Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 17)

Air Force

F-35 pilots receive Distinguished Flying Crosses for Midnight Hammer, missions in Yemen

Six airmen received the top flying honor while several more were awarded Bronze Stars for their roles in strikes against Houthis and Iran last year.

Marine Corps

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deploys to Caribbean

1,300 Camp Lejeune-based Marines will replace the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which wrapped a 10-month-long deployment to the region.

Marine Corps

Marines can be promoted to sergeant much faster under new policy

News

45-year-old National Guard recruit arrested at basic training was ‘international fugitive’

Marcin Pióro, a Polish citizen, enlisted in the Illinois National Guard and was arrested during basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, according to an Army official.

Iran

Fighting between US and Iran continues amid ‘ceasefire’

For the second time within a week, U.S. and Iranian forces have traded fire despite a nearly two-month-old “ceasefire” between both countries.

Army

Man convicted in backwoods killing of Delta Force soldier and Army veteran

The bodies of a former Delta Force soldier and a retired Army veteran were found in a wooded training area on Fort Bragg in 2020.

Ships

Why the Navy says it wants 15 battleships

The Trump-class BBG(X) could give the Navy more firepower at sea, but it also concentrates cost, risk, and future-weapons bets into a few enormous ships.

News

New law could increase compensation for Gold Star families if it makes it through Senate

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act would increase benefits for both surviving family members and severely disabled veterans.

Navy

Out of the 22 Navy officers just promoted to admiral, none were women

The most recent Navy promotion list continued a year-long trend of women in the service not moving up to flag officer ranks.

Guns

The special ops replacement for the MK17 SCAR-H will fire 7.62 and 6.5mm ammo

“The weapon is currently in production and is a direct replacement for the MK17. SOCOM is pursuing a rapid fielding method that will begin this fiscal year.”

Drones

Green Berets tested glider drones for supply drops during a massive special operations exercise

Special Forces used expendable gliders to ferry supplies to units on the ground during the large-scale Trojan Footprint exercise in eastern Europe this month.

Iran

US forces strike Iranian boats, launch sites in Bandar Abbas

Central Command said that the attacks were done in self defense in response to “threats posed by Iranian forces.”

Past Conflicts

Dozens of Revolutionary War soldiers laid to rest after 250 years

The remains of 44 people from the Continental Army were found in 2019. This past weekend they were buried with full honors.

News

One dead, others wounded in shooting at Fort Hood recreation area

Gunfire broke out after military police responded to a fight, with MPs getting into a firefight Saturday night.

Marine Corps

Marines stage mock evacuation at Venezuela embassy

Four months after U.S. troops invaded Caracas to capture Nicolás Maduro , U.S. forces again flew over the city.

Military Life

Army reaches its recruiting goal several months early

61,500 new recruits have signed contracts, the Army announced on Saturday.

Navy

Nimitz carrier group arrives in Caribbean amid Cuba tensions

The longest-serving carrier joins several other warships still operating in Latin American waters.

News

Unaccredited VA claims company charged veteran $21,000 in violation of federal law, judge rules

A North Carolina judge ruled that Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting, LLC, acted as an accredited agent, even though it wasn't.

Air Force

Security Forces airman becomes first Air Force graduate of Army’s revived jungle school

Once known as the "Green Hell," the 18-day course reopened last October on the eastern end of the Panama Canal.

News

Most military branches don’t ‘fully’ check if suicide prevention training works, watchdog finds

The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps generally do not track or evaluate suicide prevention training effectiveness. The Air Force tracks data and has an evaluation plan, but there are gaps.