WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama announced the official end to combat operations in Iraq during a prime-time Oval Office address, declaring “a new beginning” for the Iraqi people.

MILWAUKEE - The American Legion presented Spirit of Service awards to five U.S. military members from all service branches at the organization's annual convention held in Milwaukee.

WASHINGTON - The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect combat and other hazardous-duty entitlements troops serving in Iraq receive, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.

WASHINGTON - The Veterans Affairs Department is making great strides in its efforts to reduce the backlog of veterans’ claims, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told veterans.

WASHINGTON - “A very tough fight” remains in Afghanistan that will demand more hard work and sacrifice, President Barack Obama acknowledged while thanking troops for advancing the mission in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama traveled to Fort Bliss, Texas, to pay tribute to the post’s servicemembers, whose contributions and those of their comrades made possible the official end of combat operations in Iraq.

MILWAUKEE - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates solicited support for his initiative to reform the Pentagon at the American Legion, telling the crowd that the United States cannot afford a peace dividend.

WASHINGTON - An insurgent leader believed to be responsible for the movement of fighters across three provinces was captured by Afghan-led security forces.

STUTTGART, Germany - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with leaders of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, both of which have their headquarters in Germany.

MILWAUKEE - The U.S. military has fought two separate wars in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the American Legion, and only now do commanders in Afghanistan have the troops and resources necessary to win this second conflict.

MILWAUKEE - It is thanks to the blood, sweat and tears of American servicemembers that Iraq has the chance for political freedom, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the annual convention of the American Legion.

CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan - Army Spc. John Hanson has cerebral palsy, a condition that initially kept him out of the military. But he was determined to "wear the uniform," and now serves in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden is in Iraq to meet with U.S. and Iraqi leaders about the new U.S. mission there, and to underscore the United States' commitment to an ongoing relationship with the nation.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department uses Facebook and other social media tools to help market its initiatives as the entire informational environment continues to evolve.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested two suspected al-Qaida in Iraq criminal associates during joint security operations conducted in eastern Mosul.

CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga. - Certifying one’s own son to fly a helicopter with night-vision gear takes the stress level up a notch – up about 500 feet from the ground to be specific.

WASHINGTON - The United States continues to provide $200 million in relief aid to Pakistan as flood waters begin to recede, but it will be months before the full extent of the damage can be assessed.

PARWAN, Afghanistan - News media representatives were permitted to take video and still photos at a detention facility for the first time since it became operational.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - About 40 airmen from the Air Force’s 621st Contingency Response Wing arrived in Pakistan Aug. 28 to support Pakistan flood-relief operations.

WASHINGTON - A combined Afghan-coalition security force targeted and killed a Taliban leader during an operation in the Helmand province.

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Time became something of a commodity for Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit here as they prepared to deploy a month early aboard the ships of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group.

NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD, Va. - The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed to support U.S. humanitarian assistance in flood-ravaged Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - During his weekly radio address, President Barack Obama called on the American people to provide new care, opportunity and commitment to the million military men and women who've served in Iraq.

CLEVELAND - As Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, concluded another installment of his “Conversations with the Country” tour, he said he’s energized by how eager community and business leaders are to “re-connect” with veterans.

CLEVELAND - The U.S. military is taking “significant” precautions to ensure safety for its forces and U.S. aid workers providing flood relief in northwestern Pakistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials announced the deployment of 18 additional helicopters to Pakistan as part of the expanding U.S. contribution to flood-relief efforts.

WASHINGTON - Troops leaving the service can use an available toolkit to help explain how their military experiences translate into civilian jobs.

WASHINGTON - Engineers at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s Communications-Electronics Center at Fort Monmouth, N.J., are designing handheld solutions to give battlefield troops a strategic edge.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s new virtual high school is devoid of walls or windows, but yet has opened its “doors” this year to students scattered around the globe.

WASHINGTON - Combined forces killed three insurgents and detained three others during their continuing pursuit of a Taliban subcommander.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested 10 people believed to have ties to terrorists in three operations.

WASHINGTON - Military leaders pledged to step up efforts to help to control pollution and preserve the sprawling Chesapeake Bay, the United States’ largest estuary and home to 68 military installations.

SHERMAN, Ill. - A semi-pro football player has used his experience as a noncommissioned officer with the Illinois Army National Guard to help lead his teammates.

DETROIT - The single biggest threat to national security is the national debt, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said underscoring the importance of good fiscal stewardship and a need to stimulate economic growth.

DETROIT - Integrating veterans into society is a challenge not only for the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, but also for the communities where they settle after leaving the military, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in Detroit.

DETROIT - Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear capabilities is unacceptable in the eye of the U.S. government, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told local business leaders in Detroit.

WASHINGTON - Even after Operation New Dawn begins next week, U.S. military trainers will continue to help Iraqi security forces build the capabilities to maintain internal security.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is as committed as ever to bringing home U.S. servicemembers missing since the Korean War and Cold War, said Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy.

WASHINGTON - Military medicine is embracing the same customer-service principles that have been key to the Walt Disney Corporation’s success.

DILI, Timor-Leste - The hospital ship USNS Mercy has concluded its operations in Dili, Timor-Leste, marking the end of the ship’s participation in Pacific Partnership 2010.

WASHINGTON - A combined team of Afghan and International Security Assistance Force officials are performing an initial assessment of a shooting incident.

WASHINGTON - Security forces arrested five people with suspected ties to the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist organization.

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany - F-16 Fighting Falcons and other aircraft are a common sight at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, but people might also see birds of prey on the prowl.

CHICAGO - The American public is proud of and has never lost sight of the service and sacrifices of the current generation of servicemembers and their families, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

CHICAGO - Military veterans bring a wealth of skills and life experiences to the workplace and their communities, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Chicago business and community leaders.

WASHINGTON - An infected flash drive that compromised secure defense computer networks in 2008 was a “wake-up call” to expedite cyber defense measures, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III revealed in a new magazine article.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Logistics Agency is taking steps to cut costs and boost efficiency as part of a larger effort to reform the way the Pentagon does business.

WASHINGTON - The United States should not expect much fanfare as the mission in Iraq officially moves from combat to stability operations, said the top spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Pakistani military has shown "impressive' cooperation, support, and friendship toward U.S. forces providing flood relief in northern Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - A wave of attacks in Iraq demonstrates that al-Qaida in Iraq is still capable of operating and is desperate to regain lost momentum, said the top spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq.

CHICAGO - U.S. forces are confident in their Iraqi counterparts as the U.S. military’s combat mission there ends, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

CHICAGO - Extremists in Afghanistan are more concerned with continuing their fight than they are with the timeline that calls for a U.S. drawdown to begin next summer, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Officials are investigating a shooting incident in western Afghanistan’s Badghis province that left an Afghan National Police member, two International Security Assistance Force servicemembers and a civilian dead.

WASHINGTON - To help Afghanistan solve internal problems, coalition officials are employing lessons from the best national police departments around the world.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 20 people with suspected terrorism ties during several operations throughout the nation.

FORT HOOD, Texas - Army Staff Sgt. Dani Ventre has demonstrated extraordinary resilience in her efforts to overcome a spinal injury by participating in her unit's organized fitness training.

KABUL, Afghanistan - Intelligence reports indicate some insurgent fighters are reluctant to keep fighting and some refusing to assume district commands.

WASHINGTON - The administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development has begun meetings with various Pakistani government officials on the extensive U.S. response to the country’s devastating floods and expansion of relief programs.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The doors are open for small businesses wanting to partner with the Defense Logistics Agency, the agency’s commander said.

WASHINGTON - The Marine Corps has responded to the crisis in Pakistan with troops, aircraft and a host of evacuation support, and relief supplies.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway predicts a continued Marine presence in southern Afghanistan well after July 2011, when a transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan government is slated to begin.

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has adopted a new civilian employee fitness challenge that officials say is good for employees and the Defense Department.

WASHINGTON - In an important step, some Afghan air force members have qualified to fly helicopters using night-vision goggles.

TUSCON - When Air Force Staff Sgt. Trevor Harvey lights candles on the altar before Mass on drill weekends, he favors the hand that once pitched to Ken Griffey Jr.

WASHINGTON - As the U.S. military responds to the flooding in Pakistan, it’s also engaged in humanitarian assistance missions in the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military and other government and nongovernment organizations continue to assist Pakistani citizens battling the effects of massive floods that began July 29.

WASHINGTON - The training of Afghan security forces is a vital aspect in the American-led war strategy.

WASHINGTON - Afghan soldiers and police are being recruited and trained in record numbers, pushing to reach the goal of a 305,000-member force by October 2011.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, cited encouraging signs of progress in Afghanistan in a speech to veterans and in a BBC interview.

WASHINGTON - Talk of potential failure in Afghanistan is premature given that the "right general and the right number of forces" to support President Barack Obama’s strategy are now in place, Vice President Joe Biden said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition security forces killed or captured numerous insurgents during recent operations throughout the nation.

WASHINGTON - A Defense Department spokesman termed as “ridiculous” the notion that Pentagon officials were involved in recent rape allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials mailed out 150,000 new “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” surveys, this time seeking input from military spouses about the potential repeal of the law that bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces killed two enemy fighters and arrested 22 terrorism suspects.

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis is scheduled to make his first trip to Pakistan as commander of U.S. Central Command to assess U.S. flood relief efforts and consult with Pakistani leaders.

ABOARD THE USS RHODE ISLAND - Ask submarine officers which policy change will be the harder to implement -– the one that will assign women to subs or the one that bans smoking -– and they answer without hesitation: "No smoking!"

ABOARD THE USS RHODE ISLAND - The Trident nuclear submarine USS Rhode Island offered a rare glimpse into sea life during a time of policy change for the U.S. Navy.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan - Deployed Army Sgt. 1st Class Marc Seal recently completed a secret mission: to surprise his son, Army Pfc. Nolan Seal, who had just arrived in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, said it was unlikely the U.S. military would resume a combat mission in Iraq after Sept. 1, citing progress in the nation’s government and security forces.

WASHINGTON - A Joint Forces Command team that's well-versed in dealing with crisises is pitching in to help provide U.S. military support to flood-stricken Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Defense officials have released their final review of recommendations made by a panel that investigated the shooting spree on Fort Hood, Texas, and say they will place "great priority" on making those changes.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air National Guard has been working since the beginning of the operation in late July to provide relief supplies to areas in Pakistan affected by flooding.

WASHINGTON - The redeployment of the 2nd Infantry Division’s 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team shows Iraq's progress, the brigade’s commander said.

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - U.S. military aircraft supporting Pakistan’s flood relief efforts achieved a significant milestone, exceeding 1 million pounds of relief supplies delivered since Aug. 5, when U.S. military relief flight operations in Pakistan began.

WASHINGTON - Step by step, the revival of Afghan industrial production is breathing new life into the country’s shattered economy.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested seven people with suspected ties to terrorist groups in recent operations in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department’s science and technology effort has two overarching missions: to help today’s warfighters and prepare capabilities for tomorrow’s servicemembers.

WASHINGTON - Considered a battlefield curiousity at one time, biometrics is now helping the Defense Department make its business practices more efficient, the director of the Army's Biometrics Identity Management Agency said.

WASHINGTON - As U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan close a difficult summer of fighting, the top commander there remains optimistic about the country’s future and committed to the military mission underway.

WASHINGTON - Insurgents launched an unsuccessful attack on NATO-International Security Assistance Forces at Forward Operating Base Bostick, NATO officials said.

FORT LEE, Va. - Military commissaries have not been affected by the massive Wright County Egg voluntary recall, Defense Commissary Agency food safety officials said.

WASHINGTON - The Air Reserve Personnel Center is converting personnel records to an electronic format for Air National Guardsmen and the Air Force Reserve.

BROOKS CITY-BASE, Texas - Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles Newberry's decision to volunteer as a bone marrow donor recently saved the life of another servicemember's 2-year-old child.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged an additional $60 million in U.S. funding to help Pakistan battle record floods throughout the nation.

WASHINGTON - U.S. forces continue to provide aid and aerial support to millions of Pakistanis hit hard by the monsoon floods, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

WASHINGTON - As flooding continues to plague Pakistan, the U.S. Navy is providing helicopters from a detachment in Bahrain to carry supplies into the stricken country’s Swat valley.

WASHINGTON - Beyond the mind-boggling personal toll of Pakistan’s monsoon floods – with 20 million people affected and 4 million made homeless – there’s also a strategic impact, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan said.

WASHINGTON - A fundamental shift will take place at the end of the month in the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces continued to target Taliban leaders and members of other insurgent groups in recent operations in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - With the last full brigade of combat troops now out of Iraq and another 6,000 U.S. forces to leave by the month’s end, the mission there continues to help the nation's security forces build capability and capacity.

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Army spouses Spc. Joshua Fillingane and Spc. Andrea Fillingane ensure that the 5,200 soldiers on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, are qualified in combat lifesaving.

WASHINGTON - A mentor program is connecting survivors experiencing a recent loss of a military family member with someone further along in the recovery process.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Soldiers assigned to the last full U.S. combat brigade in Iraq said their final goodbyes before entering Kuwait and ending their deployment.

WASHINGTON - The United States continues to provide relief operations to Pakistan as troops rescue victims and provide aid throughout the flood-stricken country.

WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials released a letter the Pentagon’s top lawyer sent to a man purported to be an attorney for the WikiLeaks website, which published tens of thousands of classified documents last month and is threatening to release 15,000 more.

WASHINGTON - Three of the four services met or exceeded their active duty recruiting goals for July, and the one that fell short did so intentionally.

WASHINGTON - More than 2,000 participants from 18 countries are taking part in Panamax 2010, one of the world’s largest multinational training exercises.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces killed a terrorism suspect and detained seven others in operations over the last two days in Iraq, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - The United States and South Korea announced a new set of military exercises that will be held in the Yellow Sea early next month.

WASHINGTON - Although the operators of WikiLeaks have attempted to use the media as an intermediary, Defense Department officials said it's simply against the law to release classified documents and called for their return, a Pentagon spokesman said.

WASHINGTON - In an effort to cut costs and boost efficiency, the Defense Missile Agency is assessing the feasibility of competing $37 billion in contracts.

WASHINGTON - As monsoon rains continue to fall on Pakistan, the United States is sending aid as fast as the flood-stricken country can absorb it, a Defense Department official said.

WASHINGTON - Four NATO-International Security Assistance Force troops were wounded in eastern Afghanistan by a grenade thrown from a mosque.

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Vietnamese senior defense officials met to explore ways to further enhance their defense cooperation.

WASHINGTON - Air Force ROTC cadet Aven Sanders spent her summer on the flightline at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., as a crew chief, launching and recovering jet trainers.

WASHINGTON - The key to a successful missile defense strategy is layers, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly, director of the Missile Defense Agency, said.

WASHINGTON - Three decades of war across Afghanistan has left little to no nationwide infrastructure, which only complicates the urgent need for construction.

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials are working with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to disband private security contractors in Afghanistan, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - Two C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft delivered firefighting supplies promised by President Barack Obama to aid in the battle against wildfires.

WASHINGTON - U.S. military forces rescued 375 displaced Pakistanis, Pentagon officials said, continuing their humanitarian assistance in wake of the monsoon floods that have isolated much of the Swat Valley and Peshawar regions in northwestern Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - The Missile Defense Agency's airborne laser test platform – a high-powered chemical laser aboard a modified 747 -- will undergo its second test, off the coast of California.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces killed or detained numerous insurgents in operations in the Nangarhar, Kunduz, Logar, Helmand and Paktia provinces.

WASHINGTON - Resumption of military-to-military contacts between the United States and China is in both countries’ best interests.

KANADAHAR, Afghanistan - Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Hall, the International Security Assistance Force's senior enlisted leader, has traveled to various bases scattered throughout Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Four U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters have arrived and U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft began transporting international aid in Pakistan as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods.

WASHINGTON - A new system being developed to give helicopter crews a “heads up” when they’re being attacked, as well as the shooter’s location, is slated to ship to Afghanistan in October to see how it stands up under combat conditions.

WASHINGTON - China has made some progress, but not enough, in military transparency, and the Chinese decision to suspend military-to-military contacts with the United States is acting against the interests of both countries, according to a recent report.

WASHINGTON - A 10-day warfighting exercise aims to improve allied capabilities to deter and, if necessary, counter aggression against South Korea.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces captured and detained several suspected Taliban insurgents in recent operations throughout the nation.

WASHINGTON - Security forces arrested six people who allegedly have ties to the al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist organization.

DALLAS - Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials are working to rectify a processing error resulting in duplicate charges on some transactions.

PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Robert Sarlay Jr. mentors Afghan army physicians at Paktia Regional Medical Hospital in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - Growing pockets of security progress in Afghanistan must be extended and linked to fully root out the Taliban and other extremist organizations, and that will take time, the top U.S. and NATO commander there said.

SAN DIEGO - A trip that started with presiding over the assumption of command for a four-star Marine Corps general ended with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presiding over a Marine Corps Recruit Depot graduation ceremony.

WASHINGTON - The magnitude of flooding in Pakistan "is beyond anything anyone was prepared for" in that or any other country," said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, deputy commander of the U.S. defense representative’s office in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Security forces captured several Haqqani terrorist network and Taliban leaders in Afghanistan this week during 48 separate operations.

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Army Maj. Kenneth Knight is competing in the Scottish Highland Games 2010 Masters World Championships as a way to keep his late wife's heritage alive.

WASHINGTON - Looking ahead to the July 2011 deadline to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the challenge is to demonstrate signs of progress, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top commander there, said in an interview to be aired this weekend.

SAN FRANCISCO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq while speaking at the Marines' Memorial Association's George P. Schultz lecture series.

SAN FRANCISCO - Congress must adequately fund the federal partners that augment U.S. military efforts during wartime and are the face of the United States after hostilities are over, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has ordered a thorough force structure review of the Marine Corps to determine what an expeditionary force should look like in the 21st century.

WASHINGTON - "As we did during the tragedy of the 2005 earthquake, we continue to stand by the Pakistani people during this crisis," Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, the new U.S. Central Command commander, said of the humanitarian relief effort under way in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Servicemember feedback will make Congress and the Defense Department better informed as officials evaluate repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a letter to troops.

SAN DIEGO - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked the crew of the USS Higgins for their service during a recent deployment that took them around the world.

WASHINGTON - A program to improve Defense Department schools and ensure 21st century learning environments for military children is set to begin in October.

WASHINGTON - The word “laser” evokes an array of retro-futuristic images, but the realities of laser technology are Howard Schlossberg's specialty in the Air Force.

WASHINGTON - Partnered Afghan and coalition forces are continuingto put pressure on insurgents in Afghanistan, including in the Paktia and Helmand provinces.

FORT MEADE, Md. - It’s “all systems go” at Fort Meade, Md., as the Army Installation prepares to receive three new organizations and about 5,700 of their employees as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission plan.

KANGERLUSSUAQ, Greenland - The airmen of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing face some of the harshest weather conditions on Earth as they travel to polar regions and fly where no other pilots have gone to support the National Science Foundation's research.

NORTH GREENLAND EEMIAN ICE DRILLING CAMP, Greenland - The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing is the only military unit in the world to fly large cargo planes equipped with hydraulic skis for landing and taking off in snow and ice. The pilots say their trips are "a physics experiment each time."

NORTH GREENLAND EEMIAN ICE DRILLING CAMP, Greenland - If not for the skills of a small group Air National Guardsmen, the secrets hidden in the bedrock debris in Greenland may well have remained undiscovered.

WASHINGTON - Increased troop casualties are to be expected this summer, and likely will continue through the fall as U.S. forces ramp up counterinsurgency efforts, a U.S. military official who serves in Afghanistan said.

WASHINGTON - The Afghan air force's helicopter missions to aid Pakistan, where monsoon triggered floods have killed some 1,600 and imperiled millions of lives, provide a glimpse into the future shape of the air corps, said a top NATO commander.

WASHINGTON - Walking by a cemetery, Army Capt. Emily Stehr realized she envied the bodies buried there - they had peace - and knew she had to seek help.

DILI, Timor-Leste - The USNS Mercy has arrived in Dili, Timor-Leste, its final Pacific Partnership 2010 mission port stop.

INDIAN OCEAN - Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters have launched from the flight deck of the USS Peleliu, the first of 19 aircraft being deployed to provide aid to Pakistan.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has reiterated the call she and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates have made for the Senate to move quickly to ratify the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

WASHINGTON - A military commission at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sentenced a Sudanese man to 14 years’ confinement for support he provided al-Qaida in the years leading up to its Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

WASHINGTON - In a video message released today, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announces the Defense INVEST Program, launched to encourage servicemembers and department employees to submit their ideas on ways to cut overhead costs and promote efficiencies.

TAMPA, Fla. - The USS Peleliu will provide helicopter capabilities to aid Pakistan as the government there works to combat floods that are affecting 14 million people.

TAMPA, Fla. - Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis brings a wealth of experience in the Middle East to his new job as the commander of U.S. Central Command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during an assumption of command ceremony.

CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The Alaska Air National Guard and the Coast Guard have rescued four survivors of the crash of a single-engine float plane 17-miles north of Dillingham, Alaska, that killed former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The storyline seemed to come straight from a Cold War suspense thriller, as NORAD forces worked with their Russian counterparts to track a “hijacked” aircraft across the Pacific Ocean, but this was an historic joint exercise, not a movie.

WASHINGTON - The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan praised the Afghan defense ministry for growing its army ahead of schedule.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested six people suspected of aiding al-Qaida in Iraq and the Promised Day Brigade terrorist group.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Three of the four states on duty are reducing the number of National Guard members they have responding to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

CAMP DENALI, Alaska - An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was reported to be heavily damaged when it slid and rolled over on Knik Glacier during a rescue mission.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A 50-foot, face-first fall while mountain climbing at age 19, and the journey to recovery, changed the course of Maj. David Garay's life and Air Force career.

WASHINGTON - The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan now has almost 120,000 troops including more than 78,000 American servicemembers.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - For the first time, NORAD and the Russian air force are conducting joint exercises aimed at countering airborne terrorism, in what one NORAD official called "a watershed event."

WASHINGTON - In her latest blog, AFPS' Elaine Wilson writes about her search for a new house and passes on some lessons learned for families preparing to move.

WASHINGTON - Alaska Air National Guard airmen rushed to help the victims in the plane crash in Dillingham, Alaska, that claimed the life of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Army helicopters took advantage of a break in the weather to fly relief missions in Pakistan, rescuing 916 people and delivering 89,000 pounds of relief supplies.

WASHINGTON - As military operations continue, enemy actions continue to kill or injure Afghan civilians.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces working with U.S. advisors arrested 17 terrorism suspects in operations during recent days.

GRENADA, Miss. - Staff Sgt. Andre Murnane recently became the first Army National Guard Special Forces soldier with a prosthetic leg to jump out of an aircraft.

WASHINGTON - The efficiency initiatives Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced yesterday are just part of a drive that has been moving since the secretary took office, said Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - The initiative to reduce Defense Department overhead and to eliminate duplicative capabilities is part of a larger effort to change the culture of the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a press briefing.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ announcement concerning Pentagon efficiency initiatives “another step forward in the reform efforts he has undertaken to reduce excess overhead costs, cut waste, and reform the way the Pentagon does business.”

WASHINGTON - U.S. Joint Forces Command officials issued a statement in response to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ recommendation to eliminate the command and assign its operational functions to other organizations.

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stressed the need for strong garrison leadership, underscoring the effects longer periods at home between deployments may have on troops and their families.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a statement supporting initiatives announced by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates designed to make the Defense Department more efficient.

WASHINGTON - A demonstration project is showcasing technologies to boost intelligence collection, surveillance and analysis, and test better ways to get that information to warfighters and coalition partners in Afghanistan.

ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard is uniquely suited to meet its new Southwest border protection duties, a top official told the “DoD Live” bloggers roundtable.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi forces arrested 34 suspected criminals and killed an al-Qaida in Iraq suspect believed to be responsible for funding the group through oil extortions.

WASHINGTON - Military officials have provided details of numerous security operations Afghan and coalition forces have conducted throughout the country in recent days.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates set out his plans to reform the way the Pentagon does business and to eliminate duplicative, unnecessary costs.

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presided over a ceremony at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency that put in place the first woman to head a major U.S. intelligence agency.

SAN DIEGO - Marine Corps Pfc. Weldu Aregawi Gebrimichael was inspired to join the service after hearing how a Marine sniper team in Sudan saved his father's life.

WASHINGTON - The Army is striving to reduce soldier suicides and mental-health problems by giving troops more dwell time between deployments, identifying tell-tale symptoms more quickly and eliminating the stigma of seeking help, the Army vice chief of staff said.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces are on track to assume full operations and prepared to deal with spates of violence by extremists intent on derailing Iraqi progress, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said.

WASHINGTON - This month marks 20 years since Operation Desert Shield kicked off in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait under Saddam Hussein.

WASHINGTON - Progress in Kandahar is going to be the big political test for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, the NATO senior civilian representative to Afghanistan said recently.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces, with U.S. advisors, have arrested three suspected criminal associates of terrorist groups operating in Iraq, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - Afghan and coalition forces detained several insurgents and seized a large weapons cache in Afghanistan in operations focused on dismantling terrorist groups’ leadership, military officials said.

WASHINGTON - The commander overseeing the logisitics operation underway in Iraq credits hard work and intensive preparation with ensuring the mission proceeds smoothly and ahead of schedule.

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. - While many fathers share interests with their chidren, one noncommissioned officer at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., can really relate to the challenges of his daughter's job.

WASHINGTON - The joint task force in charge of the new U.S. detention facility in Parwan, Afghanistan, ensures that detention processes are fair and transparent – and that public perception matches that reality.

WASHINGTON - The United States is continuing to aid flood victims in Pakistan while working with the Pakistani government to see if additional U.S. military support is required.

WASHINGTON - The Senate unanimously confirmed Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis as commander of U.S. Central Command. Mattis previously served as NATO supreme allied commander for transformation and commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is demanding that WikiLeaks immediately return the stolen military documents in its possession, including 15,000 documents that the website has not yet published.

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced charges against 14 people in three U.S. states with ties to an al-Qaida affiliate in Somalia, just as a new State Department report highlighted concerns about al-Qaida’s inroads across Africa.

WASHINGTON - Transnational terrorism poses the United States’ gravest security threat with al-Qaida’s core in Pakistan remaining the most-formidable terrorist organization targeting the U.S. homeland, according to a new State Department report.

WASHINGTON - Combined Afghan and coalition security forces conducted operations across Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, military officials reported.

WASHINGTON - A NATO Training Mission Afghanistan team is building the Afghan security forces’ capabilities while helping them on the road to self-sufficiency.

ARLINGTON, Va. - In response to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' effort to find efficiencies throughout the services, Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley is taking a hard look at how the National Guard operates.

WASHINGTON - Corruption within police and military units is one of the biggest threats facing the Afghan national security forces.

HEIDELBERG, Germany - Russian-born Army Spc. Ekaterina Volsky takes pride in her accomplishments as a soldier, and in overcoming the poverty, abuse and neglect of her unsettled childhood.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Tammy Duckworth has achieved much since being wounded in 2004, but regaining her pilot’s license has given the top VA official a new perspective.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested three suspects with ties to al-Qaida in Iraq in recent operations.

POL–E-CHARKI, Afghanistan - When Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gerardo “Josh” DeAvila was wounded in Marja, Afghanistan, he quickly was surrounded by family and friends.

NEW ORLEANS - Returning the National Guard to its Cold War-era strategic reserve posture is not the answer when Defense leaders discuss the future, the Army’s chief of staff said in New Orleans.

WASHINGTON - Coalition and Afghan forces have detained more than 50 insurgents, including a senior Taliban explosives expert and an arms and drug trafficker.

WASHINGTON - All patrols and operations in Afghanistan must include Afghan security forces partners, according to an updated tactical directive from the commander of coalition and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

ARLINGTON, Va. - Despite recent media reports, the National Guard has missed no deadlines in the incremental deployment of up to 1,200 Guardsmen to the Southwest border.

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department must plan to maintain recent additions to the ground forces for the foreseeable future and boost its long-range strike, maritime and cyber capability to confront global trends and threats, the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel told Congress.

WASHINGTON - Medically retired Army Maj. Ed Pulido, a "Real Warrior," maintains a positive attitude and helps others after losing a leg in a bomb attack in Iraq.

WASHINGTON - Two hundred and twenty years ago, the United States Congress created the U.S. Revenue-Marine to safeguard our nation’s shores. We proudly celebrate this as the day the United States Coast Guard was born.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s nominee as assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, Dr. Jonathan Woodson, told Congress he’ll strive to improve the military's medical system while emphasizing on care for wounded warriors.

KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S. military in Afghanistan is responding rapidly to the disastrous flooding that reportedly killed more than 1,200 people in Pakistan and 60 in Afghanistan and has affected millions of others.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The Russian air force and the North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct their first cooperative air defense exercise, NORAD officials announced.

WASHINGTON - The United States is rushing aircraft, food and shelter to help those impacted by flooding in Pakistan, Defense and State Department officials said.

NEW ORLEANS - If National Guard members continue to deploy in support of overseas missions, their family readiness groups will need to be supported at the same pace, Guard leaders said in New Orleans.

BAGHDAD - U.S. Division Center officials in Iraq are offering soldiers an ancient alternative to traditional methods of coping with deployment stress.

WASHINGTON - A tip from local residents led Afghan soldiers working with coalition partners to several enemy weapons stockpiles in the Herat province.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces arrested 11 terrorism suspects in operations in Baqouba, Baghdad and near Khalis.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 3, 2010 - Military readiness is directly tied to family readiness, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told National Guard volunteers gathered in New Orleans.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - An Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft crew delivered relief supplies to Islamabad, Pakistan, in response to catastrophic monsoon flooding.

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - For Army Sgt. John Larsen of the Missouri National Guard, going to Afghanistan for a year to improve the nation's ability to feed its people is a calling.

WASHINGTON - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, vowed to a National Guard group to eliminate the “yes-no” box that appears on some predeployment checklists that determines whether a servicemembers’ unit can contact their families.

ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard troops in four states are preparing to join colleagues already supporting Border Patrol agents on the nation’s Southwest border.

WASHINGTON - People are at the center of the counterinsurgency guidance issued by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - While no easy answers exist to a military suicide problem that has reached "crisis level," a big part of the solution is tied to leadership, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

WASHINGTON - Caring for military veterans is a moral obligation, President Barack Obama said in a speech at the Disabled American Veterans National Convention.

WASHINGTON - After nearly a decade of fighting two wars, today’s military has become one of the greatest generations to serve, President Barack Obama said. He praised the troops for bringing the Iraq war to a close and embracing the mission ahead in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON - British forces launched an operation to further squeeze insurgents in the central part of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

WASHINGTON - Iraqi security forces killed a suspected terrorist and arrested 21 other terrorism suspects.

WASHINGTON - For anyone who has served in the U.S. military, the concept of sharing lessons learned is a familiar one. A new Defense Department blog seeks to bring those lessons online.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Air Force Senior Airman Mario Webb will soon return to Hurlburt Field, Fla., after donating part of his liver so his 2-year-old son, Genghis, could receive a life-saving transplant.

WASHINGTON - Conditions on the ground in Afghanistan will determine when, and to what degree, U.S. forces in that country will draw down, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

WASHINGTON - The WikiLeaks whistleblower website is morally guilty of putting people’s lives at risk by making public tens of thousands of classified U.S. military documents, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said.