Inside the DoD

This week Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has been visiting military leaders in South America, affirming military-to-military relationships and discussing security issues on the continent.

General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also been traveling. He has visited troops in Afghanistan and is taking part in a NATO conference in Brussels, Belgium. At the NATO conference General Dempsey and other NATO defense leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the mission in Afghanistan.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in the Department of Defense. Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno released a message to soldiers and their families about the Army's Sexual Harassment, Assault Response and Prevention, or "SHARP" program.

The Budget Control Act has asked that the Marine Corps downsize by 20-thousand marines for a post Afghanistan environment and the Marine Corps has accepted the challenge. Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos said that even though the Marine Corps will be smaller, it will remain just as capable.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Department of Defense is highlighting its campaign to end sexual assault in the military.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta traveled to Brussels, Belgium, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for joint ministerial meetings with NATO allies and International Security Assistance Force partners. The meetings precede this summer's NATO summit in Chicago.

The secretary and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey testified before the House Armed Services Committee regarding the ongoing situation in Syria.

President Barack Obama announced April 16 that Army Spc. 4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr. will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor. Sabo was killed during an ambush after shielding an injured soldier from a grenade blast and destroying an enemy bunker. The explosion that destroyed the bunker also killed Sabo. He had been nominated by his unit for the award, but his paperwork had been lost until recently.

The U.S. and a broad coalition of nations and non-governmental organizations are prepating for Pacific Partnership 2012, a humanitarian and medical exercise set to begin in May. The hospital ship USNS Mercy will deliver in-country aid to Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke on a Sesame Workshop panel to discuss the "Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings and Changes" campaign and other collaborations between the Sesame Workshop and Department of Defense to help military children cope with the unique stresses of military family life.

In "This Week in the DoD" for April 13:

This week marked the one-year anniversary of the Joining Forces campaign, a program focused on military families led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. The White House celebrated the anniversary, and Obama appeared on a special military-focused episode of "The Colbert Report."

Two service members were awarded their service's second-highest honors this week. U.S. Air Force Capt. Barry Crawford was given the Air Force Cross for his leadership and bravery during a special tactics operation in a Taliban stronghold. U.S. Army Sgt. Felipe Pereira received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions following a suicide attack and ambush in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In Virginia Beach, Va., an F/A-18 fighter jet crashed, hitting an apartment complex. The air crew ejected safely; nobody was killed in the crash. The Navy is currently looking into the reasons for the mishap and beginning the compensation process for people who lost their homes and property.

In Morocco, a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey went down, killing two Marines. The crew, operating from the USS Iwo Jima, were taking part in Exercise African Lion, an annual bilateral training exercise between the U.S. military and the Kingdom of Morocco.

This year, Tax Day is Tuesday, April 17. Certain service members and military families have different deadlines, and there are services available to troops who haven't yet filed.

In "This Week in the DoD" for April 6:

Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn spoked with Soldiers' Radio and Television about the state of affairs in Afghanistan's Regional Command-East and the region's future.

Pentagon Press Secretary and acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs George Little delivered his first press briefing in the role of assistant secretary. He fielded questions about a possible North Korean missile test and about operations in Afghanistan.

April is the Month of the Military Child. Barbara Thompson, director of Military Community and Family Policy for Children and Youth, spoke with the Pentagon Channel about the month, and what it means to be a military child today.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta visited troops aboard the USS Peleliu, commending them for their role in Afghanistan and outlining a defense strategy that will work well into the future. He said the crew of the Peleliu exemplifies the capabilities the future force will need.

National Guard and civilian dentists, and one oncologist, visited Moldova to help teach dentists there and provide care for dozens of children in need. The visit was part of the North Carolina-Moldova state partnership, established in 1995.

President Barack Obama visited troops in the Republic of Korea while in the country for an international nuclear summit. At the summit, he re-affirmed the United States' commitment to security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts in Ottawa, Ontario, where the three discussed shared problems and possible collaborative solutions.

Marine Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, briefed reporters at the Pentagon on the current situation there. He also addressed the case of alleged shooter Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who is facing charges in the deaths of 17 Afghan civilians.

Air Force Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger is the first woman to hold the rank of four-star general in the U.S. Air Force. Her promotion was confirmed Monday, March 26.

For Women's History Month, we've bene sharing stories of women who have made military history. This week, for our final women's history Profile in Heritage, we share the story of Maj. Gen. Jeanne Holm, the first woman to become a general and the first in the Air Force to reach Major General. Click here for the full video profile.

Special thanks to the Holm family and the Library of Congress. [Jeanne Holm (AFC 2001/001/4293), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.]

In "This Week in the DoD" for March 16:

Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, visited Congress in Washington, D.C., to discuss progress and plans for the future in Afghanistan.

Because March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, the Pentagon hosted roundtables bringing DoD officials and doctors together to discuss issues with traumatic brain injuries, how they affect service members and how they can be better treated and prevented.

All-Hands Radio Network brings us news from the Navy: The USS Enterprise has embarked on its final mission, and drug tests for sailors will now include commonly abused prescription drugs and synthetic drugs.

To celebrate Women's History Month, we bring you some of the first women to serve in the U.S. Navy as "WAVES" (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service").

The Military Health System may be undergoing some significant changes, including the creation of a new agency to absorb the TRICARE Management Activity, under the DoD budget request for fiscal 2013.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta hosted a townhall meeting at Camp Leatherneck, in Afghanistan. There, he lauded the cooperation among coalition forces and the successes NATO troops have had in the area despite recent violent incidents in the country.

The soldier suspected of leaving his post and killing 17 Afghan civilians, including women and children, as been moved from Afghanistan to a military detention facility outside of Afghanistan, Defense Department Spokesman Capt. John Kirby confirmed in an interview.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho shared a message with soldiers about brain injuries and the Army's efforts to treat and care for brain injury patients.

Army Sgt. Maj. William O. Wooldridge, the first Sergeant Major of the Army, has passed away. Wooldridge, who served in the Army for more than 30 years, received two Silver Stars for gallantry in action while fighting in Europe during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Patty. He was 89 years old.

March is Women's History Month and the Naval Heritage and History Command has a section of their website devoted to Navy women, including videos, articles, oral histories and other documents. Recently, an all-female team of Naval aviators made history by running the first all-female combat mission in an E-2C Hawkeye.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta visited troops from the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky., to host a townhall meeting. He took questions on a variety of topics, including recent "Blue on Green" crimes by Taliban infiltrators in the Afghan National Security Force.

Tornadoes and extreme weather struck the midwestern and southeastern United States and the National Guard was ready to help with rescue, cleanup and recovery operations. In Henryville, Ind., a town devastated by the tornadoes, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger met with residents, the press and the troops helping get the city back on its feet.

A new settlement between the U.S. government and major housing lenders will have major implications for service members who have faced foreclosure in recent years. President Barack Obama outlined some of the benefits those service members may receive.

In "This Week in the DoD" for March 2:

The armed forces medical examiner at the Dover Port Mortuary in Dover, Delaware, positively identified the remains of a soldier who was considered "missing - captured" since 2006. Staff Sergeant Ahmed Altaie was the final missing solider and casualty to be recovered from the Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn missions.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted veterans of the Iraq war and their families for dinner at the White House on Wednesday night. The Dinner, aptly named "A Nation's Gratitude", served as a symbol of thanks and appreciation on to the veterans on behalf of a grateful nation. Service members from every state and a gold star family attended the dinner.

Marine Sergeant Major Bryan Battaglia, the senior enlisted adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has released a statement on suicide in the military. He asks service members to seek help for themselves and others if they are having a hard time, and to speak out.

Press Secretary George Little and DoD Spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby said recent attacks in Afghanistan aren't going to derail the coalition strategy in the country. Regardless of the rise of so-called "green on blue" crimes involving attacks by Afghan National Security Forces on NATO International Security Forces troops, Little says overall the positive relationship between the two should not obscured by a few negative incidents.

President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring March as Women's History Month. The President stated that this month is a time to commemorate the struggles, celebrate the centuries of progress, and reaffirm the nation's steadfast commitment to the rights, security and dignity of women in America and around the world.

The Military Saves campaign is working to get service members and military families on their best financial footing. Barbara Thompson, director for the Office of Family Policy for Children and Youth, explains some of the financial planning and readiness tools available through Military Saves.

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter visited NATO and Afghan leaders in Kabul to discuss the ongoing mission in Afghanistan, and to apologize for the accidental inappropriate disposal of copies of the Quran by service members. International Security Assistance Forces commander Marine Gen. John Allen has also released a statement.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey visited troops at Naval Air Station Pensacola for a town hall meeting. He spoke with the Florida-based service members about the Defense Department's budget as well as its future implications for the military.

And with the tax deadline getting closer each day, the Pentagon Channel brings us some tax tips for service members.