BASRA, Iraq (AP) — The top U.S. military officer quizzed Iraqi leaders Friday about the influence and motives of next-door Iran as national elections approach, but made no promises when his hosts asked for surveillance equipment and other help to keep an eye on their neighbors. Hours before Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint [...]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate headed for a Saturday morning vote on a package that funds the Pentagon and keeps other key programs, including benefits for the unemployed and highway spending, from expiring. It’s the third straight weekend on the job as the Senate struggles to wrap up its work for the year. The defense [...]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Defense says it’s making improvements to make it easier for service members and their families to register to vote when they move to a new base. Under a policy change, service members are to be offered voter registration materials and assistance whenever they are deployed or transferred between bases. [...]

VALLEY CENTER, Calif. (AP) — When Carlos Rivera returned from fighting in Iraq and found work as an electrician, he felt co-workers who knew about his military experience were gawking at him. He went home angry each day. That’s not a problem at his current job working alongside other combat veterans picking avocados, mixing organic [...]

The last newbuilding of a series of 3,400 TEU container ships entered the waters at the Emden-based TKMS Blohm + Voss Nordseewerke – a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. This technical launch took place nine months after the laying down of the first double-bottom section. Once fully afloat, the vessel was immediately hauled over to [...]

Vice Adm. David Architzel, Principal Military Deputy Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, signed the donation contract officially transferring title and ownership of the historic battleship ex-USS Wisconsin (BB 64) to the city of Norfolk, Va. Wisconsin saw extensive action in the Pacific during the waning days of World War II and [...]

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products introduced the FUB 30 roller bed for fit-up of sections. This roller bed features a design to withstand the rugged environment in the welding industry. Designed to assemble 1+1 sections, the system is fast and easy to assemble. Each set consists of one power and one idler roller bed with [...]

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Holiday joy and holiday stress go hand in hand, especially for deployed servicemembers and their families. For those serving at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, the Air Force Mental Health Clinic and the 55th Medical Combat Stress Control clinic can assist servicemembers and civilians who are overwhelmed or overstressed this holiday [...]

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) — In order to rebalance the NCO force, more than 700 Airmen volunteered this fall to retrain through the NCO retraining program. However, more than 300 additional Airmen are needed to retrain to ensure all career fields are equally manned. Phase II, which identifies non-volunteers for retraining, begins Dec. [...]

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan Hill, Commander, Navy Reserve Force Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) — The master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) visited Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command (CNRFC) Dec. 14 to tour the facility and speak to the Sailors and staff. During his visit, MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West [...]