Behind her bright brown eyes, easy smile and contagious laugh there is pain -- both physical and mental.

Retired Staff Sgt. Zuleika Cruz-Pereira joined the Army after Sept. 11, 2001, because she wanted to do something to help people.

"I wanted to go out there and do something big," she said. "I'm one of those people who it doesn't matter if I know you or not. I'm going to help you if you need help."

She enlisted as a water treatment specialist and served two tours in Southwest Asia before she joined the Air Force in 2008. During her time in the Army, Cruz-Pereira saw and experienced things that are still too painful for her to share outside of her closest confidants. Despite her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, which was undiagnosed at the time, she deployed again -- this time as a logistics Airman.
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After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary layof

Team Navy member Lt. j.g. Laura Root became the first female to ever win a gold medal in shooting at the Warrior Games, May 13, in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel released the following message on May 14 to all Department of Defense personnel:

Retired Sgt. Monica Y. Southall is working on her goal of finding missing people. But first, she had to find herself. Along the way, she has won gold for three straight years at the Warrior Games.

With a range of one-and-one-half octaves, the "Star-Spangled Banner" is widely considered a difficult song to sing. It's even more challenging to do so in front of an audience of current and former military spectators awaiting the start of an athletic event at the 2013 Warrior Games.

Cadet Command is revamping the training Cadets receive at the Leader Development and Assessment Course, to keep up with the fluidity of today's battlefield.

Army operations on the Korean Peninsula remain a top priority and are being protected from the impacts of sequestration, said the Army Pacific Commander.

After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary layoffs will now be necessary.

U.S. Army units in the Pacific remain poised to respond to an attack from North Korea while trying to cope with the competing demands of the rebalance of forces to Asia and shrinking budgets, the top ground commander in the region said Monday.

Master Sgt. Shawn Schwantes may have been a pleasant surprise for his Air Force Warrior Games coaches during the team's training camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy. But Schwantes fully expected to flourish on the track and with his teammates because he considers sports his most effective medicine.

Representing the Air Force Warrior Games team in men's open 30-kilometer cycling and 1900-meter open track and field is a natural fit because of a strong running background that includes ultra marathons with distances of 26-plus miles.
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Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan Greenert visited Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) May 13, during a trip to Singapore to meet with local officials, speak at an international maritime security conference and visit the littoral combat ship, USS Freedom.

The first day of the 2013 Warrior Games competitions kicked off with cycling events, wheelchair basketball and seated volleyball games at the Olympic Training Center at the Air Force Academy Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo, May 12.

New guidance for the Career Intermission Pilot Program (CIPP), released with the update of OPNAVINST 1330.2B, includes a provision that now permits Full Time Support (FTS) personnel to apply for CIPP.

Sailors who wish to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to eligible family members should act sooner rather than later to avoid missing out, according to Navy officials.