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![Navy SEAL veteran Robert O'Neill has launched a cannabis company.](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ONeill-screenshot.jpg?quality=85&w=1540)
Navy SEAL who shot Bin Laden launches cannabis company
SEAL Team Six meets SEAL Team Spliff.
By James Clark
Posted 16 Hours Ago
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![Coast Guard Cutter 2024](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/11/Coast-Guard-Cutter-2024.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
Coast Guard hit with data breach, impacting pay for more than 1,100 members Coast Guard hit with data breach, impacting pay for more than 1,100 members
The Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center’s Direct Access service is down until Feb. 19 as a result.
![VA investigates, veterans affairs employee with El Paso, Texas VA who called veteran and left voicemail that prompted an investigation.](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/10/VA.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
A Marine vet thought he found a ‘home’ working at the VA. Now he’s one of 1,000 fired. A Marine vet thought he found a ‘home’ working at the VA. Now he’s one of 1,000 fired.
Marine veteran Andrew Lennox, who was let go Thursday, said, “I feel like someone from outside of our family is trying to tell us how to run it and telling me I don’t belong, and that’s really angered me.”
By Jeff Schogol
/![U.S. Army Reserve Master Sgt. Larry Sanders, the senior command career counselor for the 7th Mission Support Command, discusses career paths available in the Army Reserve with cadets from the Kaiserslautern High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, part of Veterans' Week. The 7th MSC maintains relationships with area schools and stays involved with extracurricular activities to showcase the Citizen - Soldier lifestyle. The 7th Mission Support Command is the U.S. Army Reserve presence in Europe. Comprised of 26 units across Germany and Italy, the 7th MSC provides logistical and sustainment resources in support of U.S. Army Europe - Africa missions across the theater. For more stories and information on the 7th Mission Support Command, connect on Facebook @7thmsc. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt 1st Class Jessica Forester)](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8761235-e1739562741946.jpg?quality=85&w=799)
‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ ‘Kite Runner’ among books being reviewed over ‘ideology’ concerns at on-base military schools ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ ‘Kite Runner’ among books being reviewed over ‘ideology’ concerns at on-base military schools
“Without this guidance, you cover your butt but you interpret it how you interpret it,” said one librarian at a Defense Department-run school.
![Soldiers engage targets with a pair of high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) during a live fire event in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, May 19, 2023.](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Pentagon-Rundown-Feb-14.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
US drifts away from Ukraine nearly 3 years after Russia’s invasion US drifts away from Ukraine nearly 3 years after Russia’s invasion
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said it is unrealistic for Ukraine to join NATO. The remarks come as Russia continues fighting despite enormous losses while Ukraine faces a manpower shortage.
By Jeff Schogol
/![Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Meyers (center) began his career in the Army Reserve (left) and completed an enlistment in the Navy Reserve (right).](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3-service.jpg?quality=85&w=804)
Soldier, sailor and now airman: This NCO has served in three branches in 12 years Soldier, sailor and now airman: This NCO has served in three branches in 12 years
Staff Sgt. Robert Meyers has served in three different military branches, with stints in the Army and the Navy reserves before the Air Force.
By Matt White
/![USS Harry S. Truman](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/USS-Harry-S-Truman.jpg?quality=85&w=676)
Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and merchant vessel collide near Egypt Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and merchant vessel collide near Egypt
There are no reports of flooding or injuries aboard the Navy’s USS Harry S. Truman after a collision with merchant vessel near Egypt.
By Jeff Schogol
/![An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook assigned to 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, operates Feb. 2, 2025, at the Whitehorse airport, Yukon Territory, Canada. The Chinook crew supported the repair of a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk that had rescued two victims of a Jan. 26 ultralight plane crash near Faro, Yukon Territory. (Photo courtesy of Simon Blakesley)](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/250202-Z-FC240-6011-e1739453651414.jpg?quality=85&w=799)
Alaska rescue units had a hell of week: 3 planes, 2 countries and 1 stuck helicopter Alaska rescue units had a hell of week: 3 planes, 2 countries and 1 stuck helicopter
Units from the Alaska Air National Guard, Army Guard and active duty all pitched in to respond to three plane crashes, an avalanche victim and a long-distance recovery of one of their own helicopters.
By Matt White
/![Air Force promotions](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Air-Force-Technical-Sergeant-Promotions.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
Air Force says delay in test cycle for 35,000 airmen shouldn’t impact promotions Air Force says delay in test cycle for 35,000 airmen shouldn’t impact promotions
Originally scheduled to take place from Feb. 15 to April 15, the staff sergeant promotion testing cycle will now run from March 3 to May 1.
By Jeff Schogol
/![Students in Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL class 279 participate in a surf passage exercise during the first phase of training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. Surf passage is one of many physically strenuous exercises that BUD/S class 279 will take part in during the seven weeks of first phase. The Navy SEALs are the maritime component of U.S. Special Forces and are trained to conduct a variety of operations from the sea, air and land.](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/202861.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
Navy SEAL candidates often swim in water with high levels of fecal matter, watchdog finds Navy SEAL candidates often swim in water with high levels of fecal matter, watchdog finds
Naval Special Warfare Command rarely moves water training events for Navy SEAL candidates despite high levels of fecal indicator bacteria in the ocean, according to the Defense Department Inspector General’s Office.
By Jeff Schogol
/![FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA - FEBRUARY 29: Images of cells dividing, on the walls at West Coast Fertility Centers, photographed February 29, 2024, in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/for The Washington Post)](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/GettyImages-2174784619-e1739296652513.jpg?quality=85&w=799)
Pentagon says it will cover travel costs for military families’ IVF treatments Pentagon says it will cover travel costs for military families’ IVF treatments
The Pentagon announced it will cover the costs for military families to travel for in-vitro fertilization treatment, clarifying a previous policy decision.
![Fort Bragg](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/24/Fort-Bragg-sign.jpeg?quality=85&w=800)
Hegseth indicates that Fort Bragg will not be the last base to be renamed Hegseth indicates that Fort Bragg will not be the last base to be renamed
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that Fort Liberty’s name return to Fort Bragg. He said other changes are coming.
By Jeff Schogol
/![U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II aircrafts, assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, being prepared for the morning flight during Sentry Savannah 25-1, at the Air Dominance Center, Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia, Jan. 21, 2025. Sentry Savannah is the Air National Guard’s premier fourth- and fifth-generation fighter integration exercise, with this year’s event involving more than 1,000 participants and 56 aircraft from eight flying units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Xaviera Stevens)](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8847388-copy.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
Airmen say ‘people first, mission always’ is falling by the wayside in DEI crackdown Airmen say ‘people first, mission always’ is falling by the wayside in DEI crackdown
Active duty airmen are grappling to understand the end of groups that have improved safety, recruiting and a canceled family conference that had put Narcan on the shelves of base stores.
![U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Joint Task Force North, U.S. Northern Command, to see the efforts military men and women are undertaking in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the southern border at Fort Bliss, Texas, Feb. 12, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces. This initial deployment of 1,600 active-duty personnel brings the total military Title 10 forces along the border to nearly 4,000 personnel. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew R. Sveen)](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8855959-e1739229979831.jpeg?quality=85&w=748)
Pentagon orders immediate hold on gender-affirming care for transgender troops Pentagon orders immediate hold on gender-affirming care for transgender troops
Gender-affirming surgery is already banned in military healthcare systems but the new memo appears to target hormone therapy and other care.
By Matt White
/![U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, await transport with an ultra-light tactical vehicle, during Marine Air-Ground Task Force Distributed Exercise (MDMX) at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 10, 2024. The Marines with 1st Recon began MDMX by conducting a tactical night insertion into an austere environment. MDMX is a maneuver exercise that incorporates ground, air, and logistics operations over several days. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sean Potter)](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/8241521-copy.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
$571 million in VA spending on suicide prevention isn’t working, vets groups say $571 million in VA spending on suicide prevention isn’t working, vets groups say
Veteran advocates are asking for accountability on how the Department of Veterans Affairs uses its $571 million suicide prevention budget, and whether those efforts are working.
By Patty Nieberg, Jeff Schogol
/![Soldiers from C. Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment watch Super Bowl LIX in the field at Fort Stewart, Georgia.](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/super-bowl-watch-party-header.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
This Army first sergeant set up a Super Bowl party for his soldiers in the field This Army first sergeant set up a Super Bowl party for his soldiers in the field
“It hits different when your leadership thinks about you like that,” said Sgt. Matthew Brennan, a soldier in the unit.
![a red and orange sky.](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Starfish-Prime-Hawaii.jpg?quality=85&w=800)
The Cold War nuclear test that turned the sky crimson The Cold War nuclear test that turned the sky crimson
The military wanted to test the electromagnetic impacts of nuclear weapons in space. In 1962 they lit up the sky for hundreds of miles.
![](https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/newsletter_img.jpg?quality=85&w=990)
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Task & Purpose was founded in 2014 as a voice for the military community, and continues to serve that community 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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