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Friday

U.S. Pacifies An Afghan Village, But Will It Stay That Way?

The Afghan Local Police is a semi-volunteer force. They are minimally paid and minimally trained, and when the Americans leave, they will be left to defend their country on their own. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption

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David Gilkey/NPR

Parallels

U.S. Pacifies An Afghan Village, But Will It Stay That Way?

The southern Afghan district of Arghandab has long been a Taliban stronghold, and it took years of fighting for the Americans to reduce the insurgent threat. But with the U.S. leaving, it will be up to the Afghan security forces to maintain control.

U.S. Pacifies An Afghan Village, But Will It Stay That Way?

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Thursday

As The Clock Ticks, U.S. Forces Scale Back Afghan Goals

The gray line in the upper left comes from an aerial view of Afghanistan's crucial Highway 1, the main route between Kabul and Kandahar, the two biggest cities. U.S. forces are still working to secure the route which runs through lush farm valleys and the high desert terrain. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption

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David Gilkey/NPR

Parallels

As The Clock Ticks, U.S. Forces Scale Back Afghan Goals

The 12-year U.S. military effort in Afghanistan has sought to drive out extremists and help Afghans rebuild their country. As the American forces prepare to withdraw, the focus is on practical security measures and those ambitious nation-building goals seem to be fading away.

As The Clock Ticks, U.S. Forces Scale Back Afghan Goals

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Friday

There's No Place For Sex Assaults In Military, Obama Says

President Obama delivering the commencement address Friday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Larry Downing/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Larry Downing/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

There's No Place For Sex Assaults In Military, Obama Says

"Those who commit sexual assaults are not only committing a crime, they threaten the trust and discipline that make our military strong," he said in his Naval Academy commencement address. Obama challenged graduates to follow "that inner compass that guides you not when the path is easy and obvious, but when it's hard and uncertain."

Wednesday

Tuesday

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Thursday

'He Saved Hundreds': Army Chaplain Gets Medal Of Honor

In this copy of a photograph on display at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School in Wichita, Kan., a wounded soldier is helped by Army chaplain Emil Kapaun (on the soldier's left) during the Korean War. The Kansas native died a prisoner of war in 1951. Mike Hutmacher/MCT/Landov hide caption

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Mike Hutmacher/MCT/Landov

The Two-Way

'He Saved Hundreds': Army Chaplain Gets Medal Of Honor

Emil Kapaun is being honored for his "extraordinary heroism" during the Korean War. The Catholic priest, who died in a prisoner of war camp in 1951, is also a potential candidate for sainthood.

'He Saved Hundreds': Army Chaplain Gets Medal Of Honor

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Tuesday

Tuesday

General's Dismissal Of Sex Assault Conviction Sparks Anger, Review Of System

The Pentagon. New Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wants a review of how sexual assault cases are adjudicated by the military. Jason Reed/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Jason Reed/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

General's Dismissal Of Sex Assault Conviction Sparks Anger, Review Of System

Though an officer was convicted by a military panel, that decision was overturned. The secretary of defense says he does not have the authority to step in, and has asked for recommendations on whether the Uniform Code of Military Justice needs to be amended.

Monday

Pentagon Details Which Benefits Will Be Extended To Same-Sex Partners

In 2011, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejandra Schwartz, and her daughter Destiny Bautista, were living in San Diego, Calif., with Schwartz's then-fiance, U.S. Navy Counselor 1st Class Luz Bautista, who was pregnant at the time. Then, same-sex partners weren't able to get the benefits that heterosexual couples could. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Lucy Nicholson/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Pentagon Details Which Benefits Will Be Extended To Same-Sex Partners

Commissary privileges, family center programs, dependent I.D. cards, joint duty assignments and space-available travel on military aircraft are among the benefits that will become available.

Monday

U.S. Military's Suicide Rate Surpassed Combat Deaths In 2012

U.S. military suicides rose in 2012. Here, the Army's "Generating Health and Discipline in the Force" report, right, is seen last January. The reports was a follow-up to its "Health Promotion/Risk Reduction/Suicide Prevention" report. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Two-Way

U.S. Military's Suicide Rate Surpassed Combat Deaths In 2012

The number of deaths by suicide in the U.S. military surged to a record 349 last year — more than the 295 Americans who died fighting in Afghanistan in 2012. The numbers were first reported by the AP; NPR has confirmed them.

Tuesday

Gays Separated From Military Since Late '04 To Get Full Discharge Pay

Dec. 21, 2011: Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va. Gaeta's ship had returned from 80 days at sea. Their "first kiss" that day was a first of its kind for the Navy. Brian J. Clark/The Virginian-Pilot/AP hide caption

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Brian J. Clark/The Virginian-Pilot/AP

The Two-Way

Gays Separated From Military Since Late '04 To Get Full Discharge Pay

Before the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was ended in late 2011, many gays were given honorable discharges — but only about half the discharge pay they were owed. A class action suit on their behalf has now been settled and the withheld pay will be released.

Friday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Afghan Soldiers' Attacks On U.S. Troops Not Being Fully Reported, AP Finds

A soldier from the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division on patrol in southern Afghanistan. (October, 2010, file photo.) Chris Hondros/Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Hondros/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Afghan Soldiers' Attacks On U.S. Troops Not Being Fully Reported, AP Finds

There's been a policy of only reporting attacks that cause coalition fatalities, the wire service reports. So incidents that end with injuries or with only the attackers dead have not been reported.