Odierno eyes more expansion of women's combat roles in the fall

More than 200 female soldiers began reporting to maneuver battalions and nine brigade combat teams this week, and an assignment restriction based on co-location with combat units has been rescinded, opening up more than 13,000 positions to women in the Army, Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said Wednesday.

Army replaces first female head of drill sergeant school

The Army is replacing Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King, the first female commander of its prestigious drill sergeant school, just days after it lifted her unexplained suspension.

Panetta calls for accelerated efforts to address F-22 problems

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ordered the Air Force to take extra measures to protect the safety of its F-22 pilots while it investigates the cause of several incidents of hypoxia-like symptoms in the fighter aircraft.

14:45 May 15, 2012

As trained Afghans turn enemy, a US-led imperative is in peril

A burst of gunfire snapped the soldier awake. Then came another, and another, all with the familiar three-round bursts of an American assault rifle — and the unfamiliar sound of its rounds being fired in his direction.

05:32 May 16, 2012

GI killed in Vietnam War to be awarded Medal of Honor today

President Obama will award the Medal of Honor on Wednesday to a Pennsylvania Army specialist for heroic actions in Cambodia during the Vietnam War more than 40 years ago.

Stars and Stripes coverage of the Medal of Honor

Pakistan agrees to reopen supply route to Afghanistan -- for a fee

The accord would revive the transport of vital supplies of NATO food and equipment. In return, the U.S.-led coalition will pay Pakistan a still-to-be-fixed fee of $1,500 to $1,800 for each truck carrying supplies, a tab that officials familiar with negotiations estimated would run nearly $1 million a day.

20:04 May 15, 2012

Many will profit from reopening of route

Southern Exposure: Mission to Antarctica

The Army failed two soldiers. Then they killed themselves.

A nation honors valor in the war on terrorism

Ombudsman

Ernie Gates, Stars and Stripes' ombudsman

House appropriators add $5.3 billion to defense bill for weapons buys

A powerful U.S. House defense spending panel has recommended adding more than $5.3 billion to the Pentagon’s procurement accounts in 2013 to buy more aircraft, ships, vehicles and weapons, according to Defense News.
22:07 May 15, 2012
GAO cites bad bookkeeping in Guard's State Partnership Program
Turkish attack on civilians tied to data from US drone
Pop-Tarts and Kool-Aid: Germans line up for American classics
Soldiers don't seek PTSD help or leave therapy early, research finds
Officials: Nearly $2 million in guns, combat gear sold to gangs

Military
History
Veterans
Afghanistan
Mideast
Asia
Odd

New Navy command to incorporate riverines

Senate committee approves seven Pentagon nominees

Boeing says prepping for further US budget cuts

US House appropriators add $5.3 billion for weapons buys

Missouri National Guard investigating another extremist allegation

Fort Lee soldiers perform CPR, help to save chaplain

Marines to receive Navy Cross for Afghanistan valor

LPGA pro Lexi Thompson meets prom date, a Marine, through Facebook

Air Force brass examines possibility of Missouri base

Park Service to auction Gettysburg's Electric Map?

Montana project mixes marksmanship, history

Union general known for his 'bravery, coolness under fire'

Mass. town accepts Patton estate

Army Heritage Days at Carlisle salutes the past

Vancouver Barracks PX, Army's first, still in business

Navy vet hoping to transform ship into floating museum

Florida creates board to take care of military veterans

Veteran helps other vets re-adjust to society

Iowa World War II vets take flight from Waterloo to DC

Maine AG says deadly force justified in shooting of veteran

York, Pa. Memorial Day spotlights younger vets

Treatment at VA med center in Richmond evolving to meet needs

Two Iraq War veterans bike into Fayetteville on trip across country

Lawyers debate W.Va. Guard pension credits case

NATO airstrike kill several militants in Paktia province

Army surgeon offers hope to Afghan amputees

An outpost of Afghan dining inside an American military base

Steak day in Afghanistan serves up a taste of home

Afghanistan: Home to 'world's most extreme golf'

Executive order gives authority to freeze US-based assets in Yemen

Israel's Barak heads to US for Iron Dome funding talks

Period of relative calm in Iraq brought to end by fatal bomb blasts

Pa. Iraq war veteran publishes e-book

Coptic Christians fear rise of Islamists on eve of presidential elections

Tehran accelerating its nuclear program

Malaysian military veterans show some cheek

Possible China link to cyberattacks on gas pipeline firms

US plans 10-month warship deployment to Singapore

Trial of Vietnamese 'freedom fighter' to begin

Indians host Clinton while also wooing Iran

US tries to press China Sea rights with pact

Obama taunts David Beckham over his underwear

Make way for the camel: Cannes film festival opens

Ex-teacher charged with stealing Ohio prom money

Poll: Half of Americans call Facebook a fad

Dog custody battle costs NYC man more than $60,000

Lips read for woman with flesh-eating disease

FBI confirms leak probe on al-Qaida plot

FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday the bureau has launched an investigation into who leaked information about an al-Qaida plot to place an explosive device aboard a U.S.-bound airline flight.
NATO summit gives Chicago coveted global spotlight 15:10 May 16, 2012
Paralyzed woman uses her mind to control robot arm 14:36 May 16, 2012
Obama warns against political disruption in Yemen 14:39 May 16, 2012
US agents on Honduran military operation 14:35 May 16, 2012

Egypt military ruler: Presidential vote to be free

Egypt's military ruler says the country's upcoming presidential election will be a "model" of a free and fair vote and will reflect the will of the people.
UN team in Syria evacuated from tense town 09:28 May 16, 2012
Syria blasts might be sign al-Qaida is penetrating rebellion 06:19 May 16, 2012
Syrian rebels get influx of arms with US help 00:19 May 16, 2012
Iran's tough nuclear stance masks struggles at top 02:35 May 16, 2012

Anger, drama at Ratko Mladic's genocide trial

He's no longer the swaggering general who held Sarajevo "in the palm of his hand" during Bosnia's 1992-95 war. Yet as his long-awaited genocide trial began Wednesday, Ratko Mladic still managed to reopen old wounds with the flick of his hand.
UK minister: Cyberattack could prompt NATO action 14:52 May 16, 2012
German sues Macedonia in EU human rights court 14:50 May 16, 2012
Charles Taylor says he's sorry for those hurt by war crimes 14:49 May 16, 2012
New French president forced to backtrack on Afghanistan pullout vow 06:28 May 16, 2012

North Korea nuclear reactor construction progressing

A U.S.-based institute said Wednesday new satellite imagery shows that North Korea has resumed building work on a reactor after months of inactivity.
Philippine militants free kidnapped Malaysian 02:32 May 16, 2012
Taiwan to build ‘stealth’ warship fleet 22:27 May 15, 2012
Blind China activist speaks by phone to Congress 18:21 May 15, 2012
Okinawa marks 40th anniversary of return to Japanese sovereignty 11:30 May 15, 2012

Ramstein-based staff sergeant killed by train 09:08 May 16, 2012
GAO cites bad bookkeeping in Guard's State Partnership Program 08:56 May 16, 2012
DODEA eighth-graders score higher than stateside peers on science test 08:30 May 16, 2012
Turkish attack on civilians tied to information from US military drone 01:30 May 16, 2012
EU forces mount first attack on Somali pirates' onshore bases 15:21 May 15, 2012
Pop-Tarts and Kool-Aid: Germans line up for American classics at KFI 12:00 May 15, 2012
World War II bomb found in Kaiserslautern downtown 11:51 May 15, 2012
Breedlove tapped to replace Welsh as USAFE commander 03:36 May 14, 2012
Welsh known for his compassion for airmen 03:35 May 14, 2012
Weaponry and camaraderie at international shooting competition 03:35 May 14, 2012

DODEA eighth-graders score higher than stateside peers on science test 08:30 May 16, 2012
Commissary major quality-of-life improvement at small base in Korea 03:31 May 16, 2012
Cost to relocate Marines off Okinawa a moving target 00:10 May 16, 2012
Okinawa marks 40th anniversary of return to Japanese sovereignty 11:30 May 15, 2012
Cowpens commander sacked for adulterous affair, report shows 09:35 May 14, 2012
Troops leave Korea with a little piece of history 04:03 May 14, 2012
Fifth Air Force to get new vice commander 03:56 May 14, 2012
Nepal's fierce Gurkha soldiers find themselves under siege 06:27 May 12, 2012
Copeman takes Naval Surface Forces helm 01:50 May 11, 2012
62 years later, remains of Ohio soldier back home 14:08 May 10, 2012

Latest Blog Postings

The Ruptured Duck

Vets retraining program accepting applications

The initiative, aimed at veterans aged 35 to 60, will give monthly living stipends to workers trying to update or upgrade their job skills.
Stripes Central

Gone from Sasebo, Essex set to arrive in San Diego

USS Essex was replaced in Japan last month by the USS Bonhomme Richard.
Europe Sportsblog

AFN to stream, televise D-I baseball title game

Game to be streamed live at noon May 26 at afneurope.net, telecast at noon June 9 on Pentagon Channel
Stripes Central

Troops, families get free pass to national parks

New initiative provides easy access to more than 2,000 parks across the country.
The Ruptured Duck

Task force offers plan to make VA more female friendly

Report addressing the needs and concerns of women veterans is open for public comment until June 14.
Pacific Sportsblog

Things learned, observed in Pacific high school spring sports season Week 12.0

Intensity ruled the Berkey pitch Friday when Kinnick’s girls blanked ASIJ; a green-and-white weekend, indeed, on Okinawa.