(photo by Adam Skoczylas) Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell briefs reporters at the Pentagon.

New recruits and troops re-enlisting also get something. The department can now resume offering bonuses to new recruits and to folks already in uniform who want to re-enlist. Morrell said they are trying to make the bonuses retroactive to the beginning of the calendar year.

The press secretary said the president urged Congress for more funds in his last State of the Union speech.

‘‘We are still $102 billion short of the money requested and necessary to fight the global war on terror this year,” Morrell said. ‘‘The president announced a number of new proposals to help the families of our forces. He called on Congress to approve legislation allowing service members to transfer unused education funds to their spouses or children.”

The president also asked for more access to childcare for military families living off installations and for hiring preferences in all federal agencies and not just the Defense Department, Morrell said.

The spokesperson also talked about Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ conference with eight combatant commanders and senior civilian and military leaders. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to speak with the conferees Tuesday evening.

He said there was nothing unusual about Rice’s participation, since she is semi-regular guest for lunch and decided to stay and have words with the commanders.

‘‘But clearly, there’s a good working relationship between the State Department and the Pentagon,” Morrell said. ‘‘And that stems from the fact the two secretaries have known each other for years, they’re old friends and they work well together.’

Morrell refused to be pinned down on what Gen. David Petraeus will recommend in April concerning troop reductions in Iraq, though he did say the situation on the ground is moving in a ‘‘positive fashion.”

Gates is not gloating about success of the surge, which was greeted with skepticism by some commentators.

‘‘He is not one to say, ‘I told you so,’” Morrell said of Gates. ‘‘Clearly he was a believer in the surge from the get-go, I mean, even before he took over as secretary of defense.”

A reporter asked about the United States assisting the Pakistani military in fighting terrorists in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Morrell said our forces are ready to help when the Pakistanis ask.