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‘Fighting Joe’ Dunford Once Again Proves He’s Fit AF By Crushing The Boston Marathon

James Clark
April 19, 2017 at 01:09 PM news
Photo via Twitter

It might be tempting for some of the military’s top brass to get weighed down by all that bling on their collars, or slack off in the comfort of their plush chairs at the Pentagon. But not Marines like the 61-year-old Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who, in addition to maintaining his reputation as a PT stud, could probably kick your ass.

Related: 4 Habits That Will Make You A Better Military Leader »

On April 18, “Fighting Joe” participated in the 26-mile long Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line at just over 4 hours and 50 minutes and proving once again that not only is he still in great shape, but age and rank are no excuse for getting fat and nasty. On April 19, the official Twitter account of the joint chiefs posted this impressive photo of Dunford:

Dunford wore a “Team Kelly” shirt during the marathon to raise awareness for Homeland Security Sec. Robert Kelly's son, Marine 1st Lt. Robert Kelly, who was killed in Sangin, Afghanistan in 2010, according to a joint chiefs spokesman.

This isn’t the first time the Boston native proved that rank isn’t an excuse to duck out of PT. In December 2014, photos surfaced of Dunford, then the Marine Corps commandant, crushing the Corps’ Combat Fitness Test.

I’m up. He sees me! I’m down.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia

“84, 85, 85, 85 — just kidding, sir — 86, 87…”

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia

“No Marine, I’m not going to drop you... accidentally.”

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia

“Hey, go long.”

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia

The article has been updated with new information from a joint chiefs spokesman received after publication.  (Updated 4/19/17, 2:57 pm EST).

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relieved of command

Decorated Navy EOD commander relieved due to loss of confidence

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Cmdr. Sean Shigeru Kido (Navy photo)

The Navy relieved a decorated explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) officer on Thursday due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command, the Navy announced on Friday.

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forever war

Mattis: No, the war in Afghanistan isn't ‘just one undistinguished defeat after another’

Bullet Points
Former Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis (DoD photo)

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis, who led a Marine task force to Afghanistan shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, said the Washington Post's recent reporting about the U.S. government's pattern of lies about the war over the last two decades is not "revelatory."

Mattis, who was interviewed by the Washington Post's David Ignatius on Friday, also said he does not believe the U.S. government made any efforts to hide the true situation in Afghanistan and he argued the war has not been in vain.

Here are 10 key quotes from Mattis regarding the Washington Post's reporting in the 'Afghanistan Papers.'

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the keanussance

Get ready for some gun-fu: Both 'John Wick 4' and 'Matrix 4' will be premiering on the same day in 2021

Entertainment
(IMDB)

The Keanussance is upon us.

John Wick will be back and so will Neo, on the same day. According to the Hollywood Reporter, John Wick 4 and Matrix 4 will be sharing a May 21, 2021 release.

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bagram attack

The Taliban may not have breached the walls of Bagram, but they damaged the hell out of its main passenger terminal

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U.S. Air Force airmen from the 405th Expeditionary Support Squadron work together to clear debris inside the passenger terminal the day after a Taliban-led attack at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 12, 2019. (U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Brandon Cribelar)

Blasts from Taliban car bombs outside of Bagram Airfield on Wednesday caused extensive damage to the base's passenger terminal, new pictures released by the 45th Expeditionary Wing show.

The pictures, which are part of a photo essay called "Bagram stands fast," were posted on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service's website on Thursday.

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uss fitzgerald collision

Has justice actually been served for the USS Fitzgerald disaster?

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The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returns to Fleet Activities Yokosuka following a collision with a merchant vessel while operating southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, June 17, 2017 (U.S. Navy photo)

Editor's Note: The following is an op-ed. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Task & Purpose.

Shortly after seven sailors died aboard USS Fitzgerald when she collided with a merchant ship off Japan in 2017, I wrote that the Fitzgerald's watch team could have been mine. My ship had once had a close call with me on watch, and I had attempted to explain how such a thing could happen. "Operating ships at sea is hard, and dangerous. Stand enough watches, and you'll have close calls," I wrote at the time. "When the Fitzgerald's investigation comes out, I, for one, will likely be forgiving."

The investigations, both public and private, are out, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report assessing the changes to training implemented since the collisions.

So, am I forgiving? Yes — for some.

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