Defense.gov names top stories of 2010 Published Dec. 21, 2010 By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Defense.gov administrators published nearly 3,000 stories ranging from Tricare health-care benefits to the status of gays serving openly in the military to the Defense Department budget. The top 10 stories most viewed on Defense.gov this year are: 10. "Pentagon Changes Don't Ask, Don't Tell Enforcement," posted March 25, further explains Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' announcement regarding changes to the Pentagon's regulation on gays serving openly in the military. 9. "Obama to Award Medal of Honor to Afghan War Vet," posted Sept. 10, highlights the significance of this award. The Medal of Honor would be bestowed for the first time to a living veteran of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta received a phone call from President Barack Obama Sept. 9, thanking him for his service. President Obama informed the infantryman that he would receive the nation's highest award for his service and extraordinary bravery in battle. 8. The Defense.gov story, "Wikileaks Has Yet to Contact 'Competent Authorities" posted Aug. 18, provides an update on the website that published thousands of classified documents. 7. "Legislation Extends Special Stop-Loss Pay Deadline," posted on Oct. 1, references Obama's signed legislation extending the Retroactive Stop-Loss Special Pay deadline. 6. "Tricare Meets Health Care Bill's Standards, Gates Says," posted March 22, explained how the health-care reform bill that the House of Representatives passed meets the military standards of health care. Calling their health and well-being his highest priority, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates reassured servicemembers and their families that the legislation wouldn't have a negative effect on TRICARE, which "already meets the bill's quality and minimum benefit standards." 5. The Defense.gov story "Obama Reaches out to Veterans 'You Earned It," posted on Sept. 15, featured President Obama's message encouraging servicemembers and veterans who were involuntarily retained in the military under the Stop Loss program to get the retroactive pay they deserve. 4. "Researchers Examine Video Game Benefits," posted Jan. 25, examined research under way by the Office of Naval Research that indicates video games can help adults process information faster and improve their fundamental abilities to reason and solve problems in novel contexts. 3. "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Online Box Goes Live," posted May 5, explains a new online inbox that enables servicemembers and their families to comment anonymously about the impact of a possible repeal of the law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. 2. The Defense.gov story "Gates Puts Meat on Bones of Department Efficiencies Initiative," posted Aug. 9, highlighted Secretary Gates' effort to put meat on the bones of his initiative to reform the way the Pentagon does business and to eliminate unnecessary overhead costs. 1. The Defense.gov story "Gates, Mullen Urge Participation in Survey," posted July 8, highlighted the importance of getting the opinions of those who would be most affected by a possible repeal of the don't ask, don't tell law. Secretary Gates urged servicemembers to provide their input.