition forces detained 16 suspected terrorists and several weapons caches, military officials reported.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Ahmed Adnan Hashim is passionate about yogurt. He’s also passionate about cheese and cream and the other products produced at the Nu-Nu factory in Bada, a small town in the northern part of Iraq’s Babil province.

WASHINGTON - Russia’s actions in Georgia are isolating Moscow from the international community, Secretary of State of Condoleezza Rice said in Brussels, Belgium.

WASHINGTON - Ten French soldiers were killed in Afghanistan when their patrol was attacked by Taliban fighters in Kabul province, U.S. officials said.

WASHINGTON - Two militants were killed and six were detained during separate coalition operations in Afghanistan yesterday, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Union Pacific’s support efforts for military employees range from benefits to care packages. For its efforts, it will receive the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

WASHINGTON - Caring kids from a Florida neighborhood recently turned a simple lemonade stand into a fundraiser to help out an area troop-support group.

WASHINGTON - At least 14 Arizona Army National Guard soldiers and two Black Hawk helicopters assisted in the evacuation and care of residents and campers near the Grand Canyon after heavy rains cut off routes.

AMARAH, Iraq - A T-shirt was the only incentive Pfc. Jacob McHenry needed to re-enlist for three more years on the Army's front lines.

BEIJING - Army Maj. David Johnson, the Team USA rifle coach, survived another Matt Emmons moment in Beijing, as Emmons reprised his unsuccessful performance in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

STUTTGART, Germany - U.S. European Command is coordinating sustained airlift support as the United States continues to send humanitarian supplies and medical supplies to the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

BEIJING - U.S. Army Pfc. Vincent Hancock set two Olympic records and prevailed in a four-target shoot-off to win the gold medal in men’s skeet.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed an unknown number of armed militants and seized a suspect in Afghanistan, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces captured 14 suspects and seized scores of weapons and munitions in Iraq.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Florida National Guard activated about 125 soldiers and airmen to prepare for Tropical Storm Fay as it approached the state's southern tip.

WASHINGTON - From Mosul in the north to Basra in the south, insurgent violence in Iraq continues to decrease as stability visibly increases, a senior U.S. military officer in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered “deep gratitude” to outgoing Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for his commitment in the war against terrorism and extremism.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military has delivered $2 million worth of humanitarian aid to Georgia in an ongoing effort to relieve the war-torn former Soviet republic that came under Russian attack.

WASHINGTON - Diminishing the threat from violent extremism is the U.S. military’s top priority, but not its only priority, a top Defense Department policy official said.

KIRKUK, Iraq - Thirty-seven Iraqi women started training at the Kirkuk Police Academy, where officials say the recruits are the first females in a year and the class size is unprecedented.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq - An Army mechanic who earned a Combat Action Badge uses his knowledge of weapon systems to benefit others.

WASHINGTON - Coastal Windows, a small Hawaii company that applies its philosophy of taking care of all its employees to those who serve part-time in the military, is being awarded the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

WASHINGTON - For more than 60 years, a group of California-based volunteers has worked to ensure that hospitalized veterans don't get “no” for an answer.

TRANSINNE, Belgium - Military high school students got a chance to learn more about the cosmos at a military-sponsored space camp at Euro Space Center in Transinne, Belgium.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed at least 30 armed militants during fierce fighting in Afghanistan over the past week, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained dozens of suspects and seized scores of weapons and munitions in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed skepticism that Moscow would quickly remove its forces from Georgia, despite a reported pledge by the Russian president to begin a drawdown.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she expects Russia, which reportedly signed a cease-fire deal with Georgia, will begin to withdraw its forces “expeditiously” from the former Soviet republic.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military flights that have delivered humanitarian assistance to Georgia this week will continue in the days ahead, President Bush said.

WASHINGTON - The transport of more than 1,800 Georgian soldiers from Iraq to Tbilisi and humanitarian supplies from Germany to Georgia highlights the flexibility and responsiveness the U.S. military manifests.

WASHINGTON - A cease-fire agreement signed by the president of the former Soviet republic of Georgia calls for Russian troops to immediately leave his country, America’s senior diplomat said in the Georgian capital.

WASHINGTON - Citizens of Iraq’s Babil province feel secure, and overall quality of life in the area is improving due to the efforts of Iraqi and coalition forces, a U.S. commander said.

WASHINGTON - The economic downturn that has hit many Americans appears to have had less impact on U.S. servicemembers, partly because of the nature of military service and partly due to the vast network of support available to help them, defense officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coast Guardsmen soon will be training to join Navy SEAL teams, a senior Coast Guard officer said.

WASHINGTON - Justin Dumais and his younger brother, Troy, competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics as synchronized divers. This year, Air Force 1st Lt. Justin Dumais is an F-16 student in Arizona and his younger brother is in Beijing competing solo.

WASHINGTON - With fall general elections approaching, U.S. servicemembers and civilians living overseas should be thinking about obtaining absentee ballots to vote, the Defense Department’s senior voting official said.

WASHINGTON - Three American diplomats and a French soldier who died 13 years ago on a hillside road outside of Sarajevo are remembered warmly by Bosnians, as well as U.S. Air Guard members who worked to maintain a memorial there.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed dozens of militants and detained eight others in separate operations the past three days in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The latest National Guard State Partnership Program project was completed Aug. 13, as U.S. Air National Guardsmen and Bosnian troops put the final touches on the Vuk Karadzic Elementary School in Vlasenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 10 suspected terrorists and found numerous weapons caches in recent operations in Baghdad and other areas of Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - Listeners who log on to listen to Stardust Radio’s “Talking with Heroes” program on Aug. 17 will learn how they can honor veterans past and present and commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Iraqi forces will partner with the U.S. Army’s 41st Fires Brigade in Wasit province to fill the void left when 1st Georgian Brigade redeployed home during its country’s crisis with Russia.

STUTTGART, Germany - Humanitarian aid to the former Soviet republic of Georgia continued, as two U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft arrived in the capital of Tbilisi, carrying emergency shelter items and medical supplies.

WASHINGTON - Four years after he became the first active-duty servicemember to compete for the United States at the Paralympic Games, a sailor assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego will compete again next month for gold in track and field.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Today, unmanned aerial vehicles are an imperative asset for troops on the ground. This is especially true for Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers who conduct daily missions in and around the Iraqi capital.

WASHINGTON - President Bush pledged that the United States will support the former Soviet republic of Georgia in its time of need, as Russian troops still occupy parts of the country.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will debut a new strategy next year that involves troops being on guard to protect fellow servicemembers from potential sexual assaults, a senior Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - Exactly four weeks before the Pentagon Memorial’s official dedication, Jim Laychak -- the brother of a victim of the 2001 attack and a driving force behind the memorial -- said he never doubted the dream of creating a memorial to those killed in the attack would come to fruition.

YOKOSUKA, Japan - An officer assigned to Submarine Group 7, along with two other sailors and a Navy civilian, are preparing for a special charity event -- scaling Mount Fuji four times in 24 hours.

WASHINGTON - With their invasion of Georgia, the Russians are sending a message not only to neighbors, but also to the world, of the dangers of integrating with the West, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - More than 100 local women took part in discussions at the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team Women's Shura to address ongoing issues and improve their villages in the Anaba district.

WASHINGTON - The humanitarian mission under way in Georgia is intended to alleviate suffering for now and will move into longer-range help in the future, Defense Dept. leaders said at a Pentagon news conference.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Leaders from Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad came together recently for the grand opening of a new landmark in local security for Iraqis in southwestern Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed an enemy fighter, detained 10 suspected terrorists and found weapons during recent operations throughout Baghdad, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Security operations in Iraq’s Diyala province have achieved success, in part, because coalition and Iraqi forces are working with the support of Iraqi citizens, a senior U.S. Army officer in Baghdad said.

BEIJING - After being eliminated from the quarterfinals of the Olympic Greco-Roman 120-kilogram wrestling tournament, Army Staff Sgt. Dremiel Byers vowed to continue his quest for an Olympic medal at the 2012 London Games.

WASHINGTON - Countries around the world are looking at Russia "through new lenses" following its aggression against the former Soviet republic of Georgia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - To help strengthen separated families’ relationships, a nonprofit group is promoting a "read aloud" program to foster communication between deployed soldiers and their children or other young people they mentor.

TBILISI, Georgia - A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport jet departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport, delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

WASHINGTON - Iraq was left behind in the information-technology revolution for 25 years under Saddam Hussein’s regime while the rest of the world moved on, a military official said this week.

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - The U.S. Army’s 21st Theater Sustainment Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe began working Aug. 12 to begin emergency humanitarian assistance for the people of the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

WASHINGTON - Two troop-support groups hosted a “Military Showers of Appreciation” for 15 expectant military mothers July 27 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. diplomat and an Army civil affairs officer teamed up in Iraq to aid local development and stabilization efforts in Salahuddin province. They recalled those efforts in a Pentagon interview.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military-led mission to provide humanitarian aid in Georgia will be “continuous and robust,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. She also called on Russia to keep open the lines of communication and transportation during relief efforts.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - A senior advisor to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq visited Babil province, Iraq, to meet with military and civilian leaders.

UMM QASR, Iraq - As part of Iraq Navy Day celebrations, USS Firebolt made a port visit to Umm Qasr, marking the first visit by a U.S. ship to Iraq in more than 15 months.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials are assessing ways to better prepare servicemembers for the stresses of combat so they’re better able to avoid alcohol-related problems when they return home, defense officials said.

WASHINGTON - A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft will touch down in Tbilisi, Georgia, delivering the first of what may turn into many planeloads of humanitarian relief to the nation, Pentagon officials said.

BEIJING - At age 56, Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Elizabeth “Libby” Callahan became the oldest U.S. woman competitor in Olympic history with a 25th-place finish in the women’s 25-meter pistol shooting event at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Affectionately named the “Moose,” the C-17 Globemaster III transport jet is only three signatures away from finding a new home at Papa Air Base, Hungary. After years of planning, NATO members and partners are close to gaining access to three C-17s to share for their national requirements, including NATO missions in Afghanistan.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Leaders from the U.S. intelligence community hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Joint-Use Intelligence Analysis Facility at Rivanna Station, Va., which will house defense analysts.

WASHINGTON - Comedian Kathy Griffin's visit to wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center is the subject of an episode of her Bravo cable network series "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List."

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan troops killed five enemy fighters, detained three suspects and treated a teenage girl injured by a militant grenade attack during recent operations in Afghanistan, military officials said.

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

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Senior Airman Justin Jones combines art and dentistry as the Air Force's only maxillofacial prosthetic technician. He uses the specialty to help servicemembers with severe facial injuries.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Iraqi teenagers are learning job skills and contributing to their communities as part of a summer youth program to clean up the Taji Market, northwest of Baghdad, under the guidance of a 25th Infantry Dvision team.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military will head humanitarian relief operations in Georgia, President Bush said. A C-17 aircraft already has been deployed to deliver the first round of supplies.

BEIJING - Spc. Walton Glenn Eller III, of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, set two Olympic records en route to winning a gold medal in double trap at the Beijing Shooting Range.

WASHINGTON - A transport company in Salinas, Utah, has received the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for its support of its National Guard and Reserve employees.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The talents of 21 military members and civilians, combined with the work of about 1,000 Afghan nationals, makes for a steady flow of projects to improve and expand Bagram Airfield.

WASHINGTON - New Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz pledged to fix his service’s acquisition woes and mishandling of nuclear weapons.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia to deliver on its pledge to cease fire in Georgia, as the United States draws up humanitarian aid plans in the wake of recent fighting in the former Soviet republic.

WASHINGTON - Behavioral health issues affecting veterans returning from deployment took center stage during the first day of a three-day conference in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON - Servicemembers traveling for official business, including deployments, will continue to receive full reimbursement for reasonable, authorized excess baggage fees, defense officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 23 suspects and seized weapons caches in Iraq, military officials said. Coalition forces in the Adhamiyah section of Baghdad detained four suspects, including a wanted man who is an alleged associate of an Iranian-backed group known as Kataib Hezbollah.

BEIJING - Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Bret Erickson, a former member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, finished in a four-way tie for 21st place in the trap event in the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 10.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he has no doubt the new Air Force chief of staff will “give his all” to the job. Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz became the Air Force’s 19th chief of staff during a ceremony on Bolling Air Force Base.

WASHINGTON - The United States has redeployed some 2,000 Georgian troops from Iraq to their home country, where a contingent of fewer than 100 American military personnel remain, a Defense Department spokesman said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 1,000 residents of Ud Kheil village were treated by Afghan medical staff and received medicine, vitamins and personal items through a joint assistance operation conducted by New York Army National Guard, Afghan and British soldiers Aug. 7.

BEIJING - Army Spc. Glenn Eller won the gold medal in double trap shooting at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, setting an Olympic record with a total score of 190.

WASHINGTON - The Navy’s budding civil affairs force will help sustain U.S. military humanitarian efforts in developing countries, the force’s commander told online journalists and bloggers in an Aug. 8 teleconference.

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq - The Uthman School in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, officially reopened Aug. 6 after extensive renovations which included the addition of classrooms and rewiring of the electrical system.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Army Pvt. Ryan Bruin joined the Army for steady pay, but is seizing the opportunity to learn from his superiors.

WASHINGTON - While soldiers who have competed so far as part of Team USA in Beijing have fallen short of medal performances, more opportunities are scheduled throughout the upcoming week.

WASHINGTON - President Bush expressed deep concern over reports that Russia has escalated a conflict with Georgia, calling the ramped-up moves by Moscow “unacceptable in the 21st century,” and urging the country to accept a peace agreement.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Baghdad Zoo officially welcomed two Siberian-Bengal tigers, Riley and Hope, to its animal kingdom Aug. 8. The Conservators' Center in North Carolina donated the tigers.

WASHINGTON - The Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control is teaching sailors and Marines how to deal with everyday and combat-related stress starting at the beginning of their military careers.

WASHINGTON - A change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulations authorizes the military to pay to move troops and their families whose landlords default on property the military members are renting.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. is honoring its commitment to Georgia to help redeploy troops in an emergency from Iraq to its home country, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - All 10 military components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in July, with the Marine Corps leading the active-duty and the Air National Guard exceeding other reserves.

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - An airman has helped save hundreds of work hours by creating a cleaning process to expedite Globemaster nose-wheel bolts for inspection.

WASHINGTON - While the security situation in northern Iraq has improved, governors of the four provinces there do not believe it is time for provincial Iraqi control, the coalition commander in the region said.

WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers have detained a suspected Iranian-trained “Special Groups” militia leader during an operation in the Rusafa district of eastern Baghdad.

WASHINGTON - A California group is helping troops gain civilian job experience before they reenter civilian life.

WASHINGTON - Serving in the military comes naturally for the people of the Choctaw Nation because they have strong ties to the country and are passionate about protecting their families and homes. Now they’re being honored for their efforts.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Forty-one National Auxiliary Police officers graduated from a new training course necessary for them to transition to Afghan National Police.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan national security forces and coalition forces have fought militants in a series of engagements that left 25 militants and eight noncombatants dead in Khas Oruzgan district of Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province.

BAGHDAD - Two Bengal tiger cubs, a goodwill gift from the North Carolina Conservators' Center, have settled into their new home in the Baghdad Zoo.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi navy teams with coalition forces in conducting important maritime security missions, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Afghanistan captured three suspected militants during an operation designed to disrupt terrorist networks in Paktika province, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq captured eight suspected terrorists during operations in and around Baghdad and another in Mosul.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker issued a joint statement condemning the Aug. 8, 2008, terrorist suicide bombing that killed 25 citizens in Tal Afar, Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Bush called for an end to hostilities in South Ossetia that are pitting Georgian forces against Russian troops and regional separatists.

KINGSTON, R.I. - Sixteen civilian supporters of the Rhode Island National Guard got an idea of what military paratroopers would experience during Leapfest 2008.

WASHINGTON - The Afghanistan government has proposed to nearly double the size of its army to about 120,000 soldiers over the next five years, senior Pentagon officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has proposed to make U.S. Army Gen. David D. McKiernan commander of both NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan, a senior Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - Congressional defense committees have approved a request to reprogram $1.2 billion so the Defense Department can beef up intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in U.S. Central Command, defense officials said.

WASHINGTON - Efforts to improve care for wounded warriors transitioning from the Defense Department to the Veterans Affairs system won’t be disrupted by upcoming changes in department leadership, the No. 2 VA official said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained several suspected terrorists and found weapons during recent operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed enemy fighters and detained three suspected terrorists during operations in the Giro district of Afghanistan's Ghazni province.

WASHINGTON - Retired Army Lt. Col. Lones W. Wigger Jr., 70, a three-time Olympic military marksman, takes aim at a new job as narrator for MSNBC’s Web video coverage of marksmanship at the 2008 Olympics.

ORLANDO, Fla. - AMVETS leaders welcomed members of the veterans support group from across the country and a senior Defense official to Orlando for the 64th AMVETS National Convention.

WASHINGTON - Whether it’s just a nail or a new saw blade, a Dallas-based support group is playing hardware store for deployed troops.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is closely watching armed clashes between Georgian troops and rebels in South Ossetia in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a senior Pentagon spokesman said.

BALAD, Iraq - A U.S. Air Force airman is now part of the coalition effort to win peace in his homeland.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. field artillery soldiers who call themselves the “Centaurs” man the “gun line” on Forward Operating Base Kala Gush 24 hours a day. They're ready to fire at a second's notice.

HAWIJAH, Iraq - Working together, U.S. and Iraqi forces have brought hope to people along the northern Tigris River Valley by partially destroying the remnants of al-Qaida cells in the area.

WASHINGTON - Despite the drawdown of coalition troops in Iraq, violence levels continue to drop as local security forces grow in competency and size, a senior coalition spokesman said in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The first detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to have his case brought to trial was sentenced by a military panel to 66 months in prison for providing material support to terrorism.

OMAHA, Neb. - A former soldier severely wounded in Iraq is going for gold when he competes in the upcoming Paralympic Games in Beijing.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed several armed militants and destroyed a weapons cache in operations this week in Afghanistan, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is the most obvious symbol of the world’s most powerful military and the home of the National Military Command Center. Soon it will be a tourist destination.

WASHINGTON - In an effort to bolster the Afghan National Police, U.S. forces in southern Afghanistan recruited and sent a record 500 Afghan citizens to eight weeks of focused district development training, a military official said.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Since March 2008, the Afghan National Army has recruited more than 9,000 soldiers. But retaining those troops to eventually reach the force’s 80,000-soldier end strength goal remains a challenge.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces caught dozens of suspects, including an alleged leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, and seized weapons caches over the past three days, military officials said.

DARMSTADT, Germany - With the gift of an American flag to this city’s lord mayor, U.S. Army Garrison Darmstadt officially ended six decades of service during its inactivation ceremony.

WASHINGTON - Cody Anderson has launched a letter-writing campaign with an ambitious goal: to reach all troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BAGHDAD - On the wall of the operations cell for Task Force Vigilant, a painting depicts a lion head with a banner reading: “Vigilance is Excellence.” For this task force, vigilance also stands for peace.

WASHINGTON - The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has returned to Washington after a three-day visit with British military counterparts that included a briefing on U.S.-UK collaborative research to defeat improvised explosive devices.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has issued a draft request for proposals to the competitors in the Air Force’s $35 billion program to acquire new aerial refueling tanker aircraft.

WASHINGTON - A combination of factors -- better training, community support and increased troops -- has brought roadside bomb attacks in Iraq to record-low levels, a senior U.S. military officer said.

WASHINGTON - As the Defense Department commemorated 60 years of integration, President Harry S. Truman was remembered for making tough choices: polls taken before the 1948 presidential election showed that 82 percent of Americans opposed his integration plans.

WASHINGTON - A new center will combine Defense counterintelligence and human intelligence efforts at the national level, Defense Intelligence Agency officials said.

WASHINGTON - For the eleventh straight week, violence in Iraq continues at its lowest levels in four years, despite ongoing threats from al-Qaida in Iraq and Iranian-backed militants, a coalition general said.

WASHINGTON - Today's National Guard reflects the diversity of the communities its members serve and live in, the National Guard Bureau's equal opportunity and civil rights director said.

WASHINGTON - Marking the 60th anniversary of the integration of the armed services is a reminder of “how far we’ve come toward living up to our founding ideals and how far we still have to go,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - Faced with an evolving and borderless technological landscape, the U.S. military is reaching out to government, academia and industry for help in protecting the nation’s cyber infrastructure.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces caught 17 suspects and seized scores of weapons during operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Wounded warriors transitioning back into civilian life can continue serving their country through a program that helps them settle back into their communities as leaders.

KABUL, Afghanistan - A team of U.S. Army senior noncommissioned officers is training an Afghan army brigade in the construction of Forward Operating Base Spike in Kapisa province.

GREEN, Ohio - Army Pvt. Larry Gravius, 39, did something most parents don't do. He followed in his child's footsteps, and joined the National Guard.

WASHINGTON - During a visit to the South Korean capital city of Seoul, President Bush thanked U.S. and South Korean troops for their efforts during the global war on terrorism and "for being carriers of freedom and liberty."

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - For five years, U.S. soldiers have built and refurbished schools in Iraq and have supplied them with better resources with hopes of providing a better education for Iraqi children.

WASHINGTON - Fostering freedom is the foundation of the security alliance between the United States and South Korea, President Bush said during a visit with U.S. and Korean troops in the capital city of Seoul.

WASHINGTON - The Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation has recommended fee changes to Tricare, the military’s health care system.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has extended by one month the deployments of about 1,250 Marines working as trainers to Afghan security forces, a U.S. Marine Corps official said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces killed one enemy fighter, wounded two more and detained 21 suspected terrorists during recent operations in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - A panel looking at military compensation has recommended dramatic changes in the military retirement system.

WASHINGTON - Obtaining proper immunizations against disease is a key factor in sustaining the health of servicemembers, military retirees and their families, senior defense health officials said.

WASHINGTON - A California troop-support group is paying tribute to Marines who died in Iraq with a mobile memorial - a trio of cars bearing the names of the fallen that travel the country to raise awareness of the sacrifices made in defense of the United States.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Army Spc. Gina Keller, a war bride and a military mother in addition to being a soldier, said her service is the realization of a dream she had for more than 20 years.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq - Doctors from the 41st Fires Brigade and an El Salvadoran battalion brought medical care to citizens of of Kut as part of "Operation Bring on the Docs."

QALAT, Afghanistan - Provincial reconstruction team medics introduced a water-sanitation process to village elders July 31 in the Shajoy district of Afghanistan’s Zabul province.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan National Army is increasingly able to seek out and defeat enemies autonomously in southern Afghanistan, a U.S. military official there said.

WASHINGTON - Imagine the Olympic Games without the specter of terrorists, drug tests or gold medals. That was the 1896 Olympics in Greece for a Massachusetts militiaman.

WASHINGTON - President Bush praised troops for their efforts to help others “realize the blessing of a free society” during remarks to servicemembers in Alaska.

WASHINGTON - Two videos to help children cope during a parent’s deployment are gaining in popularity.

WASHINGTON - The ability for Iraqi security forces to operate independently will depend in large part on a robust national intelligence apparatus, which is still being developed, a coalition advisor said.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Up to 1,200 National Guard members stand ready as Tropical Storm Edouard approaches Texas.

WASHINGTON - Some of the soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team are on their third deployment to Iraq, and the stress is being felt, the brigade commander said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces have improved offensive operations so much that coalition forces in Baghdad’s Rashid district can refocus on rebuilding, the area's brigade commander said.

WASHINGTON - Forces killed enemy fighters, detained six suspects and found weapons during recent operations.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Iraqi forces detained 11 suspected terrorists and found weapons caches during recent operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is building scores of new medical clinics across Iraq as part of an American-Iraqi partnership to improve health care services, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

WASHINGTON - Iraq War veteran Maj. Dan Rooney has created a group to safeguard the education of military children whose parent has been disabled or killed in duty.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Since joining the Army in 2006 to seek adventure, Pfc. Tommy Smith has been on more than 75 missions to provide security for his commander.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. sailors trained as mechanics like Petty Officer 2nd Class Edward Jimenez are keeping the coalition's vehicles running in Konar province to promote security and development.

BAGHDAD - More than 1,000 Iraqi children and 60 teachers will report to the newly renovated Harat Elementary School in southern Baghdad’s Rashid district. Improvements include air conditioners and a generator.

WASHINGTON - A combination of factors is responsible for the improved conditions in Iraq, the commander of coalition forces in the northern part of the country said.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces killed more than a dozen militants and detained two during operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces in Iraq killed three enemy fighters, detained dozens of terrorism suspects and seized illegal weapons caches.

WASHINGTON - The Senate confirmed two Air Force generals nominated by President Bush for key positions. Gen. Norton Schwartz will be Air Force chief of staff; Gen. Duncan McNabb will succeed him as TransCom commander.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Sixteen members of the U.S. Army family will compete, coach or serve as training partners for Team USA at the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing.

WASHINGTON - The crew aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, recently deployed to support the Africa Partnership Station along Africa's west coast, found that cultural awareness is the first order of business.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy is the latest in a series of Defense Department messages highlighting the need for a U.S. foreign policy with more emphasis on diplomacy and foreign aid.

WASHINGTON - Afghan National Police, with support from coalition forces, detained almost a dozen insurgents in Afghanistan’s Paktika province after finding evidence they were roadside-bomb facilitators, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A major operation planned and led by Iraqi forces resulted in the detention of about 30 suspected terrorists near the Diyala River Valley.

WASHINGTON - President Bush approved the death penalty for an Army private convicted of committing multiple murders and rapes in the late 1980s on Fort Bragg, N.C.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army's 451st Civil Affairs Battalion is working to improve five southern districts of Afghanistan where competition for redevelopment stokes local animosities.

WASHINGTON - The Iraqi army continues to become more proficient and to grow capabilities, the commander of the Coalition Army Advisory Training Team in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - The Army has returned to 12-month deployments, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says it is a "huge" step in the right direction for the armed forces and their families.

WASHINGTON - Coalition forces captured 17 suspected al-Qaida terrorists during operations in Baghdad and Mosul, while Iraqi police found an assortment of explosives in Baghdad, military officials said.

BAGHDAD - A little medical care went a long way when soldiers with the Army's 101st Airborne Division and Iraqi doctors teamed up to treat Baghdad residents for everything from anemia and diabetes to burns.

WASHINGTON - A Minnesota couple is learning how far live tunes can carry deployed troops, after donating more than 2,500 instruments to servicemembers.

AMARAH, Iraq - Six months ago, Army Maj. Donald Crider was teaching high school physics in Seattle. Today, he’s flying helicopters for medical evacuations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - As more than a dozen military athletes head to Beijing for the Summer Olympics, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff lauded their accomplishments and sent his best wishes.