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Operation Resiliency aims to counter veteran suicides
December 15, 2022 — Operation Resiliency seeks to take advantage of the bonds forged in combat to help end the epidemic of suicides among U.S. veterans... MORE

Men dressed in casual clothing share a hug.

U.S. honors service members involved in Afghan evacuation
September 1, 2022 — All units involved in the retrograde operation from Afghanistan will be awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation or its equivalent, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder announced... MORE

A man in a military uniform speaks during a news conference.

Artificial intelligence, autonomy will play crucial role in warfare, general says
February 9, 2022 — The use of autonomy and artificial intelligence will play an increasingly vital role in military operations in such places as the Middle East, where U.S. forces no longer have a sizeable military presence, an Army general said... MORE

An aircraft launches from an aircraft carrier.

Hicks discusses DOD issues, career advice in 'Smart Women, Smart Power'
October 5, 2021 — The first woman in the No. 2 leadership position at the Department of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks, discussed myriad military issues at the ''Smart Women, Smart Power'' event Oct. 1... MORE

A woman participates in a virtual conversation. The sign behind her indicates that she is speaking from the Pentagon.

DOD leaders address Bagram departure, noncombatant evacuation operation timing
September 30, 2021 — Following the U.S. departure from Afghanistan, some questioned the handover of Bagram Air Base. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said maintaining a presence there would not have helped the U.S. mission during the waning days of the 20-year war. ... MORE

Three men sit behind a long table. The wall behind them is covered by paintings and seals.

DOD intends to mandate Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Pentagon official says
August 24, 2021 — Since the Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it's very likely the vaccine will soon become mandatory for Defense Department personnel, the Pentagon press secretary said... MORE

A female soldier wearing a face mask and gloves points a finger and watches as another soldier, whose face mask is pulled down beneath his chin, swabs his nose.

Defense Department will provide options for 'Operation Allies Refuge'
July 15, 2021 — For 20 years in Afghanistan, Afghan nationals lent assistance to the military operations led by American service personnel. With operations in that country closing out by the end of August, the U.S. government has made plans to move those civilians and their families to other locations... MORE

A man stands behind a lectern. Behind him is a sign that reads "The Pentagon."

Austin approves plan to transfer authority, retrograde should be done by end of August
July 6, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III approved a plan to transfer authority from Army Gen. Austin S. Miller to Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie as part of the drawdown process from Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said... MORE

DOD budget request boosts research, nuclear modernization, includes 2.7% pay raise
May 28, 2021 — The fiscal year 2022 Defense Department budget request includes the largest-ever research, development, test and evaluation request — $112 billion, which is a 5.1% increase over fiscal 2021... MORE

A helicopter flies while a crew member inside the helicopter prepares an emergency re-supply drop.

Austin says NATO, U.S. Forces will leave Afghanistan, continue support to Afghan forces
April 15, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III wholeheartedly supports President Joe Biden's decision to end America's longest war by September 11. ... MORE

A man in business attire stands at a lectern with microphones and U.S. and NATO flags behind him.

U.S. completes troop-level drawdown in Afghanistan, Iraq
January 19, 2021 — Troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan have dropped, acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller announced Jan. 15. There are now 2,500 U.S. service members in Iraq and 2,500 in Afghanistan. It is the lowest number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan since operations started there in 2001... MORE

DOD anticipates significant troop reduction in Afghanistan
September 24, 2020 — Based on the current conditions in Afghanistan, the Defense Department expects there will be fewer than 5,000 U.S. military service members in that country by the end of November, said David F. Helvey, who is currently performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs... MORE

A crew member assigned to the scans his sector while providing security during a flight aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a fly-to-advise mission Dec. 14, 2019, in Southeastern Afghanistan.

Afghan, U.S., NATO officials call declaration a path for peace
March 2, 2020 — Under an agreement signed in Doha, Qatar, all foreign troops may be out of Afghanistan in 14 months, officials said in the Afghan capital of Kabul... MORE

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and two other civilians walk on a red carpet.

AFIMSC engineer honored with Bronze Star
February 14, 2020 — Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center commander Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox awarded the Bronze Star to Capt. Shane Lockridge at a commander’s call at JBSA-Lackland Feb. 13. Lockridge received the award for his performance as director of operations and engineer advisor for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from March 2018 to February 2019. ... MORE

Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center commander, awards the Bronze Star to Capt. Shane Lockridge at a commander’s call Feb. 13.

AETC Air Advisor is Sijan Leadership Award winner
January 30, 2020 — Lt. Col. Carl Miller won the 2019 Lance P. Sijan United States Air Force Leadership Award in the senior officer category for his achievements while deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, leading the execution of a $1.5 billion security assistance program as commander of the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Carl Miller, 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron commander, flies a C-208 Caravan over northern Afghanistan in this undated photo. Miller was named a 2019 Lance P. Sijan United States Air Force Leadership Award winner in the senior officer category. (Courtesy Photo)

Joint Army-Air Force-Navy medical partnership saves lives downrange
October 25, 2019 — At any given time, there are over 100 medics deployed worldwide from the 59th Medical Wing, executing a Joint U.S. mission in support of global operations. ... MORE

Airmen work with members of the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation team to save the life of a NATO troop at the Craig Joint-Theater Hospital on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Feb. 18, 2016

Lone Star Gunfighters train future warfighters
November 7, 2018 — The 149th Fighter Wing, known as the Lone Star Gunfighters, is an F-16 training unit that is a part of the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas Military Department. Based out of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the cornerstone of the 149th's flying mission is the 182nd Fighter Squadron, whose role is to take pilots, either experienced aircrew or recent graduates from U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, or UPT, and qualify them to fly the F-16... MORE

Maj. Thomas Werner, an instructor pilot assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, performs air-to-air drills in an F-16 Fighting Falcon June 25 near Čáslav Air Base in the Czech Republic during Sky Avenger 2018.

Mission and Installation Contracting Command unit returns' from deployment
May 9, 2018 — Leaders from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command's 418th Contracting Support Brigade uncased their organization colors during a ceremony April 20 at Fort Hood, Texas, following the unit's return from deployment to Afghanistan... MORE

Col. Lynda Armer (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Darnyell Parker uncase the 418th Contracting Support Brigade colors during a ceremony April 20 at Fort Hood, Texas. The uncasing of organizational colors signals the return from deployment to Afghanistan for the unit. Armer is the 418th CSB commander and Parker is the brigade command sergeant major.

Trauma care innovations saving Soldiers' lives, says USAISR commander
March 8, 2018 — Col. Shawn C. Nessen, a trauma surgeon who served on the battlefields of Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan from 2006 to 2008, credits three trauma care procedures as being among those responsible for saving the most lives. Nessen is commander of the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, or USAISR, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. ... MORE

Col. Shawn C. Nessen (center), commander of the 541st (Airborne) Forward Surgical Team in Afghanistan, works on a patient in the operating room while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Many U.S. Troops Serving Overseas During the Holidays
December 22, 2017 — It’s the holidays, and millions of Americans are making their way to visit family and friends. And many of those travelers are military personnel returning home from their duty stations. But hundreds of thousands of military personnel will not be traveling. They will be continuing to protect the United States. And they are based around the globe. ... MORE

Members of the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron participate in a white elephant gift exchange Dec. 25, 2016 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The mission continued over the holiday, but service members took time to celebrate the holiday by talking with their families and spending time with their units.