Think you’d know how to escape a submerged submarine? At Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, U.S. Navy sailors learn how to do that in places where the weather isn’t exactly ideal.

Looking for a fun holiday activity to do with the kids? Check out the NORAD Tracks Santa website. It's filled with games, music, videos, books and the ever-popular, Santa tracker! http://www.noradsanta.org/

Welcome Home, Soldier!

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Benjamin Owen holds his son for the first time during a redeployment ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas. Owen and more than 220 other soldiers from 3rd Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles" returned home two months early from a nine-month rotation in Afghanistan in support of operations Freedom's Sentinel and Resolute Support. http://go.usa.gov/x8e39

Photo by Staff Sgt. Tomora Clark

Imagine growing up on one of the most remote islands in the world, secluded from civilization, but every year seeing Santa drop packages from a C-130. Operation Christmas Drop makes this a reality for many children. It is the longest running humanitarian airlift mission in American history, dropping tons of medical, educational and life-sustaining equipment each year.

Are you getting your child (or, let’s be honest – yourself) a #drone this holiday season? They’re popular gifts nowadays, but remember that drones are still aircraft, not toys, and there are actually a lot of rules from the Federal Aviation Administration and military installations that you should know before you send them skyward.

Most people know that Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest in the U.S., but do you know the legend of the ace naval aviator for whom it’s named? U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edward “Butch” O’Hare’s story is truly remarkable. DoD video by Air Force Staff Sgt. Neal Uranga

More than 26K volunteers have arrived at Arlington National Cemetery to lay wreaths for Wreaths Across America.

The view can’t get much better than this.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Alexis Rey conducts pre-flight checks on an EA-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Kledzik

Changes in climate, globalization and human migration affect how people, animals and their environments interact. But those factors are also helping #publichealth experts better predict when and where outbreaks of disease may occur.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
A U.S. Navy sailor dressed as Santa Claus gives the signal to launch a T-45C Goshawk from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship is conducting carrier qualifications. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Wyatt L. Anthony

#OTD in 1944, the #BattleOfTheBulge began during #WWII.

This Saturday, thousands of volunteers will gather at Arlington National Cemetery to lay wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes as part of the annual Wreaths Across America event. It's a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive. #wreathsacrossamerica #honorthem

Is #CaptainAmerica winning or losing here?
Either way, it looks like fun as this soldier takes on actor Chris Evans during the USO Holiday Tour at Bagram Air Base, #Afghanistan, where U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford and several entertainers recently visited deployed service members.

DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro

Seventy-two years ago this week, Japanese forces in the town of Bhamo, Burma, were defeated by Allied troops after several weeks of fighting during World War II.

#ICYMI: The Chairman of The Joint Staff held his annual USO Holiday Tour to visit service members at the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing - Bagram Airfield. The star-studded tour included actors Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans, NBA legend Ray Allen, 4-time Olympic medalist Maya DiRado, Country music singer Craig Campbell and mentalist Jim Karol.

Did you know that DoD has unveiled two new initiatives designed to further enhance cybersecurity? The DoD Vulnerability Disclosure Program and “Hack the Army” provide a legal avenue for security researchers to find and disclose vulnerabilities in DoD and U.S. Army public-facing systems.

The U.S. is being blanketed by freezing temps, but these guys are used to it.
United States Air Force Senior Airman Carlos Aleman and Tech. Sgt. Craig Slaten use an auger to drill a hole in the frozen Tanana River in #Fairbanks, #Alaska, to expose water that allows the ice to build and create a stable bridge for transportation of equipment and supplies.

Photo by Airman 1st Class Cassandra Whitman

Time to call it a night...

Marines observe and coordinate U.S. and Norwegian fire between M777A2 howitzers, light armored vehicles, tanks, and mortars to prepare for Exercise Reindeer II in Setermoen, Norway. Reindeer II is a multinational training exercise hosted by the Norwegian military to increase support capabilities between NATO allies in extreme conditions.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Lutz

Watch as Marines conduct operations during #Darkhorse an Integrated Training Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. U.S. Marine Corps

#WelcomeHomeWednesday!

Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Atkins is greeted with the first kiss by his wife, Jennifer, during a homecoming celebration for Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) in Apra Harbor, Guam. Oklahoma City, one of four forward-deployed submarines homeported in Apra Harbor, returned to Guam after an eight-month maintenance period known as docking selected restricted availability.

U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jamica Johnson