From Naval Hospital Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Changes are coming to your TRICARE benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2018. These changes will give you more benefit choices, improves your access to care, simplifies cost shares, and allows you to take command of your health.

"Taking command of your health means empowering you to make the right health care and coverage choices for you and your family," said Lt. Cmdr. William Bennett, Naval Hospital Jacksonville director for healthcare business. "Leading up to Jan. 1, 2018, we will connect you with TRICARE resources to navigate your benefit questions."

By Devon L. Suits October 24, 2017

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- Soldiers who receive a basic allowance for housing and have dependents are reminded to keep their records up to date to prevent any disruptions in their Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, entitlements, according to experts within the Army's Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1.

To help ensure the overall readiness of the force, the Army G-1 has notified 65,000 Soldiers that they needed to provide proof of dependency to justify their housing rates, according to J.D. Riley, deputy chief of the compensation and entitlements division, G-1.

By C. Todd Lopez, Army News Service October 24, 2017

WASHINGTON -- The current Army Combat Uniform top weighs in at about 650 grams, or about 1.4 pounds. It's got a lot of pockets and multiple layers of fabric. When it gets wet, it tends to stay wet. And when it's hot out, it tends to keep Soldiers hot.

The Army has a solution for that: the Improved Hot Weather Army Combat Uniform that has a whole lot fewer pockets, layers of fabric and Velcro, as well as a new fabric that is actually lighter than the current ACU.

By Don WagnerOctober 27, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Research shows that when Families are connected to their unit, each other, and the community, Soldiers and Families are better able to meet the challenges of military life, according to Heather Leiby, school liaison transition specialist, U.S. Army Installation Management Command.

In the Military Family Forum II at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, Leiby gave participants an overview of the new Readiness Essentials for Army Leaders, or R.E.A.L. training.

From an Army and Air Force Exchange Service News Release

DALLAS, Oct. 23, 2017 — With less than a month until the much-anticipated official launch of the veterans online shopping benefit, more than 225,000 honorably discharged veterans have already been verified to shop at online military exchange websites when the sites open to veterans Nov. 11.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service online shopping benefit is the first military exchange benefits expansion in nearly 30 years. Beginning on Veterans Day, America’s 18.5 million veterans will be able to shop online at the military exchange websites: ShopMyExchange.com, shopcgx.com, mymcx.com, and mynavyexchange.com.

By Kat Bailey, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs / Published October 13, 2017

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Defense Department will implement the new Blended Retirement System next year. While no one needs to make a decision until Jan. 1, 2018, all Airmen should take advantage of training and informational resources to research their options during the remainder of 2017.

Airmen eligible for the new Blended Retirement System began receiving email notifications in February from myPers to ensure they receive correct information regarding their benefits to make the decision best suited for their individual needs.

By Devon L. Suits October 12, 2017

WASHINGTON -- During this period of fiscal uncertainty, senior Army leaders remain committed to providing a high level of care and support to Soldiers and their Families -- making them an Army top priority.

Taking care of Soldiers and Families ensures readiness, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, during a forum focused on military families. About 60 percent of today's Army is married and on average has a family of four. This is a fundamentally different demographic than Soldiers serving during World War II, when only 10 percent of the Army population was married.

WASHINGTON — Today, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the formation of the Joint Ginnie Mae – VA Refinance Loan Task Force.

The task force will focus on examining critical issues, important data and lender behaviors related to refinancing loans, and will determine what program and policy changes should be made by the agencies to ensure these loans do not pose an undue risk or burden to Veterans or the American taxpayer.
More specifically, the task force will examine aggressive and misleading refinancing propositions, as described by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and will address loan churning and repeated refinancing.

By Brad Nelson, Public Affairs Officer, Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Iron Mountain, Michigan
Tuesday, October 3, 2017

The fastest growing population group in the military today is women who currently comprise 14.5 percent of active duty personnel and 18 percent of National Guard and Reserves.

The face of VA healthcare is changing. Younger female Veterans are using VA services more frequently, including for maternity care, and having service connected disabilities, while older Veterans are using VA services for menopausal needs, geriatric care, and extended inpatient stays.

By Ms. Erinn Burgess October 9, 2017

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- The internet is part of everyday life. Whether you are sending an email, ordering something from a website, communicating with friends via social media or looking up the directions to your next destination, you are accessing a world-spanning digital media highway where information is stored, processed and distributed.

It doesn't take much for that information to end up in the wrong hands. This month, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, and Army garrisons around the globe, recognize National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and empower community members to be safer and more secure online.

By Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy announced Oct. 4 the rollout of the "OPNAV Uniform" app for iOS and Android mobile devices to provide information on how and when to wear the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type III.

The app covers the wear rules for NWU Type IIIs released Aug. 31 in NAVADMIN 214/17. It also provides photos illustrating the different uniform items and how to wear them.

By Mr. Ronald W Wolf (Army Medicine) October 5, 2017

WASHINGTON -- The future of military health care is likely to see significant changes in the next decade. The use of Virtual Health will help Army Medicine respond to the future operating environment, in which there may be a lack of air superiority, a wide range of health threats, and greater operational dispersion and transitions among small unit teams. Virtual Health will improve access to care for Soldiers and also provide physicians with easier access to specialists and patient health data.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Johnson will discuss what Army Medicine is doing to expand Virtual Health during a Warrior's Corner at the upcoming Association of the United States Army annual convention from Oct. 9 to 11.

DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON October 29, 2015 -

Thirty-seven new companies and organizations were formally inducted into the Military Spouse Employment Partnership during a ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia, yesterday, bringing the total number of partners to 297.

The partners of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership are committed to recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining military spouses in portable careers. 

fm DOD News Release NR-411-15

The TRICARE Health Plan has announced the 2016 premiums for TRICARE Young Adult Prime and Standard options covering beneficiaries between 23 and 26 years old. These premiums are adjusted on an annual basis and go into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

 "JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas" - Special duty assignment pay levels for a handful of career fields changed effective Oct. 1, following the most recent Air Force annual review resulting in 14 career fields or assignment areas being modified or added.

The annual review focused on identifying Airmen in extremely demanding positions with unusually challenging responsibilities that differ from their normal job demands. During the review, one Air Force specialty was evaluated for the first time and was added to the SDAP-eligible list.

DALLAS -  Military shoppers can fill their sleighs with the hottest toys for children of all ages this holiday season with help from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's Toy Book, which features a selection of gifts both in-store and online.

The 32-page shopping guide, available Oct. 23 in the continental United States and Nov. 6 overseas, is packed with Military Brat-Approved toys, which were tested by military children. Shoppers will find the Military Brat-Approved seal of approval throughout the shopping guide highlighting the hottest kid-tested toys.

From an Operation Homefront News Release

SAN ANTONIO October 15, 2015 -

Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization, is accepting nominations for the 2016 Military Child of the Year awards.

Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.

by Staff Sgt. E'Lysia A. Wray
49th Wing Public Affairs

10/5/2015 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Holloman is now one of a few select bases chosen to participate in a one-year trial for a family support program called The Family Check-Up.

The program went into effect July 13.

By Claudette Roulo
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2014 - Big changes are happening with the Joint Travel Regulations, and they could affect your next permanent-change-of-station move or how you are reimbursed for temporary duty assignments.

As of July 25, Army uniformed and civilian travelers are directed to use their government travel credit cards for PCS moves, Harvey Johnson, the director of the Defense Travel Management Office said today.

VA News Releases

Expansion of Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits is part of Veterans Choice Act Legislation

Washington, DC - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will begin accepting applications by mail on Monday, November 3, 2014, for the Fry Scholarship under newly expanded eligibility criteria to include surviving spouses. The expanded criteria for the Fry Scholarship is the latest in a series of VA actions to implement provisions of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 ("Choice Act").

TRICARE News Release

 As the family member of a National Guard or Reserve member, your TRICARE options may change throughout the course of your sponsor’s career.  Your TRICARE eligibility depends on your sponsor’s military status. If your sponsor’s status ever changes from inactive to either, pre-activation, active duty, or deactivation, your TRICARE options will vary. 

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2014 - Operation Homefront is seeking nominations for the 2015 Military Child of the Year Awards.

Officials of the nonprofit organization, which provides aid to service members and their families, said they understand what military children go through in supporting their service members and want to recognize their contributions. 

By Nick Simeone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2014 - October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Defense Department is working to increase awareness of what a senior department official calls a serious public health issue and one for which the military offers multiple options for prevention and treatment.

"The military is a microcosm of civilian society," Kathy Robertson, DoD's Family Advocacy Program manager, said today in a DoD News interview, noting that nearly 8,000 substantiated incidents of domestic abuse and intimate-partner violence were reported in the department during fiscal year 2013. 

TRICARE Press Release

The lives of service members and their families are full of transitions. Whether it's permanent change of station moves, retiring, going from Reserve status to active duty or something else, the one constant is change. The good news is that your TRICARE coverage can stick with you through these life changes, but you do have to make sure that your records in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) are up to date with your latest life events.

This means you should keep all your personal information - address, duty status, phone numbers, and email addresses - up to date. It's important to review DEERS as soon as possible whenever you move or experience one of the following life events:

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Sutton
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/3/2014 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho  -- Every nine seconds a woman is battered or beaten in the United States by her husband, partner or boyfriend. Every nine seconds.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and in an effort to promote awareness the 366th Fighter Wing hosted an event Oct 2.

VA News Release

Pilot Immunization Program in Florida Expands Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it will join forces with retailer Walgreens to provide greater access to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended vaccinations to Veterans across the country. This partnership grew out of a successful pilot program that began in Florida to provide flu vaccines to Veterans throughout the state.  Based on those results, VA is expanding the pilot nationwide. 

By Terri Moon Cronk
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2014 - A team of medical experts from both within and outside the Defense Department has found that the Military Health System (MHS) provides good, quality health care that is safe, timely and comparable to the civilian sector, but has also identified areas for improvement.

In May, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered a comprehensive review of the military health system to focus on access to care and to assess the safety and quality of care being provided, both in military treatment facilities as well as in healthcare that the department purchases from the private sector.

FOOD NETWORK'S TOP CELEBRITY CHEFS ARE SCOURING THE NATION IN SEARCH OF AMAZING HOME COOKS! 

You've watched them on TV, bought their cookbooks, and tested out their recipes at home. This is your chance to work with a culinary icon! Outlast your competitors in this high stakes cooking competition and you could go home with bragging rights and a HUGE CASH PRIZE!

FOOD NETWORK and the producers of GUY'S GROCERY GAMES and THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE are on a quest to find home cooks for a new competition show!

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2013 - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined Senate spouses and White House interns yesterday to help USO volunteers in putting together "warrior care packs" to aid wounded, injured and ill troops in their recovery process.

The event was hosted on the grounds of the vice president's residence, where Biden emphasized the importance of everyone coming together to help wounded service members, citing the Joining Forces campaign she has championed with First Lady Michelle Obama over the last two years.

From an Office of Personnel Management News Release

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2013 - The federal government's executive branch hired the highest percentage of military veterans in more than 20 years during fiscal year 2012, surpassing the previous high set in fiscal 2011, Office of Personnel Management officials announced today.

The numbers were contained in the report of Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch for Fiscal Year 2012, which also was released today.

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2013 - Service members who deploy or are otherwise separated from their families due to mission needs now have an online resource allowing them to hone their parenting skills as they reconnect with their children. Pam Murphy, the Defense Department's lead psychologist for the website, said the launch of http://www.militaryparenting.org offers unprecedented, comprehensive and free computer-based training from a service member's perspective on parenting and building strong relationships with their children.

A clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in community and private practice, Murphy said the Integrated Mental Health Strategy Program is a collaborative initiative between the Veterans Affairs Department and DOD.

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2013 - Pentagon officials announced a plan today that will enable the military services to resume conducting community and public outreach activities in the new fiscal year, but at a significantly reduced capacity. This cost-cutting measure will yield a savings of $104 million in fiscal year 2014.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined the Pentagon's new strategic approach to community outreach in an internal memorandum to service chiefs and other military leaders. Many activities, including the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds air demonstration teams, will resume, but at a more limited frequency than in previous years.

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2013 - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno inducted former Army Capt. William D. Swenson into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes today during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

President Barack Obama presented Swenson with the Medal of Honor at the White House yesterday. He was nominated for his actions while serving as an embedded trainer for the 1st Zone Afghan National Border Police. Swenson is the first Army officer to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War and the sixth living recipient from the war in Afghanistan.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 717-13
October 11, 2013

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors

Army Air Force 1st Lt. Robert G. Fenstermacher, 23, of Scranton, Pa., will be buried on Oct. 18, in Arlington National Cemetery. On Dec. 26, 1944, Fenstermacher was a pilot of a P-47D Thunderbolt that was on an armed-reconnaissance mission against targets in Germany, when his aircraft crashed, near Petergensfeld, Belgium.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 716-13
October 11, 2013

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that two U.S. Marines missing in action from World War II, have been accounted for and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Henry S. White, 23, of Kansas City, Mo., and Staff Sgt. Thomas L. Meek, 19, of Lisbon, La., will be buried as a group in a single casketrepresenting the two servicemen, on Oct. 18, at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 715-13

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, have been accounted for and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Robert E. Pietsch, 31, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Maj. Louis F. Guillermin, 25, of West Chester, Pa.,will be buried as a group Oct. 16, in a single casket representing the two servicemen at Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C.  Guillermin's individual remains weres buried Oct. 5, 2013, in Broomall, Pa.

Defense Health Agency

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Oct. 10, 2013 - The Affordable Care Act, also known as the health care law, was created to expand access to affordable health care coverage, lower costs, and improve quality and care coordination for all Americans.

Under the health care law, people will have health coverage that meets a minimum standard (called "minimum essential coverage") by January 1, 2014, qualify for an exemption, or may be required to pay a fee if they have affordable options, but remain uninsured. Because of this, many TRICARE beneficiaries may be wondering how this new law will affect them and their families.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2013 - The Fisher House Foundation has stepped in to aid the Defense Department so families of fallen service members can receive the full set of benefits they have been promised, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said here today.

The Fisher House Foundation and DOD entered an agreement that includes the $100,000 death gratuity payment.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2013 - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki painted a dire picture today of the impact of the government shutdown on benefits and services to veterans -- from a slowdown in claims reviews to the threat of cancelled compensation checks to more than 5 million beneficiaries if funding isn't restored soon.

"All the effects ... are negative," Shinseki reported during testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee. "It is an impediment to VA's ability to deliver services and benefits that veterans have earned through their service."

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2013 - The Defense Department continues to assist service members and their families in preparing for the transition to civilian life with a new virtual curriculum, a Defense Department official said here.

During a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service, Susan S. Kelly, director of the Transition to Veterans Program office, discussed the redesign of the Transition Assistance Program and its evolution to include the Transition GPS virtual curriculum on the Joint Knowledge Online portal, or JKO, which became available today.

DALLAS - The Army & Air Force Exchange Service, in conjunction with New Balance, is helping wounded service members take a step forward in their recovery process with free athletic shoes through the Wounded Care program.

Since 2007, the Exchange and New Balance have provided complimentary footwear to service members who have been injured in action. More than 400 free pairs have been provided to Wounded Warriors this year alone.

2013 Support our Troops: Veterans Resource & Career Fair

Who:        Vetready: Putting our Veterans Back to Work

What:       Support Our Troops Resource & Career fair

DALLAS - In response to a May, 2012 U.S. Postal Service ban on international shipments of electronics with lithium batteries, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service now has a way for overseas shoppers to get those must-have gadgets, gizmo and devices just in time for the holidays.

"Select cameras, tablets, watches and other electronics can now be ordered online and picked up at any of 36 Exchanges in Afghanistan, Belgium, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey or the United Kingdom through our ‘Lithium Ship to Store’ program," said the Exchange’s Chief of Staff Col. Thomas Ockenfels. "And now, since they’re being sent via Fed Ex, the shipping times will be much quicker than in the past."

By: Kristin Shives
TRICARE Management Activity10/25/2012

FALLS CHURCH, Va. As Hurricane Sandy moves toward the East Coast, TRICARE urges beneficiaries to be prepared and watch the weather.

Beneficiaries living in the path of a tropical storm or hurricane should always prepare for rain, strong winds, possible flooding and evacuations. In the case of evacuations, the TRICARE pharmacy program may authorize early refills for prescriptions ensuring beneficiaries don't run out of needed medications during a crisis.

By  Annemarie Felicio 
TRICARE Management Activity
October 24, 2012

TRICARE and Military OneSource will host a webinar on TRICARE benefits available to National Guard and Reserve members on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EDT.

The different stages of the National Guard and Reserve deployment cycle can make it challenging for members and their families to know what TRICARE benefits are available.

by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

"JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas"  The Air Force awarded $1,000 scholarships to 25 Airmen or family members for their entries in the 16th annual Air Force Club Membership Scholarship Program essay contest, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.

The contest was open to club members and their families, more than 100 of whom submitted essays describing the meaning of the lyrics to "America the Beautiful".

DALLAS - According to the Military Child Education Coalition, an estimated 80 percent of military connected children are forced to move between 6-9 times as they complete their K-12 education and, along with geographical moves, comes changes in educational settings and curriculums.

With these unique challenges in mind, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service rewards military students who excel. In fact, schoolchildren who receive a report card with an overall "B" average or better can pick up an array of free and discounted products through the

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 824-12
October 16, 2012

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be buried, as a group, with full military honors.

Air Force Col. Wendell Keller of Fargo, N.D., and Capt. Virgil K. Meroney III of Fayetteville, Ark., will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the crew, on Oct. 19, in Arlington National Cemetery.  Meroney was interred individually on June 9, in his hometown.

San Jose, CA - August 13, 2012 - American soldiers returning from service abroad and other veterans who suffer from debilitating tinnitus now have access to advanced treatment covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Starting Aug. 15th, the VA will begin providing SoundCure Serenade® customized sound therapy for veterans suffering from tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears."

"We are very pleased to make this valuable treatment available to our nation's troops serving us in so many ways," stated Bill Perry, CEO of SoundCure. "Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other explosions and noise damage can leave soldiers with a painful - and constant reminder of their time on the battlefield. We are proud to work through the VA to provide a tinnitus solution and relief to military personnel."

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2012 - As service members prepare for any and all possible military operations, the Defense Department is reaching out to ensure that there are no contingencies back home to distract them from the mission, namely their personal finances.

Barbara Thompson, director of DOD's Office of Family Policy/Children and Youth, is leading the information campaign with a different theme each month -- starting with retirement savings -- to help service members and their families stay in top financial shape.

by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

"JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas" It wasn't the first time she had been to the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, but Staff Sgt. Danielle Harris' Sept. 21 visit was as emotionally energizing as if she'd never been there.

Annually, during the National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day events, New York City officials honor Department of Defense agencies responsible for managing the POW/MIA Personnel Accounting program.

October 10, 2012
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - To avoid losing coverage, beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) who pay monthly premiums by check need to switch to an electronic form of payment before Jan. 1, 2013.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card, or by recurring electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a linked bank account. To avoid confusion, beneficiaries should verify that their bank sends EFT payments electronically.

DALLAS - A good program just got better as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's Holiday Layaway program is now fee-free. Shoppers simply select their gifts for layaway and stop by customer service to complete the layaway process.

"Fee-free" means that while the Exchange collects an initial $3 processing fee for new layaways, that amount is returned to customers, via an Exchange Merchandise Gift Card, upon final payment and pick up their items.

DALLAS - Exchange shoppers won't have to wait for December to start the holiday season as the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/AAFES.BX.PX> page is hosting "12 Weeks of Gifting" contest. From Sept. 28 - Dec. 20, shoppers can count down the last 12 weeks until Christmas by entering to win different prizes each week.

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

FAIRFAX, Va., Oct. 3, 2012 - More than 100 colleges and universities have signed on to a White House initiative to prepare educators for the unique needs of their military-connected students, Dr. Jill Biden announced today.

Biden, wife of the vice president, made the announcement at George Mason University here as part of the latest accomplishment of the "Joining Forces" campaign she began in April 2010 with First Lady Michelle Obama to rally Americans to support the health, education and employment needs of military families.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS) -- To avoid losing coverage, beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) who pay monthly premiums by check need to switch to an electronic form of payment before Jan. 1, 2013.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card, or by recurring electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a linked bank account. To avoid confusion, beneficiaries should verify that their bank sends EFT payments.

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2012 - Absentee Voting Week is a reminder that it's still possible for eligible U.S. voters overseas to register and to vote, the acting director of the department's Federal Voting Assistance Program said today.

"It's not too late to vote," Pamela S. Mitchell told reporters during a telephone news conference.

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2012 - Officials have developed a robust program to ensure absentee military and overseas citizens have the necessary tools to cast their votes, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today. As Election Day nears, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has taken a global, innovative and user-friendly approach, including measures mandated by Congress to assist voters, Little said during a Pentagon news conference.

"The assistance we provide is completely nonpartisan," Little said. "The Federal Voting Assistance Program strives to ensure that every absent military and overseas citizen voter has the tools and resources to receive, cast and return an absentee ballot and have it counted."

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 791-12
October 02, 2012

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of seven servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being buried with full military honors.

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Laverne A. Lallathin of Raymond, Wash.; 2nd Lt. Dwight D. Ekstam of Moline, Ill.; 2nd Lt. Walter B. Vincent, Jr. of Tulsa, Okla.; Tech. Sgt. James A. Sisney of Redwood City, Calif.; Cpl. Wayne R. Erickson of Minneapolis; Cpl. John D. Yeager of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Pfc. John A. Donovan of Plymouth, Mich., will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the crew, on Oct. 4, in Arlington National Cemetery.  Six of the Marines were identified and buried as individuals previously this year.  Lallathin, also individually identified, will be interred individually at Arlington on the same day as the group interment.

Helping our military families by sending expired and unwanted coupons overseas.

Did you know that overseas military members can use expired coupons up to six months past their expiration date? Military families stationed overseas are often living on one income and money can be scarce. Let’s support our military by showing them some coupon love! Please join us in sending in your expired and unwanted coupons to one of our adopted bases.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2011 - In their ongoing review of military benefits in connection with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Defense Department officials have now identified a total of 14 benefits where members may designate beneficiaries of their choosing, regardless of sexual orientation.

"We listed eight member-designated benefits in our original Quick Reference Guide, released Sept. 20. We've now validated an additional six," said Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez. "While these are not 'new,' now that we've confirmed these additional benefits, we're updating the Quick Reference Guide to ensure all are aware of their beneficiary options."

WE NEED THIS BENEFIT!!!!!!!

Did you know some in Congress have proposed a plan that would require price increases in the military commissaries and exchanges?

Did you know that the same plan could result in the closure of commissaries and exchanges?

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2011 - I spoke to a spouse last year about dealing with deployments and keeping military marriages strong. Her husband had just returned from a yearlong deployment in Iraq.

She cited an example of the types of issues that can arise when communication falls to the wayside. As the primary disciplinarian while her husband was gone, she adopted a "three strikes and you're out" rule for their 3-year-old son. Her husband, however, was more of a "one strike" kind of guy, and reinstituted his stricter ways upon his return.

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2011 - Because U.S. forces are coming home from Iraq by the end of the year, the U.S. Postal Service will stop accepting mail addressed to military post offices in Iraq starting Nov. 17, Defense Department officials said today.

Military post offices in Iraq also will stop processing mail Nov. 17, and service members there should begin now to advise those who send them mail about the Nov. 17 deadline.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2011 - Military members and civilian Defense Department employees aren't expected to notice it, but changes that start next year at U.S. Transportation Command will help to make their household goods shipments more efficient and cost-effective.

Transcom announced plans to consolidate 151 personal property shipping offices into 11 regional offices over a four-year period beginning in 2012.

Operation:Lighten the Load is a campaign designed to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the heavy burden of military life for service members and their families alike, and what we can do to make life easier for those who are dedicated to serving our nation.

For families of deployed military personnel, support programs and services help make life easier as they try to cope and continue marching forward in the absence of their loved one. For our troops — both at home and away — helping care for them and their families lifts the weight of worry from their shoulders, so they can feel confident that their loved ones are in good hands.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 897-11
October 21, 2011

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 10 servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

By Bradley Cantor 
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 - A U.S. Navy ship that's rested on the bottom of the Patuxent River for nearly 200 years is slowly revealing its secrets to archaeologists, a senior Navy administrator said yesterday.

During a "DOD Live" bloggers roundtable, Bob Neyland, head of the Navy's underwater archaeology branch, discussed the excavation of the USS Scorpion, which was scuttled during the War of 1812.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 - Pentagon officials are reviewing the Defense Department's tuition assistance policy, and no DOD-wide decision has been made to change benefits, officials said today.

All military services are providing input to the DOD review, officials said. Any recommended changes, they added, must be instituted in a deliberate, thoughtful manner that maintains the integrity of a joint, uniform policy for all service members.

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2011 - First Lady Michelle Obama, on a visit with her husband to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., today announced a private sector hiring commitment of 25,000 military spouses and veterans as part of the Joining Forces campaign.

Some 270 companies represented by the American Logistics Association for doing business in military resale and morale, welfare, and recreation, have committed to hiring 25,000 military spouses and veterans in the next two years, the first lady said. The commitment is the largest yet toward President Barack Obama's challenge for the private sector to hire 100,000 military spouses and veterans by 2013.

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2011 - The Defense Department and the nationwide Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign are partnering to encourage women to get regular mammograms as directed by their doctors.

The year-round campaign to fight breast cancer with early detection and prompt treatment gains momentum during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States, and mammograms can detect early-stage breast cancer as early as three years before a lump can be felt, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2011 - Significant improvements have taken place over the last five years in making military people more aware of the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the resources it makes available, the program's director said.

In a recent interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service, Bob Carey said military voter participation rates in the program went up 21 percent over that period, and military voter awareness of the voting assistance resources available to them show increases ranging from 50 to 85 percent.

By Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2011 - In my first blog entry, I discussed the four themes that are important to me as I start my tenure as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Among them I mention keeping faith with our Military Family. I was recently reminded of the importance of this when I testified before the House Armed Services Committee with Secretary of Defense Panetta last week.

During that testimony I was asked by several Representatives to comment on the recent recommendations of the Defense Business Board regarding changing the military retirement system to something more like what is available to civilians in the commercial sector.

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2011 - A new campaign is working to put the "veteran" back into Veterans Day and to rally public awareness of the sacrifices made by injured veterans and their caregivers.

The Wounded Warrior Project kicked off "Believe in Heroes," which focuses primarily on wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and their caregivers, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks. The campaign will continue through Nov. 11, Veterans Day, said Jonathan Sullivan, executive vice president of the nonprofit organization.

From a Department of Veterans Affairs News Release

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2011 - As part of its drive to end homelessness among veterans by 2015, the Veterans Affairs Department has launched an outreach initiative in 28 communities across the nation.

"Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope," VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said in announcing the "Make the Call" initiative.

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2011 - The Military Spouse Employment Partnership is successfully connecting highly qualified, job-seeking military spouses with employers who are ready and eager to hire them, the official who oversees the program said today.

The Defense Department launched the program in June with about 60 employers on board, and it has grown to encompass 96 corporate partners who have committed to aiding spouses in finding and identifying portable jobs. The partnership also features an online job search site, http://www.msepjobs.com, and career and education counseling.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 856-11
October 05, 2011

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. Edward M. Pedregon of El Paso, Texas, will be buried on Oct. 6 in Arlington National Cemetery.  A memorial service was held in San Elizario, Texas, on Oct. 1.  In late November 1950 Pedregon and the Heavy Mortar Company, of the 31st Regimental Combat Team  known as Task Force Faith  were overrun by Chinese forces near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.  After several days of heavy attacks, Task Force Faith was forced to withdraw, but was stopped by enemy blockades that overpowered them on Dec. 2, 1950.  Pedregon was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950.

Siskel/Jacobs Productions, an award-winning film and video production company based in Chicago, Illinois, is seeking videos of surprise soldier homecomings for an hour-long special program that will be aired on the National Geographic Channel.  While we are seeking  surprise homecomings we are also interested in videos of welcome home ceremonies.

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2011 - Military families with special needs would benefit from better consistency in services, more effective communication and improved health care education.

A group of specially selected family members offered up these suggestions for countering ongoing challenges during an exceptional family member panel held last week at the Defense Department's office of community support for military families with special needs here.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 849-11
October 03, 2011

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of three servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2011 - Pentagon officials are reminding service members stationed overseas to leave out cost-of-living pay when planning their personal budgets, due to fluctuations in the rate.

The cost-of-living allowance, or COLA, paid to those stationed outside of the continental United States to off-set foreign costs, routinely is affected by the economy and fluctuates from pay period to pay period, Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said. Many service members will see a reduction in this month's payment, reflected in their mid-October paychecks, she said.

By Ian Graham
Defense Media Activity, Social Media Management

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2011 - Balancing a civilian career with a military spouse's career can be tough. While the service member might see a permanent change of station move as an inconvenience associated with furthering their military career, such moves can leave spouses stuck hoping to find a new job in a new area.

Robert L. Gordon III, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy, said it doesn't have to be that way. He joined a DoD Live "bloggers roundtable" yesterday to explain how the Military Spouse Employment Partnership is giving spouses more career and education options.

By Karen Parrish 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, 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.

Military members whose service was involuntarily extended or whose retirement was suspended between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, are entitled to a retroactive payment of $500 for each month of extension.

By Donna Miles 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2010 - As the U.S. Supreme Court contemplates whether protestors at military funerals are protected under First Amendment free-speech rights, a motorcycle group that travels the country attending those funerals as a show of support and respect rides on, undeterred by the political fray.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 987-10 
October 27, 2010
 Airmen Missing in Action from WWII Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

By Cheryl Pellerin 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2010 - The needs and concerns of military spouses, whose sacrifices benefit the nation, should be of concern to all Americans, First Lady Michelle Obama said today.

"These women and men -- they are heroes and it's time that we recognize the challenges they face and the obstacles they overcome and the contributions they make," Obama said at the Women's Conference(R) 2010, held Oct. 24-26 in Long Beach, Calif.

By C. Todd Lopez 
Army News Service

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

"We want to ensure that the family programs we're operating are run well and efficiently and if we need to make adjustments so they can be more so, that's fine," said Secretary of the Army John McHugh. "But what we won't do particularly as a first reaction, is look to those programs as a source of budgetary savings."

*IMMEDIATE RELEASE* *
No. 975-10 October 25, 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.

The National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) developed the T2 Mood Tracker to help users monitor trends of emotions and behaviors from therapy, medication, daily experiences and changes in their environment such as work and home. It can be downloaded through http://www.t2health.org/apps/t2-mood-tracker .

By Elaine Wilson 
American Forces Press Service

HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2010 - Michelle Summerlin ducked out of a massive conference room filled with nearly 2,000 Texas Army National Guard soldiers, families and friends, and pulled up a chair close to her husband and their 3-year-old son in a convention center lobby here.

Her son climbed into her lap, and Summerlin cuddled him while recalling the parenting challenges that arose, not while her husband was gone, but upon his return from Iraq.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 961-10 October 21, 2010

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

By Donna Miles 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, 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.

The Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces, originally an Army Reserve initiative that has expanded militarywide, is growing by leaps and bounds as it helps both the military and civilian employers tap into the same talent pool, reported Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve, who founded the program.

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2010 - Taxpayers with a stake in breast cancer research chose the Army to manage federal funds that are awarded to some of the best breast cancer researchers in the world. Every year since 1992, Congress has added millions of dollars to the Defense Department's budget so the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md., can help scientists fight breast cancer.

By Karen Parrish 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, 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.

With Nov. 2 midterm elections two weeks off, Illinois and New York recently joined the list of states and territories the Justice Department has filed complaints against or investigated for irregularities regarding absentee ballots. 

By Terri Moon Cronk 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2010 - President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta in a Nov. 16 White House ceremony, officials announced yesterday.

The 25-year-old noncommissioned officer -- who will be the first living soldier since the Vietnam War to receive the nation's top military honor -- learned of his selection in a Sept. 9 phone call from Obama. 

By Karen Parrish 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, 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.

DOD Instruction 1342.19, "Family Care Plans," was revised in May to require such plans from troops and expeditionary civilians who have legal custody or joint custody of a minor child. The new policy requires these parents to attempt to obtain the consent of the noncustodial or adoptive parent to any family care plan that would leave the child in the custody of a third party. 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 950-10 
October 18, 2010

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of three servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 937-10 
October 14, 2010

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. 

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, 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.

VA broadcast the first in a series of paid multimedia advertisements last night in six major U.S. markets as part of its National Veterans Awareness Campaign, VA Press Secretary Katie Roberts said

Release No: 183
Oct. 7, 2010
by DCS, Manpower, Personnel and Services

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Pentagon officials recently released the fiscal 2011 initial enlistment bonus program list.

Three Air Force specialty codes had bonuses decreased but only for those enlisting for six years. Those AFSCs seeing decreases were airborne linguist, crypto linguist and tactical air control party. No AFSCs were added or increased for the new fiscal year.

Missing WWII Soldiers Identified

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 911-10

October 06, 2010

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. Lawrence N. Harris, of Elkins, W.V., will be buried on Oct. 8 in Clarksburg, W.V, and Army Cpl. Judge C. Hellums, of Paris, Miss., will be buried on Oct. 9 in Randolph, Miss. In late September 1944, their unit, the 773rd Tank Battalion, was clearing German forces out of the Parroy Forest near Luneville. On Oct. 9, 1944, in the final battle for control of the region, Hellums, Harris and three other soldiers were attacked by enemy fire in their M-10 Tank Destroyer.

By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2010 - America is founded on the idea of voting. Yet absentee voters -- citizens working overseas or out of their home state during election season -- can be left out of the voting process if they are unaware of absentee voting procedures.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program works to make the process of casting absentee ballots easier for servicemembers and other overseas U.S. citizens, said Bob Carey, the program's director.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 879-10 
September 27, 2010

The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Navy Lt. Francis B. McIntyre of Mitchell, S.D., will be buried on Sept. 29, and Aviation Radioman Second Class William L. Russell of Cherokee, Okla., will be buried on Oct. 1. Both men will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2010 - The practice seems harmless enough. Servicemembers, looking to dull the edge of a stressful day, walk into a head shop after work and buy a small package of K2, the brand name of a smokeable concoction that is perfectly legal in the state in which they are residing. It is not, however, legal in the military.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2010 - President Barack Obama signed legislation yesterday extending the Retroactive Stop-Loss Special Pay deadline through December 3, DOD officials said today.

Officials estimate about 80,000 eligible service members, veterans and beneficiaries have yet to apply for the special stop-loss pay.

On Oct 30 Operation Best Wishes will be filming messages at Visterra Credit Union near March AFB for FREE

Throughout October, November and December we will be filming messages from loved ones to their military family members anywhere in the nation and  deployed. This is a cooperative gift from credit unions to the military and their family members.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AllAmericanDirect.com announces the final re-launch of 'Laptops for Flat Tops' contest for military families

Leading e-tailer is hosting final contest giving military families a chance to win laptops and Webcams to communicate with loved ones serving overseas

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Jung
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Oct. 28, 2009 - U.S. Postal Service officials have announced recommended mailing dates for delivery by Christmas to U.S. servicemembers serving in Afghanistan and other overseas locations.

Nationwide-News 10-21-2009

In honor of Veteran's Day, Brides Across America will be giving away free wedding gowns to military brides-to-be.

Brides Across America, a nationwide charity dedicated to providing free wedding gowns for military brides, announced today that their bridal store partners will be giving away free designer wedding gowns on November 11, 2009.  Bridal salons across the country are pleased to reward the military personnel who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or whose fiancé's are on active duty in these areas with this special Veteran's Day event.

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2009 - President Barack Obama today thanked U.S. military members for their service and sacrifice to the nation during his visit to a Florida Navy base.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2009 - Defense and Veterans Affairs Department health care professionals began a three-day workshop here today to harness initiatives to improve psychological health care for servicemembers and veterans.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2009 - 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.

NORCROSS, Georgia - October 23, 2009 -

Ashworth College http://www.ashworthcollege.edu  was recently named one of approximately 1,000 higher education institutions to make G.I. Job's 2010 list of Military Friendly Schools. The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to recruit students with military experience http://www.ashworthcollege.edu/programs/groups/military/ .

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2009 - The Defense Department will implement a new program this week to compensate former and current servicemembers for each month they involuntarily served from Sept. 11, 2001 to Sept. 30, 2009, a defense official said.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2009 - Seven families, one from each of the uniformed services, have been selected as National Military Family Association's 2009 Military Families of the Year for the roles they play in their communities and the way they embrace the military lifestyle.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 816-09
October 20, 2009

DoD Announces Units For Afghanistan Rotations And Deployment

The Department of Defense announced today major units scheduled to deploy as part of upcoming rotations of forces operating in Afghanistan. The announcement involves two active duty brigade combat teams totaling 7,700 personnel, and one National Guard brigade with approximately 3,500 personnel. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in the spring of 2010.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2009 - An Army brigade slated to deploy to Iraq in January was relieved of its deployment orders this weekend without current plans for a new mission, Pentagon and Army officials said here today.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2009 - Dr. Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, knows what it feels like to say goodbye to a son heading off to war and the joy of welcoming him home safely.

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2009 - First Lady Michelle Obama today vowed to make the voices of U.S. military families heard in the nation's capital, and called on Americans to recognize the sacrifices made by those in uniform and their loved ones.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2009 - 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.

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2009 - It was a tough act for Hollywood at the annual USO Gala here last night.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 776-09
October 08, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next force rotation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The announcement involves three brigade combat teams, and one armored cavalry regiment totaling approximately 15,000 personnel. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in the summer of 2010.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 775-09
October 07, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next rotation operating in Afghanistan. This announcement involves a combat brigade and combat aviation brigade totaling approximately 6,100 service members. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in the spring and continue through the summer of 2010.  

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2009 - Navy Secretary Ray Mabus yesterday said women soon will serve on submarines, suggesting a reversal of the long-standing ban by the Navy.

By Ian Graham
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2009 - Concerns about housing have been prevalent since the mortgage crisis struck more than a year ago, but servicemembers and certain eligible civilians in the Defense Department can get some help when they're required to move.

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2009 - The deployments of about 1,600 U.S. troops in Iraq could be extended in the weeks following the national election slated to occur in January, Pentagon officials said today.

By Heather Forsgren Weaver
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2009 - Sometime around Thanksgiving some troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will receive boxes filled with gifts from a women's group in Alexandria, Va.

By Kevin L. Robinson
Special to American Forces Press Service

FORT LEE, Va., Oct. 30, 2008 - The Defense Commissary Agency will join other Defense Department organizations in observing November as Warrior Care Month.

American Forces Press Service

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Oct. 30, 2008 - The deadline is tomorrow for servicemembers to apply for the Sears "Heroes at Home Wish Registry."

By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2008 - When injured servicemembers return home after spending time in a hospital or rehabilitation center, family members often take on the role of caregiver.

American Forces Press Service

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 28, 2008 - "Our Military Kids," a nonprofit support group, recently reached a new milestone: $2 million in grants awarded for sports, fine arts and tutoring programs.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2008 - Installation commanders from all military services and the Defense Department will begin conducting "Financial Readiness Challenge" events nationwide next week to help military families deal with the effects of today's economy.

By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2008 - Whether you are a young soldier leaving boot camp for a tour in Germany or a seasoned military police officer working in Iraq, receiving a care package from home can be a huge pick-me-up. A Web site launched in September provides many ideas to families and friends wanting to send care packages to love ones stationed abroad.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2008 - A day-long event Oct. 18, hosted by five branches of a major retailer, netted a plethora of items for Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon to pack up and ship to members of the New Jersey Army National Guard.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 889-08
October 21, 2008

          
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2008 - Defense Department marketers launched a new television and online advertising campaign today, but its primary target is not potential military recruits ? it's their parents.

By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 20, 2008 - SpouseBuzz, a support group that connects military spouses online, held its fifth live conference here over the weekend.

By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2008 - While on patrol in northern Iraq last year, Army Spc. Kevin Hardin of Jupiter, Fla., was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. He suffered injuries to his hands and arms. As a result, some of his fingers were amputated. Shrapnel penetrated his skull, leaving inoperable injuries.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

CORONADO, Calif., Oct. 17, 2008 - When the military looks for innovation, it typically turns to its special operators ? those elite forces on the cutting edge of new equipment, tactics and techniques.

By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
Special to American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 16, 2008 - More than 90 National Guard members in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are on duty today after Hurricane Omar passed through their area as a major Category 3 storm that caused little damage.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2008 - As goes technology, so goes much of the Pentagon Library's collection, its chief of technological services said.

By Jason Austin
Special to American Forces Press Service

HEIDELBERG, Germany, Oct. 16, 2008 - What began as a chat over coffee became a learning opportunity for teachers here.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2008 - The National Military Family Association has announced the five recipients of its 2008 "Very Important Patriot" award, given for exceptional volunteerism.

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Catharine Schmidt
Special to American Forces Press Service

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. , Oct. 15, 2008 - The 109th Airlift Wing is preparing to begin its 20th year of Operation Deep Freeze, supporting the National Science Foundation in Antarctica.

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2008 - Servicemembers, retirees and their family members are getting free, anonymous screenings for depression and other mental-health-related issues at military bases nationwide during National Screening for Depression Day today.

By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2008 - Microwavable popcorn, theater-style candy, sweetened powdered drink mix, a letter of support and a DVD are what deployed troops find when they open a "movie box" from Operation: Take a Soldier to the Movies.

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2008 - It's still not too late to register to cast an absentee ballot in the Nov. 4 general election in many states, a Defense Department official said today.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2008 - Operation Life Transformed honored six scholarship recipients, including the recipient of the 100th "Caregivers of War Wounded Training Scholarship," during its "Celebrate 100" reception held here recently.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 855-08
October 08, 2008

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.   

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 - Army Sgt. Gregory S. Ruske is quick to call himself an ordinary soldier, but later this month the Army Reserve will single him out for extraordinary heroism in Afghanistan that earned him the Silver Star medal.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 - Dozens of injured troops set out on a seven-day, 420-mile trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles on Sept. 28 to raise funds to support outdoor cycling programs and to let other wounded servicemembers know they can be active.

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2008 - The Defense Department is a strong supporter of the federally managed AbilityOne program, which works with private and public groups to provide goods and services to the government and jobs for the blind and other people who have severe disabilities, including wounded veterans

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 849-08
October 06, 2008

DoD announced today it has developed a comprehensive handbook describing compensation and other benefits service members and their families would be entitled to upon separation or retirement as a result of serious injury or illness.  

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2008 - Ask Marines deployed aboard USS Iwo Jima what they think of a new Marine Corps test to assess their combat fitness, and one might be surprised by the lack of complaining.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 846-08
October 06, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the activation of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), a functioning command and control headquarters for U.S. forces operating in Afghanistan.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 845-08
October 06, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today it has expanded the Purple Heart eligibility criteria allowing prisoners-of-war who died in captivity to receive the award. 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 844-08
October 06, 2008

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today that the DuPont/Smart Fuel Cell (SFC) Team was awarded a $1 million top prize for winning the Wearable Power Prize competition.      

By Sharon Foster
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2008 - A home-front group of the Defense Department's America Supports You program has received a $2,000 grant from the Newman's Own Foundation.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2008 - Time is running out to nominate outstanding military spouses for Military Spouse magazine's 2009 Military Spouse of the Year award.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 829-08
October 03, 2008

The Department of Defense and Inova Health System joined in a partnership yesterday to promote access to training and healthcare jobs for the husbands and wives of active duty service members.   

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 834-08
October 03, 2008

The Department of Defense announced October 1 that families of deployed members of the National Guard and Reserve, active duty service members on independent duty and their families, and active duty service members and their families assigned to selected bases would be eligible for free family memberships at participating YMCAs in their local community. 

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2008 - Comedian Robin Williams and President Bush may have competed for laughs during the 2008 USO World Gala here last night, but it was five servicemembers who got the audience's greatest applause.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2008 - Military Health System officials want wounded, ill or injured servicemembers and their families to respond to a new pair of questionnaires designed to help them better understand the needs and expectations of the warriors in their care.

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2008 - Overseas-deployed servicemembers and other troops serving outside their home states need to fill out and forward their absentee ballots so their votes can be counted as part of the Nov. 4 federal and state elections, Defense Department officials said today.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 832-08
October 02, 2008

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2008 - A new U.S. unified command that seeks to meld civilian expertise with military planning and logistics raised its flag during a Pentagon ceremony today.

By Gerry J. Gilmore and John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2007 - Ten children of servicemembers killed during the war on terrorism were honored for their sacrifices on behalf of the nation at ceremonies held here and in Iraq yesterday.

American Forces Press Service

BAQOUBA, Iraq, Oct. 30, 2007 - A 19-year-old man was rescued from an al Qaeda-in-Iraq prison in the village of Hammadi, 10 miles southwest of Baqouba, by 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, during an air assault Oct. 28.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands, Oct. 29, 2007 - Seven injured veterans geared up to pit themselves against sand and the Caribbean Sea on Oct. 18 as part of an inaugural adaptive adventure trip.

By 1st Lt. Jody Ritchie, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif., Oct. 28, 2007 - Military crews in the planes dropping fire retardant on wildfires in southern California face hazards and challenges unique to their humanitarian mission.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands, Oct. 26, 2007 - Seven wounded warriors arrived in the U.S. Virgin Islands last week for an adventure set on the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1253-07
October 26, 2007

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of five U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been accounted-for and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

By Staff Sgt. Joshua Jasper, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Oct. 25, 2007 - Children line the streets during the short ride to the village. Adults with noticeable disabilities and young children who may have never had professional medical assistance look curiously at the visitors, probably wondering why they have come. Despite this lack of professional medical care, one of those visitors has been making a positive difference for local villagers.

American Forces Press Service

FARAH CITY, Afghanistan, Oct. 25, 2007 - Afghan and American medical staffs recently combined resources to provide quality medical care to the local people.

By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2007 - More than 12,000 children of servicemembers each year are getting a foundation for lifelong literacy from their doctors through an effort called "Reach Out and Read."

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007 - Americans can now visit an online ballot to cast their vote for five people whose extraordinary contributions to the U.S. military go above and beyond the call of duty.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave an interagency task force studying the disability rating system for wounded warriors its marching orders: "Aside from the war itself, we have no higher priority."

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007 - Military personnel and assets are helping out in the most serious outbreak of wildfires in California in years.

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2007 - For volunteers with South Riding, Va.-based Operation Pinecone, Halloween is over and the Christmas rush has begun.

By Sgt. Mike Pryor, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Oct. 22, 2007 - The high point of 1st Lt. William Bass' deployment to Iraq so far wasn't a raid or some other combat operation; it was the sight of two little girls playing on a brand new swing set.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2007 - The Army is working quickly to field and fully staff new warrior transition units, which provide critical support to wounded soldiers and their families, the general in charge of the Army Medical Action Plan said.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2007 - Defense leaders joined the Minnesota National Guard's adjutant general yesterday in urging Congress to revise the Montgomery GI Bill to improve coverage for reserve-component troops, although they didn't necessarily agree on the best way to accomplish that.

DoD Announces Force Adjustments 

The Department of Defense announced today the alert of replacement forces scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The announcement involves seven brigades from the Army National Guard consisting of approximately 18,000 personnel.

DoD Announces Unit for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation           

 The Department of Defense announced today that the 33rd Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard, has been alerted to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to continue training of the Afghan National Security Forces. The majority of the approximately 2,700 service members alerted will deploy in late 2008. The department has alerted the unit of this deployment to give the soldiers the maximum time possible to conduct training specific to Afghanistan as well as provide predictability for family members and employers.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1231-07
October 18, 2007

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2007 - From stocking hats to shower shoes, a West Virginia-based group is actively filling requests from U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, sending them about 50 boxfuls of care packages each week.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2007 - Representatives of Fairfax County, Va., donated $100,000 today to help build the Pentagon Memorial that will honor the 184 people, including 20 county residents, killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the building.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2007 - Children of servicemembers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here have a new recreation option thanks to the team effort of three nonprofit groups and a defense contractor.

By Tech. Sgt. Sonny Cohrs, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras, Oct. 15, 2007 - Soldiers, airmen and sailors here completed a remembrance run Oct. 12 in honor of prisoners of war and those missing in action.

By Sgt. Mary Flynn, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va. , Oct. 12, 2007 - Hundreds of soldiers, family members and friends gathered at Arlington National Cemetery today to honor 12 soldiers killed in a helicopter crash Iraq earlier this year.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2007 - A South Carolina-based troop-support group and a national restaurant chain have teamed up to see that at least 500,000 servicemembers get a note of thanks this holiday season.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2007 - When Army Staff Sgt. Jason Fetty put himself between a suicide bomber and the bomber's intended targets at the grand opening of a new medical facility in Khost, Afghanistan, he wasn't thinking of the strategic, or even tactical, importance of his actions.

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2007 - The Army National Guard has launched a new recruiting effort that officials hope will tap into a market that has steadily decreased since the war on terror began -- prior-service soldiers.

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 - U.S. soldiers are sweeping through a Baghdad neighborhood to clear out explosives and extremists, a coalition commander said today.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 - In California, a modern-day Mrs. Claus is rallying her helpers once again to fill care packages with goodies for troops serving far from home during the upcoming holiday season.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 - A new agreement between the active Army and Army National Guard represents a big step toward achieving the force structure balance Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. calls critical to the Army's transformation.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1206-07
October 11, 2007

The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of nine U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2007 - Volunteers with a Northern Virginia military-support group gather twice a month to fill care packages for troops serving overseas.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2007 - As part of its continued commitment to honoring servicemembers and their families, software giant Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has become a corporate supporter of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2007 - Thousands of U.S. servicemembers took to the streets of the nation's capital and to makeshift routes laid out on military outposts around the world during the Army Ten-Miler on Oct. 7.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1198-07
October 09, 2007

The Department of Defense announced today that 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas, will deploy in the summer of 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2007 - Servicemembers who lose limbs should be enabled to resume active duty, the administrator of Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Amputee Care Center said yesterday.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2007 - Country music fans soon will be invited to join top country artists and the Grand Ole Opry in creating the "World's Largest Care Package" for troops serving overseas.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2007 - The SemperComm Foundation is accepting award nominations from the military community for its 2008 SemperComm Award, which recognizes extraordinary efforts by military members to boost the morale of their fellow servicemembers while stationed at remote locations.

By Melina Rodriguez
Special to American Forces Press Service

FORT BELVOIR, Va., Oct. 3, 2007 - Army Secretary Pete Geren visited homes on Fort Belvoir, Va., today and talked with Army families about the privatized housing initiative on the installation.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2007 - The stress of deployments, especially during war time, can take a toll on servicemembers and their families. A group of licensed mental health professionals in Southern California is helping to minimize that impact, however.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1180-07
October 02, 2007

Servicemen Missing From Vietnam War Are Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.            

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2007 - Military families have a new tool to help them share everyday happenings with deployed loved ones thanks to a national troop-support group.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2007 - The founder of an organization that provides comfortable and functional adaptive clothing to wounded servicemembers is being honored for her efforts.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2007 - The Defense Department is instituting new protections that will help defend servicemembers against high-interest emergency loans that can lead to a dangerous cycle of debt.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2007 - When Marine Gen. Peter Pace retires Oct. 1, so too will the signature coin that he shared with thousands of servicemembers, family members and veterans he's met personally during his two years as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., Oct. 31, 2006 - After 25 years of storied service, the F-117 Nighthawk, the Air Force's first stealth fighter, is about to retire.

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2006 - Before Marine Staff Sgt. Reina Barnett could begin getting nervous about attempting her first marathon, she had to complete a work assignment.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2006 - One hundred military families are sleeping easier this year thanks to USA Cares and the Homeownership Preservation Fund.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2006 - Children of servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11 are invited to jump aboard the Snowball Express -- destination Disneyland, with a couple of fun stops along the way.

By Sgt. Chris Jones, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait, Oct. 27, 2006 - The Joint Military Mail Terminal Kuwait is gearing up for, by far, its busiest two months of the year -- the time when servicemembers are sending and receiving packages for the holiday season.

No. 1087-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2006

Airman Missing in Action from Vietnam War is Identified

 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

By Carmen Burgess
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2006 - There's a saying that everything's big in Texas; this seems to hold true for their celebrations as well. While most of the world considers a week to be made up of seven days, Texans apparently have 10 in theirs. Or at least folks do in San Antonio do when it comes time to honor the military.

By Carmen Burgess
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2006 - Time is running out to get the stockings of troops stationed in Iraq stuffed through Operation Christmas Stocking. The deadline to get needed items to the program's warehouse is Nov. 1.

American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD, Oct. 24, 2006 - Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers are searching for U.S. soldier missing since yesterday evening. Officials have not released the soldier's name.

American Forces Press Service

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga., Oct. 23, 2006 - Another American hero will benefit from the generosity of a group that builds or adapts houses for servicemembers to accommodate their individual disabilities.

By Staff Sgt. Les Newport, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind., Oct. 23, 2006 - When asked how it feels to return from a yearlong deployment to Iraq, soldiers of the 655th Transportation Company have a unified response: big smiles.

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

Soldier Missing in Action from the Korean War is Identified
No. 1064-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

By Staff Sgt. Les Newport, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2006 - Hoosier families of the Indiana Army and Air National Guard from Fort Wayne to Evansville rallied in the early dark morning here today waiting to hear words of support and gratitude from Vice President Dick Cheney.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2006 - Before a White House meeting with President Bush this afternoon, grassroots troop-support groups learned what their work means to servicemembers during a luncheon here hosted by America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting America's support of the nation's servicemembers.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 20, 2006 - U.S. civilian leaders visiting here today got a taste of how U.S. military air power supports troops on the ground - from delivering troops, beans and bullets to the battle to providing life-saving intelligence to taking out targets that threaten U.S. and coalition forces.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2006 - With the 2.2 percent across-the-board pay raise that is part of the Fiscal 2007 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Department will reach its goal to bring military basic pay to the 70th percentile when compared to civilians with comparable education and training, a top DoD compensation official said here today.

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2006 - A brother-and-sister team that has raised more than $1 million to provide pre-paid calling cards for deployed servicemembers shared the spotlight in Baltimore Oct. 17 with fellow recipients of the 2006 National Caring Awards, sponsored by the Caring Institute.

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2006 - Military commissions are a proper way to try certain people suspected of committing terrorist acts against America, in part because U.S. law prior to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks didn't even address such a situation, a U.S. State Department legal advisor told reporters here today.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2006 - Servicemembers and their families need to learn the importance of financial management and smart saving practices, so the Defense Department is focusing its efforts to make sure troops are prepared for the future, a senior DoD official said here yesterday.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2006 - Servicemembers and U.S. citizens living overseas still have time to register, request a ballot, and vote in November's mid-term elections, the Defense Department official in charge of the absentee voting program said here today.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2006 - The fiscal 2007 National Defense Authorization Act provides more than $530 billion to maintain the military in the shape it must be to win the war on terror.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2006 - From experience comes expertise, and Dan Kissinger and his father, Dale, have plenty of both when it comes to military moves.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 17, 2006 - The U.S. Coast Guard here is playing a vital role supporting the Iraqi government as it protects Iraq's offshore oil terminals and maintains waterway security in the region, Coast Guardsmen here told visiting civilian leaders today.

By Steven Donald Smith
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2006 - The latest in a series of congressionally mandated reports on the long-term health effects of troop deployments to Southwest Asia from the 1991 Gulf War to present was released today.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2006 - The Defense Department will resume mandatory anthrax inoculations for servicemembers and civilians deploying to U.S. Central Command and Korea, DoD officials said today.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WORCESTER, Mass., Oct. 16, 2006 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commonwealth's senior U.S. senator offered a heartfelt "thank you" to the military community during a tribute concert awash in patriotism and pageantry here last night.

By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2006 - President Bush accepted the Air Force Memorial here today in a dedication ceremony attended by military leaders of the past and present, political and business representatives and thousands of ordinary citizens and airmen.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13, 2006 - Operation Homefront and the Department of Defense formally agreed to cooperate on their joint mission to support military members and their families during a reception here yesterday evening.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2006 - The New York governor has called up members of the New York Army and Air National Guard for state active duty in western New York following record-breaking, lake-effect snowfall in the region.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2006 - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England this morning praised a group that's working to make life easier for military members and their families.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2006 - Army officials have a plan to maintain the current number of troops in Iraq through 2010, but it is only a plan and has off-ramps for troop reductions along the way, Army officials said today.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2006 - American soldiers in Iraq accomplish wonders during their tours in Iraq, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said here today.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2006 - Women have served in the Air Force for years, making valuable contributions, but gender and race differences have never been an important factor in accomplishing the Air Force mission, the first woman pilot on the Air Force Thunderbirds said here today.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

CROMWELL, Conn., Oct. 11, 2006 - Yesterday ended with a wave of gratitude for golfers who participated in the Pratt &amp; Whitney America Supports You Tournament at River Highlands TPC golf club here.

By Master Sgt. Daniel Elkins, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 10, 2006 - Fifteen years after conception of the Air Force Memorial, construction is nearing completion this week in preparation for the memorial's dedication Oct. 14 in Arlington, Va.

Missing WWII Airmen is Identified
NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense
No. 1007-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2006 - Thanks to a new program, children of deployed servicemembers will know they are heroes, too.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2006 - Jeff Klare put his bicycle where his heart is Oct. 1, and set out on a 300-mile trip to raise awareness of the need for more corporations to hire workers with disabilities.

By Stephen Hudson
Special to American Forces Press Service

COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 5, 2006 - Jennifer Rochester doesn't really see herself as a heroine. The lending assistant at First Citizens Bank in Conway, S.C., was just looking for a way to clean out some old books in her home when she came up with a project to support the military.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2006 - Five years ago tomorrow, America was still stinging from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as it began striking back in the global war on terror.

By Senior Airman J.G. Buzanowski, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 6, 2006 - A joint team of airmen and soldiers is in Pakistan preparing for Operation Promise Keeping, a follow-up mission to aid the people in remote northern parts of the country devastated by an earthquake last year.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2006 - A group from Massachusetts worked diligently on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to keep the nation's servicemembers warm.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., Oct. 5, 2006 - Tour lengths are the biggest obstacle to U.S. troop morale in Iraq, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a visit here yesterday.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2006 - When Army met Texas A&M on the Aggie's home turf Sept. 16, 100 servicemembers and their guests were in the stands, thanks to the Bank of America Military Bank in San Antonio.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2006 - The Washington Nationals, a strong supporter of the U.S. military since the Major League Baseball franchise moved to the nation's capital from Montreal before the 2005 season, met here today with Defense Department officials to discuss future cooperation as the team prepares to build a new stadium next to the Washington Navy Yard.

By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Oct. 3, 2006 - Twenty-six sailors who worked for Navy Adm. Timothy Keating in the Pentagon died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the building. Now Keating is responsible for protecting the U.S. homeland -- and he said the memory of those 26 sailors motivates him to be as effective as possible in that role.

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2006 - About 200 military and family members received money management tips from a famous financial expert during a Defense Department-sponsored seminar held here at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Sept. 30.

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2006 - In just a few short months, the Phoenix-based Packages From Home organization has found a new home and a new sponsor, the group's director of marketing and media relations said.

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2006 - Families of the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, are not happy about the unit's 46-day extension in Iraq, but they are accepting it well and the Army has many systems in place to support them while their loved ones are deployed, the unit's rear detachment commander said today.