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The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) is one of many parts of the Department of Defense (DoD) that is undertaking initiatives to promote the prevention, early identification and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance use disorders.

The widespread use of social networking technologies by Iranians frustrated with election results shows "it is increasingly difficult for an authoritarian government to maintain control of all the means of communication that are available to its citizens," Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told reporters during a Pentagon news briefing on Thursday.

That's the message from Marine officials, who are ready to enforce the Corps' new Body Composition and Military Appearance programs with little mercy now that a 120-day grace period, put in place as a heads-up for Marines who needed to lose weight, is over. Male Marines who are 26 and younger will be assigned to the program if they can't keep their body fat at or below 18 percent of their total body weight, while women 26 or younger must be at or below 26 percent.

The Defense Department is launching a new program soon that's designed to assist transitioning service members in accessing help for mental health issues, a U.S. Public Health Service officer announced in Washington, D.C., Mar. 23. The Transitional Support Program is "designed to bridge potential gaps in psychological health services that can occur during periods of transfer," when service members complete military service and re-enter civilian life, according to Cmdr. Guy Mahoney, who is detailed to work with the Defense Department.

To strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs programs for survivors of the nation's veterans and servicemembers, VA officials have staffed an office to serve as the their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or modifying programs, benefits and services.