Jan. 5, 2012

Face of defense: marine, recruiter reunite in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (January 4, 2012) — Three years ago, Staff Sgt. James Pribyl, then a Marine Corps recruiter, met Ernest Wetzel at a public library in Wetzel’s hometown of Woodstock, Conn.

Jan. 4, 2012

Kandahar Air Wing rings in new year with annual open house

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (January 1, 2012) — About 350 school children and elders from Kandahar province visited the Afghan air force Kandahar Air Wing Jan. 1 during its third annual open house, where they had the opportunity to become familiar with the aircraft they often see or hear overhead.

Jan. 4, 2012

Senior marine pilot discusses progress in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (January 3, 2012) — Maj. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, the senior Marine Corps aviator in Afghanistan, commands 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), the aviation combat element for the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. He sat down to discuss the progress that has been made over the last 10 months in Helmand and Nimruz provinces under his command.

Jan. 3, 2012

SECDEF calls deployed Air Force NCO to ring in the New Year

KABUL Afghanistan (January 2, 2012) — The NCO picked up the phone in his office at Kabul International Airport and on the other end was the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta who called Jan. 1, 2012, to wish him a happy New Year.

Dec. 29, 2011

Eight soldiers receive Purple Hearts on Christmas Day in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (December 28, 2011) — While families celebrated Christmas Day exchanging gifts and sharing the holiday spirit back home, eight U.S. Army soldiers from the 14th Engineer Battalion stood in line as Marine Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and Regional Command Southwest, pinned Purple Heart medals on their chests.

Dec. 29, 2011

Female Engagement Team 8, Afghan members host children’s shura

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan (December 28, 2011) — With 53 little, smiling faces in attendance, members of Female Engagement Team 8 joined Afghan National Security Force troops recently to host a children’s shura aboard the base in Sangin district, Helmand province.

Dec. 28, 2011

Sisters reunite while deployed in Afghanistan

What started as a simple journey for U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Tess White turned into a race against time to see her sister, U.S. Army Sgt. Tobey White, before her tour of duty ended in Afghanistan.

Dec. 27, 2011

Soldiers in Afghanistan focused on Allen’s 2012 objectives

KABUL, Afghanistan (December 23, 2011) —As the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan looks to 2012 as a time to build on gains made and extend the security zone east of Kabul, the soldiers of Regional Command East know they have a vital role to play in making that possible.

Dec. 22, 2011

Dempsey: DOD to stay engaged, vigilant in Middle East

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT (December 17, 2011) — It’s too soon to calculate how the end of U.S. Forces Iraq will affect the region’s military dynamics, but the U.S. focus on the Middle East and its partner countries there is unwavering, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Dec. 21, 2011

Senior officials welcome troops home from Iraq

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (December 20, 2011) — President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed the final group of U.S. troops home from Iraq here today.