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A Dutch Shepherd dog, wearing a military camouflage vest and a red beret, walks on a leash.

The military’s only search and rescue dog has retired

Callie spent six years with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, logging 750 hours of flight time, rappelling out of helicopters, parachuting and helping airmen locate people in disaster zones.

Judge David O. Carter inspects the West L.A. VA campus on Aug. 21, 2024, while overseeing a lawsuit against the VA brought by veterans. (Getty Photo via Los Angeles Times by Brian van der Brug)

Trump orders West Los Angeles VA campus to house thousands of veterans

The directive calls for creating a “National Center for Warrior Independence” even as the VA fights against a similar court order to expand housing on the grounds.

Army Pvt. Gabriel Perez

Army identifies soldier who died during basic training at Fort Jackson

Army Pvt. Gabriel Perez, 22, died during basic combat training. His death is under investigation.

U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and U.S. Navy assets line up on the runway for an elephant walk during a routine operational readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 6, 2025. Team Kadena showcased an array of aircraft, demonstrating a portion of the 100+ aircraft operating from the Keystone of the Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer)

This 53 aircraft ‘elephant walk’ has everything you’d need for a war in the Pacific

The runway display of 53 Air Force and Navy planes — plus Army missiles — ranged from rescue helicopters to fighters and hulking spy planes.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Aidan Smith, a rifleman with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and a native of Maine, fires an M32 grenade launcher during a live-fire shoot range as part of Exercise Chesapeake 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, May 1, 2025. Exercise Chesapeake 2025 was a bilateral U.S.–French naval exercise that underscored a commitment to interoperability, maritime readiness, and shared values. The exercise took place as the U.S. Marine Corps is celebrating 250 years of warfighting excellence and reflects the Marine Corps’ commitment to global partnerships and naval integration, enabling the force to rapidly respond to crises, deter adversaries, and reassure allies. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jack Labrador)

Hegseth orders sweeping force structure changes for the military

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a reduction of general and flag officers and directed the Army to make force structure changes, including consolidating commands.

David Staib, Senior Airman Logan Staib’s father, poses for a photo in between the retired HH-60G Pave Hawk and Logan’s restored Mustang at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, March 13, 2025. The display of the Pave Hawk and Mustang served as a tribute to Logan’s legacy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Savannah Carpenter)

How a retired rescue helicopter and a hot rod Mustang honor an airman

Logan Staib was a born mechanic, whether working on HH-60 rescue helicopters in the Air Force or his beloved Ford Mustang drag car, before he died in a traffic accident. His father brought his favorite machines together in a tribute.

A sign for the Child Development Center is displayed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 13, 2024. Tyndall’s child and youth programs mission are to assist Department of Defense military and civilian personnel in balancing the competing demands of accomplishing the mission and family life by managing and delivering a system of quality, available and affordable programs and services for eligible children and youth. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Nordheim)

Military daycares must change how they inform parents about reports of abuse, watchdog says

An inspector general report found that varying policies between services meant parents or guardians “may not be aware of the specifics” of suspected abuse at military-run childcare centers.

This picture shared on social media shows an inmate being recaptured at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on April 29, 2025.

Attempted Fort Leavenworth prison break leaves military inmate tangled on fence

Two inmates were injured in the April 29 escape attempt. A picture shared on social media shows one inmate tangled in concertina wire atop a fence.

Sgt. Brian Lieberman, a Paratrooper assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, receives the Soldier's Medal from Col. Jason Schuerger, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, May 6, 2025. Sgt. Lieberman was awarded the medal for taking decisive action to save a life during an active shooter incident at his apartment complex. The Soldier's Medal recognizes individual acts of heroism on behalf of fellow Soldiers or civilians. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Prim Hibbard)

This Army combat medic fought off an active shooter and rendered first aid

“We’re here to recognize you today, because that is not how a sane human being responds,” said the soldier’s commanding officer.

Next Generation Squad Weapon Testing

Army infantry officer calls new XM7 ‘unfit for use as a modern service rifle’

Officials with the Army and Sig Sauer pushed back on the findings of the research, which was conducted by an Army infantry officer and presented at this year’s Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C.

US Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins testifies before a Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearings on "Veterans at the Forefront, Focusing on the future at VA," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 6, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

VA secretary says 80,000 job cuts at agency are a ‘goal’ but not yet ‘targeted’

Jobs at the VA’s Veterans Crisis phone line would get protection under a new law while VA chief Doug Collins said doctors, nurses and other patient-care jobs would likely be spared cuts.

SELFRIDGE ANGB, MICHIGAN - APRIL 29: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a visit with Michigan Air National Guard Troops on April 29, 2025 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Trump will travel to Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan to hold a rally where he is expected to highlight his accomplishments during his first 100 days in office, including closing the border, job creation and the economy. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Hegseth orders military to cut number of 4-star generals and admirals by 20%

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered military planners to cut the number of four-star general and admiral positions in the military by 20%.

101st Airborne paratrooper pleads guilty in fentanyl death of fellow soldier

101st Airborne paratrooper pleads guilty in fentanyl death of fellow soldier

Army investigators’ review of Rios-Segui’s SnapChat conversations indicated that Faubel had sold him fentanyl-laced pills on the day he died.

A black and white photo showing U.S. soldiers crouched low while a Sherman tank advances up a country road.

When Americans, Germans and POWs fought the SS from the walls of a castle

80 years ago, on May 5, 1945, the strangest fight in World War II took place. American soldiers and Wehrmacht troops teamed up to fight the SS.

A helicopter carries a bucket over a desert terrain.

US Army soldier found dead in Honduras

1st Lt. Marciano Parisano was assigned to 1st Battalion, 228 Aviation Regiment.

Soldiers in uniform carrying rifles move out of a building. One jumps out of a window in the back while one holds a rifle facing the camera.

Hegseth orders consolidation and transformation of the Army

Drone swarm integration, a right to repair and increased forward logistical capacity are all on the table in the new proposals.

The Pentagon Rundown

III Armored Corps Soldiers begin the week-long III AC Best Squad Competition with an Army Combat Fitness Test outside Whitside Fitness Center, Fort Riley, KS, on June 24, 2024. There are ten units from within III Corps participating in this event, all gunning for the opportunity to compete at the FORSCOM level Best Squad Competition later this year. (U.S. Army Photos by Spc. Tyler Selige)

Army closes in on its elusive goal of a gender-neutral fitness test

US war against the Houthis grinds on. Tell me how this ends.

Pentagon faces deadline on recommending whether to invoke the Insurrection Act

Did the Army actually listen to soldiers’ complaints about mandatory training?

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Task & Purpose was founded in 2014 as a voice for the military community, and continues to serve that community with accurate reporting and great storytelling to this day. Our journalists have reported on the front lines of the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota and the war in Afghanistan. We’ve uncovered American veterans being abused in Kuwaiti prisons, deported veterans being forced to work for Mexican cartels, and drawn national attention to a longstanding legal rule barring service members from suing the government — even in the face of gross negligence.

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