Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 109)

Culture

Would vaping help more veterans quit smoking? One group thinks so

The group Smokeless Vets hope to help 100,000 veterans stop smoking. Using nicotine products like vapes and pouches, they think, would help.

Air Force

14-year-old killed in wall collapse at Robins Air Force Base pool

Officials said they will not release the names of minors involved in the incident.

Air Force

NORAD sent 3 different fighters to intercept Russian and Chinese bombers

Two F-35s, F-16s, and Canadian CF-18s intercepted two Russian TU-95 and two Chinese PRC H-6 bombers.

News

An Airman killed at a secret CIA radar base in Laos is finally recovered

U.S. Air Force Sgt. David Price was killed at Lima Site 85, a secret CIA radar base in Laos which was overrun in a pitched, mountain-top battle. His remains were just identified.

Benefits

103-year-old WWII veteran finally gets VA benefits 78 years later

Army Technician Third Grade Louis M. Gigliotti was assigned to the Army’s 1-773rd Service Command Unit which handled medical screenings for soldiers before and after their deployment to Europe.

Military Life

Special Forces Assessment and Selection: Everything You Need To Know

The road to being a Green Beret starts with this 24-day course that pushes candidates as far as they can go.

Navy

Navy sinks USS Tarawa in latest Pacific SINKEX

An F/A-18-fired anti-ship missile was used to sink the former amphibious assault ship on July 19 during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024.

Army

Maine mass shooter showed red flags, Army investigation finds

The report highlighted policy gaps, communication pitfalls and missed warning signs that could've caught Sgt. First Class Robert Card's concerning behavior before it turned fatal. The Army took administrative actions against three soldiers for "dereliction of duty."

Air Force

Air Force drops court-martial against Lt. Col. accused of child sex abuse

Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin DiFalco’s told Task & Purpose he is innocent. He still faces administrative action.

Opinion

Opinion: The urgent need to field dried plasma for large-scale combat operations

Dried plasma was used during WW II and the Korean War, saving thousands of lives. It was banned due to the lack of screening technology for hepatitis contaminated blood. Now, military and veteran researches, doctors, and healthcare workers are calling for the life saving treatment to be re-introduced to the military.

Europe

China, Russia continue push into Arctic as Pentagon updates strategy

The Pentagon released its 2024 Arctic Strategy, which is updated for events like war in Ukraine, and Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

Navy

A USS Eisenhower pilot became the first American woman to score air-to-air kill

The aviator, part of Strike Fighter Squadron 32, took out a Houthi drone in the Red Sea as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s intercept mission.

Opinion

Opinion: Project 2025 would slash veterans’ hard-earned benefits  

The tenants of Project 2025, written by former and possibly future Trump administration officials, would overhaul the VA at the expense of veterans.

News

Biden drops out of 2024 election, remains commander-in-chief

President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 race, but said he intends to carry out the remainder of his term.

Historical Figures

55 years ago, the military pilots of Apollo 11 landed on the Moon

Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and command module pilot Michael Collins served as Navy aviators and Air Force pilots before joining NASA and flying in Apollo 11.

Around the World

Former Marine sentenced to nearly five years in prison for participating in the Jan. 6 riot

Tyler Bradley Dykes, who was discharged from the Marine Corps in 2023, previously attended the 2017 “United the Right” rally in Charlottesville.

Army

Joint Base Lewis-McChord closes its beaches after soldier drowns

The beaches at American Lake are closed indefinitely while base leadership conducts a safety investigation.

Air Force

Air Force colonel fired at Eglin Air Force Base 3 days before command change

Air Force Col. Jeremiah Hammill was fired as commander of the 96th Test Wing Civil Engineer Group at Eglin.

United States

To heat frigid Alaska base, the Army goes underground

There are seven ongoing geothermal projects at military bases across the U.S. as part of larger efforts to increase renewable energy.

Benefits

What does Project 2025 mean for military veterans?

Project 2025's proposals for the VA calls for changes to veteran healthcare eligibility and disability claims.