*Photo courtesy of U.S. Army

As more U.S. troops die in Iraq, end of the mission there remains unclear

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say there is no sign Iraqi leaders are closer to asking Americans to extend their stay beyond Dec. 31, even as Monday’s triple rocket attack that killed five U.S. soldiers in Baghdad punctuated a recent increase in violence.

Increasing number of Americans say Afghan war is worth fighting

The number of Americans who say the war in Afghanistan is worth fighting has increased for the first time since President Barack Obama announced at the end of 2009 that he would increase troop levels, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Health Care Costs New Threat To U.S. Military

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says pension and health care costs are eating the U.S. military alive. And the Pentagon predicts that the cost of taking care of its troops and retirees will keep growing.

Labor Department Grants to Provide Veterans Job Training

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2011 — As part of an interagency effort to support America’s veterans, the Labor Department today announced $37 million in grants to provide job training for about 21,000 veterans, many of them homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Military Tuition Assistance Cuts Looming

Ear­lier this year I wrote that there were some rum­blings about the DoD bud­get cuts pos­si­ble affect on mil­i­tary tuition assis­tance. At that time it appeared that the ser­vice branches may be prepar­ing to restrict access or reduce the $4,500 annual tuition assis­tance cap.

5 US soldiers killed in Baghdad rocket attack

BAGHDAD (AP) — Five American troops serving as advisers to Iraqi security police in eastern Baghdad were killed Monday when rockets slammed into the compound where they lived. The deaths were the largest single-day loss of life for American forces in two years.

Army’s 101st Pays High Price for Afghan Surge Year

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — The Soldiers of the U.S. Army’s famed 101st Airborne Division deployed to Afghanistan confident their counterinsurgency expertise would once again turn a surge strategy into a success but are headed home uncertain of lasting changes on the battlefield.

Gates Says US Support Troops Should Go Home First

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WALTON, Afghanistan — A soon-to-begin U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan should leave combat power intact as long as possible to press an anti-Taliban offensive, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday. He said support troops should go first.

Radiation fears outpaced the facts after quake, USFJ commander says

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — As the specter of potential nuclear contamination spread throughout Japan in the week following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the top U.S. military commander in the country felt as uncertain as many of the Americans under his protection.

Pakistan, Militants In Deadly Border Fight

There is worry that violent militants inside Pakistan could destabilize the country.

American officials want Pakistan to intensify its fight against those militants because they complicate the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s army has repeatedly driven out the Taliban from tribal zones near its border with Afghanistan. But the militants won’t stay beaten.

Mullen Says Pay, Benefit Cuts ‘On the Table’

The Pentagon’s top officer said Thursday that servicemembers will likely see cuts in pay and benefits as the military plumbs its budget for nearly half a trillion dollars in savings over the next 12 years.

House GOP Crafts Bill on US Role in Libya

WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders crafted legislation on Thursday allowing the U.S. military to continue participating in the NATO-led operation against Libya as the Pentagon warned that any statement of congressional opposition would send “an unhelpful message of disunity and uncertainty” to U.S. troops, allies and Moammar Gadhafi’s regime.