Some deployed Georgia Army National Guard's 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Soldiers are taking classes while they are here as a way of passing free time, some to get started on...

Army veterans who served on active duty or in the Army Reserve, and the family members of those veterans, are eligible to receive service-related documents for free through a number of official sources.

Army Lt. Gen. William Ingram, Jr., director of the Army National Guard, visited the 113th Sustainment Brigade and other National Guard units here April 27 to 30. The trip gave Ingram the opportunity to visit and...

The road for Texas Army National Guard Soldiers took to the Singo Training Center each day of their deployment here opened up an opportunity for them that they won’t soon forget.

First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted the shared sacrifices of military children while meeting with the teenage daughters of service members yesterday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Alaska Army National Guard members from B Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment are settling in to their roles as security forces for Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Dennis P. Weichel Jr., 29, of Providence, R.I, died March 22, 2012, from injuries sustained when he was struck by an armored fighting vehicle after moving an Afghan child to safety.

South Korean and U.S. Army units unleashed a precise barrage of 155-milimeter self-propelled artillery rounds during a live-fire exercise March 15 at a training range close to....

A new comprehensive website has been developed to help Soldiers maintain their dental readiness, Army officials said here, Wednesday.

What started off as a whirlwind of a mission evolved into a great working and learning experience for the Kentucky National Guard’s 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment ...

The Hawaii National Guard’s 93rd Civil Support Team joined the Colorado National Guard’s 8th Civil Support Team to train on cold weather survival tactics as part of their support role in operations at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo.

The 633rd Theater Gateway, an Army National Guard unit training to deploy overseas, will be the first Guard unit to operate a theater gateway...

ARLINGTON, Va. (1/30/12) – In order to support Individual Ready Reserve Soldiers, the U.S. Army Reserve, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command and the Army National Guard have initiated the IRR Affiliation Program (IAP).

FORT MEADE, Md. (1/25/12) – The Master Resilience Training aspect of Comprehensive Soldier Fitness is working well. That's the conclusion of an Army report, released last month, covering a 15-month period of statistical evaluation.

FORT BLISS, Texas (1/24/2012) Inhale…exhale, the sound of breathing in a small quiet room, then a sudden pop, as the pellet is shot from an air rifle...

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/24/2012) - It is official. The Kentucky Army National Guard has the bragging rights to a world class operational security program. Don’t believe it? Just ask the United States Army!

The U.S. experienced an unusual number of natural disasters in 2011, including Hurricane Irene, flooding across the northern Plains states and Midwest, Southwestern wildfires and tornados that leveled communities.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno issued instructions Wednesday regarding reserve component Soldiers who will be demobilizing at bases in the United States over the holidays.

In an effort to face the unique challenges of providing peer counseling, the National Guard unveiled, during a ceremony at Capitol Hill today, its newest initiative, Vets4Warriors.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1630.

A Wisconsin Army National Guard brigade assumed responsibility of Multinational Battle Group East during a formal ceremony here Saturday.

The Army National Guard bid farewell this week to Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter after his 29-months of service as the acting director of the Army National Guard, and more than 44-years of military service.

The 4,000-mile stretch of land between the United States and Canada is the largest unprotected border in the world. To Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter, former acting director of the Army National Guard, this is all the more...

With Dec. 31 just around the corner, the logistical drawdown and troop withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq is well underway and Minnesota Army National Guard members are on front lines of that task.

On the day he formally assumed the duties of the director of the Army National Guard, Army Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr. was simultaneously promoted to lieutenant general during a Pentagon ceremony here Monday afternoon.

Two Army National Guard units will soon be using a combination of air defense systems to guard the National Capital Region and the nation's leaders.

Other than some tears and good-humored teasing about hanging on to the last UH-1 "Huey" in the Army's inventory, it was an unremarkable day as the D.C. National Guard's legendary helicopter lifted off for its final flight here.

Decades of drought, conflict and economic strife has contributed to the decimation of critical irrigation infrastructure within Afghanistan...

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rachel Fails, The Iowan National Guard’s Regional Training Institute command sergeant major, and her team of instructors spent more than two weeks...

A final meal at the dining facility at Camp Liberty is a sign of the times – a sign that the number of U.S. troops in Iraq is shrinking and Victory Base Complex is not what it used to be...

Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Team 3 recently completed the purchase of 1,400 borias, or wood carpets, for Afghan grape farmers in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan.

On Veteran’s Day comes word of the confirmation of a new director for the Army National Guard, Army Maj. Gen. William Ingram, former adjutant general of the North Carolina National Guard and current special assistant to the Army vice chief of staff.

Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, Army Guard members have contributed one of the finest decades of service in the Guard's 375-year history, the acting director said here Monday.

At its strongest in its 375-year history, the National Guard has been indispensable to the warfight, the secretary of defense said here Tuesday.

A Defense Department agency has opened its annual selection process for the nation’s employers that are the most supportive of employees who serve in the National Guard and reserves.

Calling on the nation to celebrate military families’ service and sacrifice Tuesday, President Barack Obama signed proclamations designating November as Military Family Month and National Family Caregivers Month.

During what has been viewed as a significant and historic trip, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, recently spent time downrange talking to Guard members.

The Defense Department announced recruiting and retention numbers for the 2011 fiscal year recently, stating that the Army National Guard intentionally achieved only 95 percent of its recruiting goal in order to stay within its authorized end-strength.

CH-47 Chinook helicopter crews with the Minnesota Army National Guard flew more than 1,100 hours in September, moving personnel and cargo.

Every morning flight crews from Forward Support Medical Team, Company C, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment, South Dakota Army National Guard, head to the flight line to bring their UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters.

Virginia Army National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team members, Joint Sustainment Command – Afghanistan, and Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul conducted a foot patrol through the Qalat bazaar Oct. 19 to visit a new local business venture.

More than 600 Soldiers in search of insurgent activity, weapons caches, and material used to make homemade explosives, are making another big push to secure Laghman province's Sangar Valley.

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the Army National Guard command sergeant major, made a special stop here Oct. 20 to visit with Soldiers and discuss the higher standard expected of them as troops draw down from theater.

The Army National Guard lost a true friend and champion on October 16, 2011 when Dan Wheldon, 33, driver of the Guard's No. 4 IndyCar during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, died from injuries sustained during a tragic 15-car crash.

It all began during an intense 2 1/2-hour firefight with the enemy earlier this year in Afghanistan.

Family programs remain important and their budgets will not be used to fund other initiatives, top Army leaders pledged at a family forum here last week.

The services must work together to face mounting budget pressures and determine the nation’s future military needs, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

An "all-pro" medical evacuation crew from the 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment received Air Medals for conducting two urgent air evacuations...

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Mccann, senior human resources non-commissioned officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 134th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division "Red Bulls,".

For the second time in three years – and for only the second time in history – a National Guard member has been named the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

The commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command highlighted the critical role of reserve component Soldiers and units at the 2011 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the United States Army here Monday.

Sept. 29, 2011 - Military retirees enrolling in TRICARE® Prime after Oct. 1, 2011, will begin paying an additional $2.50 per month for individual members and $5 per month for members and family.

Sept. 28, 2011 - Bold Quest is a joint staff led military coalition combat assessment exercise designed to test the interoperability of target identification systems of 12 NATO member nations to reduce friendly fire incidents.

Sept. 29, 2011 - Science Applications International Corporation has reported a data breach involving personally identifiable and protected health information impacting an estimated 4.9 million military clinic and hospital patients.

Sept. 28, 2011 - About 60 Soldiers from the Illinois National Guard’s 1-14th Agribusiness Development Team have been assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Kunar province since June.

Sept. 26, 2011 - Staff Sgt. James McCullough deployed to the Persian Gulf nearly 21 years ago. His son was born the day after he got back. Now they are deployed together.

Sept. 27, 2011 - The Army and Air National Guards have begun rolling out this year's flu vaccinations to service members as they look to get ahead of the approaching flu season.

Sept. 26, 2011 - The Colorado Army National Guard broke ground on a new state-of-the-art aviation training facility at the Eagle County Airport, Sept. 22.

Sept. 26, 2011 - Last week the Army and Air Force reported an increase in activated reservists, while the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,341 more reservists activated than last week.

Sept. 24, 2011 - Fifty-five Soldiers left today for training before heading overseas for their mission in Kosovo.

Sept. 23, 2011 - The under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness recognized 15 employers whose support for their deployed National Guard and reserve employees was "restricted only by their imaginations."

Sept. 23, 2011 - A wildlife study at the National Guard’s training post in north Florida may soon give biologists insight into one of the state’s most intriguing inhabitants.

Sept. 23, 2011 - Four Minnesota National Guard UH-60 Black hawk helicopters along with their support teams have been called in to battle the 100,000 acre wildfire in Minnesota.

Sept. 21, 2011 - A Soldier recently back from Afghanistan died from rabies after contracting it from a dog while deployed. The Armywants to ensure service members who may have been exposed to rabies are identified and treated.

Sept. 22, 2011 - All of the military’s active duty and reserve components are on target to meet their recruiting and retention goals for the fiscal year, Pentagon officials said today.

Sept. 23, 2011 - The Arizona National Guard is establishing a new standard for its personnel in response to the stresses and strains on service members and their families due to deployment.

Sept. 21, 2011 - The Oct. 21, 2011, deadline for eligible service members, veterans and beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is one month away.

Sept. 19, 2011 - Two Soldiers and two Airmen spent four days working with members of the National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia, exchanging HAZMAT response tactics, techniques, and procedures in hope of expanding each country’s knowledge base.

Sept. 19, 2011 – Military retirees would pay an annual fee for TRICARE-for-Life health insurance and TRICARE pharmacy co-payments would be restructured under the deficit reduction plan President Barack Obama released today.

Sept. 21, 2011 - Answering a call to hire more veterans, more than 80 employers gather at a job fair in Maryland to tap into this top-notch group.

Sept. 19, 2011 - This article is the last in a series of three profiling the 15 Employer Support Freedom Award-winning companies and organizations for 2011.

Sept. 21, 2011 – The Army Surgeon General’s Office released its report yesterday on dismounted complex blast injuries.

Sept. 19, 2011 – In a proclamation, President Obama named Sept. 18-24 National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week.

Sept. 16, 2011 – When Navy Reserve Lt. j.g. Todd Brooks leaves his civilian job at Ford Motor Co. to report for military duty, he does so knowing his employer isn’t just about vehicles.

Sept. 19, 2011 - More than 400 New York Guardsmen are training in preparation for deployment in 2012.

Sept. 19, 2011 - The South Dakota National Guard and the Republic of Suriname made great progress in their partnership this summer, including a visit to South Dakota from Suriname’s top military leaders.

Sept. 16, 2011 - North met south recently when the Kentucky National Guard hosted members of the Ecuadoran military.

Sept. 16, 2011 - Experts from the Missouri Guard’s 35th Engineer Brigade went to Guyana this summer to conduct an assessment of the Guyana Defense Force’s communications capabilities.

Sept. 16, 2011 – Members of the military family take responsibility for each other, and that responsibility extends to saving lives that might otherwise end in suicide, a senior Defense Department official said today.

Sept. 16, 2011 - The call went out from the Vermont National Guard for heavy equipment and personnel. The Ohio National Guard and other states responded with ready units. The mission: to rebuild a road that is now a 65-foot-deep, 141-foot-long hole.

Sept. 15, 2011 – A dispute between Walgreens and a TRICARE contractor will not stop beneficiaries from getting their prescriptions filled, despite a Walgreen’s ad campaign to the contrary, a TRICARE official said today.

Sept. 15, 2011 - The SPP has received the 2011 William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education.

Sept. 15, 2011 – Their businesses are as diverse as their staffs are unified around a common goal: to give exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees when they’re deployed.

Sept. 15, 2011 – Service members and their families have done all the nation has asked of them over this past decade of war; it’s now time for the nation to return their service and sacrifice with honor and appreciation, says First Lady Michelle Obama.

Sept. 14, 2011 - Teaming with the National Guard is at the core of his new duty position, said Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, Jr. here last month.

Sept. 14, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists. The net collective result is 488 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Sept. 14, 2011 - Service members came together to learn about sling loading: timely resupply, proper hook-up, safety, cargo weight management and the capabilities of different aircraft.

Sept. 13, 2011 - Legal experts from the North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force held their first joint mock courts-martial as part of a trial advocacy workshop.

Sept. 15, 2011 - The Army released suicide data today for the month of August.

Sept. 15, 2011 - The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today that Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold L. Punaro has been appointed chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB).

Sept. 9, 2011 – The Maryland National Guard has activated 25 soldiers to assist in the response to heavy flooding in parts of the state caused by Tropical Storm Lee’s heavy rains, according to officials.

Sept. 12, 2011 – “You have transformed from a strategic reserve to one that also provides operational full-spectrum capabilities to our nation, and we’re grateful for this,” the admiral said.

Sept. 11, 2011 - Soldiers from the Arizona Army National Guard hiked up Piestewa Peak to remember Sept. 11.

Sept. 11, 2011 - Romania's 496th Bn presented a plaque representing unity to the commander of Virginia's 116th Infantry.

Sept. 9, 2011 - Photos, historical interviews and videos telling the story of the New York National Guard's response to the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center are now available on line at the New York State Division of Naval Affairs Website.

Sept. 7, 2011 - About 90 Guard members helping local and regional agencies are fighting the blazes on the ground and from above.

Sept. 7, 2011 - The Virginia Army National Guard is sending approximately 20 soldiers and six 20-ton dump trucks to Vermont to assist with clean up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

Sept. 7, 2011 - On Sept. 11, 2001, Army Spc. Qiyu “Steve” Luo was fresh off active duty and preparing for his first weekend drill with the New York Army National Guard.

Sept. 7, 2011 - With more than 475,000 Citizen Soldier deployments since 9/11, the use of the ARNG as an operational force on a recurring basis required the Army to adapt a new and better model for effectively deploying troops.

Sept. 7, 2011 - More than 1,600 Guard members remain on duty today in six states affected by Hurricane Irene, the bulk of them in New York and Vermont.

Sept. 7, 2011 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has authorized raising the force-protection level for military installations mainly in the United States, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

Sept. 7, 2011 - Three Nevada National Guard members have died and two are currently injured as a result of a random shooting at a local eatery Sept. 5 in Carson City, Nev.

Sept. 7, 2011 - The Illinois Army National Guard’s 1-14th Agribusiness Development Team conducted visits to a tree nursery and a research farm operated by the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture on Aug. 28.

Sept. 3, 2011 - The National Guard is contributing Citizen-Soldiers, -Airmen, equipment and capabilities to help Vermonters in one of Irene's worst-hit states.

Sept. 2, 2011 - Training with armed forces of different countries and sharing techniques isn't uncommon. Soldiers of the Missouri Army National Guard are doing just that with the Italian Army.

Sept. 6, 2011 – Paydays for military retirees and those who receive portions of retired pay are changing for the months of September and December.

Sept. 2, 2011 – New York Army National Guard aviation units have transported 60,000 pounds of food and water to isolated mountain towns in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Sept. 6, 2011 – The National Guard is essential to Vermont’s recovery from Hurricane Irene, the director of the state’s crippled road system says.

Sept. 6, 2011 – Kentucky Army National Guard Sgt. Corey Blankenship often spends his off-duty time in Iraq occupied with very weighty issues.

Aug. 31, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through July.

Aug. 31, 2011 - This week the Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The Navy had no change. The net result is 705 more reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 27, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today the appointment of dual-status commanders in relief efforts for Hurricane Irene, marking the first time the dual commander concept has been implemented during a natural disaster.

Aug. 26, 2011 – The governors of seven states declared states of emergency today, prompting National Guard adjutants general to upgrade hurricane condition levels and relocate assets in preparation for Hurricane Irene, Guard officials said today.

Aug. 26, 2011 – As Hurricane Irene bears down on the East Coast, a senior TRICARE official said the storm highlights the importance for people to practice emergency preparedness before such potential natural disasters occur.

Aug. 26, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today that it is currently providing support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) efforts to prepare for Hurricane Irene’s expected landfall on the U.S. mainland.

Aug. 25, 2011 - This week the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease, while the Army and Air Force announced an increase activated reservists. The Navy had no change. The net collective result is 501 more reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 22, 2011 - More than 1,300 troops participated in Steppe Eagle 2011, hosted by the Kazakhstan government and conducted with troops from the Arizona National Guard, Third Army/ARCENT, Colorado National Guard and the Kazakh Peacekeeping Battalion.

Aug. 24, 2011 - The Puerto Rico National Guard has about 800 Guard members performing cleanup operations in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

Aug. 23, 2011 - Alabama's 167th Theater Sustainment Command deployed soldiers for an exercise to test federal, state and local emergency responders.

Aug. 23, 2011 - Guard members, with service members from all branches of the U.S. military, traveled to Suriname, South America, for the New Horizons exercise.

Aug. 21, 2011 - When walking through the living area at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in addition to the sounds of airplanes and helicopters, one can sometimes hear music filling the air.

Aug. 23, 2011 - In a dark room machine-gun fire and explosions rumble, smoke drifts and wounded sprawl across the floor bleeding. This is the closest these medics will get to the real thing -- until the real thing. They want to be ready.

Aug. 23, 2011 – National Guard adjutants general along the East and Gulf coasts are awaiting the potential landfall of Hurricane Irene, and preparing to act if called upon by their governors, National Guard officials said today.

Aug. 19, 2011 - In his clearest statement on the subject to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today that if the military retirement system changes, it will not affect serving service members.

Aug. 19, 2011 - This week the Army and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 261 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 17, 2011 - The Army Guard's top Soldier and top noncommissioned officer of the year will represent the Army National Guard in the Best Warrior Competition, determining the best of the best for the Army.

Aug. 15, 2011 - Illinois ADT members visited a demo farm offering Afghan farmers an alternative to poppy production.

Aug. 15, 2011 - Hundreds of Afghan students from the Kapisa Agriculture Institute gathered to receive training from Kentucky’s third Agribusiness Development Team.

Aug. 15, 2011 - The North Dakota National Guard ceased flood response operations Aug. 12, said North Dakota National Guard officials.

Aug. 17, 2011 – Tenth-anniversary commemorations of the 9/11 terror attacks will begin tomorrow, as almost 2,500 motorcyclists start America’s 9/11 Ride that begins in Shanksville, Pa., and continues to the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

Aug. 18, 2011 - A program launched at the MEPS at Ft. Meade, MD, has started the military on a path to welcoming family members into the fold before their loved ones ever ship off for entry-level training.

Aug. 16, 2011 – The military has a plethora of programs aimed at building resilience in service members and their families, but needs a better system in place to measure their success, a study has revealed.

Aug. 17, 2011 – Maj. Sabula's proposed new duty station didn’t have adequate services for his autistic son, so his Exceptional Family Member Program coordinator helped get his assignment changed.

Aug. 15, 2011 – The military retirement system isn’t going to change any time soon, Defense Department officials said.

Aug. 11, 2011 – The third round of 2011 changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill will take effect Oct. 1, a Department of Veterans Affairs official said today.

Aug. 11, 2011 – A young service member saddled with debt doesn’t have to go far for cash. Lenders with same-day loans sit outside nearly every military installation. But if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Aug. 11, 2011 - 'Welcome Home Dogs' greet demobilizing soldiers at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

Aug. 10, 2011 - The events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina showed that disaster response requires brains as well as brawn, and preparation as well as manpower.

Aug. 10, 2011 - In the skies over Someplace, U.S.A., members of the Navy elite jumped from a perfectly good C-23B Sherpa flown by members of the Pennsylvania National Guard, on July 28.

Aug. 9, 2011 - Sharing a small hole in the ground can enhance interoperability. But it can also create kinship.

Aug. 11, 2011 - Today Defense Department officials released the identities from the Aug. 6 CH-47 Chinook helicopter crash that killed 30 service members, including two National Guard members.

Aug. 11, 2011 – The Wounded Warrior Barracks and Wounded Warrior Complex at the National Naval Medical Center here are symbols of the military covenant of caring for troops whether they are at home or deployed, and after hospital discharges.

Aug. 8, 2011 – The military has made great strides in warrior care over the past decade of war, but much work remains to be done, particularly when dealing with the invisible wounds of war, the Army vice chief of staff said today.

Aug. 10, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 876 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 9, 2011 – An Idaho company, the Idaho National Laboratory, made OBC followed by a year-long deployment easier for the Blacker family of the Idaho Army National Guard.

Aug. 5, 2011 - Missouri National Guard medics have been assigned to the Disaster Recovery Jobs Program here to ensure the safety and well being of civilians, Soldiers and Airmen in the tornado recovery effort.

Aug. 5, 2011 - The uniforms are different, and there are subtle differences in terminology used, but the results are the same for both Australian and American quartermasters: ensuring Soldiers get what they need.

Aug. 4, 2011 - Forward observers have the vital job of calling in targets for mortars, field artillery and provide eyes-on information for rotary and fixed aircraft, skills put to the test in a recent training exercise.

Aug. 4, 2011 - Two brothers from S. Dakota grew up building a tree house together. Today, Westin and Waylon Blasius, S. Dakota Army National Guardsmen, are renovating a school as part of the New Horizons exercise in Suriname.

Aug. 4, 2011 – After her husband was killed in Iraq, Taryn Davis didn’t know where to turn. The 21-year-old didn't live near a military installation and she yearned for the support of others who could relate to her struggles.

Aug. 5, 2011 - Aviators from the Louisiana National Guard led the first overseas humanitarian training relief mission involving the Army’s newly fielded UH-72A Lakota helicopters.

Aug. 4, 2011 - On August 5, members of the 42nd Infantry Division Band will close-out an eight stop concert tour across New York show casing their special skills.

August 03, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 98 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 5, 2011 – President Barack Obama today announced a series of administration initiatives to help military veterans find jobs.

July 29, 2011 - Reserve-component leaders made the case this week for changes giving the Defense Secretary more flexibility in using Guard and reserve members to support theater security cooperation and other military missions.

July 28, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists. The net collective result is 694 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 28, 2011 - Hiring military reservists and veterans is a positive investment for America, the deputy director of U.S. Army Reserve Command told federal hiring officials yesterday.

July 27, 2011 - With portable, flexible care, the Defense Department’s Military Family Life Consultant program has become a critical component in service member and family support.

July 26, 2011 - Sibling rivalry isn’t always about animosity or jealousy. Sometimes it can spark healthy competition.

July 26, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, unveiled a new program this week intended to celebrate Americans going above and beyond to improve military families’ lives.

July 26, 2011 - They are men used to seeing their deeds pass as unrecognized as their battlefield movements, but five National Guard and one active duty Special Forces Soldier were in the limelight receiving a French Croix de la Valeur Militaire.

July 26, 2011 - Obama and Biden delivered messages of thanks at a Joining Forces military family cookout in Concord before going table to table asking families what their campaign could do for them.

July 26, 2011 - The National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe program is one of the most effective anti-high school drop out programs in the country, Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu says.

Ju.y 22, 2011 - Families from the Army National Guard and the Air Force shared the honors as the National Military Family Association's 2011 Family of the Year.

July 25, 2011 - There’s a lot going on this week at the National Guard’s 2011 National Volunteer Workshop and Youth Symposium.

July 25, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through June.

July 22, 2011 - Secretary Panetta's statement on the readiness of the U.S. military to implement the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

July 22, 2011 - Adm. Mike Mullen issues his personal statement certifying the readiness of the U.S. military to implement the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

July 20, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 665 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 15, 2011 - During June, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were five potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and four remain under investigation.

July 13, 2011 - This week the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army announced an increase. The net collective result is 372 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 7. 2011 - Ohio Army Guardsman Staff Sgt. Kelly Ann Pels had an unforgettable Independence Day. Not only was she in Baghdad – she also got a phone call from the Secretary of Defense.

July 6, 2011 - Each evening, Army Pvt. Saw Blut, a member of the Michigan National Guard, reads his Bible and prays, thanking his God for life and freedom and asking for a chance to help others.

July 6, 2011 - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the government to stop enforcing the terms of the law that prevents openly gay service members from being in the military.

July 6, 2011 - A Colorado Army National Guard aircrew located two bodies on Missouri Mountain, Colo., while assisting in the search for a missing father and daughter.

July 5, 2011 - The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have created a one-stop website for Guard members to access and administer their service benefits-related information in a secure manner.

July 6, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is no change from last week.

Ju.y 6, 2011 - The New Mexico National Guard was activated to assist local law enforcement agencies within Los Alamos due to the Las Conchas fire.

July 6, 2011 - President Barack Obama and Defense Department officials will send condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide in a war zone.

July 6, 2011 - The National Guard, working through the Defense Department with multinational forces, is promoting a balanced approach to improve human and environmental security in the Arctic region.

July 6, 2011 - U.S. Task Force Bon Voizen personnel in Haiti under the command of the Louisiana National Guard have treated more than 800 dental and nearly 23,000 medical patients.

July 1, 2011 - National Guard and reserve members and their families deserve the thanks and support of a grateful nation, first lady Michelle Obama said in Vermont yesterday.

July 5, 2011 - Army Sgt. 1st Class Tim Fiedler Jr., and his younger brother, Army Staff Sgt. Rich Fiedler, have put in more than 50 years of combined service in the Iowa National Guard’s Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment.

July 1, 2011 - The Army and Navy announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase. The Coast Guard announced no change. The net collective result is 261 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 4, 2011 - Six forward-deployed U.S. service members, including an Army Guardman, began their Fourth of July morning with telephone calls from Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta.

June 30, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today that additional campaign stars are authorized for wear on the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM).

June 28, 2011 - Recruiting and retention remain steadily on track throughout the military services, with every component reporting strong year-to-date numbers through May.

June 28, 2011 - Americans continue to express high confidence in the armed forces, with more than three-quarters of those surveyed reporting higher confidence in the military than in other national institutions for the 14th year.

June 27, 2011 - When floodwaters back up city water and sanitation systems and make the water unsafe to drink, residents can quickly find themselves in short supply of a much-needed resource.

June 24, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 360 fewer reservists activated than last week.

June 21, 2011 - Col. Kenneth Donnelly said he will leave Haiti this week a better man. But not before leaving Haiti a better place.

June 23, 2011 - As of 9:30 a.m. EST today, the city of Minot, N.D. has evacuated about 12,000 residents in response to the Souris River overtopping several levees in and around the area, Guard officials said.

June 23, 2011 - The Defense Department is launching a new partnership next week that’s intended to expand job opportunities for military spouses by connecting them with employers actively seeking to hire them.

June 23, 2011 - Have you ever wanted to break a world record? Army Staff Sgt. John Halsey didn't know that he wanted to -- until he discovered that he had something to prove to his students.

June 22, 2011 - A new program called Hero Health Hire is the health care industry’s commitment to make jobs available to some of the 10,000 wounded warriors who transition each month from the military into the workforce.

June 17, 2011 - The Department of Defense has announced units to deploy as part of upcoming rotations in Afghanistan, including the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio Army National Guard.

June 17, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,151 fewer reservists activated than last week.

June 16, 2011 - During May 2011, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were six potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicides, and six remain under investigation.

June 8, 2011 - This week the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Marine Corps announced an increase. The net collective result is 3,316 more reservists activated than last week.

June 7, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today it has released a new mobile application for health care professionals, the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Pocket Guide.

June 2, 2011 - This week the Navy announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force announced an increase. The Coast Guard had no change. The net collective result is 872 more reservists activated than last week.

May 11, 2011 -- This week the Navy announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, announced an increase. The net collective result is 545 more reservists activated than last week.

May 10, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves and football-handling prowess yesterday during a Let’s Move fitness and nutrition event for military families on the White House’s South Lawn.

May 11, 2011 - Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard’s 769th Engineer Battalion are constructing basket barriers in Morgan City as a precautionary measure against the rising Mississippi River.

April 28, 2011 - The senior combat medic for the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team provided urgent medical care to an Afghan road worker whose eyes had been accidentally doused with diesel fuel.

April 18, 2011 - In August 2010, Soldiers of the 118th Sapper Company arrived at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan. A mere 10 days and four missions later, they took the helm of Route Clearance Package 37.

April 27, 2011 - The Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team provided fruit production training for 16 high school boys April 23.

April 29, 2011 - About 3,000 National Guard members were responding to weather-related domestic disasters in 11 states on Friday, the majority in tornado-ravaged Alabama.

April 27, 2011 - DoD announced today the Tricare Young Adult (TYA) program is now open for enrollment with coverage beginning May 1, 2011.

April 29, 2011 - Just like agriculture, creating relationships involves sowing and nuturing that one hopes will bear fruit. A Texas agribusiness team is doing both in Afghanistan.

April 28, 2011 - This week the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 611 more reservists activated than last week.

April 25, 2011 - Recruiting and retention has stayed high throughout the military for the first half of the fiscal year, according to Defense Department numbers released today.

April 26, 2011 - Defense Department officials announced today that 148 employers have been selected as semifinalists for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

April 25, 2011 - An easy-to-navigate version of the National Resource Directory website -- which connects wounded warriors, service members, veterans and families with those who support them -- now is available for mobile phones.

April 26, 2011 - Closed roads and detours in towns surrounded by floodwater can mean problems for Guardsmen, but a new technology may help them find their way.

April 26, 2011 - More than 750 Ohio Guardsmen will be part of the 3600 Soldiers deployed as part of the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team this fall.

April 18, 2011- Soldiers of the Montana Guard's 1-163rd CAB have been providing convoy security in Iraq since November, 2010.

April 26, 2011 - About 900 National Guard members are responding today to floods, fires, tornadoes, and other emergency situations in six states.

April 19, 2011 - Veterans dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can turn to their smartphones for help any time with the “PTSD Coach” application created by the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments.

April 19, 2011 - Members of Disabled American Veterans, working with the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, began visiting wounded warriors at Fort Bragg, N.C., to talk about benefits and services available to them after they leave active duty.

April 18, 2011 - National Guard members from four states today are supporting civil authorities in Texas as they battle more than 30 wildfires threatening lives and property.

April 18, 2011 - Five reports from North Dakota outline the state's continuing battle to contain floods.

April 15, 2011 - The Army released suicide data today for the month of March. Among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides.

April 15, 2011 - The Department of Defense today launched its newest initiative to support victims of sexual assault. Using DoD Safe Helpline, service members can “click, call or text” for victim support services for themselves or others.

April 13, 2011 - This week the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army announced an increase. The net collective result is 143 fewer reservists activated than last

April 12, 2011 - Some of the foremost academic researchers from around the world are trying to determine exactly what happens to a service member’s brain when it’s exposed to a blast, but with no direct head impact.

April 12, 2011 - All service members will receive their full mid-month pay they have earned in their April 15th paychecks, Pentagon officials said today.

April 7, 2011 - The policy on women serving in combat hasn’t kept up with reality, and the military needs to find ways to keep its young, combat-seasoned leaders, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told soldiers today.

April 6, 2011 - This week the Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,022 more reservists activated than last week.

April 7, 2011 - The Defense Department is hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted, but is releasing guidance to help plan for an orderly process if a shutdown becomes necessary.

April 8, 2011 - Melissa Howland was diagnosed with a blood-clotting disorder while her father was deployed. Instead of being discouraged, the 17-year-old refocused her efforts on community service.

May 4, 2011 - This week the Army and Navy announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, announced an increase. The net collective result is 702 more reservists activated than last week.

April 7, 2011 - The Army and Air Force Exchange Service plans to continue operations in the event of an April 8 federal government shutdown, according to a news release issued today.

April 7, 2011 - As part of the Total Force, the National Guard has successfully transformed into an operational force and must not be put back on the shelf in a strategic reserve status, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here last week.

April 6, 2011 - Military members would continue to earn wages in the event of an April 8 shutdown of the federal government, but they’d have to wait to collect them until Congress agrees on a budget.

April 5, 2011 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki have agreed to create a joint common platform for their departments’ electronic medical records.

April 1, 2011 - Beginning June 1, Social Security numbers on military identification cards will begin to disappear, said Air Force Maj. Monica M. Matoush, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

April 1, 2011 - A memorandum that took effect throughout the Defense Department in June is expected to have a major impact on efforts to identify and treat traumatic brain injuries.

April 1, 20211 - Children of U.S. service members around the world will be honored throughout the month for their contributions to their families’ well-being and sacrifices on behalf of the nation, a Defense Department official said.

April 1, 2011 - Service members serving outside of the United States -- including those supporting operations in Libya and Japan -- will receive an automatic two-month tax filing extension this year, officials said.

March 29, 2011 - The Department of Defense today announced the launch of an online Career Decision Toolkit that will allow service members to self assess transition needs and thoroughly explore an array of transition related subjects.

March 22, 2011 - Service members and their families have a few tax advantages at their disposal, as well as a few extra days in which to complete their taxes this year, a Defense Department tax expert said.

Mar. 18, 2011 - The deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to April 8, 2011.

Mar. 18, 2011 - Members of the Kentucky National Guard's Agribusiness Development team are working with Afghan farmers and livestock owners to increase productivity to better feed their families, themselves and their communities.

Mar. 18, 2011 - With wagging tongues and tails, Benny and Jerry, two hulking Irish wolfhounds, walked Manhattan's avenues with the Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment.

Mar. 18, 2011 - The Army released suicide data today for the month of February.

Mar. 18, 2011 - Frank Buckles, the last American World War I veteran, who recently died at age 110, spent a year serving in the New York National Guard in the 1920s.

Mar. 7, 2011 - There are times when Army 1st Lt. Jamie Roscoe talks that one can almost see cowboys riding over the wide open southern Oregon plains.

Mar. 9, 2011 - Staff Sgt. Liptrap blends in; his stature and respectful stance are not out of the ordinary. Unlike many Soldiers, however, Liptrap is a veteran of three campaigns, currently serving in the country he helped to liberate 20 years ago.

Mar. 9, 2011 - The North Dakota National Guard Biathlon Team wrapped up a string of international competitions this weekend and is now in Vermont for the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Championships.

Mar. 8, 2011 - As the men and women who serve in today’s military leave active duty, communities around the country should tap their potential as employees for the benefit of the nation, the top U.S. military officer said yesterday.

Mar. 9, 2011 - The expectations are understandably high. For most of these students, this training ground will be their last stop before yearlong deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq – where the attack they experience could be a real one.

Mar. 7, 2011 - The National Guard has a long history of families serving together, and the Iowa Army National Guard is a fine example of that.

Mar. 7, 2011 - The Department of Defense has announced the alert of two National Guard units to deploy to Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Mar. 7, 2011 - Capt. Nick Albini thought this 70-mile hike through a South American jungle would be a “vacation”, but, after drop-off on the mountain with eight strangers, realized it was going to be much tougher than he ever dreamed.

Mar. 7, 2011 - The Contingency Dual Status Commander (CDSC) concept - a singler commander directing both federal and state resources - is intended to achieve unity of effort when federal support is needed during a disaster.

Mar. 7, 2011 - The Kentucky National Guard knows its stuff when it comes to operational security. Just ask the Army.

Mar. 4, 2011 - President's Day will likely be a special holiday for a Wisconsin National Guard Soldier currently serving in Iraq--it will be the anniversary of the day the 25-year-old Wisconsin National Guard Soldier became a U.S. citizen.

Mar. 4, 2011 - Every Guard brigade has deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, and more than 300,000 Guardsmen have deployed in this war, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. said Monday.

Mar. 4, 2011 - The Department of Defense released a nationwide survey this week to gain insight into the benefits and challenges of employing members of the Guard and Reserve.

Mar. 3, 2011 - The National Guard is a treasure that brings irreplaceable skills to domestic support, to civil authorities and to the overseas warfight, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told fellow senators and senior Guard leaders.

March 3, 2011 - Military leaders, members of Congress and celebrities gathered for the National Guard Youth Foundation's 2011 ChalleNGe Champions Gala.

March 2, 2011 - This week the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 215 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Feb, 23, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 465 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Feb. 23, 2011 - Silhouetted against the shadows of a dozen Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, the chaplain prayed for many, but most of all he prayed that the men in the MRAPs would be safe.

Feb., 19, 2011 - South Dakota Guardsman Sgt. 1st Class Jon Geise has been recognized for outstanding service and performance.

Feb. 23, 2011 - Situated along the Hudson River sits West Point. Last fall four Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers entered as freshmen.

Feb. 22, 2011 - The VA has opened a toll-free National Caregiver Support Line for the family members and loved ones who provide care for Veterans living with the effects of war, disability, chronic illness, or aging.

Feb. 23, 2011 - British Parliament member, Mr. Julian Brazier, met with National Guard Soldiers to help assess the future of Britain’s reserve component by gaining insight from reserve forces serving in Afghanistan.

Feb. 22, 2011 - The Army National Guard GED Plus program passed a milestone Friday as the 10,000th graduate walked across the stage with his GED diploma.

Feb. 23, 2011 - His boxing fans eagerly awaited his return to the ring. After two years away, hopes were high for the young boxer. He came into the arena in red, white and blue trunks and robe over an Army physical fitness t-shirt. The crowd cheered.

Feb. 23, 2011 - Service members and their families should “start small and think big” when kick-starting a savings plan, a financial expert said today.

Feb. 23, 2011 - Teamwork has long been considered by many to be one of the most essential ingredients to a military operation. That is evident throughout the Foreign Service Institute class at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

Feb. 18, 2011 - The Alaska National Guard team is putting the finishing touches on its machines and logging the last training miles in preparation for the start of the “Iron Dog” snowmobile race Feb. 20.

Feb. 18, 2011 - Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis M. McCarthy presented the 2010 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Awards winners today at the Pentagon.

Feb. 18, 2011 - Defense Department officials today lauded the top National Guard and Reserve family programs, calling family support a vital component of mission readiness.

Feb. 18, 2011 - More than 7,000 miles separate them... but Iowa Guardsman David Bloyer is there usually to wake his 1-year-old daughter, Skylar.

Feb. 18, 2011 - Missouri's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Danner, says he has learned well the importance of being prepared.

Feb. 18, 2011 - 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War and today's Illinois National Guard Soldiers share many similarities with their predecessors.

Feb. 18. 2011 - People who were involuntarily extended or whose retirement was suspended between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, have until March 4 to file for retroactive payments of $500 for each month of their extended service.

Feb. 18, 2011 - With nearly all Guard personnel back in the state and years of practice, the North Dakota National Guard is ready for spring flooding.

Feb. 18, 2011 - The National Guard State Partnership Program is a key element to building relationships within the U.S. Southern Command region, the combatant commander says.

Feb. 16, 2011 - The soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 827th Engineer Company came home Wednesday, Feb. 16, after 10 months of repairing roads and building checkpoints in Afghanistan.

Feb. 16, 2011 - Staff Sgt. LeFrancois, a man of few words and two-time veteran of war, recently returned from Afghanistan. Asked why he serves, he says "it seemed like the right thing to do."

Feb. 16, 2011 - The Defense Department has zero tolerance for sexual assaults, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress today.

Feb. 17, 2011 - The New York Army National Guard is out to tell the story of its 6,000 past and present soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001.

Feb. 15, 2011 - Regardless of rank or age, hearts were racing as more than 200 participants began the Florida National Guard’s two-week course that teaches helicopter-assisted combat assault operations.

Feb. 16, 2011 - This week the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 772 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Feb. 16, 2011 - The South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, formed in September 2009, put its training to good use on Friday when the team had its first rescue mission.

Feb. 16, 2011 - An Army National Guardmember seriously injured in a 2008 deployment to Afghanistan, joined nearly 100 fellow Pennsylvanians in placing a stitch in the National 9/11 Flag.

Feb. 17, 2011 - From education opportunities to spouse employment, Defense Department officials are expanding military family support programs to better meet families’ current needs, as well as to empower them for the challenges that lie ahead.

Feb. 14, 2011 - Members of Congress from California, Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Utah spent time with Soldiers from their home states during a congressional delegation visit in Iraq.

Feb. 15, 2011 - For the first time in a number of years, the Utah National Guard hosted the National Guard Bureau Western Regional Biathlon Championships Feb. 5-6 at Soldier Hollow, Utah.

Feb. 15, 2011 - Safety is probably the last thing game-goers think about while watching their favorite teams play on Super Bowl Sunday, but behind the scenes, Guardmembers and civil servants work together to ensure attendees never have to worry about it.

Feb. 15, 2011 - Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force commander, met with leaders of the 34th Infantry “Red Bulls” Division from the Iowa National Guard recently.

Feb. 11, 2011 - The Warrior Transition Command is developing a consolidated regulation that will provide complete oversight and guidance for its 29 units – which include about 3,000 National Guardmembers.

Feb. 10, 2011 - National Guard spouses are invited to nominate their employers for the Patriot Award, following a recent expansion in the program, announced yesterday by the Defense Department’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve agency.

Feb. 10, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 407 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Feb. 10, 2011 - U.S. Northern Command depends heavily on the National Guard and is looking for more opportunities to expand that partnership, Northcom’s deputy commander said recently.

Feb. 9, 2011 - Guardmembers in Arkansas and Oklahoma were called into action Tuesday in response to another wave of severe winter weather.

Feb. 9, 2011 - Unemployed veterans, wounded warriors, reserve-component service members and their spouses searching for jobs can find one-stop shopping at a Web portal designed just for them.

Feb. 7, 2011 - Iowa medics with Task Force Lethal helped care for and evacuate a Jaji Village boy who fell more than 15 feet, landing on his head.

Feb. 7, 2011 - Using his civilian-acquired skills, the 224th Sustainment Brigade support operations sergeant major, is providing Customs Border Clearance Agent training for Soldiers.

Feb. 8, 2011 - Psychological health is among the military’s most critical and most promising areas of medical treatment, the Defense Department’s assistant secretary for health affairs says.

Feb. 9, 2011 - Ten military wives and a fiancée met in a quiet place without the distractions from phones, kids and work. They learned coping skills through resilience training. They learned meditation, tried acupuncture, talked, laughed and cried.

Feb. 7, 2011 - A group of North Dakota National Guard members recently earned a spot at a national biathlon competition, now leading to opportunities to compete and coach internationally.

Feb. 8, 2011 - Nebraska Army National Guardmembers are strengthening the Afghan National Police's security and influencing the hearts and minds of locals in the Musahi District, once a Taliban stronghold.

Feb. 9, 2011 - The National Guard has appointed directors of psychological health for each state and territory to ensure a continuance of excellent care for servicemembers and their families.

Feb. 1, 2011 - It’s not every day you get to combine your favorite things in life but for Capt. Curtis M. Persinger, whose passions are fishing and the Guard, the two have meshed.

Feb. 4, 2011 - If there’s ever any question whether agriculture is a passion for Kentuckians, just ask the members of the three Kentucky National Guard Agribusiness Development Teams.

Feb. 4, 2011 - The Kentucky National Guard welcomed home more than 150 soldiers from the 2123rd Transportation Company after they spent nearly a year in Afghanistan.

Feb. 6, 2011 - No longer considered a one weekend a month, two weeks a year commitment, reenlisting in the National Guard in this day and age entails committing to unknown missions, destinations and time requirements.

Feb. 4, 2011 - While eployed Soldiers use the internet to stay in touch with family and friends, a video teleconference between American children and an Afghan National Police officer is unusual.

Feb. 2, 2011 - “There’s more than corn in Indiana,” according to an old Indiana Department of Tourism slogan and Indiana Soldiers are proving it in Afghanistan.

Feb. 4, 2011 - National Guard and Reserve leaders from various states visited service members at Bagram Airfield, their first stop during a visit to Afghanistan to see how their soldiers are doing.

Feb. 2, 2011 - One of the highest prioritized issues in the Army National Guard is the increase in suicides, says the acting director.

Feb. 3, 2011 - Strong civilian-military partnerships have never been more important, and the secretaries of state and defense are setting the example for those partnerships, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Feb. 3, 2011 - Several officers of the 29th Infantry Division are working as mentors and advisors within the Afghan Ministry of Defense and their hard work has led to improvements within the Afghan Army Headquarters.

Feb. 2, 2011 - When Pvt. Kant tried to enlist two years ago at an Orange County, Calif. recruiting station, the tattoo laden, high school dropout was told to move along. But that didn’t dissuade Kant from trying again.

Feb. 3, 2011 - Indiana Guardsmen are beginning to draw down after more than 1,000 soldiers and airmen responded to severe weather across the state.

Feb. 3, 2011 - Members of the Indiana National Guard’s 3-19th Agribusiness Development Team spent the last several months of their deployment assisting Afghan farmers in improving agricultural practices.

Feb. 2, 2011 - “Families At Ease” is a new program developed by Department of Veterans Affairs that works with family members and friends of Veterans of any era to help them help their Veteran get care.

Feb. 3, 2011 - The National Police Canine Association partnered with the Arizona National Guard for the fifth consecutive year to certify a record 267 law enforcement canine teams in eight days last month.

Feb. 3, 2011 - More than 72 hours into a winter storm that halted traffic, canceled airline flights and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people from Texas to Maine, the National Guard is continuing relief operations in seven states.

Feb. 2, 2011 - The USCC National Guard Cross-Country Snowmobile Championship Seven Clans Red Lake I-500 is one of the most prestigious snowmobile races on the planet. It’s also one of the most grueling.

Feb. 3, 2011 - From benefits and compensation to education and training, an online directory is providing wounded warriors, veterans and their families a direct connection to thousands of state, local and national resources.

Feb. 2, 2011 - About 2,500 National Guard members now are conducting relief and rescue operations in nine of the 30 states.

Feb. 3, 2011 - In the face of rising suicide rates, the top Army Reserve officer said he’d like recruiters to start identifying not only whether potential recruits qualify for military service, but also whether they’re joining for the right reasons.

Feb. 2, 2011 - This week the Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 393 more reservists activated than last week.

Feb. 2, 2011 - In response to blizzard conditions and strong winter storms across a third of the country, six governors have declared states of emergency and about 1,100 National Guard members from 11 states have been activated or are on standby.

Jan. 28, 2011 - Border Patrol agents and members of the National Guard coordinated with Mexican authorities to prevent a drug smuggling attempt Jan. 21 near Naco, Ariz.

Jan. 28, 2011 - Apart from the interrupion of commercial communication, the riots in Cairo are not affecting the Illinois Army Guardsmen deployed to the Sinai.

Jan. 28, 2011 - Two military families shared their stories – one of perseverance through deployment, one of recovering from a life-changing war injury - with the nation.

Jan. 27, 2011 - The first Police Operations Mentor Liaison Team (POMLT-1), led by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, in the Ghowr Province of Afghanistan is beginning to establish its footprint.

Jan. 28, 2011 - The Missouri National Guard Child and Youth Program has taken on a new focus: leadership development and community service among teens.

Jan. 28, 2011 - A 60-hour signal course was conducted by Task Force Palmetto, comprised of National Guard members.

Jan. 28, 2011 - When it comes to the hustle-and-bustle of preparing for college, the last thing anyone--including Soldiers--wants is to get the runaround when registering for classes and applying for tuition assistance.

Jan. 28, 2011 - When an IED exploded, hitting their vehicle, these three Oregon Guardsmen walked away with minor injuries. They credit the MRAP and their training for their survival.

Jan. 27, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama said what impresses her most about military families is their strength, pride and courage.

Jan. 25, 2011 - There has hardly been a day that these two brothers from Versailles, Missouri have been apart--now they’ve joined the Missouri Army National Guard, earned their GED diplomas and have begun Army basic training--together.

Jan. 27, 2011 - From Warrior skills to convoy training; from vehicle and weapons maintenance to restocking medical supplies, this unit stays prepared for its missions.

Jan. 27, 2011 - For these soldiers from Iowa, their mission to Alingar District Center was just another day, one of more than 300 they will spend far from home. But those days are key in helping improve Afghanistan’s security and economy.

Jan. 27, 2011 - Four Kentucky National Guard Soldiers from the 2123rd Transportation Company received the Purple Heart in Afghanistan.

Jan. 26, 2011 - District of Columbia Guardmembers provided support to the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police and local first responders during the State of the Union address, Guard officials reported.

Jan. 26, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,695 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Jan. 27, 2011 - The North Dakota National Guard Biathlon Team will defend its national title at a March biathlon competition after winning a regional contest earlier this month.

Jan. 26, 2011 - Louisiana Guardsmen recently attended training to learn to communicate effectively with their partners and strengthen the most important commitment in their lives – their marriages.

Jan. 27, 2011 - Members of Texas Army National Guard Ghazni Agribusiness Development Team-IV joined Polish Battle Group A to conduct a unified mission in three villages outside Ghazni City.

Jan. 26, 2011 - Dr. Jill Biden invited the fiancé of a Delaware Army National Guardmember to a White House press conference on Monday to unveil a government-wide plan to strengthen military family support.

Jan. 26, 2011 - National Guard and coalition soldiers are working with Afghan counterparts all over Afghanistan, but every now and then, a particularly successful military partnership stands out from the crowd.

Jan. 26, 2011 - The graveyard shift requires working while others sleep and sleeping while the world moves through the normal hustle and bustle of its day. These Iowa Guardsmen are all too familiar with the graveyard shift.

Jan. 27, 2011 - Citizen-Soldiers with the Alaska National Guard stepped up to become some of the nation’s elite Soldiers by volunteering for and successfully completing the United States Army Ranger school.

Jan. 27, 2011 - In the list of problems that can confront service members after a combat deployment, few can be harder to talk about or more devastating than the inability to resume intimate relationships.

Jan. 21, 2011 - Team USA bobsled pilot Sgt. Shauna Rohbock, of the Utah Army National Guard, is back in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program for what may be her farewell tour on the World Cup circuit.

Jan. 24, 2011 - Monthly they process about $181 million and fly 23,700 passengers; daily they feed more than 100,000 and their vehicles average 23,570 miles. Is it a Fortune 500 company?

Jan. 24, 2011 - The National Guard celebrated the Youth ChalleNGe Program’s 100,000th graduate on Jan. 22.

Jan. 25, 2011 - Army Spc. Alejandro Zuniga of the Louisiana National Guard scored 401 points on his most recent Army physical fitness test -- something even he found hard to believe, considering the state he was in less than two years ago.

Jan. 23, 2011 - The Grady Dining Facility, named for Oklahoma Guardsman Spc. Ryan "Big Smooth" Grady, is now open.

Jan. 25, 2011 - While deployments often separate families for a year and sometimes longer, there are rare occasions where family members are deployed together and it helps in creating a stronger bond.

Jan. 21, 2011 - Senior leaders from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve met with deployed National Guard and Reserve Soldiers in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Jan. 20, 2011 - Army North and the National Guard are partners in planning, coordinating and integrating domestic operations, the commander of Army North (Fifth Army) said at the 2011 National Guard Bureau Domestic Operations Conference.

Jan. 24, 2011 - People say it’s not what life throws at you, but how you handle it, that determines your character. For one soldier on the provincial reconstruction team, that’s the story of his life.

Jan. 21, 2011 - Federal Voting Assistance Program officials will use winning entries from slogan and poster contests that start today to encourage absentee voting in U.S. elections by service members, their families and other citizens living overseas.

Jan. 21, 2011 - Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Alan Arnson admits Iraq is different now.

Jan. 24, 2011 - White House officials released a report today that unveils a new, governmentwide approach to military family support.

Jan. 21, 2011 - Task Force Redhorse is increasing combat patrols in the Bagram Security Zone and Oregon Guardsmen are patrolling to disrupt insurgent activities in the area.

Jan. 24, 2011 - “We are dependent on America’s National Guard … and the missions that you do every day,” Army Lt. Gen. Frank Grass, deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command says.

Jan. 21, 2011 - Additions to TRICARE'swebsite are giving beneficiaries easier access to their personal health data, more convenient appointment scheduling and better communication with their health care providers, TRICARE says.

Jan. 19, 2011 - Suicides among active-duty soldiers dropped slightly last year to 156 confirmed deaths, from 162 in 2009. At the same time, suicides among National Guard soldiers increased.

Jan. 20, 2011 - Most soldiers who are deployed miss their homes. But for Army Spc. Steven Starkey and Army Pfc. Andrew Starkey, a large part of what the word “home” represents is just a five-minute walk up the hill.

Jan. 19, 2011 - The Army released today suicide data for the month of December and for 2010.

Jan. 19, 2011 - The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today the launch of an interactive simulation designed to help those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Jan. 19, 2011 - This week the Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 365 more reservists activated than last week.

Jan. 18, 2011 - Two signs stand at the entryway to Farmington, Minn. One displays the city’s population and, just underneath, another sign states “Yellow Ribbon City,” a message to all who that pass by that this city stands for military family support.

Jan. 17, 2011 - All the chickens provided to six Afghan families are thriving while their eggs provide both food and income to their new owners.

Jan. 15, 2011 - Nearly four dozen private nursery owners gathered in the Kunar provincial capital of Asadabad to kick off six days of specialized training supporting the area's still-developing fruit and nut production industry.

Jan. 15, 2011 - He came to Afghanistan flat-broke and unsatisfied with his civilian job, selling cars for a Ford dealership in Brooklyn. Now, Spc. Peter Latrourette is $250,000 dollars richer and debt free.

Jan. 17, 2011 - Most members of the Joint Security Station Shield community know Master Sgt. James, who is “so proficient in her job” she is said to be intimidating.

Jan. 13, 2011 - Three months ago, these Iowa Guard mechanics had never worked on or driven this huge hunk of steel. Now, they work on the M-ATV daily -- and successfully.

Jan. 11, 2011 - Wounded warriors and family members of fallen Citizen-Soldiers are benefitting from a Washington National Guard program pairing dogs with veterans.

Jan. 11, 2011 - It's a beginning for most of us, but for 76 Alaska Army National Guardsmen in Iraq, the new year marks a mid-point in their year-long deployment supporting Operation New Dawn.

Jan. 14, 2011 - Covering qualified children up to age 26, TRICARE plans to roll out its new Young Adult Program by spring and to provide an option to make coverage retroactive to Jan. 1.

Jan. 11, 2011 - It is safe to say Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Bales keeps his Oregon Army National Guard unit on the road.

Jan. 13, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today its introduction of the premium-based Tricare Young Adult Program (TYAP) which extends medical coverage to eligible military family members to the age of 26.

Jan. 13, 2011 - As of 11:00 a.m., Jan. 13, the National Guard is continuing relief efforts in the Southeast and working with civilian authorities in parts of the Northeast after the latest round of snow and ice storms.

Jan. 14, 2011 - An Alaska National Guardsman will compete in the figure bodybuilding competition at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, March 3-5.

Jan. 12, 2011 - retired South Dakota National Guard officer was one of the bystanders who subdued the gunman who allegedly killed six people and shot U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 8.

Jan. 12, 2011 - The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through December.

Jan. 12, 2011 - This week the Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 491 more reservists activated than last week.

Jan. 11, 2011 - As of 9:30 a.m. today, 337 National Guard members were activated in support of relief operations for the winter storm that has blanketed most of the Southeast.

Jan. 10, 2011 - Hundreds of sheep, a handful of working dogs, dozens of Kuchi tribesmen and more than 20 veterinary workers produced a cacophony of noise and a frenzy of activity.

Jan. 11, 2011 - Last year, Alexander Archer was a college student in California enjoying his chemistry studies. Today, Archer is a private first class preparing to deploy to Iraq with his California Army National Guard unit.

Jan. 10, 2011 - As of 8:30 a.m. this morning, governors of four states in the southeast region of the U.S. have declared states of emergency, prompting some governors to place their National Guard on state active duty.

Jan. 6, 2011 - With modesty and a matter-of-fact approach, an Illinois Army National Guard Soldier turned heads for all the right reasons at the U.S. Army Ranger School and will compete in the Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., in April.

Jan. 7, 2011 - Recent praise for Polish troops from Gen. Petraeus came as no surprise to the Illinois National Guard, which has operated jointly with Poland's military since 1993.

Jan. 7, 2011 - The 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard assumed responsibility Jan. 2 as one of the three Army divisions overseeing U.S. operations in Iraq.

Jan. 10, 2011 - Citizen-Soldiers with the 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), are making a difference in the “War on Excess” with its Mobile Redistribution Team.

Jan. 6, 2011 - National Guard personnel – regardless of duty status – must complete a motorcycle safety course to ride, but with no means to certify riders, how do Citizen-Soldiers meet this requirement? Three Arizona NCOs came up with with a solution.

Jan. 7, 2011 - Olympic gold medal winner Justin Olsen competed for his country in the 2010 Olympics. Now, he'll serve as Private 1st Class Justin Olsen.

Jan. 6, 2011 - With resolve and a clear vision for the future, transition team members are determined to strengthen their partnership with Afghan security forces and bring greater stability to Afghanistan.

Jan. 7, 2011 - “I don’t deserve to be on the front page of the paper,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Derrick Wygle. “My employer does. I just asked for a couple boxes of school supplies.”

Jan. 6, 2011 - While at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Ky, Staff Sgt. Chris Eden received his Purple Heart.

Jan. 5, 2011 - A nonprofit organization is giving Americans the chance to sing the praises of a group often called the nation’s unsung heroes: military children.

Jan. 6, 2011 - Corvallis-based Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, is scheduled to receive the Presidential Unit Citation.

Jan. 6, 2011 - Service members who suffer mild TBI in combat, then struggle with depression, irritability, alcohol abuse and similar problems most likely have post-traumatic stress, rather than brain injury symptoms, according to a new study.

Jan. 6, 2011 - A group of U.S. Army veterinarians visited the Afghan Central Veterinary Research and Development Lab to better understand its capabilities.

Jan. 5, 2011 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 733 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Jan. 5, 2011 - As revelers braved strong winds and unusually cold weather this New Year’s Eve, about 200 Nevada National Guardmembers conducted their ninth annual Vigilant Sentinel exercise and provided additional security.

Jan. 6, 2011 - Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, led a contingent of senior Guard leaders to Panama City, Panama to meet with agency directors and officials.

Jan. 5, 2011 - The beginning of the new year marks the final two weeks for Guard and Reserve members and their families to nominate supportive employers for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Jan. 5, 2011 - A popular program that turns donated frequent-flyer miles into free airline tickets for wounded warriors and their families will expand this year so families of the fallen and combat wounded can participate in two upcoming events.

Jan. 5, 2011 - The Alaska National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team conducted 290 funerals in 2010, 109 more than 2009, and is projected to support 400 in 2011.

Jan. 4, 2011 - A unique Wisconsin National Guard unit, authorized in July and just weeks away from its first training event, is putting the finishing touches on a training plan that will prepare it for its mission in Afghanistan.

Jan. 4, 2011 - The Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team has repaired a vital irrigation system at the Chowkay District demonstration farm in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province.

Jan. 4, 2011 - Wisconsin Army National Guard senior leaders found that 2010 was a busy, productive and successful year for Wisconsin Guard units deployed in Iraq.

Dec. 31, 2010 - The National Guard All-Guard Marathon Team ended 2010 with impressive performances at the Philadelphia Marathon Nov.21 and the Charlotte Marathon Dec. 11, 2010.

Dec. 9, 2010 - The Rhode Island Army National Guard concluded a week long military exchange on Dec. 3 under the State Partnership Program with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Dec. 28, 2010 - The Missouri National Guard State Partnership Program recently welcomed members of the Panamanian National Police and Ministry of Public Safety to Jefferson City.

Jan. 3, 2011 - The Oklahoma Army National Guard is giving resiliency training to as many Citizen-Soldiers as possible in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Jan. 3, 2010 - A suicide prevention task force for troops and veterans has been added to a national alliance that officials hope will help bring more attention to the issues and offer solutions in the future.

Jan. 3, 2011 - Iowa Army National Guardsman Spc. Renata Hadzic, who is deployed to Iraq, already knows a great deal about war.

Jan. 3, 2011 - An Indiana-based organization is working to build community support of servicemembers and their families throughout the state in the hope of serving as a model for the rest of the nation.

Dec. 29, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 778 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Dec. 27, 2010 - As of 8 a.m. today, 430 National Guardmembers had been activated in response to a winter storm that left as much as two feet of snow in some areas and prompted six governors to activate their National Guard.

Dec. 22, 2010 - Company A, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment hit the ground running, sending Guardsmen out on the road to conduct convoy escort missions within 24 hours of landing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Dec, 23, 2010 - Although 2010 lacked a major hurricane, wildfire or other natural disaster within the U.S., Guardmembers were as busy serving their governors in domestic operations as they were serving their commander-in-chief overseas.

Dec. 23, 2010 - The Buehring USO was buzzing with laughter and conversation as the crowded tent came alive with merriment as the gingerbread competition was announced.

Dec. 23, 2010 - The deadline for eligible servicemembers, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has been extended to March 4, Defense Department officials announced today.

Dec. 23, 2010 - Approximately 2,400 Soldiers from the Florida National Guard’s 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team have returned to the United States after a nearly year-long deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.

Dec. 26, 2010 - Military leaders and troops alike need more time at home between deployments to help diagnose and receive treatment for the "invisible" wounds of war such as posttraumatic stress, a senior Army officer said today.

Dec. 24, 2010 - Mail delivery in Afghanistan set a new yearly and holiday record as joint sustainment forces brought holiday cheer to U.S. service members.

Dec. 24, 2010 - More than 320 soldiers, Marines, airmen, veterans and military family members and friends took part in the annual Christmas Eve Road March held Friday, Dec. 24 at the New York State Armory.

Dec. 22, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists. The net collective result is 1,181 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Dec. 25, 2010 - Remote, small, austere -- all adjectives one could use to describe Combat Outpost Najil in eastern Afghanistan where about 200 Soldiers of the Iowa Army National Guard celebrated their Christmas this year.

Dec. 17, 2010 - An Alaska Army National Guardsman was one of 44 emerging American leaders from the United States to be selected for the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship of 2011.

Dec. 22, 2010 - The deadline for service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to March 4, 2011.

Dec. 17, 2010 - The National Guard’s newest civil support team passed its first evaluation this week, bringing it one step closer to being Florida’s second fully accredited team.

Dec. 22, 2010 - One hundred and eight cadets from 42 counties graduated from the Wisconsin National Guard's Challenge Academy during a Dec. 18 ceremony at Mauston High School.

Dec. 20, 2010 - One soldier from Multinational Battle Group East has found a way to continue to enjoy one of his favorite activities, even while deployed to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission.

Dec. 20, 2010 - Thanks to volunteers, Florida’s Citizen-Soldiers from the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are receiving a warm welcome home from Kuwait.

Dec. 19, 2010 - The two Iowa National Guard combat medics have been treating burn wounds on a 3-year-old Afghan girl. Without this treatment, the burns would likely kill the child.

Dec. 22, 2010 - The Kentucky ADT visited with Shanawaz Khan, a villager who started his chicken farm with 30 chickens. Khan now has more than 800 hens and hopes to grow his buisness.

Dec. 15, 2010 - Service members from Antarctica to Afghanistan lent their talents and time to craft a video for a poem titled, "'Twas a Night in December," based on Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicolas," rewritten with a miliary twist.

Dec. 21, 2010 - The chief of the National Guard Bureau visited the Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the southwest border mission here Dec. 14.

Dec. 23, 2010 - More than 90 cadets graduated on Dec. 18 from the Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy.

Dec. 22, 2010 - Santa wears a special suit when he visits veterans, and the holiday takes on an extra special meaning for him, too.

Dec. 22, 2010 - When Missouri National Guard marksmanship team members returned as winners of the Winston P. Wilson shooting competition, they brought home trophies and plaques, crucial training and Show-Me State pride.

Dec. 16, 2010 - Throughout the year, Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other relief to the nation’s servicemembers and wounded warriors and recently arranged a Santa visit for Indiana Guard families.

Dec. 16, 2010 - During November 2010, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were five potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicides, and all five remain under investigation.

Dec. 15, 2010 - This week the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 29 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Dec. 18, 2010 - Soldiers from the 1/245th Aviation Operations Battalion, Oklahoma Army National Guard, have a direct impact on the success of the air movement mission in Afghanistan.

Oct. 28, 2010 - -- More than 20 veterinary professionals from across Kunar province, crowded into a small room Oct. 21 in a training center located next to the government-run nursery in Asadabad, the provincial capital.

Dec. 13, 2010 - I’d like to take a moment to recognize the 374th birthday of the National Guard and our Citizen-Warriors: those stationed throughout our Nation and those deployed across the globe.

Dec, 10, 2010 - Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry “Bud” Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, helped the Guard mark its 374th birthday yesterday at a Capitol Hill celebration.

Dec. 9, 2010 - The Defense Department will launch an initiative early next year aimed at expanding the quality and quantity of community-based child care options for geographically dispersed reserve and active-duty families.

Dec. 9, 2010 - An Indiana-based organization is working to build community support of servicemembers and their families throughout the state in the hope of serving as a model for the rest of the nation.

Dec. 9, 2010 - Members of Congress and Pentagon officials will join National Guard leaders on Capitol Hill for a special cake-cutting ceremony and reception to commemorate the Guard’s 374rd birthday.

Dec. 9, 2010 - The relationship between the National Guard and its parent components has never been stronger, the Guard’s top officer said yesterday.

Dec. 8, 2010 - An Indiana National Guard soldier who has been playing soccer his whole life reached the zenith of his playing career when he, as an All Army team member, won gold in a military tournament.

Dec. 5, 2010 - Their service, and that of their families, will never be forgotten. That's the message 47 members of a North Dakota National Guard aviation unit received during a community event thanking them for their service in Iraq.

Dec. 6, 2010 - What do the towns of Keokuk, Iowa, and Bajawri, Afghanistan, have in common? For centuries, it was probably very little. But now, they are working together to construct a mosque in the village of Bajawri.

Dec. 8, 2010 - This week the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army announced an increase. The net collective result is 526 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Dec. 5, 2010 - The subgovernor of the Nurgal District in Kunar province met with the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team to discuss potential agricultural projects Dec. 1.

Dec. 7, 2010 - The 116th CBCT headquartered in Boise, Idaho, now known as “Task Force Snake,” assumed garrison command over Victory Base Complex, a large U.S. military installation.

Dec. 5, 2010 - About 70 soldiers from the North Dakota Army National Guard are on U.S. soil this afternoon after having spent nearly a year in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Dec. 8, 2010 - As the number of improvised explosive device attacks rises in Afghanistan, a combination of strategies and technologies are being used to halt the harm they cause to troops and civilians, Army Lt. Gen. Michael L. Oates said this week.

Dec. 7, 2010 - Stress fire has been a part of training for deploying units for the past couple of years. Soldiers are pushed hard to test their ability to deal with the chaos of a firefight.

Dec. 7, 2010 - South Dakota's 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is improving camp living conditions at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan.

Dec. 6, 2010 - It’s OK to not be OK – and to seek help, the Army National Guard’s senior noncommissioned officer says.

Dec. 7, 2010 - Daniel J. Sanchez woke up one morning and knew his day was going to be different than the one before, because it would be the last day he would wake up on a park bench or worry where his next meal would come from.

Dec. 7, 2010 - Major General Roy Andersen, chief of South African National Defence Force Reserves, wanted to learn from a really professional organization; so he brought his staff to visit the New York National Guard.

Nov. 11, 2010 - Three of the New Hampshire Army National Guard’s most experienced maintenance technicians conducted a basic High-Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle operator and maintainer course for the Salvadorian Army’s elite Calvary Regiment.

Dec. 7, 2010 - For the first time, America officially recognizes the contributions and dedication of military widows with ''Gold Star Wives Day.''

Dec. 8, 2010 - Improvised explosive devices and multiple deployments are boosting the incidence of mild traumatic brain injury, a condition that some early studies indicate may increase a soldier’s future risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Dec. 4, 2010 - Members of the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team found that 24 of 25 shopkeepers surveyed were better off or much better off than they were five years ago.

Dec. 6, 2010 - The Department of Defense announced today that the deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to Dec. 18. The last deadline was Dec. 3

Dec. 1, 2010 - To kick off the holiday season, Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, welcomed children with parents serving in the National Guard to make ornaments, decorate cookies and write letters.

Dec. 6, 2010 - In a ceremony ripe with military tradition, an Iowa National Guard unit provided relief in place to a unit of the Vermont National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during a transfer of authority hand-off here Nov. 30.

Dec. 2, 2010 - Olympian and Vermont National Guard member John Napier, who returned from Afghanistan just three weeks ago, helped his team to finish fifth here in the World Cup this week.

Dec. 6, 2010 - The holiday season has officially begun. It's supposed to be "the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." But for many military families, the holiday season can be stressful - especially when a loved one is away.

Dec, 3, 2010 - In a country where the gains are small and the need great, I like to think that a few National Guardsmen backed by caring folks back home have brought some brightness into lives.

Dec. 3, 2010 - The Pennsylvania Army National Guard showed up in force to help battle a growing national threat—the dropout crisis.

Dec. 3, 2010 - With the holiday shopping season underway, National Guard members need to ensure they are taking the proper steps to protect themselves from credit fraud and identity theft.

Dec. 2, 2010 - After giving up months of free time creating a mural on the wall of the Camp Phoenix gym, artist Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Williams and others gathered at a dedication ceremony for his painting called "Freedom Over Tyranny."

Dec. 1, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists. The net collective result is 441 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Nov. 30, 2010 - The Department of Defense (DoD) notified Congress today that the second Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) has been certified for the New York National Guard.

Nov. 30, 2010 - The Defense Department will release the “Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ ” today at approximately 2:15 p.m. EST at http://www.defense.gov/dadt.

Nov. 24, 2010 – Louisiana's 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have at least two things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. This deployment to Iraq has been less violent than their previous one and they will likely be home for Christmas.

Nov. 26, 2010 – Pfc. Alyssia Brown completed basic combat training when she was a high school junior. Despite her youth, she graduated Oct. 21 at the top of her class from the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Nov. 24, 2010 - As New Yorkers and other Americans head to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations on the busiest travel day of the year today, members of the New York National Guard will be on duty in New York City.

Nov. 23, 2010 - A multi-agency roundtable has recommended using the National Guard State Partnership Program as a tool for citizen diplomacy.

Nov. 23, 2010 - An Arkansas National Guard Soldier killed in action while serving in Iraq six years ago was memorialized here on Nov. 23, when one of the post's four health clinics was named in his honor.

Nov. 24, 2010 - This week the Navy and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 797 more reservists activated than last week.

Nov. 19, 2010 - "One, two, three, lift," a Soldier yells, as six other Soldiers simultaneously raise a tent moving it into position.

Nov. 24, 2010 - Iowa agri-business development team members work with Afghan farmers to educate and be educated.

Nov. 11, 2010 - A 10-state team of National Guard personnel lead by Brig. Gen. Jonathan Farnham of the Vermont National Guard will finish a very unique year-long deployment in Afghanistan in December.

Nov. 22, 2010 - The Defense Logistics Agency shipped about 144,000 pounds of whole turkeys into theater so Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines there can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner while deployed.

Nov. 23, 2010 - Citizen-Soldiers from the "Arrowhead" Division will deploy to southern Iraq later this year. It is the last division headquarters scheduled to deploy to southern Iraq in Operation New Dawn.

Nov. 22, 2010 - Soldiers in the Army National Guard must adopt the “New Norm,” where asking for assistance is a priority, Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard.

Nov. 22, 2010 - The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal year-to-date 2011, through October.

Nov. 22, 2010 - Defense Department officials announced the services’ recruiting and retention numbers for the first month of the new fiscal year, as well as a change in the way they report recruiting numbers to the public.

Nov. 22, 2010 - A North Dakota Guardsman made her debut this weekend with the All-Guard Marathon Team in Pennsylvania.

Nov. 17, 2010 - Army family members can now use the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness global assessment tool and all its online self-improvement modules without having a sponsored Army Knowledge Online account.

Nov. 22, 2010 - More than 400 New York Guardsmen, New York Guard volunteers and Rockland County-based law enforcement and emergency response took part in a Defense Support to Civil Authorities exercise.

Nov. 8, 2010 - For the first time in the 40-year history of the national-level Winston P. Wilson Marksmanship Sustainment Training Exercise, the Missouri National Guard brought home the championship trophy.

Nov. 20, 2010 - The Chilean military can offer a wealth of experience in disaster relief operations to the United States and other nations, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says.

Nov. 19, 2010 - The Army released suicide data today for the month of October.

Nov. 18, 2010 - The Army National Guard implemented a program mobilizing Guard instructor pilots that helped increase pilot training by 46 percent.

Nov. 19, 2010 - The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness announced who will serve on the Department of Defense Wounded Warrior Task Force.

Nov. 19, 2010 - Fort Benning's Warrior Training Center hosted an assessment here Nov. 17 to find the best Rangers in the Army National Guard.

Nov. 16, 2010 - Kentucky National Guard Chaplain Col. Patrick J. Dolan has been selected to serve as the Army National Guard assistant to the Chief of Chaplains for the U.S. Army.

Nov. 18, 2010 - As part of upgrading the Army's air fleet, 140 of 345 planned UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters have been delivered.

Nov. 18, 2010 - The report of the working group looking at the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law will be released in full Dec. 1, says Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.

Nov. 18, 2010 – A new one-of-a-kind resource handbook and video is being made available to servicemembers’ families and friends, courtesy of an independent film production company, Vulcan Productions, owned by philanthropist Paul G. Allen.

Nov. 18, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps announced an increase. The net collective result is 2,370 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Nov. 15, 2010 - The New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division paid respects in an evening wreath laying ceremony to the unit's founder and first chief of staff, Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Nov. 17, 2010 - Because military families face many different challenges, the Defense Centers for Excellence is sponsoring a unique webinar on Nov. 19 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 18, 2010 – A pilot program that eases medical separation and speeds benefit payments for servicemembers too wounded, sick or injured to stay in the military will soon roll out to the entire force.

Nov. 16, 2010 - Five New York Army National Guard Soldiers had the time of their lives and placed fifth out of 22 teams during the South African Reserve Force Council Military Skills Competition 2010 .

Nov. 11, 2010 - Dozens of children from the Kamenica/Kamenice municipality rode off on bicycles to start of a day of events with U.S. Soldiers from Multinational Battle Group East.

Nov. 16, 2010 - Dwell time, the time spent at home between deployments, may increase next year for members of the Army National Guard, the service’s senior leader says.

Nov. 13, 2010 - One of the poorest schools in downtown Kabul has been adopted by Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment.

Nov. 16, 2010 - The Louisiana National Guard Reintegration Office’s Child and Youth Program along with Louisiana Operation: Military Kids welcomed military families aboard the historic USS KIDD for an overnight camp.

Nov. 10, 2010 - A meeting between Iowa's ADT and Kunar Province farmers revealed a need for cold storage development.

Nov. 17, 2010 – Many South Dakotans know about South Dakota Army National Guard units supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they may not know about individual Guardsmen who deploy and serve.

Nov. 17, 2010 - The end of a deployment can mean looking for a new job. To help Soldiers transition, the 53rd IBCT hosted a job fair, Nov. 15, in the remote desert at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Nov. 16, 2010 – Young children from military families are more likely to seek mental and behavioral health care when a parent is deployed than when a parent is at home, a military study has concluded.

Nov. 15, 2010 - Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced Nov. 9 an important program designed to provide enhanced services to low-income veterans and their families who are at risk of being homeless.

Nov. 10, 2010 - The National Guard and the Coast Guard agree that when the two services join forces "it's overall a better capability for the United States."

Nov. 10, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 392 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Nov. 9, 2010 – Troubled troops, veterans and family members have a round-the-clock, free resource for locating the help they need to deal with psychological health problems and traumatic brain injury.

Nov. 9, 2010 - About 1,500 Vermont National Guardsmen are scheduled to return home from Afghanistan before the holidays.

Nov. 9, 2010 – The National Park Service offers its last free-admission day of the year to honor U.S. veterans and active-duty servicemembers on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Nov. 8, 2010 – Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Stephen Sanderson flew helicopters in Vietnam and still is flying today as a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot for the Vermont Army National Guard.

Nov. 3, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,364 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Nov. 2, 2010 - Servicemembers from 44 states and U.S. territories made up the 91 teams that competed in the combat-related skilled matches that made up this marksmanship competition.

Nov. 1, 2010 - The 2011 season is open for nominations for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, says ESGR.

Nov. 1, 2010 - Elaine Wilson talks about Military Family Month in her "Family Matters Blog".

Oct. 29, 2010 - The South Dakota National Guard’s Drug Demand Reduction program was awarded the Secretary of Defense Community Drug Awareness Award at the Pentagon Hall of Hero’s Oct. 22.

Nov. 1, 2010 - To combat suicides, the Army should put the same emphasis on emotional fitness as it does on physical fitness says the acting director of the Army National Guard.

Oct. 29, 2010 - Defense Department officials are working to remind veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the so-called "Stop Loss" program to apply for special pay before the Dec. 3 deadline.

Oct. 30, 2010 - Army officials are seeking a new limited Title 10 authority to mobilize the Guard and Reserve in peacetime for rotations to Europe, Korea and elsewhere.

Nov. 2, 2010 - U.S. Army Japan facilitates a two-week Orient Shield exercise in Japan each fall consisting of about 400 National Guard members from six states, working with about 200 soldiers from the Japanese military.

Nov. 2, 1010 - Sexual assault, one of our nation’s most underreported violent crimes, is a national problem, and the military is not immune, says the director of the DoD’s office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.

Oct. 31, 2010 - U.S. Army Alaska and the Indian Army celebrated the opening of the annual joint and bilateral training exercise Yudh Abhyas 2010 during a ceremony Oct. 31.

Nov. 1, 2010 – National Guard Bureau officials are looking into allegations of fraud and abuse and, if necessary, revamping procedures for detecting fraud.

Nov. 2, 2010 – The nation has not begun to comprehend the long-term consequences of protracted war, the military’s top officer said yesterday.

Oct. 30, 2010 - They call themselves the “Toy Soldiers", reaching out to the local Iraqi population by delivering toys to hospitalized Iraqi children.

A Texas commander is an enthusiastic advocate of the program. Prior to Yellow Ribbon, his soldiers returned from a deployment and scattered throughout the massive state, away from the military support they had grown used to over a course of a year.

Oct. 28, 2010 – Stories abound of soldiers who meet up with family members while serving overseas, but few feature family members who serve in the same company.

Oct. 27, 2010 - Elaine Wilson who writes the "Family Matters" blog visits with Guard and Reserve Soldiers and families.

Oct. 28, 2010 – Army leaders are committed to providing long-term support to survivors of the military fallen, and will continue to create and expand programs and resources that will help to achieve that goal, the Army chief of staff said yesterday.

Oct. 26, 2010 – Army leaders yesterday promised to leave family support programs intact when looking for ways to reduce the service's budget.

Oct. 26, 2010 - The Department of Defense announced today the release of a free smart phone mobile application that will make it easier for servicemembers and veterans to track their emotional health after deployments.

Oct. 28, 2010 - As the U.S. Supreme Court decides if protestors at military funerals are protected under First Amendment rights, a motorcycle group attending those funerals as a show of support and respect rides on, undeterred by the political fray.

Oct. 27, 2010 - This week the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,342 more reservists activated than last week.

Oct. 26, 2010 – The National Guard and Reserves are making a vital contribution in Africa, the commander of U.S. Africa Command said here yesterday.

Oct. 21, 2010 – The Defense Department supports yesterday’s federal appeals court decision to temporarily block a judge’s order that put an immediate end to the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

Oct. 19, 2010 – A recent change in Defense Department policy highlights why servicemembers and deployable civilians who also are custodial parents may want to seek legal help in arranging their children’s care during deployment.

Oct. 21, 2010 - “It kind of felt like Chuck Norris kicked me in the side,” is how Army Pfc. Phillip Mexcur described how it feels to get shot.

Oct. 21, 2010 – A program that links reserve and National Guard members, their families and veterans with civilian employers has reached a milestone, with more than 1,000 employers now signed on to hire qualified job-seekers.

Oct. 20, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,410 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Oct. 19, 2010 – The Defense Department’s Federal Voting Assistance Program has a solution for overseas servicemembers and other U.S. citizens living outside the country who haven’t received an election ballot: get it online.

Oct. 20, 2010 - officials are continuing an active outreach effort to ensure current military members and veterans don’t miss out on the new Post-9/11 GB Bill program’s education benefits.

Oct. 20, 2010 - Spc. Martin Jackson, a native of Clinton, S.C., looks particularly at ease behind the wheel of his mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle as he drives in convoys for the provincial reconstruction team here.

Oct. 12, 2010 - Survivors of suicide experience a grief that’s unlike any other, noted Dr. Frank Campbell, a renowned suicide expert and seminar speaker. The element of trauma coupled with a societal stigma can make for a tough recovery.

Oct. 13, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 2,329 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Oct. 13, 2010 - The Defense Department offers military families access to free, online tutoring at Tutor.com, offering round-the-clock tutors to assist with homework, studying and test preparation.

Oct. 8, 2010 - As officials explore ways to control costs while providing the best health care possible, they’re encouraging beneficiaries to get their prescriptions delivered to their doorsteps.

Oct. 8, 2010 - The Defense Department is observing Domestic Violence Awareness Month this month by stepping up efforts to bring awareness to this pervasive issue and the resources available to prevent it.

Oct. 12, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a campaign to encourage veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan to take advantage of available VA benefits and services.

Oct. 11, 2010 - Capt. Robert Killian finished first in the military division of the 2010 Iron Man Triathlon in Kona-Kailua, Hawaii on Oct. 9, 2010.

Oct. 8, 2010 - With a front-row seat to the history unfolding in Iraq, Army Lt. Col. Les’ Melnyk is capturing it all for posterity, so the American public knows the full story behind what happened there, and the military can learn from its experiences.

Oct. 8, 2010 - The conference focused on improving understanding and cooperative efforts.

Oct. 6, 2010 - The Virginia National Guard partnered with the Drug Enforcement Agency to collect and destroy tons of unwanted and outdated medications.

Oct. 8, 2010 - The recommended mailing deadline for sending economy-priced holiday packages to servicemembers in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world is Nov. 12, officials at the U.S. Postal Service say.

Oct. 6, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps announced an increase. The net collective result is 3,137 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Oct. 1, 2010 - The deadline for eligible service members, veterans and their beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP) has been extended to Dec. 3, 2010, allowing personnel more time to apply for the benefits they’ve earned.

Oct. 5, 2010 – The National Guard has added a homeland response force package to its current chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive response capabilities.

Oct. 1, 2010 - The Department of the Army announced today that Maj. Gen. Rhett A. Hernandez assumed command of U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) during a ceremony held at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Sept. 29, 2010 - This week the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army announced an increase. The Coast Guard had no change. The net collective result is 25 more reservists activated than last week.

Sept. 22, 2010 - This week the Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 2,666 more reservists activated than last week.

Sept. 27, 2010 - The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today Absentee Voting Week from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4.

Sept. 17, 2010 – The presence of National Guard troops along the Southwest border has provided U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents with an additional resource to counter drug smuggling, human trafficking and other threats along the border.

Sept. 14, 2010 - With the historic landing site of U.S. and Allied forces in World War II as the backdrop, the Utah National Guard's 23rd Army Band performed one in a series of memorable patriotic concerts throughout Morocco.

Sept. 15, 2010 - In 1993, Hungary was fresh from the Iron Curtain and became part of the new Guard State Partnership Program.

Sept. 16, 2010 - A long-lost Civil War cannon has found its way back to the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield after more than 30 years.

Sept. 16, 2010 - Slightly more than 1,200 National Guard members from the four Southwest border states are in training or already deployed in support of the border mission, a Guard official announced today.

Sept. 16, 2010 - Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Force officials will be keeping an eye on Kabul with the help of a new security measure; the Persistent Surveillance System.

Sept. 15, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 816 fewer reservists activated than last

Sept. 15, 2010 – Time is running out for those who qualify to receive their Stop Loss Special Pay. The deadline to claim it is Oct. 21st, but less than half of the more than 145,000 people eligible have submitted claims.

Sept. 10, 2010 - About 66 members of the Vermont Army National Guard's air ambulance unit left for duty in Iraq on Sept. 10.

Sept. 9, 2010 - Last month, Capt. Robert Killian's time in the Boulder Half-Marathon qualified him to fill the lone Army slot in the World Championship Ironman race to be held in Kona, Hawaii, Oct. 9.

Sept. 15, 2010 - Task Force Kout Men (Creole for helping hands) completed its humanitarian assistance training mission with a closing ceremony, Sept. 15.

Sept. 15, 2010 - More than five years after a fierce firefight on his first solo mission in Iraq, a former Wisconsin National Guard Soldier was awarded a Bronze Star medal with "V" device for valor.

Sept. 14, 2010 – They run road races and compete in triathlons. They climb mountains, kayak through rapids and ski on snow and water. They are America’s wounded warriors -- veterans who continue to inspire by their resilience and will.

Sept. 10, 2010 – Officials have extended a spouse employment program enrollment deadline in the hopes that more military spouses will be able to take spring semester classes.

Sept. 15, 2010 – President Barack Obama wants to make sure veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the so-called “Stop Loss” program get the retroactive pay they deserve.

Sept. 3, 2010 – Almost 1,100 National Guard members are on duty on the Southwest border performing a mission that is very familiar to many of them, a Guard official said today.

Sept. 8, 2010 - More than 600 Soldiers of the Massachusetts National Guard are training for deployment to Afghanistan as part of the state’s largest single deployment of troops since World War II.

Sept. 9, 2010 - Three Latham, N.Y.-based Guardsmen were the opening act in a special edition of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report".

Sept. 8, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 768 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Sept. 1, 2010 - For nearly 400 residents in Franklin, La., more than half a mile of Hesco baskets placed by Louisiana National Guardsmen are adding peace of mind against future storms.

Sept. 2, 2010 - Operating in the least developed state helped the Wyoming National Guard become a state of experts in dealing with some of the most abundant collections of natural and cultural resources in the nation.

Sept. 3, 2010 - More vigilant leadership, pre-screening recruits for compatibility with military service and better post-deployment follow up are among solutions proposed by the acting director of the Army National Guard for stemming soldier suicides.

Sep. 1, 2010 - This week the Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 215 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Sept. 2, 2010 - Some families in Kosovo are in great need. It is part of the mission of the 192nd Liaison Monitoring Team, Multinational Battle Group East, to talk to families, business owners and government officials to find out what those needs are.

Sept. 1, 2010 - More than 800 National Guardsmen in four states are now taking up their positions alongside border patrol agents in the Southwest, a Guard official said today.

Sept. 1, 2010 - National Guardsmen in states all along the East Coast are preparing for whatever Hurricane Earl sends their way this Labor Day weekend.

Sept. 2, 2010 - Residents had known of the weapons cache for some time and finally felt enough confidence in the locally-based Afghan National Army unit to report the buried munitions.

Sept. 2, 2010 - Sgt. 1st Class Melissa Brumley helped load a car with clothing for the families of war widows and school supplies for the Fatima Girls School in nearby Asadabad.

Sept. 2, 2010 - The Army launched a 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' online inbox today specifically available for Soldiers worldwide to share comments and opinions.

Aug. 25, 2010 - This week the Army and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 76 more reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 23, 2010 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Marc Seal returned to FOB Ghazni after a five-day mission that began cloaked in secrecy.

Aug. 23, 2010 – Pentagon officials today 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, officials said.

Aug. 24, 2010 - The Guard is indispensible to the combatant command and NORTHCOM is dead-set on being a good partner, its new commander said Aug. 22.

Aug. 23, 2010 - The Kentucky ADT is working with Afghans and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to create a soybean processing facility in Parwan.

Aug. 23, 2010 - The 121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) of the District of Columbia National Guard recently became the first unit to perform a medical evacuation mission using the UH-72 Lakota helicopter.

Aug. 18, 2010 - The Vermont Soldiers of the 86th Infantry were very surprised to find the children in Takhchi with computers.

Aug. 19, 2010 - TAPS mentors offer everything from a shoulder to cry on to connections to helping resources.

Aug. 16, 2010 - The 186th Brigade Support Battalion of the Vermont Army National Guard, is providing support to troops on 11 military installations known as the Kabul Base Cluster and is doing so in a variety of ways.

Aug. 16, 2010 - The Wisconsin National Guard's 54th CST is providing a discreet but important level of protection for the PGA tournament by monitoring for signs of chemical, biological or radiological weapons.

Aug. 12, 2010 - Increased troop casualties in Afghanistan are expected this summer and likely will continue through the fall as U.S. forces ramp up counterinsurgency efforts, a military official said yesterday.

Aug. 13, 2010 – The installation support unit safety officer here is competing in this year’s Scottish Highland Games 2010 Masters World Championships in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains to honor the memory of his wife, who died in October.

Aug. 13, 2010 - You don’t have to be in the National Guard for the National Guard to help you. If you or a family member is in the military, in any branch, the Guard will be there, said Alex Baird, chief of family programs for the National Guard Bureau.

Aug. 12, 2010 – 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 today.

Aug. 16, 2010 - It was a partnership to provide hope for flood victims here in the Mosahi District as Afghan and coalition forces delivered humanitarian aid to displaced families.

Aug. 11, 2010 - Although a new DoD policy authorizes the use of many of the social media and other Web 2.0 platforms on a non-classified government computer, there are consequences for misuse of them.

Aug. 11, 2010 - Now that the leak has been plugged and the oil has been stopped, three of the four states on duty are decreasing the number of National Guard members they have responding to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Aug. 10, 2010 - An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk responding to an aircraft mishap today was reported to be heavily damaged when it slid and rolled over on Knik Glacier.

Aug. 11, 2010 - Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan will now go with a new uniform that fights fire and fleas, and makes them more invisible to insurgents.

Aug. 9, 2010 - A former infantry Soldier turned cook has traded in his bayonet for a spoon and now dishes out the sustenance of life for troops.

Aug. 11, 2010 - Eventually everyone begins to focus on one thing: the day they will rotate “back to the world.”

Aug. 11, 2010 - This week the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 289 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 12, 2010 - “The benefits … are many and impressive,” Army Gen. William “Kip” Ward, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in his 2010 posture statement.

Aug. 9, 2010 - Members of Company C, 2/285th Assault Helicopter Battalion are gaining valuable experience that will last a lifetime.

Aug. 20, 2010 - Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division are preparing to deploy to Iraq and Kuwait, and morale is high within the unit, the brigade commander said.

Aug. 10, 2010 – Knowing he might never return to his Special Forces team, Staff Sgt. Murnane decided to have his right leg amputated below the knee. But, it wasn't the end for his dreams and ambitions.

Aug. 9, 2010 – The National Guard has a long history of supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection efforts along the Southwest border and looks forward to the current support mission.

Aug. 8, 2010 – 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.

Jul. 20, 2010 - You would be hard pressed to find a group of Soldiers more enthusiastic about helping the Afghan people than the six South Carolina Army National Guard members from the 1-178th Field Artillery Battalion's civil military operations team.

Aug. 8, 2010 - The National Guard likely will continue to play a significant role in overseas contingency operations for the foreseeable future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here today.

Aug. 7, 2010 - Shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops into Saudi Arabia, the beginning of Operation Desert Shield on Aug. 7, 1990.

Aug. 5, 2010 - In response to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' effort to find efficiencies throughout the services, the National Guard is taking a hard look at how it operates.

Aug. 5, 2010 - Alaska National Guard Soldiers are currently preparing for Khaan Quest 2010, a multinational training exercise at the Five Hills Training Area, Tavan Tolgoi, outside the city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Aug. 3, 2010 - Two New York Army National Guard officers learned that despite different languages, the concerns of Israeli Army civil defense soldiers and National Guardsmen, who respond to domestic emergencies, are similar.

Aug. 5, 2010 - This week the Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 683 more reservists activated than last week.

Aug. 2, 2010 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff vowed today to eliminate the “yes-no” box that appears on some predeployment checklists that determines whether a servicemembers’ units can contact their families during deployments.

Aug. 3, 2010 - For Army Sgt. John Larsen, a hydrologist with the Missouri National Guard, going to Afghanistan for a year to improve that nation's ability to feed its people is a calling.

Aug. 3, 2010 - Mindfulness is a simple but ancient approach to living, which Western medicine has begun to recognize as a powerful tool for dealing with stress, illness and other medical or psychological conditions.

Aug. 2, 2010 - National Guard troops in four states are in training today as they prepare to join colleagues already supporting Border Patrol agents on the nation’s Southwest border.

Aug. 3, 2010 - Putting the National Guard back on the Cold War-era strategic reserve shelf is not the answer when Defense leaders discuss the future, the Army’s chief of staff said here today.

Aug. 3, 2010 - 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 told unit volunteers here yesterday.

Aug. 4, 2010 - Despite recent media reports, no deadlines have been missed in the deployment of up to 1,200 National Guard members to the Southwest border.

July 29, 2010 - The Army today released the Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention (HP/RR/SP) Report, the result of an effort to better understand the increasing rate of suicides.

July 30, 2010 - The Department of Defense announced today the school year 2010/2011 child care fee policy.

July 30, 2010 - Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to New Orleans yesterday to address some of the challenges confronting our military families.

July 29, 2010 - U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein and his wife Libby visited two Bucharest placement centers today to deliver sets of sports clothing to boys and girls living there.

July 27, 2010 - The National Guard faces unique challenges in tackling suicides. National Guard Soldiers spend just one weekend a month with their unit, making it difficult to track changes in behavior and mood.

July 29, 2010 - Earlier this month, Chaplains and imams from Jordan visited in Washington and Colorado as part of the Colorado Guard's partnership with Jordan.

Aug. 2, 2010 - Farmers in an impoverished section of Afghanistan will soon have a classroom for learning more productive methods of growing crops thanks to their local district government and the California Army National Guard.

July 29, 2010 - A congressionally mandated panel has recommended broad changes to long-term Defense Department strategies and priorities, including a re-evaluation of how the military uses National Guard and reserve forces.

July 28, 2010 - More than 600 Army National Guard members from 15 states will support this year's national Boy Scout Jamboree.

July 28, 2010 - DCoE’s Center for Deployment Psychology is concerned with the question: “Who is treating our guard and reserve servicemembers and their families after they leave active service and return to their communities?”

July 29, 2010 - A Colorada Army Guard aircrew transported one injured hiker and two Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel to a ground ambulance in Rollinsville, Colo., in Gilpin County, Colo., last night.

July 29, 2010 - The Utah National Guard's 141st Military Intelligence Battalion will deploy to Iraq in a few weeks with a total 83 Soldiers who have earned their Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America.

July 28, 2010 - Social media tools will ensure family program volunteers unable to attend won't miss out on the four-day workshop.

July 27, 2010 - The chief of the National Guard Bureau and governors of five states visited Guardsmen throughout the Middle East last week.

July 29, 2010 - Both the Army and Air National Guard missed their recruiting goals for June, but their end-strength numbers are still within congressionally mandated limits, Guard officials said today.

July 27, 2010 - Alabama Guardsmen stand in the water, fly above the waves and go door-to-door in their support for Operation Deepwater Horizon.

July 28, 2010 - This week the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 13,858 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 28, 2010 – Eligible servicemembers and veterans have less than three months to apply for Retroactive “Stop Loss” Special Pay.

July 26, 2010 - Heather Forsgren Weaver discusses the message coming out of the Military Child Education Coalition's recent meeting.

July 23, 2010 - Washingtonians may be complaining about the current heat wave, with temperatures in the upper 90s and lower 100s Fahrenheit accompanied by high humidity, but in Baghdad, it is 115 degrees. Either way, either place, it’s too hot.

July 22, 2010 – Shelly is a smart, successful business owner, but a brief liaison with a man claiming to be a servicemember nearly cost her everything.

July 16, 2010 -- The last major U.S.-run detention facility in Iraq officially was transferred to the Iraqi government today.

July 21, 2010 - This week the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,782 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 16, 2010 -- With 31 years of service in the Army Guard, Missouri's Sgt. Maj. Kevin Smith agrees that he knows a thing or two about the Guard’s disaster response.

July 19, 2010 - Starting Aug. 1, up to 1,200 National Guard troops will deploy to the Southwest border with Mexico.

July 15, 2010 - Plastic sheet protectors, a frank discussion ahead of time and an 8x10 photo taped to the car seat -- just a few of the tips Army spouse Rebekah Sanderlin has come up with to help cope with family separations.

July 19, 2010 - Army spouse and mother Rebekah Sanderlin has dealt with more than a half-dozen deployments and shares her lessons-learned for coping with separations.

July 21, 2010 - The popular spouse employment program will resume Oct. 25, but with some significant changes, including a reduction in financial aid and a change in the population of eligible spouses.

July 16, 2010 - During June 2010, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 11 potential suicides. For May there were 13 suicides in that same group.

July 20, 2010 -- Helping the wounded realize that their physical disabilities may not be as limiting as they thought is the whole point behind Team River Runner.

July 20, 2010 - Over the past year, I’ve spoken with many military families about the challenges they face, and a common issue is education for children from Guard and reserve families.

July 20, 2010 - Input from individual servicemembers is vital to ensuring the Defense Department acts in a way that makes sense if Congress repeals the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

July 15, 2010 -- The leak has been plugged, but military efforts along the Gulf Coast continue today as part of the federal response force to clean up the oil spill.

July 15, 2010 - The playground was empty -- no children, no smiling faces and no laughter -- as the volunteers walked onto the lot. But their goal was to change that.

July 20, 2010 - The Department of Defense has announced the resumption of a restructured military spouse career advancement account program beginning October 25 at 8 a.m. EDT.

July 12, 2010 - The Veterans Affairs Department will publish a final regulation tomorrow intended to ease the claims process and improve access to health care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, VA officials announced today.

July 12, 2010 - Many Guardsmen bring expertise from their civilian job to the battle. The law enforcement backgrounds of those on the Bamyan Embedded Training Team made them perfect for training and mentoring the Afghan National Police.

July 12, 2010 - Soldiers, sailors and airmen assigned to Joint Task Force New Horizons have made major progress on their engineering and medical missions in Haiti, the task force commander said today.

July 10, 2010 - Soldiers from the California Army National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team accompanied by Afghan Border Police began efforts to bolster a battle-torn village's agricultural-based economy.

12 July, 2010 - The Department of Defense (DoD) has selected Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Utah, and California to host the remaining eight homeland response forces (HRFs), which will be established in fiscal 2012.

July 12, 2010 - Eight more homeland response force units will be established in fiscal 2012, Defense Department and National Guard Bureau officials said here today.

July 12, 2010 - Gone are the days of calling trees for the North Dakota National Guard’s Service Member and Family Support Division.

July 12, 2010 – Before coming here to train in the sweltering heat, Army Pfc. Joseph Mortensen spent his days sliding down frozen luge tracks around the world.

July 8, 2010 - Noting the importance of getting the opinions of those who would be most affected by the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged servicemembers to provide their input.

July 7, 2010 – After my whirlwind weekend in Iraq with Dr. Jill Biden that I shared in my last blog, I walked away with an even deeper appreciation for her efforts to support our troops and their families.

July 8, 2010 - More than 10,000 of the 14,000 eligible Soldiers have submitted packets to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, but “there’s more work to do,” said Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Carpenter.

July 7, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 668 fewer reservists activated than last week.

July 8, 2010 - Gov. Rick Perry directed the activation of Texas National Guard personnel and resources as heavy rains and flooding continue to threaten the Rio Grande Valley.

July 6, 2010 - The Transportation Security Administration is reminding military members that explosives are not allowed on commercial flights.

July 7, 2010 - The newly constructed Georgia National Guard Language Training Center recently opened its doors at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Ga.

July 7, 2010 - The Defense Department e-mailed surveys to 400,000 servicemembers as part of a review to prepare the military for a potential repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

July 2, 2010 – Military leaders are working hard to create the same kind of support network for the reserve components that exists for the active duty, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.

June 29, 2010 - The 121st Field Artillery - with batteries in Milwaukee, Racine, Plymouth and Sussex - took full advantage of a window of opportunity to train on and fire the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

July 4, 2010 – When Defense Department and USO officials created the “Me and a Friend” program, Kelsie Vick was who they had in mind.

July 6, 2010 - Five years later after he was injured in Iraq, a Buffalo police officer watched video of Army doctors of the Army's 86th Combat Support Hospital fought to save his life.

July 1, 2010 - The “8 Soldiers, 8 missions” paint scheme was unveiled by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the eight National Guard members represented on the car.

July 6, 2010 – Reintegration, education and support for single soldiers’ families were among the issues Texas Army National Guard soldiers raised here yesterday during a roundtable discussion with Dr. Jill Biden.

June 22, 2010 - The military and the Veterans Health Administration of the VA increasingly use digital technology to identify and treat servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

June 28, 2010 – When the National Intrepid Center of Excellence opened its doors here last week, the sense of hope in reversing the rising tide of brain injuries and psychological illness in servicemembers was palpable.

June 29, 2010 – Air Force Master Sgt. Kipp M. Bourgeois and his wife, Christina, adopted their children, thanks in part to financial assistance from the Defense Department’s adoption reimbursement program.

June 28, 2010 – The Defense Department today launched an Internet-based program to help servicemembers and other Americans living overseas vote more easily in November’s elections.

June 30, 2010 - Normally, a hot meal in austere conditions means warming up a field rations package that includes a dinner, dessert and a snack. But for the 500 troops of Task Force Kout Men serving in a New Horizons, chow time is a treat.

June 30, 2010 - This week the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,725 fewer reservists activated than last week.

June 30, 2010 – The Labor Department is awarding more than $5 million in grants to help homeless female veterans and veterans with families find jobs and work toward a “bright future,” the secretary of labor announced today.

June 30, 2010 - The Army is taking every measure possible to fix the problems at Arlington National Cemetery, and it should continue to manage the nation’s “most hallowed ground,” Army Secretary John M. McHugh told a congressional committee today.

June 29, 2010 – About 2,500 members of the Texas National Guard are on standby in anticipation of Tropical Storm Alex, which is expected to become a hurricane and hit the lower Texas coast late July 1 or early July 2.

June 24, 2010 – The new National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Md., will constantly improve the ability of military and civilian health care providers to treat traumatic brain injuries and psychological disorders in war veterans.

June 25, 2010 – A month-long campaign culminated yesterday with a $1 million gift from a restaurant chain to a nonprofit troop-support organization.

June 24, 2010 – About 1,200 National Guard troops will support the Homeland Security Department in enhancing the security of the nation's Southwest border, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said here this week.

June 25, 2010 – Almost 300 National Guard members from four states are helping to battle oncoming and long-gone flood waters this week.

June 24, 2010 – The 72,000-square-foot National Intrepid Center of Excellence opened promising to be a world leader in the research, diagnosis and treatment planning for the signature brain injuries and psychological conditions of wounded warriors.

June 25, 1950, marked the start of the Korean War, sometimes called "the forgotten war." Sixty years later, America is remembering those who served and those who were lost.

June 22, 2010 - Annual training is not just for Guardsmen anymore, as evidenced by the more than 170 children who reported for roll call.

June 21, 2010 - Servicemembers and their families who were born in Puerto Rico will need to obtain a new birth certificate starting July 1.

June 22, 2010 - The U.S. military is tapping into technology and social networking to drive modern warfare training.

June 22, 2010 - Post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and suicides among servicemembers are interrelated problems requiring holistic prevention methods and more scientific study, military leaders told a Senate panel today.

June 22, 2010 - Third platoon of the 191st Military Police Company successfully located 12 “downed enemy pilots” in three training exercises designed to teach them search tactics.

June 21, 2010 - Gov. Pat Quinn has signed the Veterans and Servicemembers Court Treatment Act, with guidelines for new judicial courts for veterans charged in the criminal court system, who may have mental health or substance abuse disorders.

June 21, 2010 - More than 4,000 cadets in the National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe program in 28 states around country will graduate this month.

June 21, 2010 - National Guard Soldiers are hitting Florida’s beaches this week as part of the ongoing response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

June 19, 2010 - 360-degree security is maintained while the 250th Engineers Multi-Role Bridge Company, Connecticut Army National Guard work to build a Mabey Johnson panel bridge across the Tigris River.

June 21, 2010 - The 661st and 662nd Firefighting Teams with the Illinois Army National Guard in Sparta, fought aircraft and structural fires in a week long, hands on, firefighting training.

June 22, 2010 - The line of Soldiers stand behind their shields and body armor, waiting silently. The first stone is thrown and the crowd erupts.

June 22, 2010 - The Missouri National Guard announces the addition of a medical evacuation unit, benefiting overseas contingency operations during deployment and Missourians at home.

Aug. 15, 2010 - Numerous transactions at Army and Air Force Exchange operations are experiencing a double whammy no one saw coming: a processing error resulting in duplicate charges on credit and debit card transactions.

June 16, 2010 - This week the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,847 fewer reservists activated than last week.

June 15, 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for May 2010.

June 9, 2010 – In the largest state activation of the Wyoming National Guard in more than 10 years, more than 200 soldiers and airmen are working around the clock to protect residents and their property against floods in Fremont County.

June 8, 2010 – A program announced last week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide $58.6 million to get homeless veterans off the streets this year.

June 7, 2010 – When soldiers with the Vermont Army National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) arrived here at Forward Operating Base Vulcan, they didn’t know what they would find.

June 8, 2010 -- Soldiers of Crusader Troop, 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment headquartered in Milan, Tenn., can be seen leaving a trail of dust across the desert surrounding Q-West, Iraq, on a regular basis.

June 10, 2010 -- On his way home from a trip to Afghanistan, the Honorable Ray Mabus, 75th Secretary of the Navy, paid a visit June 5 to troops participating in exercise African Lion 2010 in Morocco.

June 8, 2010 -- Building resiliency among Army National Guard members starts even before a new recruit is sent to basic training.

June 9, 2010 -- Alabama National Guard members are working to ensure the paperwork to make any claims to British Petroleum is getting into the hands of those who may be eligible to file a claim.

June 8, 2010 – Michigan Army National Guard Spc. Anna Jonkman, 22, says she has a keen sense of cultural awareness. To her, it is a natural instinct she applies daily while escorting Iraqis to work here.

June 9, 2010 -- A North Dakota National Guard Soldier was among the first Army engineers to receive a new prestigious military engineer award, the "Steel Order of the de Fleury Medal."

June 9, 2010 – Preparation and a detailed spending plan can help servicemembers and their families dodge the financial pitfalls that can spring up during and after a deployment, the Pentagon’s personal finance director said.

June 10, 2010 -- Leaders of the Army National Guard's eight division headquarters met to discuss future roles and missions as the National Guard remains in the forefront of the nation's "home and away games."

June 9, 2010 -- This week the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 664 fewer reservists activated than last week.

June 8, 2010 – The Louisiana National Guard has completed two missions as part of its response to mitigate the effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, officials said today.

June 7, 2010 -- Staff Sgt. Alex W. Seretny always has a second sidearm hanging off his pistol holster – an 8-inch, adjustable crescent wrench.

June 4, 2010 – Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, reflecting on lessons learned and the way ahead as the outgoing top commander in Iraq, voiced concerns today about how the ease of Internet communications sometimes undermine military operations.

June 4, 2010 – The Army National Guard's Operational Support Airlift Agency recently accepted a new mission to deploy aircrews and aircraft to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

June 7, 2010 -- Everyone who comes in this office wants to know the same thing: how long does it take to renew a vehicle placard; or how do I get one in the first place?

June 3, 2010 -- Members of the Minnesota National Guard are currently preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan as part of an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team with the Croatian armed forces.

June 4, 2010 -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eric Anton, an avid duck hunter and member of the North Dakota Army National Guard, asked his comrades to show off their duck-calling skills during the Memorial Day weekend here.

June 3, 2010 -- Servicemembers’ opinions are “absolutely critical” in implementing policy for a repeal of the law that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military, the nation’s top military officer said here yesterday.

June 3, 2010 -- Two Army National Guard installations were recognized for their environmental work in natural resources conservation and cultural resources management.

June 3, 2010 -- The Virginia National Guard will participate in two events June 5 and 6 to recognize Soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division and the 116th Infantry Regiment for their role in the D-Day landings at Normandy during World War II.

May 23, 2010 -- More than a decade into a National Guard mission to support Kosovo's security and stability, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said he saw significant progress in the young nation.

May 28, 2010 -- Military-to-military contacts are a "critical component" of global engagement and support our nation's security, according to the new National Security Strategy presented to Congress May 27.

May 24, 2010 -- The NEA and Blue Star Families have announced a partnership with more than 700 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty and reserve military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2010.

June 3, 2010 -- The National Guard Bureau has selected Ohio and Washington as the first two states to host a homeland response force (HRF), which will be comprised of National Guard soldiers and airmen and established no later than the end of fiscal 2011.

June 3, 2010 -- Ohio and Washington have been chosen as the first states to host new National Guard homeland response forces for responding to chemical and biological attacks, Pentagon officials announced today.

June 3, 2010 -- Southern Command’s withdrawal of troops from the earthquake response mission in Haiti does not mark the end of U.S. military involvement there, Southcom’s deputy commander said today.

June 2, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy, and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 3,303 fewer reservists activated than last week.

May 2010 -- Our “agrarian warriors” can—and are—transferring their skills to Afghan farmers.

June 1, 2010 – Trevor Jones peers into the vivid blue sky, tightly gripping the string holding the balloon that contains a message to his father.

June 1, 2010 -- Their primary mission is convoy security escorts, but, due to the upcoming drawdown of troops and equipment from Iraq, they now have another mission — retrograding seven years worth of equipment from Iraq.

May 28, 2010 -- What does it take to get servicemembers to take charge of their mental and physical health?

June 1, 2010 -- The 769th Engineer Battalion and the State Aviation Command completed sandbag drop operations filling a 115-foot area in the vicinity of Trinity Island.

June 1, 2010 – The U.S. military today officially ended its earthquake disaster response in Haiti today, leaving what is left of assistance with humanitarian and construction projects on the island to two annual military exercises in the region.

May 27, 2010 -- The Department of Defense has announced the alert of replacement forces to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The announcement involves two brigades of Army National Guard consisting of approximately 7,000 personnel.

May 30, 2010 – It’s of vital importance that the Pentagon gain input from servicemembers and military families on their views about the repeal of the so-called “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, the top U.S. military officer said today.

May 31, 2010 – The military will continue to support the effort to mitigate the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but it does not have the technical expertise to take over the operation, the nation’s top military officer says.

May 27, 2010 -- Just as some look at a blank canvas and imagine art, Army Sgt. Theodore Sweet looks at a piece of metal and sees innovations.

May 26, 2010 -- From camps to golf clinics to acclaimed museums, military children have an abundance of free summer programs to choose from this year, a Defense Department official said

May 25, 2010 -- The Minnesota Army National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team has been alerted it will deploy to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn,.

May 26, 2010 – The National Guards of several states are closely watching Louisiana this week and are prepared to assist in its oil spill operations if needed, a senior Guard leader said today.

May 26, 2010 – Caring for troops is the nation’s “one truly sacred obligation,” Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday during a dinner for wounded warriors.

May 26, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 2,005 fewer reservists activated than last week.

May 26, 2010 – The struggles of the Iraqi people to build a functioning democracy have been compared to the efforts of the American people during the Revolutionary War.

May 21, 2010 -- As the frequency and length of military deployments increase, servicemembers and their families are faced with challenges associated with deployment and combat.

May 20, 2010 – The Louisiana National Guard’s construction of the Tiger Dam shoreline protection system near in the southwest pass of the Mississippi River Delta continues to move ahead as an oil spill threatens the Gulf Coast.

May 21, 2010 – It’s difficult for any leader to send someone into harm’s way, but it’s especially hard when that someone is your daughter.

May 21, 2010 -- Members of the 527th and 769th Engineer Battalions of the Louisiana National Guard began constructing a barrier wall in an effort to keep oil-tainted water from reaching Bay Champagne.

May 20, 2010 – A visit to the warrior transition unit at Fort Carson, Colo., this week was worth the time, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference today.

May 21, 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today that it will use the FBI-owned and maintained eGuardian suspicious activity reporting system as a long-term solution to ensure access to appropriate law enforcement related threat information.

May 19, 2010 -- Although most hurricanes occur between the months of June and October, remaining prepared to respond to the after effects of a hurricane is almost a year-round task for the National Guard.

May 19, 2010 -- An inquiry is investigating complaints from National Guard Soldiers that different standards of treatment exist for reserve-component and active-component Soldiers during demobilization.

May 19, 2010 – Through outreach and a robust system of educating servicemembers, Defense Department officials are working to keep troops financially fit to fight and protected from predatory lenders, a Pentagon official said today.

May 19, 2010 - This week the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 945 fewer reservists activated than last week.

May 17, 2010 -- The Army recall of 44,000 Advanced Combat Helmets is the result of a Department of Justice investigation as well as independent tests that show the helmets do not meet Army standards.

May 15, 2010 -- The 2010 Warrior Games may have ended yesterday, but for the wounded warriors who competed here this week, their work is just beginning, officials hope.

May 18, 2010 -- Aug. 7, 2008, was a hot day in Iraq, and it seemed as if the walls were closing in on Army Spc. Joe Sanders. His wife had left him and he had several months left in Iraq. He'd had enough and turned his weapon on himself.

May 14, 2010 -- The Department of the Army announced today that it has initiated a recall message for approximately 44,000 Advanced Combat Helmets produced by ArmorSource LLC (formerly Rabintex USA LLC). These helmets do not meet Army specifications.

May 17, 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for April 2010.

May 18, 2010 -- As the United States’ economic crisis lingers, returning veterans are finding it harder to translate the skills they have learned on the battlefields onto a resume, but some employers are working with the military to bridge the gap.

May 14, 2010 -- The National Guard is uniquely poised to be part of the solution to many of the Defense Department’s future budget woes, the National Guard’s top officer told an audience at the Joint Warfighting Conference here yesterday.

May 13, 2010 -- During April 2010, among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty, there were five potential suicides. For March, among that same group, there were nine total suicides.

May 14, 2010 – A Texas National Guard soldier receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder won a gold medal during the inaugural Warrior Games yesterday.

May 12, 2010 -- This week the Army announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 491 more reservists activated than last week.

May 13, 2010 – Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard continued transporting water diversion system materials yesterday in support of the shoreline protection mission near the southwest pass of the Mississippi River delta.

May 13, 2010 – Operation 'New Horizon' will bring soldiers, mainly from the Louisiana National Guard for engineering and medical projects north of Port-au-Prince.

May 12, 2010 -- Back from the Battle zone, Soldiers can have trouble adjusting from the combat environment to the caterpillar-crawl of their everyday lives. Now they have "Warrior Adventure Quest" to help them transition.

May 11, 2010 – The Louisiana National Guard is conducting around-the-clock operations to fill in a breach near here in support of operations related to the oil spill off the Louisiana coast.

May 7, 2010 -- Army National Guard teams from North Carolina and Rhode Island finished 10th and 14th, respectively, in the 27th annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger competition held at Fort Benning, Ga.

May 10, 2010 – U.S. Strategic Command officials are urging renewed vigilance against Internet-based identity theft after detecting a widespread “phishing” expedition against servicemembers.

May 12, 2010 – Tthe senior Pentagon reserve affairs official emphasized to Congress today the importance of adequately funding the force and providing predictability about deployments.

May 7, 2010 -- Thousands of Army National Guard Soldiers, including those who have retired or separated, have till Oct. 28 to apply for Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) compensation for serving long, overseas deployments.

Moms and dads in the 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command had the opportunity to send a dog tag to their child thanks to the efforts of one Soldier's spouse.

May 10, 2010 -- Twelve Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers will join about 30 Slovene soldiers to train and mentor members of the Afghan National Army for six months.

May 7, 2010 -- Seven National Guard members were presented with the MacArthur Leadership Award from the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation during a ceremony here at the Pentagon.

May 10, 2010 – A Texas National Guard soldier receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder hopes to get a boost in his recovery by competing in the inaugural Warrior Games this week in Colorado Springs, Colo.

May 7, 2010 – The Louisiana National Guard’s 205th Engineer Battalion built an improved ribbon bridge in St. Bernard Parish yesterday to be used in support of oil spill operations.

May 7, 2010 – Military support continues today as part of an interagency response force that’s working to clean up an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

May 5, 2010 -- Mother's Day is quickly approaching, and for many service members at Bagram, that means flowers sent to mom online or calls home from cramped phone booths.

May 8, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates used the occasion of the 65th Anniversary of the Victory in Europe to declare war on duplicative overhead, bloat and needless spending in the Defense Department.

4 May, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Marine Corps announced an increase. The net collective result is 956 fewer reservists activated than last week.

May 4, 2010 -- More than 65 years after A Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment left its indelible mark on history, its Soldiers have deployed in support of Operation Iraq Freedom.

May 5, 2010 -- The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have greatly expanded care for servicemembers and veterans with traumatic brain injuries from the battlefield after they’re discharged from rehabilitation centers, officials said today.

May 5, 2010 -- A new online inbox that enables servicemembers and their families to comment anonymously about the impact of a possible repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law has gone live.

May 5, 2010 -- Almost 300 Tennessee National Guard members continue to assist civilian emergency responders in Nashville today after nearly 20 inches of rain drenched the state over the weekend.

May 5, 2010 -- If elected and appointed civilian leaders decide to include the National Guard in a broader mission on the Southwest border, the Guard stands ready, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here Tuesday.

May 3, 2010 – National Guard soldiers and airmen are on the ground in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida supporting civilian authorities tackling the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response.

May 3, 2010 -- Nearly 8,000 runners hit the streets in Lincoln, Neb., on May 2 for the annual Lincoln/National Guard Marathon.

May 4, 2010 – Louisiana National Guard members yesterday participated in oil-spill response operations at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale, La., with St. Bernard Parish officials and workers from a private company called Oil Mop.

May 3, 2010 -- In states hit hard by storms over the weekend, the National Guard is helping in the recovery effort.

May 4, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has given verbal approval to the governors of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida for Title 32 status for National Guardsmen to help to combat the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

April 19, 2010 -- Anybody that has seen Afghan women caring for their families, trekking up and down mountainous roads, and toiling in the fields knows that they are no strangers to playing the role of worker bee.

May 3, 2010 – Severe storms ripped through several southern states over the weekend, leaving floods and damage throughout the region.

April 29, 2010 -- Coalition forces here in Zabul province gained a new tool in the agricultural redevelopment process this month as the Arkansas National Guard's Agriculture Development Team stood up its operations.

April 30, 2010 – At least three states along the Gulf of Mexico are preparing for a potential call for thousands of National Guard members as the nation ramps up its response to an oil spill that’s threatening the coast.

April 30, 2010 -- It's tee time for children from military families, thanks to The First Tee Military Affiliate Program.

April 29, 2010 -- After one of their MRAPs hit an IED, the mechanics of the Vermont Army National Guard swung into action.

April 28, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 473 fewer reservists activated than last week.

April 28, 2010 – In the blockbuster movie “Avatar,” Jake Sully, a former Marine who lost the use of both legs in combat, climbs into a vessel that magically restores his body when he assumes a new, 10-foot-tall avatar identity.

April 26, 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today that Soldiers from the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with elements in Montana and Oregona will deploy in support of Operation New Dawn.

April 27, 2010 -- The maker of rugged Pelican cases, widely used in the military to protect weapons and computer gear, has launched a program to give custom cases for prosthetics to wounded warriors who have lost limbs.

April 29, 2010 – The “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” took five months to plan, and the Kentucky National Guard is no stranger to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks “Run for the Roses.”

April 29, 2010 – The American flags raised over five military installations don’t look any different from the one raised over the U.S. Capitol on any given day, but there is one distinct difference.

April 28, 2010 – The military’s National Guard and reserve units need more funding to reflect the operational readiness they have proven in Iraq and Afghanistan reserve-component leaders told Congress yesterday.

April 28, 2010 -- Guard kids differ from active duty kids in only one way: access. Access to support programs and access to peers who understand what they are going through.

April 23, 2010 – With more than 6,000 veterans committing suicide every year the Department of Veterans Affairs is redoubling its outreach to veterans and promoting its toll-free suicide-prevention hotline.

April 26, 2010 – The Louisiana National Guard is scheduled to lead a “New Horizons” humanitarian assistance exercise in Haiti beginning June 1, U.S. Southern Command officials announced yesterday.

April 22, 2010 -- Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Blair, retired Lance Cpl. Tim Lang and other injured military veterans and troops plan to showcase more than their athletic abilities at the inaugural Warrior Games next month.

April 21, 2010 – More than 100,000 requests from troops desiring to transfer their unused education benefits to family members have been approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a defense official said today.

April 21, 2010 – Better understanding of brain injuries and psychological trauma, along with many measures to diagnose and treat such disorders, are now preventing servicemembers from being unfairly discharged due to undiagnosed conditions.

April 21, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,688 fewer reservists activated than last week.

April 17, 2010 -- NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon made a special visit to a select group of National Guardsmen at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) facility in central Texas April 15.

April 19, 2010 -- Some describe April 19 as "the day the world began to look at terrorism differently."

April 15, 2010 -- The Army chief of staff has selected U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bragg, N.C., as the Gold winner in the 2010 Army Communities of Excellence awards competition.

April 15, 2010 -- The National Guard has many federal employees who play a crucial role in domestic and overseas operations, and Guard leaders hope to expand their numbers in the states, territories and the District of Columbia.

April 14, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 128 more reservists activated than last week.

April 15, 2010 -- Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels announced the proposed expansion of Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center in a ceremony today held HERE at the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area.

April 13, 2010 -- The Department of Defense has announced the winners of the 2010 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.

April 15, 2010 – Each of the 200 disabled veterans and wounded servicemembers training for next month’s inaugural Warrior Games has demons to battle and obstacles to overcome.

April 16, 2010 -- All six reserve components met or exceeded their accession goals for March 2010.

April 15, 2010 – The “brotherhood” that exists among servicemembers is well known. Members of the military often talk about forming family-like bonds with their teammates while engaging in operations at home and abroad.

April 14, 2010 -- The Army released suicide data today for the month of March.

April 15, 2010 -- Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis M. McCarthy hosted the 2009 Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Awards winners in a ceremony this morning here at the Pentagon.

April 16, 2010 -- NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon unveiled a special No. 24 DuPont/National Guard Special Forces Chevrolet paint scheme for this weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway to Special Forces Soldiers with the Texas Army National Guard.

April 5, 2010 – With four military retirements behind him, Army Col. (Dr.) William Bernhard says President John F. Kennedy's plea to the nation nearly 50 years ago inspires him to keep going.

April 2, 2010 – Advanced brain scans that can detect injury earlier than before are among several improvements developed by military doctors and scientists to treat servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries.

April 1, 2010 – Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki yesterday announced promising news for veterans of the Persian Gulf War experiencing the broad range of symptoms referred to as Gulf War Illnesses.

March 26, 2010 -- Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers recently completed a visit to Tajikistan, where they took part in discussions about the country's security and military objectives and mentored Tajik military junior leaders.

April 1, 2010 -- Army Secretary John McHugh clarifies statements he recently made regarding “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”.

March 31, 2010 -- The best fighters in the Army National Guard Combatives Championship were crowned at Fort Benning, Ga., March 26-28, and the Illinois Guard’s team took first place.

March 31, 2010 -- More than 1,500 National Guard members in three Northeast states are waging a war against rising flood waters after several days of rain combined with melting snow.

March 30, 2010 -- The adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Army Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, recently swore her son Mike Wright into her ranks.

March 31, 2010 – Defense and USO officials joined military families at the U.S. Navy Memorial here yesterday to celebrate the launch of a new DVD created to help military children cope with a parent’s deployment.

March 31, 2010 -- This week the Army and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,877 fewer reservists activated than last week.

April 1, 2010 – In a popular movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," a group of teenage girls keep in contact with each other by sharing a pair of jeans.

March 31, 2010 – Disabled veterans, including some from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, are here for the 24th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and aren’t anticipating pulling April Fools pranks tomorrow. They’re expecting miracles today.

March 30, 2010 – With 2010 suicide numbers slightly above last year’s and coming off the worst January on record, the Army National Guard is emphasizing resilience, transition programs and the importance of asking for help.

March 29, 2010 – Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki opened the 24th Annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here last night, encouraging participants to conquer the mountain and prove to themselves what they’re able to achieve.

March 29, 2010 – As North Dakota begins to draw down the number of National Guard members fighting floods, at least three other states are calling up personnel for the same mission.

March 29, 2010 – Militaries may find it difficult to agree in how to manage conflicts around the globe, but one area where they may find a common ground is in their enthusiasm for sports and competition.

March 26, 2010 – When Chief Warrant Officer Herb Dargue joined the Army, the Beatles’ "Penny Lane" topped the charts, the Huey was the hottest “chopper” flying, and actor William Shatner was “Star Trek’s” Captain Kirk on prime time TV.

March 17, 2010 - More than 100 Soldiers join the ranks of the Army's first several hundred master resilience trainers as they graduate today from the Army's new Master Resiliency Training program.

March 22, 2010 -- The chief of the National Guard Bureau visited here today to meet with North Dakota National Guard leaders and check on flood operations.

March 25, 2010 -- About 120 Soldiers and Airmen from the North Dakota National Guard were dismissed from state active duty today, bringing the number of Guardsmen still serving on flood support to about 260.

This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 457 fewer reservists activated than last week.

March 19, 2010 - The Defense Department is working with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that all military personnel are accounted for in the 2010 census, a defense official said here today.

March 22, 2010 – Some deployed servicemembers will not be charged for rest and recuperation leave under a new Defense Department policy.

March 23, 2010 – A pioneering National Guard Bureau attorney who was instrumental in founding the Youth ChalleNGe Program has retired.

March 19, 2010 – Patriot Academy, the military’s first accredited high school, graduated its first class here yesterday.

March 19, 2010 – Three of the four services and all of the reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for February, Pentagon officials reported.

March 17, 2010 – In the past 15 years, Army Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister has endured some grueling conditions during his adventure and expedition races. But in the blink of an eye, a roadside bomb in Iraq all but crushed Hoffmeister’s spirit.

March 17, 2010 -- This week the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Coast Guard announced an increase. The Army had no change. The net result is 51 fewer reservists activated than last week.

March 17, 2010 – Soldiers should find themselves spending twice as much time at home station as they do deployed by 2011, the Army's vice chief of staff said on Capitol Hill yesterday.

March 17, 2010 -- Army Cpl. Adam J. Fargo, a medic, was killed by a homemade bomb while on patrol in Iraq more than three years ago. But his memory was strong for his sister yesterday, who wore his dog tags and a picture of him in uniform around her neck.

The Department of Defense announced today that additional campaign stars are authorized for wear on the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM).

March 12, 2010 – Although IEDs are often as unsophisticated as a homemade pipe bomb, they have forced the U.S. military to dedicate entire units to finding and destroying them. Lt. Gen. Michael Oates leads a group dedicated to defeating them.

March 11, 2010 -- The Alaska Army National Guard and Coast Guard teamed up March 10 to help rescue a 28-year-old hiker stranded without food for days on Meade Glacier near Haines, Alaska.

March 12, 2010 -- In addition to the surge of military forces in Afghanistan and the drawdown in the U.S. military presence in Iraq, U.S. officials are implementing a “whole of government” approach, deploying teams of civilian subject-matter experts.

March 11, 2010 – Injured servicemembers who receive morphine during trauma care are about half as likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder as those who are not administered the drug, a Navy study has revealed.

March 11, 2010 -- The Iraqi army and police – once fledgling forces – provided all of the security for the March 7, national elections.

March 11, 2010 -- The Army released suicide data today for the month of February.

March 11, 2010 -- Today the Green Zone is a 5.6 square-mile-area in the heart of Baghdad that is the center of power for new Iraqi government. And, to be totally clear, Iraqis are not interested in calling it the Green Zone anymore.

March 10, 2010 -- Children with a strong nondeployed parent or caregiver and a solid support system have a better ability to cope with deployments, two recent studies have shown.

Mar. 11, 2010 -- The Department of Defense has announced the resumption of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account program as of Mar. 13 at 12 p.m. EST.

March 10, 2010 -- The annual Texas Military Forces Public Affairs Conference presented a remarkable opportunity for military experts to share their experiences and values with each other.

March 11, 2010 – The National Guard’s State Partnership Program is a superb tool for U.S. Africa Command, the command’s top military officer told a congressional committee March 9.

Mar. 9, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,999 fewer reservists activated than last week.

March 10, 2010 -- A Georgia Guardsman being treated at Walter Reed has received the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device for actions in Afghanistan.

March 10, 2010 -- The chief of the National Guard Bureau congratulated 54 newly naturalized U.S. citizens, including a member of the Georgia Army National Guard, during a ceremony Tuesday.

Mar. 11, 2010 -- The Department of Defense announced today that additional campaign stars are authorized for wear on the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM).

March 10, 2010 – Defense Department officials expect to launch a new policy in the coming months that will make head-injury evaluations mandatory for all troops who suffer possible concussions.

Feb. 18, 2010 -- Their outpost is so isolated, the first two weeks Bravo Company lived there, water and MRE's were airdropped in.

Mar. 10, 2010 -- The National Guard Bureau has organized a joint planning team to prepare for possible severe flooding in several Midwest states this spring as a result of heavy winter snowfall.

Renters are raking leaves, mowing grass, paying their rent... and getting evicted, discovering being responsible renters isn't enough to avoid eviction due to foreclosure.

Mar. 9, 2010 -- Some Soldiers will do almost anything to stay in shape. Three Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard lace up their skates and strap on their pads as members of the Oklahoma City Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls.

Mar. 8, 2010 -- Keeping service members safe within Joint Task Force Guantanamo is everyone’s responsibility. But for Soldiers with the 115th Military Police Company’s external security, it’s their daily assignment.

Mar. 7, 2010 -- For years, the big names in National Guard biathlon were Vermont and Minnesota. After sweeping all four races at this year’s championships, North Dakota is emerging as an unexpected powerhouse.

Mar. 5, 2010 -- The governor of Vermont enacted a law on March 3 that will prevent deploying military parents from losing custody of their children.

Mar. 8, 2010 -- The Military Health System has launched a new Health.mil Web site that provides a single point of entry to military health news, information and resources.

Mar. 3, 2010 -- This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is1,115 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Mar. 8, 2010 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense today announced the next phase of the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) Health Communities Program.

March 2, 2010 – As U.S. troops arrive in Afghanistan, their top commander has some requests for them: Recognize the impact of every action you take and serve as mentors for Afghan security forces as they build leaders and weed out corruption.

Feb. 26, 2010 -- He represents a small percentage of the force, but as the new command chief warrant officer of the Army National Guard, Gary Nisker, has the huge task of looking out for the interests of the corps.

Feb, 25, 2010 -- It's not hard to identify the medic in the platoon. She's the one carrying a medical aid bag nearly as big as she is.

Feb. 27, 2010 -- Spc. Francisco Robles, who was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, is happy for the opportunity to be a U.S. Citizen while serving for a country he admires dearly.

Feb. 24, 2010 -- U.S. Army North evaluated the Soldiers and Airmen of the Nevada National Guard's 92nd Civil Support Team during a certification exercise in Las Vegas.

Feb. 24, 2010 -- A National Guardsman was one of the first two African-Americans to ever qualify for a U.S. Winter Olympic team.

Feb. 25, 2010 -- These Mississippi Guardsmen have conducted their final escort missions across northern Iraq safeguarding vital supplies for service members and civilians.

Feb. 24, 2010 -- An unsecure hard drive containing personally identifiable information on a currently unknown number of current and former Arkansas National Guard Soldiers was reported missing on Feb. 22.

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined USO volunteers here Feb. 23 in putting together care packages for the families of 3,000 Florida National Guard servicemembers who will deploy in the coming weeks.

Feb. 26, 2010 – Army National Guard Outstanding Athlete Program bobsled pilot Sgt. Shauna Rohbock teamed with Michelle Rzepka to finish sixth in the Olympic women’s bobsled event Feb. 24 at the Whistler Sliding Centre here.

March 24, 2010 – The Defense Department is “extremely invested” in the early detection of traumatic brain injury, and is pushing new guidelines and numerous research initiatives to the front burner to aid in that effort, a brain injury expert said today.

This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 137 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Feb. 22, 2010 -- A new source of information for news about the National Guard is scheduled to debut March 1.

A week after announcing the temporary halt of the Defense Department’s Military Spouse Career Advancement Account operations, the head of the program assures participants with approved financial assistance that their enrollment will be unaffected.

With increasing government and private support, a National Guard program that helps high school dropouts transform their lives is closing in on its 100,000th graduate.

Feb. 25, 2010 – As the four-man bobsled event draws closer here, Vermont National Guardsman bobsled pilot Sgt. John Napier said he feels very at home with brakeman 1st Lt. Chris Fogt in his Olympic four-man sled.

The United States is in the middle of a “cultural transformation” in mental health treatment led by the Defense Department and the military services, the department’s top mental health expert told a congressional panel today.

Sgt. Shauna Rohbock is not ready for what she is about to experience in the women’s bobsledding event tonight and tomorrow at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The Department of Defense announcedthat its web site for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families and those who support them, has received a comprehensive upgrade to provide users with easier access.

A group of 60 Norwegian Home Guard youth, who arrived here on Feb. 12, enjoyed a week of intense Army training and finished off with a weekend of sightseeing and shopping in Minneapolis.

More than 100 soldiers preparing for deployment to Iraq got a special treat Feb. 13 when Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis visited the Indiana National Guard’s 2219th Brigade Support Company at the Bedford National Guard Armory here.

After finishing sixth in the two-man Olympic bobsled competition Feb. 21, former Army World Class Athlete Program bobsled driver Steven Holcomb said he looks forward to the upcoming four-man event and ending the U.S. drought of 62 years with no gold.

Starting this summer, Soldiers sent to fight in Afghanistan will wear an Army Combat Uniform with the "MultiCam" pattern instead of the standard-issue universal camouflage pattern.

More than a week after the last of two back-to-black blizzards pounded the Eastern Panhandle, the West Virginia National Guard is still assisting hard hit communities.

On a long, dusty road littered with potholes and winding ruts, one Afghan National Army unit came into its own by conducting its first ever route-clearing mission.

The National Guard has made a “gigantic contribution” in a seamless Total Force since 2001, the vice president told Guard leaders Monday.

Army World Class Athlete Program biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela of the Vermont National Guard battled illness to finish 29th in the Olympic men’s 15-kilometer mass start Feb. 21 at Whistler Olympic Park here.

At the request of the Army National Guard, states are determining if thousands of Soldiers are entitled to receive extra money for serving long overseas deployments.

New guidelines from U.S. Strategic Command officials allow servicemembers to use “thumb drives” and other flash media to store computer data under specific circumstances.

All four active services and the six reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of January, Defense Department officials said today.

The secretary of the Army announced today that the Army will provide combat uniforms in the MultiCam pattern to all soldiers deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, starting this summer.

Airlifting supplies into Haiti has been largely an Air Force undertaking, but now the Army National Guard is involved as well.

Two Alaska Army National Guardsmen will compete in the 2010 Alaska National Guard Iron Dog, the world's longest and toughest snowmobile race, beginning today.

Thirteen of the 17 passengers stranded in a remote region of West Virginia’s Pocahontas County have been evacuated from a Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter that was forced to land in the area yesterday, National Guard officials said.

U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela of the Vermont National Guard sat out the Olympic men’s 20-kilometer individual race yesterday because of illness.

The primary security for Afghanistan's upcoming elections will be the Iraqi Police, but the 252nd Military Police Company of the Tennessee National Guard is playing an important role.

The Army National Guard's readiness is "something to be proud of," the reserve component’s top leader said in a recent interview.

2010 – The Defense Department has temporarily halted a popular employment assistance program for military spouses while it conducts a “top-to-bottom” review of its services, officials said today.

The Civilian Expeditionary Workforce, introduced in January 2009, is up and running at full speed after completing deployment training with the Indiana Guard.

need for U.S military forces in Haiti is dwindling as Haitian authorities and nongovernmental organizations begin to accept a greater share of relief efforts in the ravaged country, an American military official said.

It happens every day. National Guard members are asked to use their civilian skills to perform military missions.

Coming home in March, the 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the Mississippi National Guard is in Iraq and already preparing for its stateside mission should a hurricane hit the Gulf Coast.

Hot off the press and filled with helpful tips and information, the newest TRICARE Standard and Extra handbook is now available to all TRICARE Standard beneficiaries.

This week all five services announced a decrease in activated reservists. The net collective result is 1,049 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The Army released suicide data today for the month of January, 2010.

Since the Army introduced the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program in October 2009, there has been much focus on a holistic approach to physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family well-being.

The Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team has helped Afghan farmers reach new markets with their products, the unit commander recently told Kentucky Public Radio.

The number of suspected soldier suicides increased for the first month of this year, and the Army’s head of suicide prevention vowed today to sharpen the focus on combating the problem.

Army World Class Athlete Program biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela of the Vermont National Guard was penalized for starting early and finished 24th in the Olympic men’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit race yesterday.

Necessity has often been called the mother of invention. Just ask two West Virginia National Guard Soldiers who found themselves attempting to rescue a mother and her four week-old premature baby stranded at home in Morgan County.

A Utah National Guard soldier today posted the best American finish ever in the biathlon at the Winter Olympics.

More than 3,000 National Guard members in eight states continue to assist in the massive recovery efforts after back-to-back, history-making winter storms crippled the mid-Atlantic region this week.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wanner prefers to be referred to as a soldier, not as a hero. But he graciously humors those who insist on the latter.

This week the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army announced a decrease. The net collective result is 317 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Members of the District of Columbia National Guard have been on the job through an historic snowstorm and post-storm cleanup, supporting emergency response efforts and more in the nation's capital.

For the first time at Cobra Gold personnel from units are divided and parceled out to five Engineering Civic Action Program sites, allowing teams from various components and cultures to work toward a common goal; construct buildings for schools.

The Army is using ergonomics combined with human factors research to find alternative ways of improving learning and teaching methodologies, injury assessment and aftercare for Soldiers.

The inaugural Warrior Games will be held this May in Colorado Springs, CO. They are a competition between wounded, ill and injured servicemen and women.

For the National Guard State Partnership Program to maintain its important role in promoting this country’s long-term mutual security cooperation with its allies around the world, the program must expand, the Guard’s top officer says.

The active-duty Army and National Guard members of a new route-clearance patrol formed here last month experienced many “firsts” in their maiden voyage.

A chance meeting with Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell in June led to a dream job for Iraqi war veteran and Purple Heart recipient Army Sgt. Sophia Malone.

This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 474 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Georgia Army National Guardsmen of the 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment are giving the Shinwari and Muhmandari Mountain border villagers of Afghanistan their own voice through the gift of radio.

About 1,000 National Guard members will assist Puerto Rico’s police for up to a year while new police recruits are trained.

Defense officials encourage military families to once again take advantage of the free electronic tax filing services offered through Military OneSource.

To expand health care, reduce homelessness and process an increased number of new disability compensation claims for veterans, White House officials announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

New York Gov. David Paterson today announced that the Adjutant General of New York, Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, will retire after a 44-year career with the National Guard in which he rose from private to two-star general.

Two states with a large National Guard presence have appointed a new adjutant general this week.

Gov. Steve Beshear recently held a press conference to promote mental health services for Kentucky servicemembers.

The benefits a grateful nation makes available to those who serve in its military are numerous, but connecting servicemembers to the resources in their local areas – especially when they serve in the reserve components can be a challenge.

The 2009 spring floods saw this North Dakota Guardsman patrolling rural cities as a sheriff's deputy; now he does a similar job as a Soldier, but he's patrolling rural Kosovo.

Winter storms created dangerous conditions across the nation's midsection late last week and into the weekend, and more than 560 National Guard members were called out in seven states to deal with the mess.

Mississippi Guard members working at COL Q-West recently received recognition for helping to maintain their battalion's high safety record.

Celia Ruiz's father often told the story of being charged with stealing a cow and getting the choice of jail or the military.. but not much about his service during WWII.

Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Wanner, a Special Forces medical sergeant, will be the first Ohio National Guard member to receive the medal since the Korean War.

Adolescents who believe that America supports the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and that Soldiers are making a difference in the world are less likely to suffer from anxiety and stress when their parent deploys, according to research unveiled Thursday.

Military families now have free access to an online network of quality caregivers who can assist with everything from babysitting to dog walking.

Mississippi Army National Guard members in Iraq conducted a record number of vehicle recovery missions Jan. 18 - 19.

More than 3,000 Soldiers of the 86th Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) of the Vermont Army National Guard have trained here in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

They don't attract much public attention, and they're far less visible than the pilots and aircraft they support. But their mission is no less important. In fact, without them, those pilots wouldn't be able to fly their helicopters.

U.S. [North Carolina Army National Guard] soldiers joined U.S. Agriculture Department representatives at the reopening of a poultry processing plant.

The National Guard responded to severe weather in the Dakotas and Arizona Jan. 25.

Resilience assessment and training is now available online for family members of Soldiers.

As about 3,200 Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers, who deployed with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, return from Iraq this month a team of state agencies are working to give Soldiers the tools they need to succeed.

Joined by fellow National Guardsmen from Georgia, Kansas, South Dakota and Washington, Missouri’s “Houn’ Dawgs” are sniffing out improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and rendering them harmless.

It may have been a rodeo, but there were no clowns - only Soldiers. And very big trucks.

If you are new to Tricare and eager to learn about your health care benefits or an old hand, who wants to know the latest changes, Tricare University is the place to go.

This week the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 555 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Moved by the death of an explosive ordnance disposal soldier in 2008, an Army contractor has dedicated the last 19 months of his life to the development of a tool that could save countless lives while improving the standard of living for Afghans.

Janell Kellett has found that moving forward and giving back can bring satisfaction and purpose to her family readiness group -- and a special invitation to the nation's capital.

The Defense Department has launched a free, online tutoring service for servicemembers and their families.

The National Guard responded to severe weather in the Dakotas and Arizona yesterday.

In response to the earthquake in Haiti, there’s been an outpouring of goodwill to help victims. But not all urgent appeals for aid being broadcast are legitimate, a consumer expert with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns.

Increased funding for National Guard facilities across the nation was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010, enacted in December.

This week the Army, Navy and Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps announced a decrease. The Coast Guard number remained unchanged. The net collective result is 627 more reservists activated than last week.

Three Army National Guard installations will receive Secretary of the Army awards for their environmental and sustainability program achievements during fiscal year 2009, the Army announced Jan. 15.

Most military children attend non-Defense Department schools, but military officials are determined not to allow their unique needs to slip through the cracks.

California's ADT partnered with local leaders and veterinarians to administer vaccinations and vitamin treatment to 567 animals belonging to more than 100 villagers

Seven current and former members of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program have earned spots on Team USA for the XXI Olympic Winter Games, scheduled for Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

A readily available chat client is being used to relay critical information between the services and is proving to be a powerful communication tool.

Members of a Mississippi Army National Guard unit marked their sixth month of entry control point operations and no security breaches for Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Jan. 10.

President Barack Obama yesterday signed an order allowing the Defense Department to call certain military reservists to active duty as a result of humanitarian operations in Haiti.

The military needs to step up efforts to head off compassion fatigue among its caregivers, a National Guard official said.

Due to advances in modern medicine, many wounded servicemembers are returning to the fight or transitioning their experience to civilian employment. Naval Sea Systems Command wants them on board.

National Guardsmen in four states are providing drinking water to communities with broken or damaged water systems caused by recent freezing temperatures.

When she first enlisted in the Army Guard, she saw a recruiter’s video highlighting Soldiers helping victims and she knew -- that was what she wanted to do.

Corporate America has joined forces with this country's veterans to provide the skills and mentorship that they need to rejoin the civilian workforce.

Army officials are trying to increase the resilience of soldiers and family members by increasing their physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family strengths.

Guard and Reserve members are encouraged to acknowledge their civilian employers’ exceptional support by nominating them for a top Defense Department award.

Some 200 wounded active duty, Guard and reserve members and military veterans will compete in the inaugural Warrior Games May 10-14, 2010.

The adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard took time recently to personally thank his state's Citizen-Soldiers, who are on a peace-keeping mission in Kosovo.

Allegiances in Afghanistan can be fleeting, some analysts have observed. Soldiers from the Missouri Army National Guard's 203rd Engineer Battalion work to build what they hope will be lasting positive attitudes.

Several members of the New York Army National Guard teamed up with 10 of the fastest race car drivers in the world for the fifth annual Lucas Oil Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge this past weekend.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff thanked the soldiers of the Vermont National Guard today as they said their goodbyes and prepared to trade New England snow for Afghanistan snow.

Members of the Arkansas National Guard's Agriculture Development Team (ADT) destined for deployment to Afghanistan later this spring have begun their pre-mobilization training.

Increased funding in the fiscal 2010 budget will allow the National Guard to modernize and equip its forces for state and federal missions, Guard officials announced today.

The DoD’s Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) kicked off its training program geared to help voting assistance officers at military bases worldwide at a 2010 Election Year press conference Jan. 7.

As retired Army Maj. Ed Pulido sat in his hospital bed at Brooke Army Medical Center on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he began to realize that recovering from losing his leg was only a small part of the challenge.

The Department of the Army G-4 and the chairman of the board, International Food Service Executives Association, have announced the winners of the 2010 Philip A. Connelly Awards Program for Excellence in Army Food Service...

The Army announced last week that six additional MEDEVAC companies would be added to the Army National Guard.

Suicide prevention involves building strong community and individual support, the Army's top psychiatrist and director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said.

When Staff Sgt. Megan Krause returned home from a deployment in Iraq in 2006, she thought the scariest moments of her life were over. She was wrong.

Servicemembers and their families can get help coping with post-deployment stress through a new series of podcasts profiling the personal stories of those who have lived it.

There are no clear-cut answers to suicide prevention, but through collaboration and team work from federal and private institutions, the nation can better address the challenge, Defense and Veteran Affairs department officials say.

The excitement is building some 6,400 miles away from Iraq in the state of North Carolina. That's because Soldiers from the North Carolina National Guard's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team are coming home after spending approximately eight months in Iraq.

Mission accomplished and headed home. Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, also known as Task Force Keystone, are beginning to return following their successful deployment to Iraq.

The Defense Department soon will join a Veterans Affairs Department and Kaiser Permanente partnership designed to improve the way military veterans and the nation receive health care, the VA's top health affairs policy advisor said today.

This week the Army, Navy and Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 3,717 more reservists activated than last week.

Kosovo Force will transition from about 14,000 to 10,000 NATO forces by Jan. 31, due to improvements in security, said the commander of Multinational Task Force - East.

Army and Air National Guardsmen saved 48 lives in Alaska during 2009 and assisted 12 others to safety during another busy year for the Alaska National Guard.

parent whose child follows him into his profession will feel pride. A Pennsylvania National Guard soldier here can be doubly proud, then, as one son follows his military footsteps while another is pursuing his civilian career.

Payments to servicemembers involuntarily extended on active duty under the so-called “Stop Loss” program are available, but those who received a bonus for re-enlisting or extending their service no longer qualify for retroactive Stop Loss pay.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced a new state initiative to better help returning combat veterans to land jobs and get whatever help they need in securing housing, health care and other veterans’ services.

Four fallen Illinois Soldiers from the 1544th Transportation Company based in Paris, Ill., were honored for their support of postal operations in Iraq during the dedication of a new post office Dec. 17 here at Joint Base Balad (JBB), Iraq.

Many communities across America raise Soldiers and it is a calling to give back to those communities through military service.

North Dakota Soldiers in Kosovo had their wits and training tested during a patrol as they pulled up on the aftermath of an accident. A civilian had been struck by a vehicle.

Some regions of Afghanistan are much more dangerous than others. In those risky locales, Missouri's 1141st Engineer Company sappers -- combat engineers -- are keeping Afghan roads clear of improvised explosive devices.

The tired, frazzled and hungry soldiers of the Missouri Army National Guard’s 3rd Platoon, 1141st Engineer Company, rolled into their combat outpost here well after dark, worn out and in desperate need of a break. But there was no room in the 'inn'.

It’s a scene that’s played out in airports across the country numerous times in the past eight years: Families and servicemembers clinging to each other, either sad to leave or happy and vowing to never let go again.

A Nevada National Guardsman received a surprise New Year's Day gift in the form of a battlefield promotion, Jan. 1.

The Criminal Justice Center on Camp Liberty in Baghdad is a training center for Iraqi police that teaches police skills that build upon what officers learn during basic training and as police officers working on the streets of Baghdad.

The Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program is working to prepare servicemembers and their families for a successful transition to civilian life.

In addition to the thousands of Soldiers and Airmen currently activated for ongoing federal missions, the Guard provides significant response to planned events and unexpected contingencies.

Laws have changed and servicemembers who want to vote need to be aware of these changes, the director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program said.

As New Yorkers and visitors gear up for New Year’s Eve celebrations, National Guard soldiers and airmen will remain on duty in support of homeland security missions across the state.

Dec. 30, 2010 - As revelers head for Times Square to welcome 2011, members of the New York National Guard will be on duty to ensure that the holiday is safe and secure.

This week the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 217 fewer reservists activated than last week.

When meteorologists predicted more than a foot of snow, high winds and impossible travel across South Dakota in the days before Christmas, Guardmembers here prepared and waited to respond.

Providing pay and benefits, sending care packages, allowing time off and celebrating military service with send-off and homecoming ceremonies are just a few things Guard and Reserve’s top employers are honored for each year.

Members of a Kentucky National Guard aviation unit offered up its time and helicopters recently to help train peacekeeping partners from another nation here in Kosovo.

As New Yorkers and visitors gear up for New Year's Eve celebrations, the Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the New York National Guard remain on duty in support of homeland security missions across the state.

First Sgt. James Meltz from Cropseyville, a New York Army National Guard soldier who earned the Bronze Star for Valor in Afghanistan last year, will be featured on NBC's New Years Eve with Carson Daly tonight.

The Army has hired 61 community support coordinators located across the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and Japan to help connect these geographically dispersed military personnel with community-service systems.

Soldiers in Iraq fly dozens of donated U.S. flags each day outside of Multinational Division South’s headquarters here as part of the “Fly the Flag” program.

The commander of Multi-National Task Force-East told local media in Gjilan/Gnjilane and Ferizaj/Urosevac this week that he looks forward to working with civic leaders and members of the press.

More than 100 National Guard soldiers and airmen responded over the holiday and through the weekend to support callouts by governors in four Midwest states hit by severe winter weather.

Spending the holidays away from home can be tough, but the soldiers at Forward Operating Base Vulcan celebrated Christmas the best way they could – together.

The Defense Department has launched a study on the possible long-term effects of the smoke emitted from burn pits used in overseas locations such as Iraq.

Family members in the same unit isn't uncommon in the Guard, but this mission has taken it to a new level. Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, spouses, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins have all found themselves part of the same deployment.

U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsledders Sgt. John Napier and 2nd Lt. Chris Fogt are on track to make Team USA for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Servicemembers and their families continue to enjoy tremendous support from American civilians, but at no time of the year is that support greater than during the holidays.

Two days before Christmas, the longest line today at the airport wasn’t at a ticket counter or at security. It was hundreds of well-wishers lined up to welcome troops home.

North Dakota National Guard members received Christmas presents in the form of smiles this year when they delivered gifts to veterans.

As an infantryman serving his fouth deployment, Sgt. Olin Wilkinson, of Greenville, N.C., is probably not the kind of person one might think of as a typical high school English teacher.

There are now 53,671 more pages of New York National Guard records available online on the New York State Military Museum Web site.

Alive Day is a term used by many injured combat veterans to describe the day they escaped death. While the physical injuries vary, for some there are emotional wounds they will struggle with for the rest of their lives.

A team of more than 60 Oklahoma Army National Guard members are preparing for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan by using every training opportunity possible - including apple harvesting.

Dressed in Army combat uniforms, red and white hats, elf ears, red elf shoes adorned with bells and sunglasses, two Task Force 38 Soldiers accompanied "Santa Wootten" walking from office to office distributing holiday cheer.

Members of Task Force 38, with the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade of the Indiana National Guard put their own spin on the movie "It's a Wonderful Life."

Mention “Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar” around a native Minnesotan in Iraq, and you’re almost guaranteed a glazed-eyed expression and rambling murmurs of longing.

Toward the end of every soldier’s deployment comes the time to decide what’s next. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Bari, a medic serving with the 34th Infantry Division [Minnesota Army National Guard], plans to climb mountains after he departs Iraq.

This week, the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced decreases. The net collective result is 620 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Brandy Flotten is tackling her first holiday season without her deployed husband, but she’s still determined to keep the holiday spirit alive for her two sons, she said.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, today issued his holiday message.

It may not be Mom’s home cooking, but the Defense Logistics Agency is making sure deployed troops eat a meal that tastes just as good.

our families and friends back home celebrate the holidays, those of us on the ground in Afghanistan are continuing the fight against extremism. We know that in war, there are no holidays.

The benefits a grateful nation makes available to those who serve in its military are numerous, but connecting reserve component servicemembers to the resources in their local areas can be a challenge.

After three decades of experimenting with his distance running, one could say Sgt. 1st Class James Bresette of the Arkansas National Guard is becoming a marathon alchemist.

Reservists face unique challenges that may be tipping their stress level over that of their active-duty counterparts, a health affairs official said.

The pre-mission brief concluded, combat engineer Army Sgt. Darrin Lewno called together the assembled route-clearance crew, all members of the 211th Engineer Company of the South Dakota Army National Guard.

A Defense Department study that explores the long-term health effects of military service, including deployments, will expand its scope to military families starting in June.

This week the Navy and Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 521 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Defense officials have launched virtual “listening sessions” in hopes of gaining more insight into the effectiveness of military family programs, a Pentagon official said today.

An infantryman with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, can lay claim to designing what may be the only golf course in southern Iraq.

Sheri Hall knew her husband, Army Maj. Jeff Hall, was having emotional issues after two tours in Iraq, but she didn’t grasp just how bad it was until one day when he went for a run.

When Staff Sgt. Sergio Valdes saw a dog running down Interstate 95 with its leash dragging behind it, he knew there was trouble.

Defense and military officials gathered at the Pentagon to discuss the top issues facing the Yellow Ribbon Program for reserve-component servicemembers and their families during a two-day summit that concluded today.

As the first major winter storm of the season continues to drop snow and ice throughout the Midwest, elements of the Iowa and Wisconsin National Guard are ready to assist state and local authorities in responding to emergency calls.

North Carolina Soldiers, family members and friends have brought the gift of sight to an Iraqi baby born blind with congenital cataracts.

This week the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 3,743 more reservists activated than last week.

Approximately 2,600 soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, Maryland Army National Guard, will begin deploying to Iraq in the summer of 2011.

The Army released suicide data for the month of November today.

Children in military families experience emotional and behavioral difficulties above national averages, a study has revealed.

Author Stephen King and his wife are donating money so that 150 Maine Army National Guardsmen can go home for the holidays.

After an initial delay caused by software and manpower issues, the first retroactive payments will be disbursed next week to soldiers who were retained on active duty involuntarily under the so-called “Stop Loss” program.

The National Guard’s contribution in Afghanistan has been “extraordinary,” the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan told Congress yesterday.

Gen. Craig McKinley says that military officers should never underestimate the value of planning and working together as a team.

KFOR Soldiers from four nations got together recently to practice their skills in controlling riots in one of the most realistic training environments anywhere.

The nation must move beyond the “suck it up and drive on” military culture of the past and look to a future that puts psychological and spiritual injuries on par with physical ones, the Army’s highest-ranking psychiatrist said yesterday.

National Guard leaders celebrated the Guard's 373rd birthday on Capitol Hill today along with other DoD dignitaries and members of Congress.

Wounded warriors at the Military Advanced Training Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here are testing a new microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued a message today commemorating 373 years of service by the National Guard.

The rate of soldier suicides this year exceeded the 2008 total with 147 reports through November, marking the fifth consecutive year the service’s suicide rate has increased.

Two North Dakota Guardsmen/fire fighers are using their skills to help a community in Kosovo improve their fire department.

Troops from Maine’s 286th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion support the Afghan buildup by transporting equipment, supplies and building materials to forward operating bases. The deployment is nearly over, but they continue to "drive on."

The Virginia National Guard’s Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion (AVUM) is part of a new U.S.-led KFOR (Kosovo Forces) task force.

Shauna Rohbock, a sergeant in the Utah Army National Guard, has been chasing the allusive gold medal on the 2006 Olympic track, and finally sunk her teeth into a victory today.

Officials are working to boost the resources and support the Defense Department’s Exceptional Family Member Program provides to military families with special needs.

Every night except Sunday, soldiers from America, international guardsmen from East Africa and translators from outside the gates play soccer on Camp Savage, Iraq.

While typical college students head into the "stretch run" of the current fall term, several collegians have withdrawn from their studies to deploy.

Tea ceremonies, paper folding and sword demonstrations aren't usually the first things to come to mind when you think of a command post exercise with one of the U.S. strongest military allies.

In a joint message to senior Army leaders on Dec. 2, Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey, Jr. stated that the Afghanistan troop increase will not affect plans underway to restore balance.

With President Barack Obama's expected announcement today to send more U.S. forces to Afghanistan, a defense official said a portion of the additional troops are likely to reinforce the country's contentious eastern and southern areas.

About 120 New York Army National Guard Soldiers arrived here between Dec. 1-4 for Yama Sakura 57, the bilateral command post training exercise with members of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces.

Army and Veterans Affairs officials will discuss a number of programs in which the two departments collaborate to help wounded, ill and injured Soldiers on a Pentagon Channel interview Friday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was awarded his seventh consecutive NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver award today at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards event at The Venetian Las Vegas Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.

Louisiana National Guardsmen participated in a video game competition against the undefeated New Orleans Saints at their training facility in Metairie, La., Dec. 1.

The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Vermont National Guard was notified in June that they would deploy to Afghanistan early next year.

Staff Sgt. Hannes Stieg, of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 732nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion headquarters element, had something special to be thankful for this season - his new status as a U.S. citizen.

U.S. soldiers and their Afghan partners bedded down for the night at the Afghan National Police Achin District Center in preparation for a meeting with Shinwari tribal elders and Afghan security personnel.

Indiana National Guard soldiers from the 38th Infantry Division’s Task Force Cyclone ensure Forward Operating Base Salerno is maintained properly.

The National Guard continues to make a significant contribution to one of the Afghanistan initiatives that President Obama discussed in his Tuesday speech to the nation.

A Pennsylvania Soldier who was badly wounded in a 2005 roadside-bomb explosion is serving in Iraq again, and he's finding deployed life easier this time around.

An Alaska Army National Guard member currently deployed to Afghanistan has been named a national and state top 40 under 40 honoree.

This week the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 999 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The National Guard Marksmanship Training Center's Sniper School hosted 30 sniper and sharpshooting competitors at the second annual Inter-Service Sniper Sustainment Exercise.

Four soldiers serving here with the New Hampshire National Guard earned a special distinction last week when they became their company's first all-female medical evacuation crew.

The Army National Guard’s “Drive the Guard” program is putting Soldiers behind the wheel while they are in uniform and helping them to qualify for fulltime civilian employment as a truck driver.

Soldiers from the 480th Military Police Company of the Puerto Rico National Guard handed over responsibility for their external security mission at Joint Task Force Guantanamo to the 115th Military Police Company of the Rhode Island National Guard.

Soldiers of the Tennessee Army National Guard's 1-230th Air Cavalry Squadron maintain and operate a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP), 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

Although the upcoming deployment of the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be an historic event, the preparation for the unit’s mobilization has already gone down as the largest training event ever for the Florida Army National Guard.

The commander of the Kansas National Guard took time recently to personally thank his state's Citizen-Soldiers, who are here beginning an important NATO peace-keeping mission.

While deployed here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, service members used their free time to teach and assist communities in Iraq.

The Arkansas National Guard's Agricultural Development Team, which is scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan in early 2010, begins training this week in a cooperative partnership with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

For 10 months, engineers from the 1431st EC have performed more than 200 missions in Khost and Paktika provinces. Their primary mission is traveling some of the most dangerous roads in Afghanistan searching for IED's.

New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters deploy next week to Hokkaido, Japan, for a two-week training exercise alongside troops of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces.

In the midst of a nondescript Middle Eastern-style village, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team soldiers interact with the local inhabitants the same as they have done day in and day out on routine patrols.

It’s a few hours a month, but the break the Armed Services YMCA Respite Child Care program provides parents with a deployed spouse always is welcome. And since the program’s Oct. 1 nationwide expansion, many more parents will benefit.

Officials with the nation’s two largest electronic medical records systems announced a pilot program today designed to further enhance health-care services for military veterans.

Amanda Bailey has a lot to thankful for this Thanksgiving, with her husband, Army Spc. Christopher Bailey home from Iraq for rest and relaxation leave, but she's helping the community show its appreciation for other deployed Guardsmen.

Because of the current slow economy, some Guardsmen are returning from deployments to find their civilian job has been downsized or completely done away with.

Dependable communication is essential for any successful organization, and for a deployed military unit, that holds all the more true.

The concept of the operation -- partnered, snap traffic control points to deny foreign fighters freedom of movement.

wounded warriors recovering at local Fisher Houses and their families joined Vice President Joe Biden and the vice president’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, at their residence for a family-style Thanksgiving meal.

Shauna Rohbock of the Utah National Guard finished just eight-hundredths of a second out of the medals in the women’s bobsled competition at the Olympic Sports Complex today.

Retired Army Col. Lewis L. Millett, who received the Medal of Honor during the Korean War for leading what reportedly was the last major American bayonet charge, died Nov 14.

Sgt. Remi Bald Eagle, raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and currently on Ohio Army National Guardsman, has a keen awareness not only of Native American heritage, but of the challenges of growing up between cultures.

The National Guard is a vital partner in the federal response to natural or manmade disasters, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said here today.

The National Guard’s transformation from a strategic reserve to an operational force since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, should continue beyond the current conflicts, the nation’s top military officer told Guard leaders yesterday.

“Adding Value to America” was the theme for more than 2,000 of the National Guard’s senior Army and Air Force leaders from across the nation who gathered at the National Harbor to kick off their first Joint Senior Leadership Conference.

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently implemented many new initiatives and programs as a way to specifically engage National Guard and Reserve veterans who have been deployed, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said Nov. 19.

The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that beginning in January 2010, the Disability Evaluation System (DES) pilot will expand to an additional six installations across the country.

The National Guard can play an important role in spreading the news about the Veterans Affairs Department’s new programs to veterans in their communities, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a National Guard conference today.

This week the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,045 fewer reservists activated than last week.

National Guard soldiers bring a variety of life and work experiences with them on deployment, and even the smallest unit can include a surprising array of skills and experience.

Though the National Guard has a role in reconstruction missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s a temporary one, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told an audience at the Joint Senior Leadership Conference at the National Harbor yesterday.

The Secretary of the Army announced today that the National Research Council will perform an independent assessment of the Army’s body armor testing, following last month’s recommendation by the Government Accountability Office for an independent review.

Based on an independent study by the Institute of Medicine last month, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki has directed broader health coverage from his department for Vietnam War veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.

It should have been a joyous time. But Sheri Hall could tell something was wrong with her husband, Army Maj. Jeff Hall, at the hangar during his welcome home ceremony. “His eyes were dead,” she said.

The Army today released suicide data for the month of October.

Complacency is the one word that concerns the commander of U.S. Northern Command .

The quality and readiness of the Army Guard is in the hands of its senior leadership, the Army Guard’s top officer told more than 2,000 officers and senior noncommissioned officers here today.

For more than 100 years, there has been a hotly contested rivalry that boils over to an all out war for three hours one fall Saturday afternoon in November.

It's hard to predict how a child will react to having a parent deployed in a war zone, the Marine Corps’ family advocacy manager said here today on the last day of the 2009 Department of Defense Child Development Conference.

This week the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 770 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for active and reserve components for October 2009.

Mobilizations for most Army National Guard units run for a total of 12 months including training and deployment time. But recent changes have been made allowing units to do some training in Title 32 status before moving to their post-mobilization site.

The mournful and all too familiar scene of a bugler playing Taps occurred Tuesday as the Fort Hood community paid its respects to fallen warriors struck down last week.

As the nation honors its past and present servicemembers on this Veterans Day, many who have worn the uniform of their country will reflect on their service’s creed and what it means to them.

CSM William Paul made history Oct. 29 when he became the first National Guard Soldier to serve as the 4th Ranger Training Battalion senior NCO.

What is the significance of the little red flowers that the Veterans of Foreign Wars hand out? What do they mean? The answer to the first question is simple. They are poppies. Red-flowered corn poppies. So what's with the poppies?

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has delegated the authority to order up to 45 days of pre-mobilization training for reserve-component soldiers to the secretary of the Army.

While more than 3,200 soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team have their boots on the ground in Iraq, some of their fellow Guardsmen from the state's Air National Guard have their jets in the sky overhead.

Fort Hood was uppermost in the minds of National Guardsmen today, especially with an Alabama Citizen-Soldier reportedly among the wounded after a deadly shooting rampage there.

The Military Health System will host a Web-based, town hall-style meeting Nov. 10 from 3 to 4 p.m. EST to respond to questions about H1N1 influenza.

When a deployed unit approaches its end-of-tour date, the focus begins to shift from the deployment at hand to redeployment stateside. But not so for those who support the mission until its final moment.

President Barack Obama pledged his support of military members and their families and said Americans have a “solemn obligation” to preserve their well-being in his proclamation declaring November as Military Family Month.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 signed by the president Oct. 28 included many provisions for the National Guard.

The Georgia Army National Guard’s long range surveillance unit will again honor their World War II predecessors by completing a 118-mile march from Toccoa, Ga., to Atlanta this week.

As the Defense Department begins to compensate military members forced to serve beyond the expiration of their contracts, the number of those still serving under “Stop Loss” has been greatly reduced, a Pentagon official said.

Guardmembers assigned to the National Capital Region got a chance this week to preview the Army National Guard’s new recruiting advertising campaign, which is scheduled to launch Nov. 13.

The secretary of veterans affairs today announced the framework of a bold initiative to end homelessness among veterans within five years.

This week the Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The Coast Guard number remained unchanged. The net collective result is 206 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Joint training exercise Juniper Cobra 10, a biennial event, is designed to improve combined Israeli-U.S. missile defense operations and this year the Ohio Army National Guard has a role.

Psychological war wounds are nothing new to U.S. servicemembers, but the support of the nation to care for their injuries, until recent years, was somewhat uncharted territory.

One shot, one kill: It's the creed of every sniper. More than 30 two-man teams from around the globe put that battle cry to the test on the ranges here during the ninth annual U.S. Army International Sniper Competition.

It's the military’s version of the “Iron Chef.” Preparing meals while the sounds of Soldiers conducting marksmanship training echoed, food service units from six states recently showcased their culinary abilities before a national judging panel.

A roadside bomb in Iraq nearly severed Spc. Jason Schulz' right hand and took both legs. Now cadets at the Challenge Academy where he graduated are helping to build him a house.

The American Red Cross again will sponsor a national “Holiday Mail for Heroes” campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to servicemembers, veterans and their families in the United States and abroad.

More than 300 Puerto Rico National Guardsmen responded to a massive fire that burned throughout much of the weekend...

The Department of Defense announced Oct. 16, approximately 3,000 Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers are on alert status to deploy to Afghanistan, making it the largest taskforce alerted in the Iowa ARNG since World War II.

A U.S. and Iraqi partnership is giving the townspeople of Mahmudiyha, south of Baghdad, a sense of security.

Maj. Kevin Scott joined 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment this month as the battalion flight surgeon, replacing Lt. Col. David Doud, who returned to the U.S. recently after completing his tour.

The 19th Annual Secretary of Defense Community Drug Awareness Award went to six units and agencies, including the Alabama National Guard.

The Defense Department announced implementation plans to provide retroactive stop loss special pay.

National Guard equipment will be returned from Iraq to the United States and National Guard units can fill shortages with equipment currently in use in Iraq, defense officials said.

This week the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,144 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The Department of the Army announced today that it has established additional quality control measures to further ensure that body armor testing documentation and procurement processes are rigorous, consistent and use available best practices.

The Veterans Affairs Department continues its efforts to provide the best support possible to the nation’s military veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a House committee here today.

As filming for Sesame Workshop’s latest “Talk, Listen, Connect,” video got under way here yesterday, it became clear that while it’s not always sunny on Sesame Street, ultimately the clouds can be swept away.

The Maryland National Guard recently hosted an official delegation representing Bosnia-Herzegovina, which toured the E. Leslie Medford Armory.

Pentagon officials stress that no matter what computer you use, you need to take cybersecurity into account.

The Colorado Army National Guard joined rescue efforts for a 6-year-old boy believed adrift in a homemade hot air balloon yesterday.

This week the Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,469 fewer reservists activated than last week.

With more than 1.1 million active and reserve-component soldiers in the U.S. Army, some may wonder how the service could be stressed, as is commonly discussed and reported. A look at the OPTEMPO gives you the answer.

Today’s reserve forces have made tremendous progress transforming from a strategic to an operational reserve, even as they continue to support two wars and hundreds of other missions around the world, a senior Defense Department official said last week.

The Pentagon’s top civilian official for Guard and Reserve matters and uniformed reserve-component leaders pledged to support employers of the nation’s Guard and Reserve members at a Pentagon ceremony today.

U.S. troops and reconstruction team members in Iraq’s Basra province completed what some say was a small task with a huge impact on improving the lives of some Iraqi families with disabled children.

Both components of the National Guard reached their end-strength goals for fiscal 2009, officials announced today.

The Army today released suicide data for the month of September.

In 2005, David Dominguez of San Diego noticed casualty reports in Iraq and Afghanistan were barely making news. After several years of war, the American public had settled back into its routine.

The Defense Department is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for military families, the director of the department’s Family Advocacy Program said in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This week the Army announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 303 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced details for the expansion of the Homeowners Assistance Program for eligible individuals whose service to the nation has required them to relocate and sell their primary residence at a loss.

Aggressive efforts spearheaded by Mississippi Guardsmen and civilian contractors to end the water shortage at Contingency Operation Location Q-West have begun to show results.

Soldiers from the 441st Ordnance Battalion, Alabama National Guard, are participating in Operation Unified Endeavor, a pre-deployment mission readiness exercise, scheduled to run through mid-October at the Grafenwoehr Training Area.

Each year a Modern Army Combatives Program tournament is held at Fort Benning, Ga. This year the Oregon Army National Guard was added to the line-up at the three-day tournament, which brings Soldiers from around the world together to compete.

This week the Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 971 fewer reservists activated than last week.

About 90 Hawaii National Guard members are on their way to American Samoa this morning to help in the recovery efforts on the Pacific island, National Guard officials have announced.

Three Chinese Mandarin linguists from the 141st Military Intelligence Battalion of the Utah Army National Guard recently participated in a language immersion program here.

More than 60 wounded veterans suffering disabilities ranging from post-traumatic stress to amputations are learning “to live again” this week through competition at the 2nd Annual National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego.

Checks for up to $3,000 soon will be available to students who have applied for Veterans Affairs educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment.

Minnesota Army National Guardsmen of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division’s 34th Military Police Company patrol here daily to ensure the base’s residents are safe and that everything is running normally.

Army Sgt. Maj. Virginia Stickler enjoys serving up drinks and snacks, as well as a bit of advice, to her fellow soldiers here at a coffee shop that speaks volumes about her deployment.

The 34th Infantry Division was awarded an Emmy by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Upper Midwest Chapter on Sept. 26 here at a gala at the Pantages Theater.

The All Guard service rifle team won several team and individual honors sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) at the 2009 National Trophy Rifle Matches Aug. 3-19.

Most Guardmembers will agree that it’s hard to take advantage of the benefits of military service when you live miles from the nearest military installation.

Army and Air National Guard members are scheduled to receive vaccinations against the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus beginning in early November, National Guard Bureau officials recently confirmed.

When the Missouri National Guard delved into the world of social media in February no one could predict the impact the sites would have on the way the Guard did business as usual.

The National Guard Resiliency Center showcased its training program Sep. 24 here at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in an effort to give military leaders, both enlisted and officers, the tools they need to deal with stress.

Soldiers of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 927th Engineer (Sapper) Company, 769th Engineer Battalion, recently took part in a Sapper training event at the Gillis W. Long Center in Carville, La.

The load carried by Army Col. Jack Mosher on his run to the top of Mount Washington was much more than just the stone on his back.

A Texas-based National Guard agribusiness development team is working here to ensure Afghans are using the best practices in the farming and food industries.

This week the Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 947 fewer reservists activated than last week.

After learning about the benefits available, six members of the Egipiciaco family joined the Florida Army National Guard this year.

Senior leaders in the Arkansas National Guard, including the state governor, are asking for the public’s help to stop suicides among its troops.

Kentucky recently became the 10th state in which Soldiers are not required to pay state income tax, joining Florida, Alaska, Michigan, Texas, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming and Washington state.

More than 2,500 Pennsylvania National Guardsmen have been called up for Operation Steel Kickoff, which will support the international G-20 Summit being held here Sept. 24-25.

Servicemembers fighting in Afghanistan will soon see two new test camouflage patterns on the backs of fellow Soldiers.

Two child care centers will be built on National Guard installations in West Virginia and Indiana in fiscal year 2010, Guard officials confirmed today.

The nation needs the National Guard to exercise “smart power,” the co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus said here today.

The Army National Guard attempted to reach Soldiers through their heart and their head during an event held at the Readiness Center Sept. 14.

This week the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 625 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Wilson stands watch outside Penn Station, part of a New York National Guard task force that has continuously served since the terrorist attacks eight years ago today.

Four servicemembers died in off-duty accidents Labor Day weekend, bringing to 95 the number killed during the summer season that kicked off Memorial Day weekend, safety officials reported.

More than 340 New York City firefighters died on Sept. 11, 2001. Task Force 38 Citizen-Soldiers, who are firefighters back home, remember that day vividly.

Texas National Guard members have been asked by Gov. Rick Perry to support a special group of Texas Rangers called "Ranger Recon Teams" at high-traffic and high-crime areas along the border, state Guard officials confirmed today.

The Georgia Bulldogs will wear a helmet patch to honor the Georgia-based 48th Inftanty Brigade Combat Team.

National Guardsmen from Illinois, New Jersey, South Carolina and as far away as Guam competed in the Army National Guard Combatives Tournament Aug. 29-30 here at Briant Wells Field House.

The National Guard proved its relevance, value and accessibility after the manmade disaster of Sept. 11, 2001, and after the natural disaster named Katrina, the Guard’s senior officer said today.

When Army National Guardsman Sgt. Michael Scaglione announced he was being deployed to Iraq, he knew he could count on his family.

Soldiers from the Alabama Army National Guard, conducted Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear response training with a Marine unit employing the Marines state of the art equipment.

Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee" -- John Donne, English poet, 1572-1631

Three, three-person Joint Hometown News Service broadcast teams have begun to tape video greetings from servicemembers and their families stationed overseas.

After seven months on active duty, the 3,200 men and women of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team are about halfway through their time in Iraq.

Gen. Craig R. McKinley reflects on the contributions made by National Guard members since 9/11.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Mary J. Kight, assistant adjutant general of the California National Guard, visited Golden State troops serving as part of the Kosovo Force 11 mission recently.

Insurgents ambushed a convoy of fuelers from the 286th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion from the Maine Army National Guard July 29 in one of the largest and complex attacks since 2003.

Iraqi security forces are making tremendous progress throughout southern Iraq, the commander of coalition forces in the region said today.

This week the Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 271 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Jeremy LeGrand, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, is learning this week that some of the best therapy is delivered on the golf course and at the bowling alley.

Soldiers with Bravo Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion, try to make sure the helicopters in their care are ready to take anything in store for them.

Before she joined the Army, Staff Sgt. Katherine Fults felt her career options were limited to three things, none of which indicate an obvious path to the military.

Defense Department officials have launched “AFPS News,” a weekly audio podcast of stories from American Forces Press Service.

The California National Guard is part of a 17-agency endeavor to protect the state’s forests from destructive marijuana growers.

Approximately 2,600 soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, Maryland Army National Guard, will begin deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the summer of 2011.

For what many believe to be the first time in history, an Army band performed on a Navy destroyer in the Persian Gulf last week.

For many chaplains, providing spiritual and mental support for Soldiers is a calling.

An elite Maryland Army National Guard unit recently took part in a major joint exercise here as part of their annual training.

Soldiers of the 1194th Engineer Company, Airmen of the 200th RED HORSE and members of the Serbian Armed Forces are scattered across Serbia, tasked with the renovation of public schools.

More than one in 10 employees of the Ohio Department of Public Safety is a member of the National Guard or reserves. So when citizen-soldiers on staff are called to active duty the department also fulfills its obligation to the country -- and then some.

All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said today.

Soldiers of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, marked the official end of their mission in Iraq today with a transfer of authority ceremony.

This week the Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 564 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The White House launched an interactive, virtual town hall meeting yesterday that enables troops deployed within U.S. Central Command to pose their questions and get direct feedback from the commander in chief.

The strength of the National Guard’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program lies in its flexibility and an open door policy for all service branches and dependents, Guard officials recently told program managers at a national conference.

Representatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency thanked the Army National Guard on Tuesday for preparing DEA agents for deployment to Afghanistan.

The 30th graduating class of the New Jersey National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy culminated 22 weeks of hard work and training by earning their high school diplomas.

When Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided today at the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe graduation in New Jersey, he witnessed a rite of passage being shared by about 8,000 at-risk youth across the country every year.

The Army National Guard announced today that it reached its congressionally mandated end-strength goal of 358,200 this week, a full month before the end of the fiscal year.

Moving several hundred detainees across Iraq is a daunting task, but for two Wisconsin Army National Guard companies it's just another day.

The Michigan Army National Guard recently field tested a new prototype power generation unit that converts waste products into synthetic gas to fuel a diesel generator.

When reserve-component troops are called away for military duties, their civilian employers work hard to pick up the slack in their absence.

Army National Guard leaders from around the country converged on this remote training center today for the dedication of the National Guard’s first and only academy designed to help Soldiers receive their high school diplomas.

It was Oct. 13, 2008 when Chapman was given a mission that ended one Soldier’s life and seriously injured him. Chapman was the driver of an 18-ton, armored military vehicle, driving across Afghanistan.

Stress can manifest itself in many ways. Some people experience anxiety, depression or anger. Left untreated these treatable conditions may develop into bigger problems like insomnia, anorexia or even agoraphobia. Combat Stress is there to help.

A recently published Army handbook addresses the unique set of topographical, cultural and operational challenges facing troops in Afghanistan.

An important element in rebuilding the lives of severely ill and wounded Soldiers is obtaining meaningful careers and participating in education and training programs.

An Army National Guard colonel who led a brigade in Iraq and a Vietnam veteran who retired from the Guard as a brigadier general recently helped New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine launch an oral history project to preserve the Garden State’s military legacy

They call it the Big 33 Football Classic, the Super Bowl for prestigious college-bound football players from Pennsylvania and Ohio. But during pre-game ceremonies in Hershey, Pa., it became a salute for what some are calling the "Brave 34."

Children of active duty United States military (including Guard and Reserve) personnel who were federalized and died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible to apply for the American Legion's Legacy Scholarship.

Growing up in a small town north of Chicago, Brian and Corey Vaughn did nearly everything together. And Aug. 28, the twins, from Prairie View, Ill., will graduate together from Basic Combat Training here at Fort Jackson.

Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, The American Legion resurrected the tradition of displaying the Blue Star Service Banner, reflecting the pride and sacrifices made by families of those serving on active duty during times of war

Ohio National Guard members spent a week at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center here to test their ability to respond to a chemical attack.

This week the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 692 more reservists activated than last week.

At FMC Technologies in Stephenville, Texas, military experience not only is welcomed, but also is highly sought after, a spokesman for the company said.

A well-rounded knowledge of how assets work for a unit can become a force multiplier.

Adjutant general Stephen Danner and the Missouri National Guard hosted Safi Mohammed Hussein, director of agriculture, irrigation and livestock for Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, during his visit to Missouri this week.

Training the trainers took on a significant new meaning, Aug. 16, as Louisiana National Guard engineers put Soldiers with the First Army to the test during a simulated explosives lanes drill.

Defense officials have chosen Perpetual Technologies Inc. to receive the department's employer-support award for providing exceptional financial and emotional support to its employees who deploy as National Guard or Reserve members.

National Guardsmen and reservists know the law secures their civilian jobs if they’re activated, but some deploy knowing their employers will go above and beyond to take care of them while they’re gone.

The National Guard cannot go back to the days of the strategic reserve, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told conferees in Rochester, Minn., on Aug. 9.

It’s August in Rhode Island and most people are thinking about going to the beaches and grabbing a lemonade. However to military paratroopers across the globe, August means one thing: the Rhode Island Army National Guard‘s Leapfest.

For a few moments on July 17, retired Col. James A. Huston was no longer a 91-year-old World War II veteran.

Slideshow of 33rd Brigade Combat Team (Illinois Army National Guard) returning from Enduring Freedom mission.

Google is tinkering with a new service that could transform the way troops on the frontlines communicate with their families on the homefront.

The All Guard service rifle team won first place as High National Guard or Reserve Team and second overall in the Inter-Service Rifle Team Championship Match at the 48th annual Inter-Service Rifle Championships.

Bone-tired, bleary-eyed, but jubilant to be one step closer to home, Texas Army National Guard Soldiers deplaned in El Paso Saturday after a year-long deployment in Iraq.

To help protect their war-torn region, the Kenyan military is working with the United States to ensure it can respond to threats and keep its borders secure.

The National Guard will add Liberia to its State Partnership Program this year, bringing to eight the number of African nations taking part in the program.

The Army National Guard’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2009 were announced yesterday at the 38th annual conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

Under a personnel rule that takes effect next month, some military spouses could be quickly hired for federal jobs without going through the usual competitive process.

New York Gov. David Paterson announced his call up of New York National Guard troops for flood clean up operations during a brief press conference here at the Middle School Western New York on Aug. 12.

The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for active and reserve components for fiscal 2009.

SOFAR is a unique and innovative program to aid the families and loved ones of army Reservists and National Guard deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

The 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD) made history once again, except this time it wasn't "hitting a bullet with a bullet" in the exo-atmosphere, it was hitting a softball out of the park, through the legs of opponents and making remarkable plays.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Lawrence’s position as the Colorado National Guard’s top enlisted soldier is underscored by nearly 25 years of steadfast support from his civilian employer.

Local Iraqi business owners are receiving micro grants from the civil affairs team of 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the North Carolina Army National Guard, to stimulate the local economy.

Capt. Sara Woods calls it "sweet water:" the clean, potable ground water that hides under the dusty farmland at a depth of about 20 meters. It is the key to helping rural Iraqis enjoy greater health and more productive livestock.

Defense Department officials are developing a new training program that will teach military members and civilians how to be culturally competent and aware when interacting with people from different lands, a senior official told reporters here today.

Military Police officers with the 2/198th Combined Arms Battalion, Mississippi Army National Guard, detained five Sri Lankan contract workers here July 23, and recovered approximately $11,000 in stolen merchandise.

The Nebraska National Guard and the Afghan army and national police kicked off a new bilateral relationship last week when two Afghan surgeons general traveled here for talks about ways Nebraska can help Afghanistan develop its medical infrastructure.

In a move the first of its kind, the Army Reserve struck a partnership with the Indiana National Guard to better provide employment opportunities for Soldiers returning home from deployment.

This week the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,001 more reservists activated than last week.

About 350 Tennessee National Guard Soldiers from units across the state arrived here Aug. 4-5 to train with Romanian and Bulgarian land forces in the 2009 rotation of an exercise that will be held in those two countries.

Even in the 140-character brevity demanded of a “tweet,” the enthusiasm National Guardsmen have for communicating through Twitter software is evident.

If history is any guide, the new Post-9/11 GI Bill may be the most effective piece of legislation Congress ever has passed.

With immobility causing degeneration in the bones, joints, heart, lungs and skin of tens of thousands of disabled veterans, scientists are developing equipment that could get them back on their feet.

With support provided by the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 225th Engineer Brigade from Pineville, La., Maya Road, the major access road just outside the Victory Base Complex in Baghdad opened to traffic, Aug 1.

One of the newest tools in our Soldiers' arsenal is the common remotely operated weapon station II, known as CROWS II, which enables soldiers to acquire and engage targets from the safety of their armored vehicle.

Army Space Support Team 27 was Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers who were deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, from December 2008 to July 2009. They supported Marine forces by "exploiting space technologies and bringing them to the war fighter."

Soldiers who need somebody to talk to, any time of the day or night, can turn to the TRICARE Assistance Program.

The Army Reserve and National Guard signed partnership agreements with dozens of Chicago and Illinois state employers yesterday to enhance job opportunities for soldiers and veterans.

As Pentagon officials weigh the benefits and risks of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, they hope to craft a policy that shores up security vulnerabilities without requiring a ban.

The pilots and crews from Detachment 1, B Company 3rd Battalion 126th Aviation, provided skydiving platforms for the West Point parachute teams annual training sessions.

American Forces Press Service has launched a military blog called “Family Matters” dedicated to helping military families deal with the challenges and situations unique to a military lifestyle.

The California National Guard began providing four rotary-winged aircraft to assist in extinguishing the more than 12,000-acre SHU lightning fire yesterday and continues to support first responders Thursday.

The Colorado Army National Guard Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive Consequence Management Reaction Force tested their capabilities to respond to emergencies during the National Emergency Response Exercise.

Arkansas Army National Guard Soldiers joined forces with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Aug. 2 to exercise their readiness for disaster responses.

The days of the Department of Veterans Affairs waiting passively for veterans leaving the military to come seeking benefits and services are over, President Barack Obama told military reporters yesterday.

Citing the direct correlation between military deployments and post-traumatic stress disorder, President Barack Obama said he’s hopeful that increasing the size of the force will help to reduce incidents of stress.

Much needed specialized and general medical care is being offered in Trinidad and Tobago as part of the humanitarian and civic assistance mission Beyond the Horizon (BTH) 2009.

The Army has been working with the University of Pennsylvania to develop master resiliency training that will soon be taught to Soldiers, family members and Army civilians.

This week the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced decreases in activated reservists, while the Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 116 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Soldiers serving in Iraq will find that operations and the local citizens might be a little different from usual beginning Aug. 22 and continuing through most of September. Things will be different as most Iraqis will observe Ramadan.

North Carolina National Guardsmen recently opened a joint trauma training lane at Forward Operating Base Falcon to help train American and Iraqi Soldiers on simulated battlefield medical care.

A Defense Department review is weighing the benefits of social networking and other Web 2.0 platforms against potential security vulnerabilities they create.

Members of the Army National Guard who could be affected by the theft of a laptop containing their personal data, will be notified through an official letter, Guard officials said here today.

President Barack Obama today saluted the implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill during a ceremony at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

The number of combat-wounded troops from Afghanistan treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in July has far surpassed the number of wounded from Iraq this month.

As the administration works with Congress to shore up gaps in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, President Barack Obama said today he wants to be inclusive, not exclusive, in extending those entitlements.

Tricare is enhancing its programs and services as part of an ongoing commitment to provide quality health care for military families, the new deputy director of Tricare Management Activity said.

Truck drivers from the Virginia Army National Guard took to the open road and conducted a mission that helps them train for possible deployment to Southwest Asia and supports one of the Army's most deployable combat units – the 10th Mountain Division.

Noyce Merino said the past year as the Army’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year has been a busy one. “It’s been a whirlwind,” he said, adding that half his year was spent travelling.

Three former National Guardmembers told a Senate committee Monday they were exposed to a deadly chemical with long-term health effects while serving in Iraq.

A new unmanned aerial vehicle gives the high ground to 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team units on Camp Taji, Iraq.

When Beth Neild’s husband asked her to lead his New York Army National Guard unit’s volunteer family readiness group, she wasn’t thrilled.

The Army National Guard’s Best Warrior competition at the Warrior Training Center here this week promises to be a stiff test for the fourteen Soldiers taking part.

In ongoing discussions about health-care reform, President Barack Obama offered assurance today to those receiving medical care through Tricare or the Department of Veterans Affairs: Your benefits are safe.

Texas Governor Rick Perry left the Texas hill country to visit and thank U.S. troops and members of the Texas Military Forces. He was part of with a delegation of governors invited by the Department of Defense.

The beehive of activity in Fort McCoy's "Mob Alley" will be swarming much more than normal from mid-July to early-September.

"Never let down your guard." That's the unit motto for the Colorado Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 140th Security Support- a saying that goes a long way with a unit that is tasked with emergency operations and defense of our nation's borders.

On July 18, the Colorado ESGR held its annual Awards Banquet and recognized top employers throughout the state for their support of their employees in the National Guard and Reserve.

Blisters can cause extreme discomfort and reduce concentration. They can lead to days of limited activity or affect a Soldier's ability to respond to threats. Poorly managed blisters can lead to more serious health problems such as infection.

U.S. Joint Forces Command and its partners, including the Department of Homeland Security, have completed an experiment designed to enhance national security by providing joint force commanders with a better capability to share information.

The most frustrating part about suicide prevention is the uncertainty about what causes troops to take their lives, top military leaders said here yesterday.

A new law and order force is now on duty here to provide a safe and secure environment for servicemembers.

Spring and summer is the time of year when most people spend a lot more time outdoors, so it's important to remember how to prevent tick bites.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said conditions in Iraq have improved, which may accelerate the drawdown from the country, but the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team isn't coming home earlier than planned, Wisconsin Guard officials told reporters.

When it comes to fighting wildfires, most people think of water or fire retardant dropped from helicopters and other aircraft, or soot-covered firefighters battling back towering blazes. Few people, however, think of goats as a firefighting tool.

Supporting military families and the volunteers who help them are key elements of maintaining the nation’s resolve during prolonged conflict, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here Monday.

The National Guard is a vital partner in the joint challenge of educating the nation’s youth, and it brings great diversity of skill to the solutions, a National Guard official said during a panel discussion today.

The Department of Defense has announced the alert of one brigade and one division headquarters from the Army National Guard scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This week the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps announced increases in activated reservists, while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced decreases. The net collective result is 1,725 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Army National Guard Spc. Amanda Cleveland is a self-described simple girl who is "not into drama." But it’s tough for an Army medic to avoid dramatic situations, especially during a deployment to Iraq.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill takes effect Aug. 1, but in the meantime, servicemembers may submit a request to transfer benefits to their spouses and children now.

When other emergency response capabilities are exhausted, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear high-yield explosive, consequence-management response force (CCMRF) or "C-Smurf" would be called in to assist civil authorities.

Texas Guardsmen here are set to return home in August following a nine-month tour of duty escorting logistics convoys around Iraq.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel L. Mayfield is a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of service. But when he re-enlisted here earlier this month, his mind was on the future and the young people he serves with.

National police in Iraq’s Wasit province now are capable of sustaining their own training needs after coalition forces leave here, military officials said, thanks to the efforts of a Massachusetts National Guard police company.

Agriculture in Afghanistan is progressing due to the efforts of many National Guard Agribusiness Development Teams, their security forces and the donation of agricultural equipment from communities in the U.S.

For many veterans who end up in a courtroom facing drug-related charges, jail time may be certain. But now there may be an alternative to prison.

Embodying the Army value of selfless service, students attending the Public Affairs Supervisor Advanced Non-commissioned Officers Course spent some of their spare time cleaning the grounds at the Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore Emmanuel Monastery.

Two California teenagers are honoring National Guard parents who have had travel to overseas locations or natural disasters at home in a project they have named “Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs.”

This week the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced increases in activated reservists, while the Army and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 86 more reservists activated than last week.

With the Aug. 20 presidential elections looming, Wisconsin Army National Guard Col. Tim Lawson is emphasizing one message to the Afghan National Police: The world is watching you.

Pentagon officials want all military families with special needs to be enrolled in the Defense Department’s Exceptional Family Member program.

The Department of Defense announced today the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipients.

Sounds of dribbled basketballs and players’ shouts filled the Wagner Gym at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here yesterday, but absent were the thuds and squeaks of players running up and down the court.

Colorado's 2nd Battalion 135th Aviation Regiment has been appointed by the Secretary of Defense to support Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (CBRNe) Consequence Management Reaction Force (CCMRF) teams around the country.

Military children and their families were honored here yesterday by a troop-support group and others when the Washington Nationals took on the New York Mets.

Guard members from the Kansas Agribusiness Development Team of Task Force Mountain Warrior conducted an agricultural development class here at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam's district Research and Demonstration Farm, July 12-16.

Decked out in "Pope Glass," camouflage netting and possibly an ice chest or two, the vehicle begins to resemble a parade float.

The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team's signal company, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, has been fighting the heat and dust of Iraq to keep brigade units talking to each other. They understand that the success of missions depends on communication.

After battling hectic guard duty schedules, sewer back-ups and multi-day dust storms, five Soldiers of the North Carolina Army National Guard formed a band to play at worship services on Forward Operating Base Falcon, providing solace in the midst of war.

War can be stressful, and sometimes, Soldiers say, it's the littlest things that can have the biggest impact when finding some relief during their rare downtime.

Indiana National Guardsmen from 2nd Platoon, 1613th Engineer Support Company are nearing completion of construction on Combat Outpost Penich, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, July 3.

Almost 150 Washington National Guardmembers pitched in this week to help hundreds of wounded warriors take part in the world’s largest annual wheelchair sports event.

Soldiers of 17th Iraqi Army Division trained with a sergeant of 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team recently to establish a public affairs unit at the joint communications center in Mahmudiyah which is located south of Baghdad.

The Army is warning Soldiers to avoid unaccredited colleges and universities that offer instant degrees supposedly based on military experience or training.

The musicians of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division Band will perform a concert aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid on Staten Island, and in Brookville and Bayshore, as part of their annual unit training.

Soldiers of the 856th Engineer Company, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, slowly cruise the roads north of Baghdad, trying to find things hiding a roadside bomb. When the engineers find something suspicious, they poke it.

Soldiers of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team's Headquarters and Headquarters Company may not have the convenience of a large department store in Iraq, but the supply section on Forward Operating Base Falcon covers their basic needs.

Soldiers of the 287th Sustainment Brigade, Kansas Army National Guard, will partner with local Iraqi business leaders to teach business skills at an extravaganza bazaar here July 4.

Citizen-Soldiers who do not qualify for benefits under the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill should explore opportunities available from their individual states, Guard officials say.

As the sun rose over an Iraqi sky, Capt. Peter Lewis, California Army National Guard, briefed a group of Soldiers here June 28. The brief was not of routes or military maneuvers but a briefing for the first triathlon held in northern Iraq.

In today's high-tech world, we connect with people in many ways. One of the ways is through sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Use of social networking sites can be fun and rewarding, but it can also lead to dangerous situations.

Five recent combat veterans were sworn in as a Department of the Army civilian through the Army's Wounded Warrior Education Initiative.

Members of the Nebraska National Guard's Task Force Warrior agribusiness development team visited several villages in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province July 13 to assess grain bins that once occupied farmlands in Imperial, Neb.

The South Carolina National Guard recently dropped 32 armored personnel carriers and M-113 track vehicles into the Atlantic Ocean -- and it wasn’t by accident.

When Army Staff Sgt. John Bennett got shot by a sniper in Iraq in February 2005, his dreams of competition crumbled along with three vertebrae.

Almost 100 North Dakota Army National Guardsmen were called to duty last week to respond after a tornado struck this town south of the Heart River.

“Sesame Street” usually conjures visions of Muppets teaching young children their letters and numbers, but they also teach life lessons to help military children cope with deployments, injuries, and now, loss.

Servicemembers interested in using the new Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits this fall are encouraged to contact the Veterans Affairs Department soon to determine their eligibility, the VA’s director of education said.

With more than 3,000 job openings, the creators of a new Web portal are hoping to attract disabled veterans seeking employment.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has made it clear he does not plan to restrict tobacco use among troops in war zones, the Pentagon’s press secretary said today.

This week the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard announced increases in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 788 more reservists activated than last week.

The Department of Defense announced today additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The announcement involves three division headquarters and eight brigade combat teams consisting of approximately 30,000 personnel.

When Army Pfc. Joseph James deploys this month he won’t have to say goodbye to his wife, Army Pfc. Samantha James -- she will be with him throughout his yearlong deployment to Iraq.

Guardsmen from Texas and Oklahoma assisted local firefighters over the weekend as they worked to extinguish wildfires about 20 miles east of Austin, Texas, and in Major County, Okla.

Sgt. 1st Class Rickard stood on the ridge and pointed east into Pakistan. Those houses belong to the area’s Taliban commander, he said. To the west is the outpost where his contingent of soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard is taking up post.

It started with mortars aimed at the outpost. Sgt. 1st Class Chad Rickard and two other U.S. soldiers were out on patrol with 10 Afghan National Army soldiers, visiting villages south of Spera Combat Outpost, when they heard the explosion.

West Virginia's Martinsburg Institute recently donated $5,000 to the 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, "Calvary Pride" family readiness group to support the squadron's homecoming awards banquet next year.

Sgt. First Class Edward Kramer, Sgt. Juan Baldeosingh, Sgt. Roger Adams Jr., and Spc. Robert Bittiker were honored, remembered and mourned during a memorial service held at Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah July 5.

To honor the military over the summer months, the rock group Def Leppard and Raven Drum Foundation are giving away 100 free concert tickets to military members and veterans with military ID for shows in the 2009 Def Leppard summer tour.

The Army National Guard is changing recruiting policies to lower its end strength by the end of the fiscal year, Guard officials said today.

The South Carolina Army National Guard’s 1st of the 151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) recently held the rollout ceremony of their newest Apache against the backdrop of the AH-64D Apache Longbow.

One Pennsylvania National Guard Soldier has two ways he can address Capt. Dorothy Watkins. He can call her ma'am or he can call her mom.

The military has come a long way from the time when it packaged cigarettes in with rations, but more must be done, according to an Institute of Medicine report.

Sgt. 1st Class John Pollard has been applying his civilian job skills to make the deployment conditions a little more like a home for his fellow Soldiers of Company B, 252nd CAB, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team (North Carolina Army National Guard.)

Soldiers from Company C, 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, recently finished training Iraqi Security Forces in basic combat medical skills at Forward Operating Base Falcon.

The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of June.

The Army has released suicide data for the month of June.

For the second time in four years, troops from a Texas National Guard unit finds themselves in the full time service to their state and nation supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As America celebrated its 233rd birthday this past week, a Pennsylvania National Guard unit that predates the American Revolution, continued its mission of defending freedom with combat operations here in Iraq.

The role of reserve-component Soldiers and the support provided to them increased during Army Secretary Pete Geren's tenure.

Chaplains have a myriad of reasons for serving their country, but recognition is usually not one of them.

The Colorado National Guard was called to assist in the rescue of an injured hiker in the Sangre De Cristo mountain range in south central Colorado.

Because improvised explosive devices pose the biggest threat to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the military is flowing thousands of mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles there until new versions built for the Afghan terrain are ready for shipment.

With the nation in the throes of an economic downturn and entering the seventh year of overseas combat, some Soldiers and civilians are worried about their security clearance.

Soldiers with the Alabama National Guard's 46th Civil Support Team recently worked a threat scenario with the 41st CST (KY), the 43rd CST (SC), the Alabama National Guard's Aviation Security and Support Detachment, the U.S. Coast Guard and the FBI.

Guard forces are helping to equip Afghan forces with the tools they need to improve security and commerce in Afghanistan.

A North Dakota Army National Guard officer is on the front end of President Barack Obama's visit to the country later this week.

A Colorado Army National Guard unit with the mission of defending against ballistic missile attack, taught the students about the intricacies of the science behind the "bullet-hitting-bullet" technology of the intercept system.

This week the Army, Navy and Air Force announced increases in activated reservists, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced decreases. The net collective result is 503 more reservists activated than last week.

To Army Secretary Pete Geren, the Army is not some amorphous entity that the country calls on in time of crisis. To him, the Army is people – soldiers and families – serving something larger than themselves.

For Army families who are responsible for regular care of persons with disabilities, the Exceptional Family Member Program Respite Care Program provides a temporary rest period for caregivers.

The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer here this afternoon.

The best way to show deployed troops you care, says Cody Anderson, is to send them prepaid international phone cards so they can call home to their friends and loved ones.

A two-man team from MTV’s “Real World” program spent a week at Joint Security Station Saydiyah here filming the final portions of a follow-up story on one of the show’s former participants.

The Army National Guard has joined the U.S. Army Reserve's partnership with a nonprofit program that pairs servicemembers with construction careers.

Red, white and blue are the colors associated with American independence, but this year, we can add another color: brown.

The Tennessee National Guard's agribusiness development team is up and running as the first of its kind in Afghanistan's Paktia and Paktika provinces.

Among the visitors to the White House on the 4th of July was Sgt. Timothy Huggins, an operations and training noncommissioned officer with National Guard Bureau, who was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions in Iraq.

As Americans celebrated Independence Day in homes throughout the nation, President Barack Obama invited about 1,200 military families to his home for a July Fourth bash yesterday to personally thank them for their service and sacrifice.

A Nebraska National Guard agriculture development team is helping Afghan farmers capitalize on their investments.

This week Air Force announced an increase, while the Navy, Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 686 fewer reservists activated than last week.

A Maryland-based troop-support group is planning a “National Day of Awakening” to highlight the mental health needs of military families and the services available to them.

Sisters Nedra Placke and Annette Havens recently received promotions in front of their fellow Soldiers in Headquarters, 155th Chemical Battalion. It was a special day for two sisters who have spent much of their short military service separated.

Six wounded soldiers, all amputees, returned here last week hoping to close the door on the combat that changed them forever.

With towering vocals that defy her small stature, Army Sgt. Brenda Bushera, a member of the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Band [Wisconsin Army National Guard], has made a connection with the people of Iraq.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has traveled the world talking with troops about their service and sacrifices. At each meeting, the secretary is careful to thank the troops’ families, recognizing their sacrifices. Today, the spouses thanked him back.

Soldiers with the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and a family of Iraqi dairy farmers are spearheading a pilot program designed to increase milk and cheese production in the Mahmudiyah area, south of Baghdad.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie, Vermont’s adjutant general, made office calls here last week with staff at U.S. Air Forces in Europe and 17th Air Force for updates on Macedonia and Senegal.

The first $250 payments to veterans as part of President Obama's recovery plan were sent Monday, and officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs said all payments will be distributed by June 30.

A traditional Solider from the Wisconsin National Guard and a Florida Guardsman working full time at the Army National Guard Readiness Center recently earned spots on the All-Army triathlon team.

Each case is as unique as the name inscribed on the dog tags. Soldiers are taking their own lives in record numbers, and Army senior leaders are struggling to understand why.

For an Army aviation brigade readying itself for a deployment, its Soldiers needs their wings.

A Virginia Army Guardsman recently earned a spot on the Army Service Pistol Team, which is part of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) based at Fort Benning, Ga.

A former commander of the District of Columbia National Guard and his wife were among the nine people killed in the June 22 collision of two Metro subway trains here, officials announced yesterday.

This week the Navy and Air Force announced an increase, while the Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 341 more reservists activated than last week.

The Defense Department announced today its policy for transferring educational benefits to the spouses and children of service members under the “Post 9/11 GI Bill,” which takes effect Aug. 1, 2009.

Army Sgt. Laurence Cameron was given the radio call sign “Dawg Medic” by other soldiers during this deployment, but it wasn’t until a recent mission that the Rock Hill, S.C., native actually lived up to the nickname.

Soldiers from a Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit worked with Iraqi Army Soldiers, June 3, to confirm that insurgents have not reseeded a small portion of desert area, northwest of Taji, with weapon caches.

Soldiers will often say that the greatest bond that two people can have is going to combat together. What happens when those two people have already built a strong bond and are father and son?

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke to a nontraditional audience that believes in some very traditional American values here today.

A foundation formed by the family of a fallen Marine whose story was told in the HBO movie “Taking Chance” has donated $10,000 to a group that works to help wounded veterans and their families.

The 71st Civil Support Team from the Iowa National Guard responded to calls of train derailments and possible chemical hazardous material during a nation wide training exercise called Vigilant Guard.

The inspector general who tracks Afghanistan reconstruction has sent out a call for help in stamping out fraud, mismanagement and waste of U.S. appropriated reconstruction funds.

The three Soldiers were from diverse backgrounds and from different parts of the country, but they came together for their Army, their country, and for the idea of making Iraq a better place.

Gov. Sarah Palin signed Senate Joint Resolution 17, proclaiming 2009 as the Year of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army in Alaska.

Soldiers of Company B, 120th Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, have just begun their tour in Iraq.

The intel they got before their convoy rolled out was to watch for roadside soccer games, because the games could hide kids who were calling ahead to insurgents that a convoy was on the move, Sgt. Bryan K. Noble remembers.

Hundreds of Guard Soldiers and Airmen from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are responding in Iowa and in Kansas June 17-24 as part of the exercise Vigilant Guard ’09.

The United States has deployed missile defense equipment to the Pacific amid reports alleging that North Korea has threatened to fire a ballistic missile toward Hawaii, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.

The day’s trip had been a waste. When Capt. John Vanlandingham’s nine-vehicle convoy of U.S. Humvees and unarmed Iraqi National Guard flatbed trucks arrived at the oil refinery an hour east of Camp Taji with orders to guard it, they were turned away.

Service and sacrifice. Dennis Abels Sr. understands. His son is shipping out with the North Carolina Army Guard’s 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, headed back to Iraq for his second tour.

With the economic downturn causing a spike in consumer scams, the Federal Trade Commission is encouraging servicemembers and their families to report their complaints to an online site so it can better target its investigations.

As it gears up for its 7th Annual Children’s Freedom Art Contest, a North Carolina-based troop-support group is looking for patriotic drawings or paintings that signify the unyielding spirit of America after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

This week the Army, Navy, and Air Force announced an increase, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 465 more reservists activated than last week.

Army Maj. Frederick Hall is using his skills as an ophthalmologist to improve the lives of rural Iraqis with limited access to health care.

The State Partnership Program Conference kicked off on June 15. The conference will highlight many initiatives and interactive workshops that transform SPP to the next level to ensure comprehensive support for EUCOM's Strategy of Active Security.

The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy is seeking input from the NCO Corps on an appropriate new name for the institution as it transitions from an organization focused on training, to one that is focused on education.

They're called grunts and ground pounders, but modern war fighters must be able to serve as warriors, mediators, instructors and even diplomats.

Soldiers have reduced rock throwing incidents by children here over the last few months by participating in civil military operations and educating Bedouin families about the "safety first" campaign.

Most of the coalition forces currently involved in Operation Enduring Freedom come from countries participating in the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

Civilian employees representing various federal departments are being trained here alongside their military counterparts in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.

Thousands of years ago, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was the site where Hammurabi created one of the first written codes of law in recorded history. Capt. David Peterson is helping to restore the rule of law in Iraq.

With NATO defense ministers agreeing to reduce the alliance's military presence in Kosovo from 14,000 to 10,000 troops by the year's end, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged that it take place as an organized process.

President Barack Obama’s latest efforts to look after home renters gives military members additional protection if the homes they rent are foreclosed, a Defense Department official said today.

Some lost a son. Others lost a husband. All lost someone who meant the world to them. While they mourned, people told them it was time to think about themselves.

As the military steps up its health monitoring program to identify possible health consequences of “burn pit” smoke exposures in the combat theater, President Barack Obama has pledged to ensure troops are protected and any related ailments treated.

In the six years since Saddam Hussein was deposed, conditions in Iraq have reached the point at which tourism is now a viable industry. That’s where Minnesota Guardsman Master Sgt. Dave Cullen comes in.

Former Utah Army Guard member Jill Bakken and her partner, Vonetta Flowers, who won an Olympic gold medal in the bobsled in 2002, have been nominated for the 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, according to the USA Bobsled and Skelton Federation Web site.

About 400 New York Army and Air National Guardsmen as well as volunteers from the New York State Guard converged on Albany June 5-7 to hone their skills in responding to a dirty bomb attack on an American city.

The Virginia Army National Guard will have their units that participated in the battles of D-Day represented in ceremonies in France and at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va.

The National Guard is essential to hurricane response, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency told lawmakers today.

The adjutant general of New Mexico has been tapped by Janet Napolitano, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to serve on the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) Southwest Border Task Force.

It’s 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind is blowing steadily sending a stream of sand and dust into our faces. There is silence, except for the wind. Yet, we stand at attention in two straight lines at the ramp of a C-130. We’re waiting to render honors.

Soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard worked with Iraqi army soldiers, June 3, to confirm that insurgents have not reseeded a small portion of desert area, northwest of Taji, with weapon caches.

As part of the Army Community Covenant initiative, representatives of interested faiths have partnered with the military to take care of our Army Families.

When Staff Sgt. Michael Noyce Merino agreed to go before his unit's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year board last year, he had no idea what he was getting into.

The commander of the 951st Sapper Company of the Wisconsin Army National Guard reports that all is well after four months in Afghanistan.

Vice President Joe Biden praised winners of the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards today for leading the way in environmental stewardship as they lead the way in the nation’s defense.

At 6 feet and 250 pounds, Spc. David Kocian may not resemble a typical yoga instructor. But after interest in that workout routine began to increase, that's exactly what he became.

Teresa Vance always has had an interest in military families. Her father made a career out of the Army, serving in World War II and Korea. Her husband was a career surface warfare officer in the Navy and her son spent four years in the Marine Corps.

The United States is required to recover the value of medical care furnished to service members, retirees and their Family members when an independent source of payment exists rather than disbursing funds from the U.S. Treasury (tax dollars).

This week the Army, Navy, and Air Force announced an increase, while the Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,016 more reservists activated than last week.

The National Guard is giving more back to America in the 21st Century through its increased readiness and ability to rapidly deploy for federal and state callouts, the Guard Bureau’s top military officer says.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stepped down inside a missile silo here yesterday to get an up-close look at the system he says will protect the United States from an intercontinental ballistic missile threat.

In an effort to improve area hiking trails, two UH-60 Black Hawks from the South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG), recently airlifted nine new walking bridges near Slate Creek Dam in the Black Hills.

The Army wants Soldier-dads to know there is a new paternity leave policy available to them and spread the word to military bloggers at the Pentagon.

Soldiers, Army civilians and their families in need of crisis intervention now have two resources -- Military OneSource and the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury -- as primary phone and online services.

Glenn R. Sheridan sat quietly captivated as he and about 40 fellow World Ward II-era veterans listened to the words of the grandson of one of their generation’s most influential and legendary military figures.

The Army has published a 56-page retirement guide for National Guard Soldiers and their families which covers subjects ranging from retirement point credits to how to apply for retirement pay.

Nearly 700 American military veterans from conflicts ranging from World War II to the Persian Gulf war are proving that their best days are still ahead of them by competing in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games.

A new program that provides special pay for soldiers deploying past their end-of-service dates is set to take effect Sept. 1 for the National Guard.

With successes in recycling, community partnership and other areas, the environmental quality program at Camp Johnson sets the standard for all Vermont Army National Guard (VTARNG) facilities.

Soldiers with the 1344th Transportation will be lead by their company commander Capt. Bradley Roach to receive the Army's top award for maintenance. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey is slated to present the unit with the award.

Spc. Heather Lemanski, Company E, 3-142 Assault Helicopter Battalion, New York National Guard, had just returned from block leave when she was informed of a recent attack on a female Ugandan guard while in the shower.

Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of the 231st Brigade Support Battalion is the first North Dakota unit to be awarded the Army Chief of Staff Supply Excellence Award.

The U.S. Army Warrior Transition Command is issuing refined criteria for assignment to WTUs resulting in more National Guard Soldiers recovering near home, but staying under the supervision of Army unit leaders and medical case managers.

A Mississippi National Guard father and his two sons will deploy to Iraq in a couple of weeks with the 106th Support Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team out of Monticello, Miss.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, visited a handful of Colorado Army National Guard troops from the 117th Space Battalion May 27.

Jjuice from an impala’s stomach quenches thirst. Noisy hippos mean water is nearby, as does sighting an African fish eagle. These are a few tips Staff Sgt. John Otfinoski learned recently in a school taught by the South African Special Forces.

Students at the Al Moamen School were excited as the Kansas Guard Soldiers from the 287th Special Troops Battalion, 287th Sustainment Brigade visited and delivered school supplies for the students and teachers.

This week the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced an increase, while the Army announced a decrease. The net collective result is 455 fewer reservists activated than last week.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new Web site to strengthen the connection between college and university mental health professionals and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts studying on their campuses.

Torrential rains gave a realistic backdrop to National Guard training here last week, as soldiers and airmen prepared their emergency response efforts for the hurricane season, which begins June 1.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced a three-year study of an advanced artificial arm that easily allows those with severe limb loss to pick up a key or hold a pencil.

The National Guard has always been ready when called upon for either state or federal missions, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist told nearly 200 of the state's Soldiers during a departure ceremony today.

Army Lt. Col. Harold Turner of the 34th Infantry Division swore his son, Brett, into the U.S. Army via the Internet on a webcam connection between Baghdad and Iowa.

Memorial Day is a time to “honor all those who have sacrificed and still sacrifice today for our freedom,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told an audience gathered on the U.S. Capitol grounds for the National Memorial Day Concert.

As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pushes to get deployed troops whatever they need to succeed and return home safely, the services are gearing up campaigns to reduce deaths at home during the summer vacation season that kicks off today.

The 34th Infantry Division took over MND-South on Wednesday. The division oversees 14,000 coalition forces and 4,100 Iraqi army troops.

There’s no responsibility in the military community more important than caring for families who have lost loved ones to war, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said to an organization that helps families cope with the death of their servicemember.

The Department of Defense today launched the Real Warriors Campaign, a multimedia public education effort designed to combat the stigma keeping some service members veterans and their families from seeking needed psychological health care.

Vice President Joe Biden offered his thanks to the troops at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, noting that their service gives them the opportunity to be able to tell others what it was like when the Balkans became part of a free Europe.

This week all the military services announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,086 more reservists activated than last week.

Mike Corrado, the Marine recording artist whose 2005 hit song “On My Watch Tonight” has become an anthem for servicemembers worldwide, is one of the headliners in Rolling Thunder’s “Saluting the Troops” program in Washington, D.C., May 23.

Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 225th Engineer Brigade of Pineville, La., provided medical training May 13 to the 11th Iraqi Army (IA) Engineer Regiment.

A new book titled “For Children of Valor: Arlington National Cemetery” is dedicated to helping children and families of the fallen buried at there to cope with their loss.

Historically, cavalry units, much like infantry units, don't have many women Soldiers, but the women warriors of Apache Troop have proven themselves worthy.

President Barack Obama signed and issued a proclamation yesterday designating tomorrow as Armed Forces Day.

Thirty-nine more Segways were given to wounded warriors Thursday during a ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial, bringing to 340 the number of the personal transporters turned over through the Segs4Vets program of Disabilities Rights Advocates for Technology.

A long tradition of "entertainment for the soldier, by the soldier" is getting a new lift -- not a facelift, but a "boss lift."

This week the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase, while the Navy announced a decrease. The net collective result is 5,300 more reservists activated than last week.

Many health issues may arise after a National Guard member returns from a combat deployment. Some wounds are physical and are spotted easily. Others are not as obvious and may take some time to develop.

Ah, summer in Indiana... Time for warm weather, sun-brewed iced tea and lazy hammock naps in the back yard. A time for families to get together and enjoy the fruits of nature, and a time to lay back and relax. Yeah, right.

Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Johnson is the Army Band Reserve Components’ Junior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

The commander of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team told journalists that his Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers, working alongside Iraqi security forces, have improved security in the Taji and Tarmiyah regions.

Adverse weather is affecting Kentucky, West Virginia and Alaska, and the National Guard is helping with relief efforts there.

Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, is scheduled to retire from his current position June 1 ending a career that has spanned 40 years.

About 40 wounded warriors got a presidential send off at the White House today as they launched a three-day bicycle ride to show the world and themselves what they’re still capable of accomplishing.

Defense Department agencies at all levels have valuable resources at their fingertips for training servicemembers, civilian employees and contractors on prevention of sexual harassment and assault.

Sgt. 1st Class Mark Maness, Missouri Army National Guard, won the Tactical Operations Soldier of the Year for his work as the accountability officer for petroleum while deployed to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.

When Mr. and Mrs. Leo Thomas here in southern Maryland found they could no longer maintain a place they had called home for more than 50 years, National Guard volunteers repaired their home and called it "Christmas in April."

Some Soldiers turn to friends within their unit for this support. Others are lucky enough to have a family member in country with them.

Governors in six upper Midwestern states have sent more than 2,400 National Guard members and some much-needed equipment to help fight flooding for a second week in North Dakota.

This week all the military services announced an increase in the number of activated reservists. The net collective result is 723 more reservists activated than last week.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has approved a policy change that, under strictly delineated conditions, allows media filming of dignified transfer operations of fallen servicemembers’ remains at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Someone who has lived with a disability for more years than he cares to count knows exactly what newly disabled veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are going through.

Inside the rusted-out remains of an oil refinery here, two Guard members look like they’re exploring a crater on the moon.

It might be the difference between life and death. More than 400 Soldiers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command are scheduled to be certified or recertified Combat Life Savers between March 16 and June 5.

A Pennsylvania Army National Guard medic is making a big difference for children by providing just a little bit of medical care.

Members of the Minnesota, Colorado, North and South Dakota National Guards, as well as U.S. Northern Command, have responded to the effects of severe weather that has hit several states in the northern United States in the past several days.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, effective Aug. 1, introduces numerous benefits to active duty service members, Reservists, National Guardsmen and veterans.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have become known as the "signature wounds" suffered by combat veterans returning from the Global War on Terrorism.

Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery, Washington Army National Guard, under the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion have a new company gym.

The Army Entertainment Division is putting together a band to entertain deployed troops.

31 Soldiers and Marines graduated from the 371st Sustainment Brigade's GT Improvement Course at Al Asad, Iraq.

Communications Soldiers got a leg up on their peers when they got specialized civilian computer training on a security program that is going to be required around the Army.

The National Military Family Association will host more than 9,000 military children at “Operation Purple” youth camps across America this year.

The next few days will be critical as North Dakota braces for record-setting Red River water levels, officials in the affected area said today.

An underwater earthquake triggers a tsunami as a terrorist cell is discovered producing dangerous chemicals.

Rain and melting snow continue to increase flooding in five states across the northern United States today.

The Ohio Army National Guard's Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) 9.3 was recently enjoyed a lunch of Hungarian cheese scones known as pogácsa and chocolate-and-vanilla sponge cake known as somlói galuska.

When Iraq embraced the scouting movement in 1921, its Boy Scout and Girl Guide program became a member of the World Organization Scouting Movement. Due to war and instability, it has been decertified twice by the World Organization Scouting Movement.

For one Washington Army National Guard soldier, the leadership of a noncommissioned officer can be measured in the miles and missions his more than 1,100 citizen-soldiers drive from here in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Almost 500 Army and Air National Guard troops from two states were called out over the weekend to help stem the flow of floodwaters from the Red River near Fargo, N.D.

The Army can mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder by training solders to be more mentally resilient before combat, an Army doctor said yesterday

The Defense Department is launching a new program soon that’s designed to assist transitioning servicemembers in accessing help for mental health issues, a U.S. Public Health Service officer announced here yesterday.

This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced an increase, while the Air Force announced a decrease.

The North Dakota National Guard has stepped up its flood-fighting efforts in the Red River Valley in North Dakota.

The Department of Homeland Security is “still considering” the use of National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border

nnovative therapies that have assisted previously comatose patients regain consciousness may be incorporated on a greater scale to treat troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, a brain injury expert said here today.

The Secretary of the Army has named 2009 as the “Year of the Non-commissioned Officer” in recognition of the commitment to service and willingness to make great sacrifices undertaken daily by the Army’s Corps of NCOs.

“A good NCO [non-commissioned officer] is an NCO who lives by the Army Values and is guided by the NCO Creed

On the first day of spring, Baghdad University College of Agriculture in Abu Ghraib needed some cleaning.

“Training gives us practice and practice makes us better at what we do.” These are the words of Team Military Police’s battle non-commissioned officer, Sgt. William Ludwick, as he talked about the professional advancement of his team

“You see the lights up ahead? That’s Scania,” said Sgt. 1st Class Elwin Farnsworth, from Hotel Company, 1-161st Infantry (Combined Arms Battalion), 81st Brigade Combat Team, to an obviously impatient and haggard crew

Adam Cross fulfilled his military obligation and received an honorable discharge from the New York Army National Guard in January 2008.

Wearing his “Keystone” combat patch for the first time, Spc. Joseph Ginder of Philadelphia, Headquarters and Headquarters The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division

The National Amputee Golf Association’s First Swing program's mission is twofold: to help military golf instructors learn how to work with wounded warriors and to encourage wounded servicemembers to get back into the swing of an active lifestyle.

Aspiring filmmakers in the military community have the chance to flex their creative muscle and play a part in “It’s My Benefit 2,” the sequel to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s inaugural 2008 video contest.

Hundreds of middle school students have passed through the halls of the National Museum of Health and Medicine here this week to learn about brain anatomy and pathology, as well as military medical history, as part of National Brain Awareness Week.

President Barack Obama has dropped a proposal to bill veterans’ private health insurance for combat-related injuries, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday.

Each woman serving in the military has broken barriers, so now there are fewer to overcome, an Iraq war veteran, helicopter pilot, and double amputee said this week at a Women’s History Month event sponsored by the National Guard Bureau.

The Department of Defense announced today a comprehensive plan to eliminate the current use of Stop Loss, while retaining the authority for future use under extraordinary circumstances.

More than 120 Ohio Army National Guardmembers gathered March 7th for the 4th Annual statewide public affairs conference at the Defense Supply Center Columbus.

While deployed to Baghdad last year supporting the Global War on Terror, Soldiers from the Columbus-based 285th Area Support Medical Company (ASMC) had to be trained and certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) as part of their mission.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled to Dover Air Force Base, Del., last night to pay his respects to four servicemembers killed recently in Afghanistan, a senior Pentagon official said here today.

This week the Army and Navy announced an increase, while the Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 2,099 more reservists activated than last week.

The United States is working to speed up delivery of equipment and training to help Mexico to better confront violent drug cartels, the commander of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.

Smiles wreathed the faces of more than 20 Ohio employers at the Woodlawn Training and Community Center March 7 as they took part in the Ohio National Guard's Joint Employer Readiness Program (JERP).

For most Americans, today may start like any other day. Wake up, shower, eat breakfast, all before starting their normal journey off to work.

Caring for veterans is a responsibility and duty for all Americans, and the employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs are those who are charged with repaying “that debt of honor,”

When their deployment began, Comanche Soldiers of Troop C, 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Washington National Guard were securing convoys from Al-Taqqadum.

When it comes to deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan, no one is more affected than a loving mother, especially if her husband is deployed alongside her son.

A Combat Lifesaver carefully approaches a vehicle that was hit by an improvised explosive device.

In 2002, Sgt. Blake Hillerson didn’t know how to cross-country ski. Seven years later at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Championships in March, he proved that he’s one of the top biathletes in the country.

More than 21 Guard members have taken their own lives since Jan. 1, reflecting a growing trend in the active Army, which reported 143 suicides in 2008, the highest number since it began keeping records in 1980.

It sounds like the start of a joke.

Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard’s 225th Engineer Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad

The commander of U.S. Central Command last night praised the Army medics and Navy corpsmen whose courage on the battlefield protects the lives of fellow service members.

The 121st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) on March 12 went from flying the Army’s oldest aircraft to flying its newest.

A North Dakota National Guard Soldier scored big at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships. Sgt. Blake Hillerson, of Fargo

As the noon sun crept toward the mountains west of Janquadam, children ran from all corners of the village, greeting the group of soldiers from the 28th Forward Agribusiness Development Team (ADT).

As President Barack Obama considers deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to control escalating violence

The National Guard's non-commissioned officers should be proud of the leadership they provide both inside and outside the wire in the nation's combat zones, said the National Guard Bureau's senior enlisted leader here during a recent town hall meeting.

President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget proposal is necessary to transform the Department of Veterans Affairs into the 21st century organization he envisions, VA’s top official said here yesterday.

This week the Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase, while the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 479 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Get a good night's sleep.

National Guardsmen from Pennsylvania are providing expertise and assistance for the Iraqi Army and civil engineers here.

An Alaska Army National Guardsman is running in the grueling 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race under way in Alaska.

Defense Department officials today announced across-the-board recruiting and retention successes in February, with every service meeting or exceeding its active-duty, reserve and National Guard goals.

Men and women serving in the U.S. military who become disabled while on active duty are receiving 'expedited processing' of disability claims from Social Security.

The National Guard is playing an essential role domestically and overseas, Gen. Craig McKinley said here Friday, challenging leaders to do more with the same amount of money.

WASHINGTON - This week the Navy and Marine Corps announced an increase, while the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 272 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Afghanistan Today: A Photo Essay

After falling short of sweeping both of last year's individual races here at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships

The Army National Guard is over strength and the Air National Guard has met its end strength for the first time since 2002, the directors told Congress on Tuesday.

Leading Soldiers during training exercises is demanding, but motivating them to follow you into a burning building is an extra challenge faced by firefighters in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

Alabama Guard Deployments Increase This Year

Four New York Army National Guard aviators got a taste of high-altitude flying in Afghanistan on Feb. 25 without leaving the United States.

Living up to the National Guard’s motto of “Always Ready, Always There” requires a full spectrum of capabilities, a senior National Guard official told an audience at the Domestic Operations Conference here today.

As the Louisiana National Guard wrapped up its "precedent-setting" law enforcement mission in New Orleans yesterday, the Texas National Guard dispatched helicopters to combat wildfires torching Central Texas.

About 45 Soldiers in the North Dakota Army National Guard took the first step to becoming officers this weekend. Eagle Flight offered a way to explore the next level of leadership in the Guard without making any commitments.

Just three months after returning to the United States from a 15-month tour in Iraq with the 29th Infantry Division, Spc. Sean Evans of the California Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 185th Armor jumped at the opportunity to deploy again.

Several days into the official start of his unit’s mission in Iraq, the commander of an Army National Guard battalion from central Pennsylvania says a partnership is already being developed between his Soldiers and Iraqi security forces.

A roadside explosion throws a Soldier against the side of his vehicle, with force that shakes his brain inside his skull.

In recognition of “exceptionally meritorious service” while deployed to Iraq, the North Dakota Army National Guard’s Engineer Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, has been awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Two Utah Army National Guard members won second- and third-place medals in the world championship bobsled competition at the Olympic Sports Complex here.

The 636th Military Intelligence Battalion, Task Force Deguello, officially assumed command and responsibility for intelligence collection in the Afghanistan Combined Joint Operations Area, during a transfer of authority ceremony, Feb. 16.

Nine years ago Jonathan Aman was on the fast track to nowhere.

The teen wore a military-style, grey uniform similar to the garb of dozens of other teens around him.

This week the Navy and Air Force announced an increase, while the Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 1,212 fewer reservists activated than last week

Soldiers of the Tennessee National Guard’s 775th Engineering Detachment welcomed a friendly face to the Horn of Africa when their commander, Brig. Gen. Robert A. Harris, visited to see the living and working conditions of his troops on Feb. 20.

U.S. forces are helping Afghans tough out severe winter weather.

Louisiana National Guard members serving in Iraq had some traditional Fat Tuesday fun today when a support group from their home state sent the Mardi Gras revelry to them.

Troops nearing retirement eligibility may be able to tap into the transferability benefits provided in the new Post-9/11 GI Bill

Music is considered by many to be a universal language, and for some military veterans, it is the only language that allows them to describe their experiences in combat and their struggles afterward

A memorial service was held Monday at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, to remember a 19-year-old National Guard soldier who died in a vehicle accident last week

The National Guard was prominently featured for a second year at the USA Sevens Rugby Tournament recently held here at Petco Park

Servicemembers are more practical about their retirement needs than their civilian counterparts, according to a survey conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

SD National Guard Drug Demand Reduction Program Receives National Award

U.S. military members are affected by the global economic downturn, and the Defense Department is providing information and services to help troops and their families develop “good financial stewardship,” a senior Pentagon official said today.

Citizens of Wisconsin gathered this week to send the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team off to Iraq with tears and smiles in the Wisconsin National Guard’s largest operational deployment since World War II.

Military spouses in the Baden-Württemberg communities, and across the Army, who are interested in furthering their education, now have a new option to receive up to $6,000 in financial assistance.

In a world full of choices, Army Spc. Timothy Markle, with the 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, took a few wrong turns before finding his focus, first in football, then in the military.

April 27, 2010 – The American military’s role in Haiti will decrease substantially after May, but the United States will maintain a scaled-down presence in the area through hurricane season, a top military commander said today.

April 27, 2010 -- Families of Vermont National Guardsmen recently received the call in the middle of the night that every military family member fears the most -- that their loved one has been injured or killed, only to find out the call was a hoax.

Shembowat is a typical farming village, far removed from the political landscape. Residents often sit on the fence between the warring forces in their midst. Under threat of violence, villagers and some leaders lie low, giving free rein to insurgents who wander the mountain terrain they call home.

At FMC Technologies in Stephenville, Texas, military experience not only is welcomed, but also is highly sought after, a spokesman for the company said.

From a high school and college track star to a Soldier, and now a competitive bodybuilder, Sgt. Erica Rinard has ventured into new experiences not many have attempted nor accomplished in their lives.

The three men's U.S. Olympic bobsled teams -- all to be piloted by a current or former National Guard member -- are ready for action this weekend.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, visited a handful of Colorado Army National Guard troops from the 117th Space Battalion May 27.

Soldiers and Airmen of the North Dakota National Guard recently received recognition for spring 2009 flood operations here during Cass County Commission meeting.

Jan. 11, 2011 - Almost seven years after an intense firefight during the Battle of Fallujah, in Iraq, 30 soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard were recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation.

July 22, 2011 - Louisiana has a new National Guard resource for immediate emergency mass casualty response that will significantly increase disaster reaction for local, state and federal agencies.

May 18, 2010 -- Louisiana Army National Guard engineer units in joint operations with a Guard Aviation unit, filled one of 16 breaches spanning more than seven miles from Pelican Island to Scofield Island near Empire, La. yesterday.

Feb. 20, 2011 - Pizza Hut fired up its ovens and opened its doors to anxious service members wanting a “taste of home.”

July 27, 2010 - Lori J. Danby, president of a Blue Star Moms chapter, shares her thoughts about her Marine son's deployment.

The Department of the Army announced today that it has established additional quality control measures to further ensure that body armor testing documentation and procurement processes are rigorous, consistent and use available best practices.

The Chief of the National Guard Bureau offers a message on the 373rd birthday of the National Guard.

Soldiers, Army civilians and their families in need of crisis intervention now have two resources to call for assistance, as the Army has identified Military OneSource and the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury as primary phone and online services to support our Army community.

Feb. 7, 2011 - Stewart PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Despite blistering cold, snow, ice and a 4 a.m. kickoff, members of the Pennsylvania National Guard stationed at Forward Operating Base Lightning gathered to support their beloved Steelers.

Mike Kohn, (Virginia), John Napier (Vermont) of and Steven Holcomb (Utah), will lead four-man bobsled teams in the Olympics. Shauna Rohbock (Utah) is the top female bobsledder in the world rankings and will lead the U.S. women's bobsled team.

A Mississippi Army National Guardsman serving at Contingency Operating Location Q-West received a letter of recognition from the Deputy Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division Dec. 30.

Aug. 18, 2010 - This week the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced an increase. The net collective result is 481 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Jan. 20, 2011 - Soldiers with the headquarters element of the 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, based out of Twin Falls, Idaho have been busy since taking command of Camp Taji, Iraq, last month.

The Department of Defense announced today additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The announcement involves three division headquarters and eight brigade combat teams consisting of approximately 30,000 personnel.

Like an infantryman, an Apache helicopter pilot is sometimes so close to the fight he can see the whites of their eyes.

The Security Force and Convoy Security components of the 115th Fires Brigade from Cheyenne Wyo. reached a major milestone, Sept. 18 by traveling over one million miles throughout Kuwait and Iraq during the deployment without any serious injuries.

An agricultural development team made up of National Guard Soldiers from throughout California is headed for Afghanistan to help plant the seeds of hope.