An independent commission's 400-page report concludes that the nation "does not have sufficient trained, ready forces available" to respond to a chemical, biological or nuclear weapons incident, "an appalling gap that places the nation and its citizens at greater risk." ...more

February 1, 2008

Multiple new efforts aimed at stemming suicides in the Army are falling short of their goal: The service anticipates another jump in the annual number of soldiers who killed themselves or tried to, including in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. ...more

February 1, 2008

The package arrived unceremoniously on a Monday in mid-December, dropped at the front door by an anonymous delivery person. ...more

January 20, 2008

Have we lost perspective when we consider the issue of providing $75 per month to Highlands County military personnel on active duty in combat zones? From a moral prospective the idea has merit. When viewed from an ethical point of view it may point to greater problems relating to administration, bookkeeping and opportunity for fraud. ...more

January 4, 2008

Invited to pose by a New York advertising executive, a little girl in a yellow shirt flashes a broad smile as she clutches a bottle of Flintstone's chewable vitamins in a picture that's hard to resist. ...more

December 15, 2007

Florida's largest National Guard unit, which includes several companies and batteries from the Tampa Bay area, has been alerted that it is to be deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. ...more

December 4, 2007

WASHINGTON - Florida's largest National Guard unit, which includes several companies and batteries from the Tampa Bay area, has been alerted that it can expect to be deployed again to Afghanistan in 2009. ...more

December 3, 2007

Marine Sgt. Scott Hinson was grateful that Sam's Club held his job open while he was in Iraq in 2004. But back home in Brandon, he felt strange driving a forklift, after manning a .50-caliber machine gun on a vehicle carrying troops in to battle. ...more

November 15, 2007

To all the active duty, reserve, former and retired Marines, I wish you all a very happy birthday on Saturday. I have had the privilege and honor to serve among you and have many good memories and some bad of that long ago time. You were and still are the finest fighting force in the world. ...more

November 10, 2007

The Department of Justice has filed a suit against the Hillsborough County Circuit Court clerk on behalf of an employee it says was demoted when she was called to serve in the Army Reserves. ...more

October 16, 2007