The mine resistant ambush protected all terrain vehicle, or M-ATV, is on its way to Afghanistan to replace the up-armored Humvee. “It will not be too long before we will be able to get everybody who can be out of the up-armored Humvee into the MRAP ATV,” said Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. General Peter W. Chiarelli.

This summer will mark the first time since 2003 that the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will overshadow the American presence in Iraq, the top U.S. military officer told Congress Wednesday.

Soldiers install HESCO barriers at an Afghan police checkpoint in Robat, Afghanistan, March 19, 2010. The Soldiers are assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division’s 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Lt. Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. returned from Iraq March 14 with I Corps headquarters and said the successful election there was the culmination of his command’s year-long mission.

The nation of Turkey officially has joined Multi-National Battle Group-East in the overall mission to provide safety and security and freedom of movement anytime and anywhere in Kosovo.

The commander of NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan said he is pleased with the progress in the country so far while acknowledging that much more needs to be done.

As the responsible drawdown of forces and equipment escalates following the Iraqi Parliamentary elections in March, Soldiers are working to reduce the amount of ammunition in Iraq as corresponding troop levels fall.

Some of the 98,000 U.S. military forces in Iraq already have made the transition from security to stability operations ahead of the September deadline.

Though the U.S. has been building up the civilian infrastructure of Iraq since 2003, the sense of ownership and level interest of the people has never been as great as it is now, and that makes all the difference.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is visiting Afghanistan to get what he called the “ground truth” from servicemembers.