Opinion

Views from the barracks to the battlefield.

Latest in Opinion

News

There’s A New ‘Father And Son Served In Afghanistan’ Puff Piece, And Boy Is It Depressing There’s A New ‘Father And Son Served In Afghanistan’ Puff Piece, And Boy Is It Depressing

By Paul Szoldra

/ Jan 14 2021

News

The Military Needs To Get A Handle On Its Awards Process The Military Needs To Get A Handle On Its Awards Process

By Carl Forsling

/ Jan 8 2021

News

Former DIA Director: Please, take your knee off our necks so we can breathe Former DIA Director: Please, take your knee off our necks so we can breathe

By Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart (Ret.)

/ Jan 7 2021

News

No, Cops Shouldn’t Be Rocking The Punisher Skull No, Cops Shouldn’t Be Rocking The Punisher Skull

/ Jan 6 2021

News

17 Indispensable Leadership Quotes From Post-9/11 Generals 17 Indispensable Leadership Quotes From Post-9/11 Generals

By Sarah Sicard

/ Jan 6 2021

Opinion

Opinion: Pardoning war criminals will hurt US troops deployed overseas. I know from experience Opinion: Pardoning war criminals will hurt US troops deployed overseas. I know from experience

/ Jan 5 2021

Culture

Why 2005’s ‘Battalion Wars’ is still my favorite video game ever Why 2005’s ‘Battalion Wars’ is still my favorite video game ever

/ Jan 4 2021

News

2020 sucked but these Task & Purpose stories were good as hell 2020 sucked but these Task & Purpose stories were good as hell

By Paul Szoldra

/ Dec 31 2020

News

Spring reminds most people of rebirth. It reminds me of death Spring reminds most people of rebirth. It reminds me of death

By Zachary Bell

/ Dec 29 2020

Military Life

5 things I actually miss about being deployed on Christmas 5 things I actually miss about being deployed on Christmas

/ Dec 25 2020

History

The Iraq War Was A Mistake. So Why Can’t Gen. Petraeus Finally Admit It? The Iraq War Was A Mistake. So Why Can’t Gen. Petraeus Finally Admit It?

By Paul Szoldra

/ Dec 23 2020

News

I dreamed of becoming a Marine my entire life. Then I learned I was undocumented I dreamed of becoming a Marine my entire life. Then I learned I was undocumented

By Tony Valdovinos

/ Dec 21 2020

News

Civil-military relations have turned ridiculous Civil-military relations have turned ridiculous

By Jeff Schogol

/ Dec 21 2020

News

I Can’t Stop Laughing At This Army Veteran’s Political Ad I Can’t Stop Laughing At This Army Veteran’s Political Ad

By Paul Szoldra

/ Dec 15 2020

News

I’m Not A Marine, I’m An Ex-Marine. Get Over It I’m Not A Marine, I’m An Ex-Marine. Get Over It

By Jack Mandaville

/ Dec 15 2020

News

Unmasking The Army’s Officer Evaluation Reports Will Improve The Profession Of Arms Unmasking The Army’s Officer Evaluation Reports Will Improve The Profession Of Arms

/ Dec 14 2020

News

It’s time for a post-9/11 veteran to lead the VA It’s time for a post-9/11 veteran to lead the VA

By Florent Groberg and Michele S. Jones

/ Dec 10 2020

News

Survivor Guilt, A Booney Hat, And The Things Left Behind By Fallen Friends Survivor Guilt, A Booney Hat, And The Things Left Behind By Fallen Friends

By Chief Kristin Beck (Ret.)

/ Dec 10 2020

Tech & Tactics

Take A Stand For Women: Ban Pink Guns Take A Stand For Women: Ban Pink Guns

By Adam Weinstein

/ Dec 10 2020

News

Soldiers should be able to choose their rifle’s barrel length Soldiers should be able to choose their rifle’s barrel length

By Marty Skovlund Jr.

/ Dec 10 2020

Tech & Tactics

An Infantryman’s Defense Of The A-10 An Infantryman’s Defense Of The A-10

By Scott Beauchamp

/ Dec 10 2020

Culture

Video Games Actually Make You A Better Soldier Video Games Actually Make You A Better Soldier

By Sarah Sicard

/ Dec 10 2020

Tech & Tactics

There Is Absolutely Nothing Wrong With The M4 There Is Absolutely Nothing Wrong With The M4

By Christian Beekman

/ Dec 10 2020

Tech & Tactics

Why The US Military Should Switch To Hollow-Points Why The US Military Should Switch To Hollow-Points

By Christian Beekman

/ Dec 10 2020

Tech & Tactics

The Worst Gear Idea Of 2015 Is Already Here The Worst Gear Idea Of 2015 Is Already Here

By Christian Beekman

/ Dec 10 2020

News

We need more veterans serving in America’s newsrooms — and you can help We need more veterans serving in America’s newsrooms — and you can help

By Zack Baddorf

/ Dec 2 2020

News

Families like mine risked our lives for US troops abroad. Now America is abandoning us Families like mine risked our lives for US troops abroad. Now America is abandoning us

By Shahad Alibadi

/ Dec 2 2020

News

I struggled with thoughts of suicide. Vulnerability and connection kept me alive I struggled with thoughts of suicide. Vulnerability and connection kept me alive

By Matthew Stroup

/ Dec 2 2020

News

Borat Stole My Valor And I Want It Back Borat Stole My Valor And I Want It Back

By Adam Linehan

/ Dec 1 2020

News

What, If Anything, Did John Kelly Learn From Re-Reading ‘The General’? What, If Anything, Did John Kelly Learn From Re-Reading ‘The General’?

By Kyle Gaffney

/ Dec 1 2020

News

Why Are So Many Dogs Named Cooper? Why Are So Many Dogs Named Cooper?

/ Dec 1 2020

News

Military Reading Lists For The Summer (And The Case For Avoiding Them) Military Reading Lists For The Summer (And The Case For Avoiding Them)

/ Dec 1 2020

News

I’m So Sick Of The OODA Loop I’m So Sick Of The OODA Loop

By Carl Forsling

/ Nov 30 2020

News

The Single Largest Loss Of American Lives During The Revolution Wasn’t During Battle The Single Largest Loss Of American Lives During The Revolution Wasn’t During Battle

/ Nov 27 2020

News

The Fitzgerald’s Watch Team Could Have Been Mine The Fitzgerald’s Watch Team Could Have Been Mine

By James Seddon

/ Nov 27 2020

News

We need to talk about that study claiming that US troops are ‘overpaid’ We need to talk about that study claiming that US troops are ‘overpaid’

By Carl Forsling

/ Nov 22 2020

News

The New York Times just turned the floor over to a terrorist and Taliban leader The New York Times just turned the floor over to a terrorist and Taliban leader

By Jeff Schogol

/ Nov 22 2020

News

Dear Col. Ned Stark: Take The Offer Dear Col. Ned Stark: Take The Offer

By Guy Snodgrass

/ Nov 22 2020

News

Here’s What Happens When Your Local Porta Potty Cleaner Just Up And Leaves Here’s What Happens When Your Local Porta Potty Cleaner Just Up And Leaves

/ Nov 21 2020

News

Why I blew the whistle on the forceful clearing of Lafayette Square Why I blew the whistle on the forceful clearing of Lafayette Square

By Maj. Adam DeMarco

/ Oct 13 2020

Military Life

Are you ready for your next chapter? Think Nashville Are you ready for your next chapter? Think Nashville

By Justin Burgess

/ Oct 5 2020

News

My brother Austin asked me to go to Syria with him. Four months later, he was taken My brother Austin asked me to go to Syria with him. Four months later, he was taken

/ Sep 25 2020

News

Our country needs to rekindle the unity we felt after September 11th Our country needs to rekindle the unity we felt after September 11th

/ Sep 11 2020

News

I learned to understand shame after losing my brother on September 11th I learned to understand shame after losing my brother on September 11th

/ Sep 10 2020

News

Maintain hygiene during COVID-19 Maintain hygiene during COVID-19

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 28 2020

News

Americans need to know how many of its troops are in harm’s way Americans need to know how many of its troops are in harm’s way

By Reps. Katie Porter and Jason Crow

/ Jun 30 2020

News

I never truly contemplated ‘white privilege.’ Then I saw a black man killed for doing the same thing I had done I never truly contemplated ‘white privilege.’ Then I saw a black man killed for doing the same thing I had done

By David Wilson

/ Jun 26 2020

News

US civil-military relations: a flawed deal in desperate need of repair US civil-military relations: a flawed deal in desperate need of repair

By Gregory D. Foster

/ Jun 17 2020

News

A prominent Vietnam veteran reflects on sacred places, protesters, and Confederate flags A prominent Vietnam veteran reflects on sacred places, protesters, and Confederate flags

/ Jun 16 2020

News

We already have the army of skilled workers we need to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic: Our veterans We already have the army of skilled workers we need to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic: Our veterans

By Dan Goldenberg

/ Jun 12 2020

News

It’s time to rename Fort Benning for Alwyn Cashe It’s time to rename Fort Benning for Alwyn Cashe

By J. Davis Winkie

/ Jun 12 2020

News

What the Houston riots of 1917 tell us about police brutality and status in America What the Houston riots of 1917 tell us about police brutality and status in America

By Kyle Gaffney

/ Jun 3 2020

News

At West Point, they swore an oath to serve the public interest. As high public officials, they’ve forsaken it At West Point, they swore an oath to serve the public interest. As high public officials, they’ve forsaken it

By Gregory D. Foster

/ Jun 2 2020

News

A better way of selecting Marine Corps officers for command A better way of selecting Marine Corps officers for command

By Col. J.S. Anderson (Ret.)

/ Jun 1 2020

News

COVID-19 and the loneliness of American heroism COVID-19 and the loneliness of American heroism

By Peter Lucier

/ May 27 2020

News

For American security, Tammy Duckworth is the pick for Biden For American security, Tammy Duckworth is the pick for Biden

/ May 15 2020

News

Yes, the President’s tweets count as legitimate orders, no matter how confusing they seem Yes, the President’s tweets count as legitimate orders, no matter how confusing they seem

By Butch Bracknell

/ Apr 24 2020

News

The misappropriation of Pat Tillman’s legacy The misappropriation of Pat Tillman’s legacy

By Meaghan Mobbs

/ Apr 21 2020

News

This AFSOC tweet about COVID-19 is the dumbest thing we’ve seen today This AFSOC tweet about COVID-19 is the dumbest thing we’ve seen today

By Jared Keller

/ Mar 25 2020

Military Life

Veterans Only Parking Doesn’t Go Far Enough Veterans Only Parking Doesn’t Go Far Enough

By Task & Purpose

/ Mar 4 2020

News

The VA has some serious problems with how it handles claims of military sexual trauma The VA has some serious problems with how it handles claims of military sexual trauma

By Kayla Williams and Samantha Kubek

/ Feb 26 2020

News

Top 5 Bases That Should Be Deployments Top 5 Bases That Should Be Deployments

By Task & Purpose

/ Feb 25 2020

News

Traumatic brain injury is often called an ‘invisible’ wound. It’s anything but Traumatic brain injury is often called an ‘invisible’ wound. It’s anything but

By Jenny Lynne Stroup

/ Feb 24 2020

Military Life

For years he sold the military’s version of the Iraq War. Now he’s on a mission to convey ‘the chaos and absurdity of that experience’ For years he sold the military’s version of the Iraq War. Now he’s on a mission to convey ‘the chaos and absurdity of that experience’

/ Feb 19 2020