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Navy destroyer crew awarded Armed Forces Service Medal for downing Iranian missiles
In 2024 and 2025, USS Arleigh Burke shot down Iranian missiles launched against Israel. The ship’s crew has received the Armed Forces Service Medal.
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Each week on Tuesdays and Fridays our team will bring you analysis of military tech, tactics, and doctrine delivered from a rank-and-file perspective.
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A brief history of the US military’s presence in Greenland
U.S. troops have been based in Greenland for decades, starting in World War II, when weather stations on the island provided vital intelligence to the Allies.
Air Guard pilots downed over a dozen Iranian drones to earn Distinguished Flying Crosses
The three Air National Guard F-16 pilots — with callsigns “Fume,” “Boom,” and “Hammer” — took down at least 15 drones and missiles, including a rare kill with a plane’s gun.
Army will now tie retention bonuses to PT scores, job performance
Reenlistment bonuses will still go to in-demand jobs, but a new program will make bonuses larger for top performers on PT tests and day-to-day job skills.
Soldier who died saving Polish officer in Afghanistan to receive Medal of Honor, family says
Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis’ parents have announced that President Donald Trump will award the Medal of Honor to their son.
‘A Damn Good Time’ — Crew of well-named tank unfazed by frigid winter in Poland
“Armored Palmer,” “Aneurysm,” and “About 50/50” were also training last month. Army crews traditionally are allowed to pick their tank names during gunnery qualification.
Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division are headed back to the Middle East
The unit previously deployed to the region in 2023, where they countered nearly 100 Iranian drone attacks on American bases in Iraq and Syria.
Top enlisted leader in the Air Force explains why he wears his father’s service pin
“The pin inside my coat reminds me that service isn’t just a phase of life, it’s the whole point,” wrote Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe.
Army recruiting waivers for mental health will be approved at lower levels
Approval for waivers for recruits with mental health exemptions will now be handled by two- and three-star commanders who more directly oversee street recruiters.
Veterans Affairs personnel say ‘silence is deafening’ from leaders after Alex Pretti’s death
A memorial for Pretti at the Minneapolis VA is now planned, a week after the ICU nurse was killed. Several Minneapolis VA employees report slow responses from national leadership in the days following.
Marine drill instructor sentenced over boot camp hazing death arrested after early release
Joseph Felix was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but was released early and recently arrested in South Carolina for cruelty to children.
Space Force stands up new command for the Northern Hemisphere
The new Space Force command focuses on terrestrial and orbital defenses over the United States proper, as well as Canada and Greenland.
US starts $70 million upgrade to Kenyan airfield used in Somalia operations
The $70 million overhaul includes expanding the runway at Manda Bay. The base is used as part of counterterrorism operations against al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia.
Air Force to bring back ‘no-notice’ combat readiness inspections
The Air Force recently reversed course to require only one annual scheduled review, but plans to include unscheduled ones as well.
Pentagon gives base commanders more control on countering drones
Military installation commanders now have more leeway to determine threats from unauthorized drones nearby and deal with them.
Alleged ringleader arrested for plot to sell drugs to veterans on a VA campus
Maryland State Police and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General have been investigating a drug ring for months.
The big problem facing Air Force combat search and rescue
At the heart of the Air Force’s combat search and rescue corps is its aging fleet of rescue helicopters. But as the Air Force phases in new HH-60Ws, the size of the force is set to shrink.
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.
