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• AP sources: Pentagon to cut civilian furlough days

  May 14, 2013 7:53 AM

  WASHINGTON - U.S. military officials say the Defense Department leaders trying to find ways to deal with mandatory budget cuts are poised to trim the number of civilian furlough days from 14 to at least 11 and allow the military to exempt thousands of additional workers from the unpaid day... more »

• Obama: Sexual assault in military is a 'betrayal'

  May 7, 2013 1:37 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says military personnel who engage in sexual assault are betraying the uniform they are wearing. He says he has directed Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to "step up our game exponentially" to halt such assaults. In a tough statement, Obama said he wanted members of the... more »

• NKorea warns military cleared to wage nuke attack

  April 3, 2013 6:02 PM

  PYONGYANG, North Korea - The North Korean army is warning Washington that its military has been cleared to wage an attack using "smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear" weapons. The threat from the unnamed army spokesman early Thursday is latest in a series of escalating warnings from North Korea, which has... more »

• LSU endures through rough start, downs Alcorn 7-3

  April 2, 2013 10:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Shortstop Alex Bregman recorded his ninth straight multi-hit game as No. 2 LSU (27-2) defeated Alcorn State (6-27) by a score of 7-3 Tuesday night at Alex Box Stadium. Bregman, a freshman from Albuquerque, N.M., is now riding a 17-game hit streak and is hitting .619... more »

• Military Appreciation Night at Alex Box Stadium Tuesday

  April 2, 2013 3:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The LSU baseball team will salute the military Tuesday night at the ballpark when they square off again Alcorn St. Servicemen and women will be eligible for discounted tickets and the first 1500 fans through the gate at Alex Box Stadium will take home a free hat.... more »

• White House: No military moves seen in N. Korea

  April 1, 2013 12:42 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House says that despite bellicose rhetoric from North Korea the Obama administration has not seen changes in the regime's military posture. White House press secretary Jay Carney said Mondays the U.S. has not detected any military mobilization or repositioning of forces from Pyongyang to back up... more »

• 3 dead, including suspect in Marine base shooting

  March 22, 2013 10:38 AM

  QUANTICO, Va. - A lockdown has been lifted at a Marine base in Virginia, where authorities say a Marine killed a male and female colleague last night before killing himself. Authorities found the body of one Marine late last night in barracks and the bodies of two other Marines later.... more »

• Congress spares military's tuition aid program

  March 21, 2013 10:28 AM

  WASHINGTON - Congress has spared the military's tuition assistance program from the budget knife. The House cleared a bill on Thursday to keep the government running. It includes a provision reversing the decision by the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps to suspend the program. Faced with some $43 billion... more »

• Senate votes to confirm Hagel as defense chief

  February 27, 2013 8:10 AM

  WASHINGTON - Chuck Hagel is expected to take the oath of office today as defense secretary. Just four Republicans joined Democrats in confirming Hagel, a two-term Republican senator and a twice-wounded Vietnam veteran. The vote came after the GOP ended an unprecedented filibuster. President Obama called Hagel the... more »

• US Army general facing sex charges heads to court

  February 21, 2013 8:06 AM

  FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A hearing is scheduled today at Fort Bragg for a U.S. Army general charged with sexual misconduct. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair is expected in court for a hearing on pre-trial motions. Sinclair faces court martial on charges that include forcible sodomy, indecent acts, violating orders and... more »

• Young veterans struggle to find employment

  February 19, 2013 8:17 AM

  WASHINGTON - Younger military veterans who served in the years following the Sept. 11 attacks are having a hard time finding work. The unemployment rate for veterans between 18 and 24 exceeded 20 percent last year. It was also in double digits for those 25-34. The unemployment rate for both... more »

• Long-missing WWII medal to be awarded

  February 17, 2013 10:26 AM

  LOS ANGELES - A Southern California woman who never knew her father is about to receive his Purple Heart, Silver Star and other military medals he earned before he died in World War II. Hyla Merin is set to receive eight medals earned by her father 2nd Lt. Hyman Markel... more »

• FAA takes step toward widespread US drone flights

  February 15, 2013 7:14 AM

  WASHINGTON - A future in which unmanned drones are as common in U.S. skies as helicopters and airliners has moved a step closer to happening with a government request for proposals to create six drone test sites around the country. The Federal Aviation Administration made the request Thursday, kicking off... more »

• Sheriff: Vet charged in shootings won't see lawyer

  February 6, 2013 6:22 AM

  FORT WORTH, Texas - A Texas sheriff says the Iraq War veteran charged with gunning down a former Navy SEAL sniper and his friend has refused to meet with his family or court-appointed attorney. Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant says Eddie Ray Routh remained in his cell Tuesday instead of... more »

• Panetta: Drone strike decisions don't come lightly

  February 4, 2013 2:45 AM

  WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says decisions to strike potential terrorist targets with unmanned drones don't "come lightly." Panetta says those who authorize the drone strikes make sure they "are focused on somebody who is ... a direct threat to the United States." In an interview released Sunday by... more »

• 3 days of hearings set in Fort Hood shooting case

  January 30, 2013 7:30 AM

  FORT HOOD, Texas - The new judge in the Fort Hood shooting case is to decide this week whether to spare Maj. Nidal Hasan a possible death sentence and let him plead guilty in the worst mass shooting on a U.S. military installation. Pretrial hearings are scheduled Wednesday through Friday... more »

• GOP lawmakers see automatic cuts as leverage

  January 30, 2013 4:18 AM

  WASHINGTON - Republican conservatives are driving a politically risky move to permit painfully large automatic budget cuts to strike the Pentagon and domestic programs alike in an effort to force Democrats into making concessions on the budget. It's a remarkable turnabout from last year, when GOP leaders were among the... more »

• White House says Obama supports women in combat

  January 24, 2013 3:50 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says allowing women to serve in combat marks another step toward the country's founding ideals of fairness and equality. Obama says in a written statement he expressed strong support for the decision to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who lifted the combat ban Thursday. Obama says... more »

• Military women could soon be in combat

  January 24, 2013 6:56 AM

  WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce today that women will now be allowed to serve in combat roles. That presents a challenge for the Pentagon as military leaders will have to decide which, if any, jobs they believe should be open only to men. ... more »

• Judge: No TV broadcast of Guantanamo 9/11 trial

  January 3, 2013 3:03 PM

  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A military judge has denied a request to allow television broadcast coverage of the Guantanamo Bay war crimes tribunal for five men charged in the Sept. 11 attacks. Defense lawyers requested TV coverage of proceedings at the U.S. base in Cuba. But the Defense Department... more »

• 'Fiscal cliff' offers hint at more defense cuts

  December 5, 2012 7:51 AM

  WASHINGTON - House Republicans' "fiscal cliff" counteroffer to President Barack Obama hints at billions of dollars in military cuts on top of the nearly $500 billion that the White House and Congress backed last year, and even the fiercest defense hawks acknowledge that the Pentagon faces another financial hit. ... more »

• Obama: 'Still time' to resolve Iran nuke dispute

  November 14, 2012 2:12 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says there is still time for the United States and Iran to resolve an impasse over Iran's nuclear program. Obama said at a news conference Wednesday that there should be a way for Iran to enjoy "peaceful nuclear power" while still meeting international obligations and... more »

• Panetta: Don't jump to conclusions about Allen

  November 14, 2012 7:07 AM

  WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is cautioning against concluding that the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, is guilty of misconduct based on allegations now under investigation. Panetta told reporters in Australia today that he is fully confident in Allen's ability to lead in Afghanistan. The... more »

• Panetta: Aircraft not close to stop Libya attack

  November 9, 2012 2:19 PM

  WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is telling Congress that the military did not have armed aircraft near Libya that could have helped defend against the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. In a letter to Republican Sen. John McCain... more »

• Hearing airs sex crimes case against US general

  November 5, 2012 10:53 AM

  FORT BRAGG, N.C. - U.S. Army prosecutors are charging a general with sex crimes against five women, including four military subordinates and a civilian. The first details of the charges filed in September emerged at a military justice hearing Monday for Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair at Fort Bragg in North... more »

• NATO: Afghanistan drawdown plans unchanged

  October 18, 2012 6:55 AM

  KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO says its drawdown plans for Afghanistan remain unchanged and that the coalition will stay on in the country until 2014, despite calls for a quicker withdrawal. Thursday's remarks by visiting Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen come amid speculation that the U.S.-led alliance could accelerate its departure... more »

• 9/11 kin watch Gitmo hearings from Army bases

  October 15, 2012 10:45 AM

  NEW YORK - Military installations in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland are welcoming families of 9/11 victims this week to watch pretrial hearings in Cuba for five men charged in the terrorist attacks. Seven family members were viewing the Guantanamo proceedings Monday via closed-circuit television at Fort Hamilton,... more »

• Romney: Military strike on Iran may be unnecessary

  September 28, 2012 4:50 PM

  BOSTON - Mitt Romney says he doesn't believe military action will be necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The Republican presidential nominee says he discussed the issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (neh-ten-YAH'-hoo) by telephone Friday afternoon. Romney later told reporters traveling with him that it's unclear... more »

• Job fair gives vets fresh start Play Video

  September 25, 2012 5:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Hundreds of veterans and active duty military attended a job fair at the Baton Rouge River Center today. Hiring Our Heroes is a national event aimed at helping veterans and active duty military transition into the workforce. Over 55 employers attended the event, looking for vets... more »

• Ryan: Obama weak on defense in battleground Ohio

  September 24, 2012 4:21 PM

  LIMA, Ohio - Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan says President Barack Obama's attempt to cut military spending is putting Americans at risk overseas. Ryan on Monday kicked off three days of campaigning in battleground Ohio by the GOP presidential ticket. Ryan campaigned in the town of Lima (LY'-muh) that's... more »

• Iranian president dismisses war threats

  September 24, 2012 10:34 AM

  NEW YORK - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed threats of military action against Iran's nuclear program, asserting that its enrichment project is for peaceful purposes and disputing that the country is worried about Israel. Speaking to a group of editorial leaders on Monday, the first full day of his... more »

• Vote to honor veterans Play Video

  September 19, 2012 5:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE- This year your going to the ballot box can mean more than just a vote thanks to the new "Honor Vets" program instated by the Secretary of State. The program aims to encourage voters to go to the polls in honor of the men and women who... more »

• 3 service members wounded, 1 missing in shooting

  July 20, 2012 3:43 PM

  WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Defense says three members of the U.S. Armed Forces were wounded in a movie theater shooting in Colorado and one is unaccounted for. The agency says a Navy sailor was injured and a male sailor who was at the theater early Friday morning cannot... more »

• US panel: Improve child custody rules for military

  July 18, 2012 3:54 PM

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A national legal panel that works to standardize state laws is looking to simplify child custody rules for military service members, whose frequent deployments can leave them without clear legal recourse when family disputes erupt. The Uniform Law Commission is a group of some 350 attorneys appointed... more »

• Obama thanks military at July Fourth celebration

  July 4, 2012 6:23 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is marking the Fourth of July by thanking service members and their families, who he said "represent what is best in America." The president, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, hosted a barbecue and concert Wednesday for the families on the White House South Lawn.... more »

• Military: C-130 tankers to resume firefighting

  July 3, 2012 10:58 AM

  DENVER - The military says six Air Force tankers are resuming firefighting flights after a deadly crash of one tanker over the weekend. U.S. Northern Command says the flights will resume Tuesday. The entire fleet of eight planes was grounded after a C-130 crashed Sunday while fighting a wildfire in... more »

• Wreckage in Alaska is plane from the 1950's

  June 27, 2012 7:48 PM

  The wreckage of a plane found on a glacier in Alaska is a military aircraft that went down in 1952, killing all 52 aboard. The military says it was a C-124A Globemaster and was found by the Alaska National Guard on Colony Glacier. A team from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command... more »

• New soldiers take oath of enlistment Play Video

  June 14, 2012 6:07 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The U.S. Army celebrates 237 years of service today. As the Army celebrates this milestone, they're also getting some new members to keep the tradition going. Today many new soldiers took the Oath of Enlistment at a birthday celebration for the Army in Baton Rouge. Two... more »

• Romney promises world's strongest military

  May 28, 2012 3:11 PM

  SAN DIEGO - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is promising to maintain an American military "with no comparable power anywhere in the world." The presumptive Republican presidential nominee faced a San Diego crowd estimated at 5,000 on Monday in what was billed as a Memorial Day service, not a campaign... more »

• Gun explodes on USS Kidd, injures one Play Video

  May 1, 2012 11:10 AM

  BATON ROUGE- A mounted gun on the USS Kidd backfired Tuesday injuring one of the ship's caretakers. Tim Nessmith, the ship supervisor, was operating the gun when it backfired and exploded, causing severe burns and damaging his hand and arm. Maury Drummond, the executive director of the USS... more »

• Soldier comes home to excited family Play Video

  March 29, 2012 10:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Four tours of duty earned Sergeant Alvin Roane a hero's welcome home Thursday. As he arrived in Baton Rouge, family and friends met him with cheers and signs. Roane has served over four years fighting in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and he will have to... more »

• Military Family Assistance Fund may expand

  March 7, 2012 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The State Legislature will consider a proposal to expand the Military Family Assistance Fund. The proposal will allow more members of the Louisiana National Guard, Louisiana Military Reserves and their family members to qualify for funding. Those who qualify today must have incurred a financial hardship caused... more »

• McCain calls for air strikes

  March 5, 2012 2:49 PM

  WASHINGTON - Arizona Senator John McCain is calling for the United States to lead an international effort to begin air strikes against Syria. McCain said the US has a moral and strategic obligation to force out Syrian President Bashar Assad and his loyalists. Last month, McCain urged international... more »

• Military helicopters collide killing 7 Marines in Calif.

  February 23, 2012 8:16 AM

  YUMA, Ariz.- A military official says two Huey military helicopters have crashed in the Chocolate Mountains in southeast California, but it's unclear whether there are casualties. Sources say seven Marines were killed in the crash. A spokeswoman with the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona says it happened... more »

• Panetta defends military budget plan

  February 14, 2012 7:01 AM

  WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is defending his department's slimmed-down, $614 billion budget plan, telling senators it's time they show they are serious about reducing the deficit. Panetta says budget cuts will hit all 50 states, and he says the reductions were carefully planned so there is little room... more »

• Obama telephones thanks to service members abroad

  November 24, 2011 3:19 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has telephoned 10 U.S.service members stationed abroad to wish them a happy Thanksgiving and praise their military service. Obama made the calls Thursday morning from the Oval Office to two members each from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy who... more »

• Leadership changing for Louisiana National Guard

  November 3, 2011 12:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - The head of the Louisiana National Guard is retiring after more than 40 years in the military and nearly 14 years as adjutant general. Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau's retirement Thursday, saying he will be replaced with Brig. Gen. Glenn Curtis, who... more »

• Commander: More US trainers heading to Afghanistan

  September 26, 2011 12:01 PM

  WASHINGTON - The U.S. general in charge of training in Afghanistan says the number of American military trainers there will increase by 800 by next March, a nearly 45 percent jump. Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, commander of NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, told Pentagon reporters Monday that even as... more »

• Obama awards Medal of Honor to Marine

  September 15, 2011 3:11 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is awarding the military's highest honor to a Marine credited with saving 36 lives during an intense fire-fight in Afghanistan. Obama bestowed the Medal of Honor on 23-year-old Dakota Meyer during a White House ceremony. Meyer saved the lives of three dozen U.S. and... more »

• Irene tests military's revamped disaster response

  August 29, 2011 11:40 AM

  DENVER - Helping the East Coast recover from Hurricane Irene will test the military's new plan to avoid the chaos that plagued the response to Hurricane Katrina. The Defense Department says National Guard officers have been appointed as "dual-status commanders" to direct both active-duty and Guard troops helping civilian... more »

• Pennington military announcement

  August 10, 2011 6:42 PM

  Pennington Biomedical research center has a new $6 million grant to help keep our military going. It's good news for the center as it helps with funding issues. more »

• Obama ends gays in military ban

  July 22, 2011 3:40 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has formally repealed the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Administration officials say Obama on Friday signed a certification ending the 17-year-old "don't ask don't tell" policy. The president took the step, as expected, after meeting in the Oval Office with... more »

• Obamas, military families barbecue at White House

  July 4, 2011 3:49 AM

  WASHINGTON- Military families will join President Barack Obama and his family for an Independence Day barbecue at the White House. They'll be joined by staff from throughout the administration and their families for a concert, followed by a view of the fireworks from the South Lawn. This is... more »

• Officials: Man linked to DC-area shootings in 2010

  June 23, 2011 2:37 AM

  ARLINGTON, Va.- Officials say they have evidence linking a Marine reservist who was detained near the Pentagon last week to the 2010 shootings at several D.C.-area military buildings. The officials said Wednesday authorities are investigating Yonathan Melaku in the shootings. Melaku was detained Friday after he was spotted carrying a... more »

• Obama: Surge troops home by summer 2012

  June 23, 2011 2:27 AM

  WASHINGTON- President Barack Obama says he's withdrawing the "surge" of forces he sent to Afghanistan. In a speech from the White House, Obama said he's pulling 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by next summer. Of that number, 10,000 will come home by the end of the year. Obama said in a... more »

• Military department spends $8M on flood response

  June 15, 2011 4:09 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state's military department expects to spend nearly $8 million through this month to respond to the Mississippi River flooding and the preparation for high waters around Louisiana. That includes the costs of activating more than 1,100 Louisiana National Guardsmen and of providing fuel, supplies and... more »

• US military: 2 US soldiers killed in southern Iraq

  June 14, 2011 6:09 AM

  BAGHDAD- The U.S. military says two American soldiers have been killed while conducting operations in southern Iraq. The statement released today didn't give details on the operations, saying only the two were killed Monday. They were not identified pending notification of next of kin. The new deaths bring to 4,462... more »

• Officials: 5 US troops killed by rocket

  June 6, 2011 5:26 AM

  BAGHDAD- Iraqi security officials say that a rocket attack has killed five American troops in Iraq. Two Iraqi security officials say a barrage of at least three rockets hit an Iraqi base in eastern Baghdad on Monday morning and killed the five American troops. Earlier, the U.S. military said in... more »

• Military moms toast to troops following bin Laden death

  May 2, 2011 9:41 PM

  BATON ROUGE- For mothers of soldiers currently serving overseas, and of ones who have paid the ultimate price, it's been an emotional day. The Blue Star Moms and the Gold Star Moms shared the ups and downs of the news that Osama bin Laden was killed over a toast... more »

• Louisiana congressional delegates say no budget, no pay

  April 8, 2011 9:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A possible government shutdown means many federal workers won't get paid because they won't be able to work during a shutdown. But Congress, and the president, still get their pay checks. All three of our local Washington delegates say they're giving up their pay if the... more »

• Possibility of federal government shutdown hits home to Louisianians

  April 7, 2011 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE- If republicans and democrats don't reach a budget deal by Friday night, the government closes shop, and you're in the cross-hairs. It would be the first shutdown in 19 years. If the worst happens, the IRS will stop taking tax forms through the mail and will... more »

• US fighter jet crashes in Libya

  March 22, 2011 5:52 AM

  LONDON- The U.S. military says an Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle has crashed in Libya, but it was not shot down. Vince Crawley, a spokesman for the Africa Command, says both crew members were ejected and sustained minor injuries. Crawley said the plane was not shot down and may... more »

• Obama: US ready to enforce sanctions in Libya

  March 18, 2011 2:01 PM

  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says the U.S. will help its allies enforce a no-fly zone over parts of Libya if Moammar Gadhafi does not immediately cease military actions against rebels. Obama said the U.S. would not send ground forces to Libya. He told reporters at the White... more »

• Daughter's DNA could bring missing father home

  February 26, 2011 6:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Lt. Cdr. Kerry Sully has spent her whole life searching for her father, Air Force Major Wayne G. Brown, who went missing in action during the Vietnam war. Saturday afternoon she got a helping hand in her search thanks to the US Military. Sully, along with dozens of... more »

• House votes to let Pentagon sponsor NASCAR races

  February 18, 2011 1:28 PM

  WASHINGTON - The House has voted to let the Pentagon continue using taxpayer dollars to sponsor NASCAR race teams. By a 281-148 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum that would have ended the practice. McCollum aides said the Army is spending $7 million... more »

• Gulf seafood sales get a boost from the military

  February 5, 2011 11:12 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Sales of Gulf of Mexico seafood are getting a boost from the military after being hammered by last year's BP oil spill, which left consumers fearing the water's bounty had been tainted. Milt Ackerman, president of Military Solutions Inc., says 10 products including fish, shrimp, oysters, crab... more »

• Members of 239th deploy for Iraq mission

  January 3, 2011 5:40 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana National Guard hosted a deployment ceremony for members of the 239th Military Police Company as they head to Fort Bliss, Texas for training before leaving for Iraq. Their mission will be to train Iraqi security and police forces in support of Operation New Dawn. Friends... more »

• Obama signs 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal

  December 22, 2010 10:38 AM

  WASHINGTON- President Barack Obama says valor and sacrifice in the armed forces are no longer defined by sexual orientation. Obama spoke Wednesday morning at the Interior Department, where he signed a landmark law ordering America's armed services to let gay men and women serve openly for the first time. Surrounded... more »

• Obama plans to sign repeal of gay ban Wednesday

  December 20, 2010 12:52 PM

  WASHINGTON - The White House says President Barack Obama plans to sign the repeal of the military's ban on openly gay service members on Wednesday, four days after the Senate voted to abolish the policy. Obama's signature would end the Pentagon's 17-year, "don't-ask, don't tell" policy and fulfill a... more »

• Senate votes to overturn military gay ban

  December 18, 2010 4:32 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - In a landmark for gay rights, the Senate on Saturday voted to let gays serve openly in the military, giving President Barack Obama the chance to fulfill a campaign promise and repeal the 17-year policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." Obama was expected to sign... more »

• Senate sets final vote on lifting military gay ban

  December 18, 2010 12:05 PM

  WASHINGTON- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Senate will take a final vote Saturday afternoon on legislation that would overturn the military ban on openly gay troops. The vote on ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is set for 3 p.m. before senators turn to a nuclear... more »

• House votes again to lift restrictions on gays

  December 16, 2010 4:15 AM

  WASHINGTON - The Senate will get one last chance to dismantle the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy before going home for the year. The House on Wednesday sent senators legislation that would end the 1993 law that forbids recruiters from asking about sexual orientation and troops from acknowledging that... more »

• House votes to repeal ban on open gays in military

  December 15, 2010 4:27 PM

  WASHINGTON - The House has voted to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that has stifled the service of gays in the military. The strong House vote to end the policy that since 1993 has barred openly gay people from military service shifts the debate to the Senate. There,... more »

• Senate blocks repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'

  December 9, 2010 3:20 PM

  WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans have blocked legislation that would have repealed the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell" and allowed gay troops to serve openly. Democrats failed Thursday to cinch a procedural deal with Republicans in the waning days of the lame-duck session. The 57-40 test vote fell three... more »

• Senate to vote on gays in the military

  December 8, 2010 2:33 PM

  WASHINGTON- Gay rights groups are calling on President Obama to help ensure today's Senate vote on repealing the Pentagon's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy succeeds. The vote will be procedural, to open the measure up for debate. If it fails, the bill will be considered dead for the year.... more »

• McCain Calls Study on Gays in Military Flawed

  December 2, 2010 10:44 AM

  WASHINGTON - Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain says a new Pentagon study on gays serving openly in the military is flawed and shouldn't be used to leverage a reversal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. McCain's statement, given Thursday at a Senate hearing, puts him at odds with Adm.... more »

• GOP Senators say no quick end to `don't ask, don't tell'

  November 28, 2010 10:45 AM

  WASHINGTON - A leading Republican senator is playing down the chances that a repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military will pass during the lame-duck session of Congress. The Pentagon plans to release a survey on Tuesday that's expected to show that a majority of troops... more »

• US, S Korean warships take position in Yellow Sea

  November 28, 2010 10:43 AM

  YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea - A U.S. supercarrier and South Korean destroyer have taken up position in the Yellow Sea for joint military exercises. The united show of force comes just days after a deadly North Korean artillery attack. North Korea says it will be "merciless" if U.S.-South Korean military... more »

• Military head wants policy on gays to end soon

  November 21, 2010 9:57 AM

  WASHINGTON D.C.- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he supports Congress using its lame-duck session to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Adm. Mike Mullen says he backs action before the new Congress in January - if that's what it takes to... more »

• 1 charged in military laptop theft

  November 20, 2010 1:25 PM

  Naval investigators are searching for more suspects believed to be involved in the theft of as many as 300 laptop computers from Navy facilities in Tennessee, Louisiana and Pennsylvania. One suspect, 33-year-old Yaw Owusu, of Memphis, admitted receiving $50,000 for about 150 laptops he stole and was bound over... more »

• La. Guard heads back to Jackson Barracks

  November 1, 2010 5:22 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard is moving back the Jackson Barracks, five years after Hurricane Katrina flooded most of the military post. Friday there will be a ceremony with military and local officials expected to be on hand when the post becomes the Louisiana National Guard's headquarters. Half... more »

• Military recruiters told to accept gay applicants

  October 19, 2010 12:12 PM

  A Pentagon spokeswoman says recruiters have been told that they must accept gay applicants, following a federal court decision striking down the ban on gays serving openly in the military. Spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Tuesday that top-level guidance has been issued to recruiting commands informing them that the military's "don't... more »

• Department of Justice challenges 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ruling

  October 14, 2010 7:01 PM

  The Department of Justice asked a federal judge to allow the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to continue while it appeals an end to the ban on homosexuals serving openly. The judge ordered the Pentagon to stop enforcing the ban two days ago. News 2’s Rob Krieger... more »

• Judge orders 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' injunction

  October 12, 2010 2:40 PM

  A federal judge has issued a worldwide injunction stopping enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, ending the military's 17-year-old ban on openly gay troops. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips' landmark ruling Tuesday was widely cheered by gay rights organizations that credited her with getting accomplished what President Obama... more »

• Army: Ex-soldier takes 3 hospital workers hostage

  September 6, 2010 11:29 AM

  The Army says a former soldier demanding behavioral treatment took three workers hostage at a Georgia military hospital before surrendering. Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson says no one was hurt during the short standoff early Monday at the post's Winn Army Community Hospital. Larson says the man was... more »

• Military needs Suicide Prevention Office

  August 24, 2010 7:29 PM

  An independent task force report says the Pentagon needs to establish a new office of suicide prevention to help the military services decrease the high rate among troops. The report was ordered by Congress and revealed 1,100 members of the military killed themselves from 2005 to 2009. Sharp increases are... more »

• Four airmen killed in crash at Alaska military base

  July 29, 2010 9:08 AM

  A board of military officers is investigating a plane crash at an Air Force base in Alaska that killed all four airmen on board. Three of the men were in the Alaska Air National Guard and the fourth was on active duty at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Their names have... more »

• Salute 2 Hometown Heroes: St. Clair Bienvenu

  July 2, 2010 6:32 PM

  Volunteers were the backbone of the military during World War II. Many of the best came from Baton Rouge. News 2’s Rob Krieger got answers on why one LSU student decided to sit in a cock pit instead of a classroom. more »

• US Stops refueling tanker planes in Kyrgyzstan

  June 1, 2010 12:11 PM

  The Pentagon has announced military plans to stop refueling tanker planes at the Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan, while the U.S. renegotiates with the local government on how much it will pay for fuel. The base is considered an important transit center for sending troops and suipplies in and... more »

• Revised bill could make drop outs join military

  May 20, 2010 4:22 PM

  Students who drop out of school may be required to join the Louisiana National Guard or other branch of military service, under an amended bill that cleared the Senate Education Committee today. Judges hearing a truancy case could order the high school student to enlist, re-enroll in school or... more »

• Controversial bill would require drop outs to join military

  May 13, 2010 7:08 PM

  A state lawmaker says teens that drop out of high school should be forced to join the military. The bill caused a lot of controversy at the capitol today. News 2's Mike Steele tells us whether bill is moving forward. more »