Life can be described as a series of moments, seconds even, strung together to form experiences and memories. A split-second decision can mean the difference between life and death.

Senior Master Sgt. Martin Smith knows the impact just one second can make.

Smith, a seasoned motorcycle rider and Active Guard Reservist, was driving home from work just as he had done countless times before. A construction project on the interstate caused traffic to back up on the roadway. As he came around a sharp curve, he didn't realize the cars in front of him were actually at a stand-still.
more...

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command hosted the sixth Maritime Infrastructure Protection Symposium (MIPS), May 13-15, which brings together industry professionals, security personnel, and maritime corporations, with regional and coalition partners every 18 months.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed its homeport of Naval Station San Diego, May 14, as the command platform for Pacific Partnership 2013.

Team Navy racked up 14 medals, including six gold medals, at Warrior Games track and field events at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 14.

Running as a tribute to those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing, Maj. Owen Hill of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine made a memorable marathon debut of his own on Mother's Day.

Warrior Games and similar activities are "testaments to the nation's support for our wounded warriors, honoring their service and sacrifices," said the Army's top enlisted leader.

The All-Army men's and women's teams won gold medals at the 2013 Armed Forces Volleyball Championships, held May 8-12, 2013, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Every athlete goes through slumps; it just so happens Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker, a four-time Olympian with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, is going through his at the right time.

As the Army cuts the number of Soldiers in its ranks, there will be an excess of infrastructure in place that used to support those Soldiers. Maintaining that extra unused infrastructure could mean other critical Army programs will suffer, said a senior official.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno conducted several engagements with 1st Infantry Division Soldiers and family members at Fort Riley, Kan., May 14, 2013.

For the second time this month, a uniformed military official whose job was to prevent sex abuse has come under investigation for a sex crime. The Army is looking into allegations that a sergeant first class at Fort Hood, Texas, sexually abused females in his unit and ran a prostitution ring on the base.

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia today.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert held an all-hands call with Sailors stationed aboard littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1), May 14.

Behind her bright brown eyes, easy smile and contagious laugh there is pain -- both physical and mental.

Retired Staff Sgt. Zuleika Cruz-Pereira joined the Army after Sept. 11, 2001, because she wanted to do something to help people.

"I wanted to go out there and do something big," she said. "I'm one of those people who it doesn't matter if I know you or not. I'm going to help you if you need help."

She enlisted as a water treatment specialist and served two tours in Southwest Asia before she joined the Air Force in 2008. During her time in the Army, Cruz-Pereira saw and experienced things that are still too painful for her to share outside of her closest confidants. Despite her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, which was undiagnosed at the time, she deployed again -- this time as a logistics Airman.
more...

After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary layof