AR 670-1 UPDATE: When the Army rolled out revisions to its appearance regulations, AR 670-1, early in the year, some soldiers complained that tattoo restrictions would hurt their careers and that hair restrictions amounted to Òracial biasÓ for African American women. One NCO filed a lawsuit, claiming his tattoos would disqualify him from his career goal of becoming a warrant officer. A few months after the rollout, the Army unveiled yet another update to AR 670-1, grandfathering soldiers who wanted to go officer or warrant (provided they have their commanderÕs endorsement). The revision also further clarified rules for womenÕs hairstyles and removed some offensive language. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
ISLAMIC STATE: Militants from the Islamic State rapidly came to power in 2014, taking control of territory in Iraq, as security forces there gave up ground. The extremists terrorized the populace as the U.S. responded by sending about 3,000 troops into Iraq on an advise-and-assist mission. In one of the recent mass killings committed by the group, Islamic State members in November lined up and shot dead at least 50 tribesmen, women and children in Anbar province. (AP Photo/File)
OLYMPIC BRONZE: U.S. bobsledders Capt. Chris Fogt and Army veteran Steven Holcomb brought home bronze medals in bobsledding in the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Army sent nine active-duty soldiers, with the serviceÕs World Class Athlete Program, as well as one veteran and a few family members to compete. Team USA assistant bobsled coach 1st Lt. Mike Kohn said he hopes budget cuts wonÕt sideline the ArmyÕs training program for future games. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Taylor Queen)
G.I. JOE AND GREEN ARMY MEN: G.I. Joe, called the worldÕs first action figure, turned 50 in 2014. G.I. JoeÕs fellow soldiers in plastic, the Òlittle green Army men,Ó also had a big year. They were officially inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
24 MEDALS OF HONOR: Sgt. 1st Class Melvin Morris, Master Sgt. Jose Rodela and Spc. Santiago J. Erevia received the Medal of Honor from President Obama at the White House on March 18. There were 21 posthumous MoH awards presented that day. These men were all previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and were upgraded after a Congress-manded review to ensure they were not overlooked due to prejudice. AND TWO MORE: Former Sgt. Kyle White (pictured) on May 13 received the MoH for his actions in 2007, when he repeatedly braved enemy fire to reach his wounded and fallen comrades in Afghanistan. Sgt. Ryan Pitts received the MoH in July for his actions amid one of the bloodiest battles of the war in Afghanistan, the battle of Wanat in 2008.. Pitts, was a member of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. Photo by Rob Curtis, Staff
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to former Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House July 21, 2014 in Washington, DC. Pitts received the Medal of Honor for heroic action during an enemy engagement in Wanat in the Waygal Valley of Afghanistan, July 13, 2008. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
DRILL SERGEANT ANNIVERSARY: Drill sergeants from around the Army gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Army Drill Sergeant School in September. The academy produces 1,200 to 1,400 drill sergeants per year. Photo Credit: Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)
EBOLA OUTBREAK: Soldiers and other service members from around the country deployed to West Africa late this year to join in the battle against the Ebola epidemic. U.S. Army leaders addressed concerns of soldiers and families, saying the soldiers would not come in direct contact with Ebola patients, but instead work in supporting roles. The American force of about 2,900 troops was estimated to be at its peak in early December. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brien Vorhees, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera)/RELEASED)
BERGDAHL RELEASE: Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan, was freed by the Taliban in May in exchange for the release of five detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Bergdahl, 28, was out of U.S. control for five years and was believed to have been held by the Haqqani network. The investigation into BergdahlÕs absence from his deployed location is complete, but still undergoing review, according to the Army. (AP Photo/Voice Of Jihad Website via AP video)
VA SCANDAL: Complaints that Veterans Affairs is a broken mess, and allegations of secret waiting lists at some locations, led to widespread investigations of VA operations and, in the summer alone, the department started disciplinary actions against more than 30 employees for malfeasance and incompetence, including at least five senior executives. Bob McDonald, pictured, a former corporate CEO, took over as the new head of VA late in the year after former secretary Eric Shinseki resigned. McDonald has promised to discipline workers found to be harming veterans, either through negligence or malice, and acknowledged that more than 100 cases involving VA facilities are currently under investigation.
INSIDER ATTACK: Maj. Gen. Harold Greene, killed Aug. 5 in an insider attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, was the first American general officer to be killed by hostile fire in combat since 9/11. Greene was killed by an Afghan MP who fired approximately 30 rounds from a barracks bathroom window into a large group of coalition forces. Eighteen others were injured before the Afghan was gunned down. (Photo by U.S. Army
Flowers decorate a fence outside of Fort Hood's east gate on Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Killeen, Texas, in honor of those killed and wounded in the Fort Hood shooting on April 2. Three people were killed and 16 were wounded when a gunman opened fire before taking his own life at the Fort Hood military base. (AP Photo/ Tamir Kalifa)
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