Recent blogs

• Operational Afghan air force possible, but not certain

  Literacy and lack of air support capabilities are among the challenges the Afghan air force faces to become fully operational.

• Defense secretary chats with enlisted personnel

  Chuck Hagel met with six junior enlisted servicemembers over hot dogs and sandwiches Thursday, a meeting he hopes to make happen regularly each month.

• Guantanamo joke flies over the head of some readers

  Kentucky reader contacts senator to protest fake news, prompting senator to demand answers from a bemused Pentagon.

• Troops use humor to disparage new medal

  The Distinguished Warfare Medal's precedence over Bronze Star, Purple Heart, spurs creative ire.

• Same-sex spouse named Ft. Bragg spouse of the year, offered club membership

  In a turnaround, a lesbian who had been denied membership in an officer's spouse club at Fort Bragg has offered full membership - and honored as the base's spouse of the year.

• Panetta to pope: Pray for me

  Last overseas trip as secretary of defense includes stop at Vatican

• Second Marine to face court martial in urination incident

  Staff Sgt. Edward W. Deptola is accused of urinating on the body of a dead Taliban fighter in July 2011.

• Random breathalyzer program set for Marines

  Starting in January, testing will be done at least twice a year for all

• Who's got spirit?

  Midshipmen and cadets get ready for Army-Navy game in online battle of spirited videos.

• Pentagon general counsel resigns

  Jeh Johnson says he will return to private practice in 2013.