United States Department of Defense

Hagel Issues Message to Workforce Amid Potential Shutdown

With a government shutdown possible in the absence of federal funding beyond fiscal year 2013, which ends at midnight Sept. 30, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued a message to the Defense Department workforce. Story | Message | Special

Carter Says Shutdown Would Be ‘Disruptive, Stupid’

The shutdown that looms if the government isn’t funded beyond the end of the fiscal year at midnight Sept. 30 would be “disruptive and stupid,” Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said. Story | Special

Hagel Praises 60-year-old U.S.-South Korean Alliance

The U.S.-South Korean alliance that began 60 years ago was based on mutual defense, but has grown into a force for global peace and stability, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Seoul, South Korea. Story | Special

Seoul’s Prosperity Shows Success of Alliance

South Korea has become an economic powerhouse thanks to the security, stability and protection afforded by the U.S.-South Korean alliance, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in Seoul. Story | Special

Secretary Watches Training, Tours DMZ During Korea Visit

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel traveled north from Seoul, the South Korean capital, visiting U.S. and South Korean soldiers, observing training, then continuing on to Panmunjom, site of the Demilitarized Zone separating democratic South Korea from its communist northern neighbor. Story | Special

U.S., South Korean Military Leaders Hold Talks in Seoul

American and South Korean military officials discussed interoperability, capabilities and the threat from North Korea during the 38th Military Committee Meeting in Seoul, South Korea. Story

Austin: Afghanistan Drawdown Proceeds on Schedule

Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Central Command, and his staff are working to meet President Barack Obama’s directive to reduce the U.S. force in Afghanistan to 34,000 by February and to complete the drawdown by the end of 2014. Story

Hagel Arrives in Seoul on Third Asia-Pacific Trip

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Seoul, South Korea, on a weeklong Asia-Pacific trip that also will include a visit to Tokyo. Story | Transcript | Photos | Special

Hagel Discusses Security Issues With Uganda's President

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has discussed security issues with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the Pentagon, including last week's terrorist attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Story | Statement | Photos

Half of DOD Civilians Face Furlough if Appropriations Lapse

Half of the Defense Department’s civilian workforce will be furloughed if a budget impasse shuts down the government Tuesday, until an appropriations bill or continuing resolution is passed, DOD Comptroller Robert F. Hale said. Story | Transcript | Video | Special

DOD Continues Prudent Planning for Government Shutdown

DOD officials believe a government shutdown will not occur when current spending authority expires Sept. 30th, but continue prudent planning in case it does. Story | Memo | Special

Department Spells Out Closure Contingency Plan Guidance

DOD officials have issued guidance to the force in the event appropriations lapse Oct. 1 and a government shutdown results. Story | Special

• Guidance for Potential Government Shutdown

Officials Discuss Intelligence Programs at Senate Hearing

Both the head of the National Security Agency and the Director of National Intelligence have again testified to Congress that a secret NSA surveillance program leaked to the press has prevented numerous terrorist attacks. Story | Special

DOD Taking Prudent Steps in Face of Government Shutdown

The Defense Department is taking prudent steps to plan for a possible government shutdown Oct. 1, Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said in a memo sent to the workforce Sept. 26, 2013. Story | Memo

• Memo Prepares DOD Employees for Government Shutdown

President Proclaims Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day

President Barack Obama has proclaimed Sept. 29 Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day to honor the families of the fallen. Story | Proclamation

Military Health Chief Discusses Suicide Prevention Efforts

The assistant secretary of defense for health affairs is urging the military community to work together to help prevent suicides. Story | Special

DOD Identifies Airmen Missing Since Vietnam War

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of Air Force pilots Maj. James E. Sizemore of Lawrenceville, Ill., and Maj. Howard V. Andre Jr., of Memphis, Tenn., missing since the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Story

DOD Identifies Airmen Missing From World War II

The Defense Department’s POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Valorie L. Pollard of Monterey, Calif. and Sgt. Dominick J. Licari of Frankfort, N.Y., missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Story

Services Meet Fiscal Year Recruiting Goals Through July

All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2013 through July. Story

Marine Missing From Korean War Identified

The remains of a U.S. service member still missing from the Korean War have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial. Story

Fiscal Year Recruiting Remains Strong Through June

All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2013 through June, Defense Department officials reported. Story

DOD Identifies Sailor Missing Since Vietnam War

The Defense Department Prisoner of War Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael B. Judd of Cleveland, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and have been returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Story

DOD Identifies Soldier Missing Since Korean War

The Defense Department Prisoner of War Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of Army Sgt. Bernard J. Fisher of Wilkes Barre, Pa., missing from the Korean War, have been identified and was buried July 16, in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Story

DOD Recruiting Remains Strong Through May

All four active services met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2013 through May, Defense Department officials announced. Story

DOD Identifies Soldier Missing Since Vietnam War

The Defense Department POW/Missing Personnel Office has identified a soldier, missing from the Vietnam War, as Army Spc. 5 John L. Burgess, of Sutton Bay, Mich. Burgess, who will be buried with full military honors with two of his crew members, was the crew chief of a UH-1H Iroquois helicopter that crashed in Binh Phuoc Province, South Vietnam. Story

DOD Establishes Tissue Bank to Study Brain Injuries

The Defense Department has established the world's first brain tissue repository to help researchers understand the underlying mechanisms of traumatic brain injury in service members, Pentagon officials announced. Story | Special

Recruiting Remains Strong Through First Half of Fiscal Year

All four active services and five of the six reserve components met or exceeded their numerical accession goals for fiscal year 2013 through March, Pentagon officials reported. Story

DOD Identifies Missing Sailors From Vietnam War

Navy Lt. Dennis W. Peterson of Huntington Park, Calif., was the pilot of a SH-3A helicopter that crashed in Ha Nam Province, North Vietnam. Peterson was accounted for on March 30, 2012. Also, aboard the aircraft was Ensign Donald P. Frye of Los Angeles, Calif.; Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technicians William B. Jackson of Stockdale, Texas; and Donald P. McGrane of Waverly, Iowa. Story

Fiscal Year Recruiting Numbers Remain Strong

All four active services met or exceeded their numerical recruiting goals over the first four months of fiscal year 2013, which began Oct. 1, Defense Department officials reported. Story

DOD Identifies Soldier Missing from Korean War

A service member who was unaccounted for from the Korean War, has been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors, the Defense Department POW/Missing Personnel Office announced. Story

Maryland Guard Partners With Bosnia for Peace, Security

Thanks to ongoing training and integration with the Maryland National Guard, armed forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed with a military police task force to Afghanistan’s Kandahar province in January. Story

Virtual Training Puts the 'Real' in Realistic Environment

The Dismounted Soldier Training System and Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 are two virtual training tools quickly becoming the norm for soldiers training for deployment at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. Story

Scientist Studies Self-Cleaning Uniforms

Imagine a world without dirty clothes. Quoc Truong, physical scientist at Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, wants to make that a reality. Story

Joint Force Arrests Extremists in Wardak Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested two extremists during a June 22 search for a Haqqani network facilitator in Afghanistan’s Wardak province. Story

Combined Force Arrests 2 Extremists in Nangarhar Province

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested two extremists during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. Story

Forces Arrest Extremists in Paktia Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested three extremists during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. Story

Security Forces Kill Extremists in Paktia Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two extremists during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. Story

Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Extremists During Search

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested two extremists during a search for a Taliban leader in the Sar-e Pul district of Sar-e Pul province. Story

Security Force Makes Arrest During Search for Facilitator

A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested an enemy operative during a search for an al-Qaida facilitator in the Behsud district of Nangarhar province. Story

Combined Force Kills Extremists in Kunduz Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed five extremists after being fired upon during a search of a senior Taliban leader in the Archi district of Kunduz province. Story

Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Extremists in Wardak Province

An combined Afghan and coalition security force killed four extremists and wounded another during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province. Story

Combined Force Kills Extremists in Nangarhar Province

A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed five extremists during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province. Story

Force Kills Extremists During Search for Taliban Leader

A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two extremists during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Warduj district of Badakhshan province. Story

ISAF Commander Salutes Fallen Georgian Troops

Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., commander of the International Security Assistance Force, released a statement where he offered his condolences to the families and friends of the seven Georgian service members who were killed in southern Afghanistan. Story

Combined Force Arrests Haqqani Leader

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader and three other insurgents during an operation in the Matun district of Khost province. Story