There’ll be something extra in everybody’s paycheck come January.

President George W. Bush signed into law the “United States Army Commemorative Coin Act of 2008″ on Dec. 1, authorizing the creation of a series of commemorative coins to recognize and celebrate the establishment of the United States Army in 1775, and to honor the service and sacrifice of American Soldiers of both past and present, in wartime and in peace.

NEW YORK CITY, (12/31/08) - As New Yorkers and visitors gear up today for New Year’s Eve celebrations, the citizen soldiers and airmen of the New York National Guard are ready to support homeland security missions throughout the state, officials said.

At the direction of Gov. David Paterson, members of the New York Army and Air National Guard will conduct additional security missions and stand ready to respond to local civil authorities if an emergency occurs.

In New York City, National Guard soldiers and airmen will conduct increased security operations at Penn Station, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson terminal and at LaGuardia and Kennedy airports in coordination with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The National Guard’s 2nd Civil Support Team, a full-time, rapid-response element that detects chemical, biological or radiological hazards, also will provide a detachment in Manhattan to support the New York Police Department. The 22-man detachment, based at the Scotia Air National Guard Base near Schenectady, N.Y., has worked with New York City police for counterterrorism support operations since the unit’s formation in 2000, state officials said.

At the New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y., staff representatives from New York state’s military forces will operate the National Guard’s joint operations center. This command and control node provides links to the New York State Emergency Management Office and New York State Office of Homeland Security.

The New York National Guard also will provide liaison officers to New York’s emergency management office and the New York City police.

The Pentagon has confirmed reports that it will send a helicopter unit to Afghanistan early next year to support thousands of additional ground troops it plans to deploy to join NATO’s force in the country.

President George W. Bush gave the Army War College students a unique opportunity to hear his thoughts on strategic leadership and national security as he thanked them for “the honor of a lifetime: to serve as your Commander in Chief.”

The Leaders Encouraging Airman Development (LEAD) Program, initiated in 1995 by former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald Fogleman, delegates authority to unit and wing commanders to nominate highly talented Airmen to compete for admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., without a congressional appointment.

For roughly two to three minutes while the rainfall poured down and the humidity constantly rose, the Marines saw a taste of what combat fitness is like.

Then they began, diving quickly into the large cylinders that marked the beginning of the Battle Skills Training School Endurance Course. Little did these Marines know that this 3.4-mile course would be one of the most physically and mentally challenging events they’d ever take on.

Petty Officer 1st Class Ivan Cruz dipped and dodged as the rounds came down upon him from all directions. He twisted, turned, and to his enemy’s dismay, returned a mass of fire in retaliation.

America gave the Taliban a choice: You can turn over the leaders of al Qaeda, or you can share in their fate. And when they refused, our just demands were enforced by the United States military. And thanks to you, the Taliban has gone from power, the al Qaeda training camps are closed, and 25 million Iraqis are free. And the American people, your loved ones, are more secure.