Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 19)

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 14: A Tesla Cybertruck passes the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse as jury selection began in connection with allegations regarding the safety of Tesla’s autopilot system on July 14, 2025 in Miami, Florida. The federal case follows a fatal crash in 2019 of a Tesla on autopilot that crashed into a parked car in Key Largo, Florida. The collision led to the death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and the serious injury of her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Air Force

The Air Force wants to use Cybertrucks for target practice

They don’t need to work either, they just need to be blown up.

U.S. Air Force members assigned to March Air Reserve Base in Calif., complete a new course of fire qualification for the M18 SIG, April 12, 2024. The enhanced 9mm caliber pistol is a lighter polymer pistol, with a more uniform trigger pull accommodating various hand sizes thereby improving shooter lethality within our diverse force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagan)
Air Force

Airman arrested for death that prompted Air Force-wide safety review of Sig M18

“An individual has now been arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter,” an Air Force spokesperson said.

Japes Capers
Marine Corps

A legendary Marine doesn’t have the Medal of Honor. Veterans want to change that.

When his nine-man team was ambushed in Vietnam in April 1967, 2nd Lt. James Capers Jr. called in a mortar strike on their position to keep the enemy at bay and led his men to a helicopter landing zone.

The Spirit of Pennsylvania B-2 Spirit assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron approaches for a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, July 17. (Air Force photo by Todd Schannuth)
Air Force

B-2 bomber skidded for more than a mile, caught fire when landing gear collapsed

A recent Air Force accident report found that a B-2 pilot stood out of his seat to stomp on the brakes as the stealth bomber skidded down a runway.

Taylor Adam Lee
Army

Army tank crewman allegedly tried to give Russia specs on M1A2 Abrams

Army Spc. Taylor Adam Lee allegedly sent along the technical information with a note that read “The USA is not happy with me for trying to expose their weaknesses.”

A Combined Action Program Marine and a Navy corpsman using diesel fuel to burn the human waste from Combined Action unit Papa Three's outhouse in Cam Hieu village, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, on September 20, 1967. (Photo by Ed Palm Photo/Getty Images)
Benefits & Pay

Federal watchdog calls out lack of research on burn pits in Vietnam

A federal watchdog report found that despite evidence of open-air burning in Vietnam, there hasn’t been much research into the health effects veterans face.

Secretary of the Army, Hon. Daniel P. Driscoll pins a medal on a Soldier recognized for valor during the Aug. 6 active shooter incident at Fort Stewart, Aug. 7, 2025. Multiple Soldiers tackled and subdued the assailant, minimizing casualties. (U.S. Army photo Sgt. Bernabe Lopez)
Army

Soldiers who stopped Fort Stewart gunman recognized as ‘the best among us in the Army’

“They acted in a way that I think all of us hoped we would under fire, but they did,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said.

Army drill sergeants participate in a “shark attack” as trainees arrive on the first day of Basic Combat Training on June 12, 2017.
Army

‘Shark attacks’ may be coming back to Army Basic Training

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is looking into reinstating the practice of Army drill sergeants swarming and screaming at trainees.

Soldiers tackled shooter who wounded 5 at  Fort Stewart, Georgia
Army

Soldiers tackled shooter who wounded 5 at Fort Stewart, Georgia

Base officials said Quornelius Radford, 28, a sergeant in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, shot five people in the brigade's duty area before he was tackled by other soldiers.

Marines in Afghanistan
News

Pentagon briefly republished Afghanistan photos pulled after withdrawal

A defense spokesperson confirmed that about 1,400 images from Afghanistan had been “unintentionally" reposted and then removed. The photos were pulled in 2021 to protect Afghan allies.

The Navy, in partnership with Skydweller Aero, recently achieved continuous solar-powered unmanned flight during a nonstop three-day test from Stennis, Mississippi. Led by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), the test of Skydweller UAS marks a significant advancement in both long-endurance solar-powered UAS technology and its potential to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Drones

The Navy flew a solar-powered drone for 73 hours straight

In all, the Skydweller flew 220 hours, including one 73-hour flight. Built for long-duration surveillance, engineers think it could be in the air longer on solar power alone.

Army Training
Army

Army infantry training unit reverses ‘bay tossing’ ban

The commander of an infantry One Station Unit Training brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, directed drill sergeants to stop using “bay tossing” with trainees, but the move was quickly rescinded.

DEIR EZ-ZOR, SYRIA - AUGUST 13: Military vehicles that the US military sent as a reinforcement, convoy to the bases controlled by PKK/YPG (PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the U.S. and the EU and YPG which Turkiye consider as the extension of PKK in Syria) in Deir ez-Zor province in Syria, on August 13, 2023. (Photo by Omer Al Diri/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Middle East

US leaves Syrian base where American troops fought Wagner mercenaries

American forces pulled out of the “Conoco Fields” base in Deir ez-Zor base in May, after holding it for years amid repeated attacks.

Kyle Carpenter Ship
Marine Corps

Navy destroyer named for Marine Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter

“In 2010, Cpl. Carpenter went above and beyond the call of duty to shield a fellow Marine from a grenade blast in Afghanistan,” said Navy Secretary John Phelan.

U.S. Army Capt. Walton Brown (left), chaplain with 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in support of Task Force Iron, marches alongside NATO Multinational Battle Group Poland soldiers during a Memorial Day ruck march at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, May 26, 2025. U.S. soldiers joined service members from Romania, the United Kingdom, and Croatia to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in their countries’ armed forces. Task Force Iron’s mission is to engage in multinational training and exercises across the continent to increase lethality while strengthening partnerships with NATO allies and regional security partners. The task force provides combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe.
Army

Army launches its own ‘Spiritual Fitness Guide’ 

The new guide, along with a "battlebook," are meant to help soldiers’ resilience and readiness.

Drones
Drones

How far does the US military have to go to catch up on drones?

The Defense Department is just now trying to play catchup to Ukraine and Israel in using small drones on the battlefield, but it has its work cut for it.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Maxwell Carson, 49th Security Forces Squadron response force member, fires an M18 pistol during the Special Reactions Team tryout competition at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, May 22, 2025. The timed shooting portion of the tryout adds stress while requiring strict accuracy standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Elijah Strickland)
Air Force

Air Force enacts service-wide inspections of M18 pistols

The safety inspections come after Air Force Global Strike Command ordered a pause in the use of the pistols.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/ Recovery Equipment) Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV
Navy

Navy identifies USS George Washington sailor lost at sea

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/ Recovery Equipment) Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV was declared dead after a 45-hour search in the Timor Sea.

An Air Force A-10 Warthog heads to the 309 Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Air Force

Air Force security kills driver who attempted to breach base

An erratic car crashed into the main gate at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, prompting base security to open fire.

A flight of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft sit for a weapons check prior to takeoff at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, July 28, 2025. As part of the Super Squadron Test Phase II, pilots and F-16s will be temporarily relocated to Osan Air Base aiming to consolidate air power and increase combat capability on the Korean Peninsula. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Landon Gunsauls)
Air Force

Air Force creates a second ‘super squadron’ in South Korea

31 F-16s will shift to Osan Air Base in the second phase of the Air Force’s experiment with supersized fighter units.