Inside the DoD

In "This Week in the DoD" for Feb. 17:

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey have been on Capitol Hill this week, explaining the Defense Department's new strategy and budget request to the House and Senate Armed Service Committees.

In an effort to help service members and military families keep their finances straight, the Defense Department is promoting the Military Saves Campaign. Military Saves is a program that provides financial advice to military members and their families to help reduce debt and increase savings.

First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the Pentagon Wednesday to announce a new report on military spouse employment and state licensing regulations. More than 100,000 military spouses are unemployed right now because they're unable to transfer professional licenses across state lines when they have to move.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited the Pentagon Tuesday. Xi and the Secretary of Defense discussed the importance of a strong military-to-military relationship between the U.S. and China.

During Congressional hearings Thursday, Panetta told the House Armed Services Committee that there are clear "red lines," including building a nuclear weapon and closing the Strait of Hormuz, that would prompt military action against Iran.

The Army, Air Force and Navy are all realigning their forces in Europe. The Army is disbanding some brigades and consolidating offices, the Air Force is disbanding two squadrons and the Navy is deploying four more guided-missile destroyers to Spain.

In "This Week in the DoD" for Feb. 10:

The Secretary of Defense visited troops in Germany to discuss the realignment of American forces in Europe. He also met with NATO and other European leaders in Brussels and Munich.

The Department of Defense is launching a wide-reaching initiative to encourage better nutrition and combat obesity among servicemembers and military families. The Military Health system hopes that through updated nutritional standards, the services will better maintain fitness and readiness.

Army Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Afghanistan, briefed the Pentagon press corps on the status of NATO and the United States' mission there. He said there will be a hard fight, but troops in Afghanistan have the momentum and strategy to win.

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little hosted the DoD's first Twitter Townhall, taking questions from users using the #AskDoD hashtag. Topics ranged from benefits for gay and lesbian service members to the official DoD stance on Iran.

Henry Ossian Flipper overcame incredible odds. He was the first black man to be commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army, and the first to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

In "This Week in the DoD" for Feb. 3:

February is African-American History Month. DoDLive will be featuring stories throughout the month about many notable black Americans who helped shape the U.S. military. This week we profile Lt. Harriet Ida Pickens and Ensign Frances Elizabeth Wills, the first black women to become U.S. Naval officers.

Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy is retiring. In a recent interview with the Pentagon Channel, she recounted some highlights from her three years in the position.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey spoke about the future of the military reserve corps at the Reserve Officers Association's National Security Symposium in Washington, D.C. He said now is a time to determine how best to meet military requirements within budget constraints.

Millions of people around the world will tune in this Sunday to watch the New York Giants and New England Patriots face off in Super Bowl XLVI, including thousands of troops serving abroad. Members of the Giants and Patriots extended their thanks and appreciation to service members.

President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday. He highlighted plans to invest in alternative energy, including a U.S. Navy biofuel plan. He also appealed to Congress and the American people to follow the military's example and work together to "accomplish the mission."

Meanwhile, halfway around the globe, a special operations team working closely with the FBI successfully rescued two hostages from Somalian criminals. The two had been abducted while working with a Danish non-profit group to defuse mines and other ordnance. None of the rescuers or hostages were injured during the operation.

Thursday, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey briefed the Pentagon press corps on their budget proposal for fiscal 2013. The budget reflects changed strategy as well as implements hundreds of billions of dollars in savings required by Congress.

Earlier this week, Panetta visited sailors deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which is underway in the Atlantic Ocean. There he discussed how the Navy will work to face future threats.

In "This Week in the DoD" for Jan. 20:

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta laid out four proposals to end sexual assault between service members at a Pentagon press conference. He said sexual assault has no place in the Department of Defense.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno visited troops in Hawaii. While there, he also met with regional Army leadership and the press to discuss future military operations in the Pacific.

The Army is removing two brigade combat teams from Europe. The move comes as the Defense Department is working to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from its projected budgets. The Army will maintain its presence in Europe via rotational units.

On Wednesday, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Joining Forces initiative collaborated to hold a job fair and career expo at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The expo brought hundreds of potential employers and job-seeking veterans together for career counseling, recruiting and job interviews.

As the 2012 national elections approach, service members should make sure they're compliant with current absentee voting laws. The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act included changes to absentee voting; more information is available here.

The Defense Department is adopting a new strategy that will allow the military to meet fiscal guidelines set by Congress. The military will be leaner and more mobile, leaders have said, but still able to meet future threats facing the U.S.

While many parts of the U.S. have faced relatively mild winters, several towns in Alaska are buried under snow -- in some places, more than 18 feet of it. They've enlisted the assistance of the National Guard to help dig them out of their icy predicament.

American servicemembers have rescued two Iranian crews in the Gulf of Arabia this week. The U.S. Navy rescued a crew that had been taken hostage by pirates; the U.S. Coast Guard saved the crew of a ship that had begun taking on water.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its social media presence. All of its 152 medical centers now have their own Facebook pages, and they intend to have a similar expansion on Twitter.

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. America celebrates the civil rights leader's birthday every year with a day of service. We replay some of his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have a new member: the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Air Force General Craig Mckinley became a member of the Joint Chiefs when President Barack Obama signed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act December thirty-first.

The act included other provisions specific to the National Guard including changing the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau to a three-star position and rescinding the position of Director of the Bureau's Joint Staff.

The act provides $670 billion in spending for Defense Department programs as well as nuclear weapons programs handled by the Department of Energy.

Following threats by the Iranian government, the Department of Defense has reaffirmed its position, having naval vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz, near Iran.

January is National Blood Donor Month, and the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) needs your help.

On Thursday, the Defense Department released a strategy plan that will allow for more than $450 billion in budget cuts over the next ten years while maintaining America's military superiority.

This week marks the official end of the mission in Iraq. Now soldiers are coming home and re-uniting with loved ones in time for the holidays.

On Monday Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta issued a letter to the troops. The letter comes after a week long trip to Djibouti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and Libya. It discussed his visit to the troops abroad as well as presiding over the end of mission ceremony in Bagdad. The ceremony paid tribute the nearly 4,500 service members that died in that war. He concluded by thanking our service members for the crucial role they played in making the world a safer and more hopeful place.

The National Guard has been a vital part of the coalition team protecting the U.S. Mexican border. Now, their mission along the United States' southern frontier will be changing.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died. Monday, reports from state-run t-v in North Korea filled global airwaves as people worldwide contemplated what his death will mean for the future.

In "This Week in the DoD" for Dec. 16:

The war in Iraq has officially come to a close. Thursday, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced the completion of America's military mission there and took part in a ceremony to case U.S. Forces-Iraq's colors. President Barack Obama addressed troops at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The National Guard celebrated it's 375th birthday on Tuesday. The organization we know as the National Guard began Dec. 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts General Court declared that all able-bodied men aged 16 to 60 were to join the militia.

Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy has resigned. She will remain in her position until February to ensure a smooth transition for her successor.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has issued a holiday message for service members, DoD civilians and their families.

In "This Week in the DoD" for Dec. 9:

Wednesday, Dec. 7, marked the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Commemorative ceremonies were held around the country, including Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Check out our coverage here.

You've seen the fight heating up on Facebook and Twitter, if you're in the military you've heard the trash-talking. On Saturday, the winner of the Army/Navy game will earn themselves (and their respective service) bragging rights for another year.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a joint conference call to announce the Navy's exhibition of a new biofuel at next spring's RIMPAC exercise. The biofuel blend, which requires no engine modifications and comes from non-food products, will be used to fuel all aircraft and most vessels during the Pacific Ocean exercise.