Two days before shipping off to war, Marine Pfc. Jesse Sheets sat inside a trailer in the Mojave Desert, his gaze fixed on a computer that flashed a rhythmic pulse of contrasting images.

Congressional districts with the fewest military academy nominations in the past 5 years. A list of congressional districts with the fewest military academy nominations for the classes of 2009 to 2013, the officeholders and the total nominations they have made. All 20 are Democrats from districts where whites make up less than half the population, and all but two of the districts include major urban areas.

Northrop Grumman gets $50 million training contract with US National Guard. Security company Northrop Grumman Corp. said Friday it received a training contract with the U.S. National Guard valued at $50 million over five years.

AP IMPACT: As military academies seek diversity, urban lawmakers often make fewest nominations. As the nation's military academies try to recruit more minorities, they aren't getting much help from members of Congress from big-city districts with large numbers of blacks, Hispanics and Asians.

Global Defense Technology shares get lukewarm reception, after IPO prices below expectations. Global Defense Technology & Systems shares were little changed after its initial public offering priced below expectations.

Top Republican lawmakers wrote to President Barack Obama on Friday, expressing "deep concern" over his Afghanistan policy, saying it has left the country and allies "uncertain about (his) commitment to the war."

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an "unworthy partner" who does not deserve a big boost either in U.S. troops or civilian aid, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Military experiment seeks clues to predict which troops might suffer post-traumatic stress. Two days before shipping off to war, Marine Pfc. Jesse Sheets sat inside a trailer in the Mojave Desert, his gaze fixed on a computer that flashed a rhythmic pulse of contrasting images.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's announcement of a new strategy on Afghanistan will not take place until after the Thanksgiving holiday next week, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday.

Army says independent review sought by GAO will look at how body armor for troops is tested. The Army says there will be an outside review of how body armor for its soldiers is tested.

Canadian court orders refugee board to reconsider case of lesbian deserter from US army. A lesbian who deserted the U.S. military and fled to Canada must be given another chance to plead her case for refugee status, Canada's Federal Court ruled Friday.

US and Canadian military commanders are reviewing whether to maintain elaborate air defenses set up after the attacks of September 11, 2001, a spokesman said on Friday.

Fired psychiatrist says Marines suffering from stress are getting shoddy care at Camp Lejeune. Marines treated at Camp Lejeune for post-traumatic stress had to undergo therapy for months in temporary trailers where they could hear bomb blasts, machine-gun fire and war cries through the thin walls, according to servicemen and their former psychiatrist.

Marines treated at Camp Lejeune for post-traumatic stress had to undergo therapy for months in temporary trailers where they could hear bomb blasts, machine-gun fire and war cries through the thin walls, according to servicemen and their former psychiatrist.

Sen. Levin: Fort Hoot probe may reveal more troubling e-mails involving alleged shooter Hasan. A Democratic senator says there may be additional e-mails that could have tipped off law enforcement or military officials to the Fort Hood shooter before he went on his rampage.

President Barack Obama will wait until after Americans mark Thanksgiving on November 26 to announce whether or not he sends reinforcements to Afghanistan, his spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday.

Japan says US Marine base pact should be honored, but seeking options on different location. Japan's foreign minister said Monday that Tokyo should honor its agreement to find a new location for a major U.S. Marine base, but he and the prime minister said they were still seeking options on where it should go.

The Taliban will overrun Afghanistan if international troops pull out, former Afghan presidential challenger Abdullah Abdullah warned on Monday.

Holders of lost savings bonds dating to World War II say Treasury not making them easy to find. Holders of lost savings bonds dating back to World War II say its not nearly as easy to track down the lost money as the U.S. Treasury Department claims in an ongoing lawsuit.

Japan and the United States will hold talks here on Tuesday to seek ways to solve a sticking row over the relocation of a US military base on the island of Okinawa, the foreign ministry said.