On a bitter cold winter morning explosive ordnance disposal technicians conducted training exercises Jan. 10 at Fort Carson, Colo. designed to simulate the mental and physical fatigues experienced while deployed.

Soldiers assigned to Company C, 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, showcased their tactical combat skills during a situational training exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., Jan. 16.

Upon arriving at the simulated Afghanistan village of Marghoz, the "Maintaineer" soldiers conducted key leader engagements with local national leaders, treated citizens with minor ailments and displayed their ability to proficiently react to contact and counterattack the enemy during the trauma lane training scenario.

Joint statement on behalf of the Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh, and the Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the Pentagon has dropped its ban on women in combat positions.

Panetta says allowing women to serve in combat will strengthen the U.S. military's ability to win wars. He said they have "proven their ability to serve in an expanding number of roles."

Speaking at a Pentagon ceremony in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr., Panetta said the military is more capable, and more powerful "when we use all of the great diverse strengths of the American people.''

The U.S. Navy Marksmanship Team (USNMT) is looking for new members to participate in Navy and inter-service rifle and pistol matches. All active-duty and reserve Sailors are welcomed and encouraged to participate.

A Defense Department inspector general investigation into allegations of professional misconduct has cleared Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said yesterday.

In a statement, Little said Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was pleased to learn the investigation did not substantiate the allegations and that the inspector general has closed the investigation.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, teamed up with the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, to conduct air medical evacuation training at Fort Wainwright Alaska's Combined Arms Collective Training Facility, Jan. 14-16.

About 120 soldiers from the 1-5th were trained on medevac procedures and received hands-on experience with the help of pilots from the 1-52nd.

Assistant operations officer for the 1-5th, 2nd Lt. Christopher Dubois, coordinated and oversaw the training.

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) arrived Jan. 20 to the 4th Fleet's Area of Responsibility (AOR) for a scheduled six-month deployment to conduct Operation Martillo.

Thach's crew of 220 Sailors and embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team (LEDET) will conduct Counter Transnational Organized Crime (C-TOC) operations designed to improve maritime stability within the region and protect free use of the sea lanes by thwarting the activities of drug traffickers and criminal organizations.

“We just hit checkpoint two,” reported Lance Cpl. Joseph S. Holder, a field radio operator with 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, to the command operations center as he called in his position. “We’re about to go black out, over.”

Holder, a Roxboro, N.C., native, who went by the call sign “Goose,” held his handset close to his ear and waited for a response.
“All right, let’s do it,” he said.

The driver killed the vehicle’s lights, and the convoy set out as darkness swallowed the road ahead.