Task & Purpose. News, culture, and analysis by and for the military community.
Top Story
National Guardsman who left M4 at New Orleans hotel to undergo ‘retraining’
The Louisiana National Guard soldier who misplaced the weapon has been removed from his position and is undergoing retraining.
Task & Purpose Video
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.
More from Task & Purpose
Soldiers will get ‘freedom dollars’ to spend at the Army’s new dining halls
The Army will soon open a dining hall at Fort Hood, Texas, designed to look more like a cafeteria on a college campus than a chow hall on a military base.
Experts warn moving Marines away from Okinawa would play into China’s hands
Relocating Marines from Okinawa would remove vital U.S. forces from the region at a time when China is doubling down on its claim on Taiwan, scholars said.
The Coast Guard is now using ‘tactical’ jet skis
The “tactical personal watercraft” were recently on display during a beachside training exercise in San Diego.
These are the troops competing in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
Several active-duty soldiers and airmen are a part of Team USA, as coaches and athletes competing in Italy.
Army reveals new rotational force in the Philippines
The new element is part of a “shift” in the military’s cooperation with the important Pacific nation, the Army said.
Veteran suicides drop slightly in 2023, even as rate of deaths rose
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ annual report found that issues such as homelessness and chronic pain contributed to rising rates of suicides among the veteran population.
National Guard troops shot in DC to receive Purple Hearts
Spc. Sarah Beckstrom was killed in the November attack while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was severely wounded.
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.
Air Force bans smart glasses for troops in uniform
Air Force officials cite opsec concerns as the reason for the blanket ban.
An Air Guard wing touched down on all 7 continents in 2-year span
Crews from the Nevada Air National Guard completed a sweep of missions from Antarctica to Africa in less than two years. They also found time to fight fires in California.
Navy pilot to receive Medal of Honor nearly 75 years after shooting down 4 MiGs
Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams downed four Soviet MiGs during the Korean War in the longest dogfight in Navy history.
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.
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.
