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Air Force F-35 takes flight in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 2, 2026. Air Force photo. 

Air National Guard general says Iran operation demonstrates ‘wartime readiness’

“Our drills, our exercises, and our inspections have all been in preparation for this moment. We are writing history.”

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, assigned to the 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo, died March 8, 2026, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia

Soldier who died from attack on Saudi Arabia was ‘nothing less than a hero’

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington died on March 8 after being seriously wounded by a March 1 Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.

Image: U.S. Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the ship's final departure from Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Mar. 7, 2026. Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled homeport shift to Norfolk, VA. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter K. McHaddad) 

USS Nimitz sets off for Latin America in its last deployment

The aircraft carrier is making its final voyage, and is expected to make several stops at it travels around South America.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 6, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

US strikes continue as Iran war enters its second week

The U.S. says it has hit more than 3,000 targets in Iran as Trump calls for “unconditional surrender” and Tehran promises retaliation.

A plume of smoke rises from a destroy alleged drug smuggling building in Ecuador following U.S. strikes.

US, Ecuador strike suspected drug trafficking camp near Colombian border

The joint force carried out “lethal kinetic operations,” the first known attack on cartels since the combined mission started this week.

Soldier waves an American flag

Fake veteran impersonated soldier to claim VA benefits, prosecutors say

James Sommers is accused of a 32-year-long scheme to use an Army veteran’s identity to receive medical care and Social Security.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers died March 5 from injuries sustained during a rescue a week earlier.

Coast Guard swimmer dies from injuries sustained in offshore rescue

Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross while in the hospital for his actions in a Feb. 27 offshore rescue.

U.S. Army Pvt. Stallone Ealey, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, carries his gear after conducting a mass tactical airborne operation at North Wind 26 at Hokudai-en in Hokkaido, Japan on Jan. 22, 2026. North Wind is a bilateral U.S. Army Japan and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force winter field training exercise in Hokkaido, Japan—running from Jan. 20–Feb. 3—focused on enhancing bilateral tactics, techniques and procedures for extreme cold-weather conditions and enhancing interoperability and readiness between U.S. and Japanese forces. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Michelle Mayancela)

Your next Army Field Manual might be written with AI

The soldiers who create and update the manuals and guides that make up Army doctrine are rolling artificial intelligence tools into the process.

Marine swim qualifications

Marine Corps swim qualification tests are about to get tougher

Marines will have to tread water for longer periods of time under the new swim qualifications, which will go into effect on Oct. 1.

A painting by Charles Waterhouse of Marine Capt. John W. Ripley, who braved enemy fire for more than three hours planting explosives on the Dong Ha Bridge on April 2, 1972. Congress cleared the way last month for Ripley to receive the Medal of Honor.

Marine who crawled under bridge to plant explosives approved for Medal of Honor

Marine Capt. John Ripley hung demolition charges beneath a key bridge, swinging hand-over-hand for three hours while under fire.

Top row: Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, Capt. Cody A. Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens. Bottom row: Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor and Sgt. Declan J. Coady.

Pentagon names soldiers killed in Iranian drone strike

The names of two soldiers initially listed as ‘unaccounted for’ in the attack were released on March 4. Four other soldiers killed in the strike were first identified on March 3 by military officials.

Army Materiel Command, Command Sergeant Major J. Garza, sits with Soldiers inside 42 Bistro, the Army's first Campus-Style Dining Venue. The CSDV pilot transforms the way the Army fuels its soldiers by leveraging industry experts’ experience to operate restaurants on installations that offer more food options, better service, ambiance and hours.

Army expands its new dining halls to 6 bases, but pauses its pilot test for food delivery

The Army promised online ordering at its first new dining hall which opened last month, but officials said the demand “exceeded” their expectations, so they’ve paused orders.

251217-N-QR679-1019 PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 17, 2025) - Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) steams forward off the coast of Guam during a photo exercise, Dec. 17, 2025. Assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam, Annapolis is one of five fast-attack submarines forward-deployed in the Pacific. Renowned for their unparalleled speed, endurance, stealth, and mobility, fast-attack submarines serve as the backbone of the Navy's submarine force, ensuring readiness and agility in safeguarding maritime interests around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. James Caliva)

Why Iran’s warship ‘didn’t have a chance’ against a Los Angeles-class submarine

A Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine used a torpedo to sink an Iranian warship on Tuesday, marking the first such sinking by an American submarine since 1945.

Deputy Undersecretary of the Army Mario Diaz hosts a direct-commissioning ceremony for U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) Robert Cancio at Southeast Academy High School in Los Angeles, Ca., June 1, 2024. Dr. Robert Cancio is a Board Member of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District and was recently promoted to the rank of Captain in the United States Army Reserve as a Civil Affairs officer. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Deonte Rowell)

The Army hopes to lure civilian tech workers by letting some join as captains

“In this case, the direct commissioning program, we’re really focused on folks coming in at the lieutenant and the captain level to help us in the technical areas in our operational units.”

Japes Capers

Senate authorizes Trump to award Recon Marine the Medal of Honor

The Senate has passed a bill to clear the way for retired Marine Maj. James Capers Jr. to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroism during a 1967 ambush in Vietnam.

The operations were announced by U.S. Southern Command over social media on March. 3, 2026.

US Southern Command says it launched military operations in Ecuador aimed at ‘narco-terrorists’

“Together, we are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere,” U.S. Southern Command said in a statement.

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Task & Purpose was founded in 2014 to cover the military and veteran community from a rank-and-file perspective, and continues to do so 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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