Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 368)

Congressman asks the Marine Corps to relax haircut requirements during COVID-19 pandemic
News

Congressman asks the Marine Corps to relax haircut requirements during COVID-19 pandemic

'Marines are unnecessarily being put at risk of infection in order to comply with traditional grooming standards that may be optimal in an ideal world but are inessential and can be relaxed in the real world without doing any damage at all to institutional mission or national security.'

Now that your PCS is on hold, here’s what you can do to be prepared when they finally say go
Military Life

Now that your PCS is on hold, here’s what you can do to be prepared when they finally say go

Are you one of the thousands of military families that are stuck in PCS limbo? The recent DoD stop order on military travel has affected many military families waiting to move or preparing for an upcoming PCS. Now that the stop order has been extended indefinitely, with constant reevaluation every 15 days, families may not know more than two weeks in advance when they will finally be allowed to move. If you have ever PCS’d before, you know that 15 days is not enough time to prepare for and execute a PCS move.

Ways to keep the family sane during this staycation
Military Life

Ways to keep the family sane during this staycation

Right now, military families are playing a terrible game of “hurry up and wait.” In an ordinary year, this would be the peak of PCS season. Military kids would be celebrating their final weeks at one school before transferring to another one over the summer. Families would be planning summer “vacations” to visit their relatives and do sight seeing during cross-country PCS moves. But of course, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is no ordinary year.

Marine commandant explains why he banned Confederate symbols at Corps installations
News

Marine commandant explains why he banned Confederate symbols at Corps installations

"This symbol has shown it has the power to inflame feelings of division. I cannot have division inside our Corps."

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds to fly over multiple cities to support health care workers battling COVID-19, Trump says
News

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds to fly over multiple cities to support health care workers battling COVID-19, Trump says

The crews "wanted to show support to the American medical workers who, just like military members in a time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight," Trump said.

Val Kilmer says he ‘didn’t want the part’ in ‘Top Gun’
Culture

Val Kilmer says he ‘didn’t want the part’ in ‘Top Gun’

Val Kilmer didn’t always feel the need for speed

Pentagon leaders thank Trump for pushing the US closer to a war with Iran
News

Pentagon leaders thank Trump for pushing the US closer to a war with Iran

'I like that the president warned an adversary. He’s providing a warning: If you want to go down that path, we will come, and we will come large – so don’t go down that path.'

Marine Corps cancels physical fitness test requirement over COVID-19
News

Marine Corps cancels physical fitness test requirement over COVID-19

The Army asked former soldiers to come back to fight COVID-19. Nearly 27,000 responded
News

The Army asked former soldiers to come back to fight COVID-19. Nearly 27,000 responded

Several hundred of them will actually rejoin

Here’s what it was like when Iran launched ballistic missiles at US troops in Iraq, according to those who were there
News

Here’s what it was like when Iran launched ballistic missiles at US troops in Iraq, according to those who were there

'The sky lit up and we felt the shockwave as debris from the explosion pummeled our shelter. My ears wouldn't stop ringing.'

Touching photo shows nurse saluting a fellow veteran who died of COVID-19
Military Life

Touching photo shows nurse saluting a fellow veteran who died of COVID-19

A former Air Force flight nurse, who now works as a registered nurse at a Florida hospital recently paid his respects to a fellow veteran who died of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). That somber act of solidarity was captured in a photo that has since gone viral

Bond set at $2 million for man accused of fatally beating 94-year-old World War II vet
Military Life

Bond set at $2 million for man accused of fatally beating 94-year-old World War II vet

Michael Dudas is charged with aggravated murder in the slaying of Charles Vonderau, who served in the Navy as a Yeoman Second Class on the USS Bangust during World War II

The misappropriation of Pat Tillman’s legacy
News

The misappropriation of Pat Tillman’s legacy

There is an inherent connection between warfighting and politics, one that has complicated how and why we honor our nation’s war dead since the nation's foundin

US troops in Iraq had several hours of warning before Iran’s ballistic missile attack in January
News

US troops in Iraq had several hours of warning before Iran’s ballistic missile attack in January

U.S. troops had time to evacuate Al-Asad Air Base before the Jan. 8 Iranian ballistic missile attack.

Veteran-run backpack company gets in on the mask-making business
Military Life

Veteran-run backpack company gets in on the mask-making business

"I was like ‘Hey, we made a backpack, I’m pretty sure we can make a mask.’"

First Marine recruits begin training at Parris Island again after COVID-19 outbreak
News

First Marine recruits begin training at Parris Island again after COVID-19 outbreak

Two companies of recruits arrived at Parris Island on April 20.

The Army’s new recruiting commercial is all about stepping up during the COVID-19 crisis
News

The Army’s new recruiting commercial is all about stepping up during the COVID-19 crisis

"When the unbelievable happens, the unbelievable rise to meet it."

75 years ago, this ‘stouthearted and indomitable’ Medal of Honor recipient leaped on a grenade to save 2 others
Military Life

75 years ago, this ‘stouthearted and indomitable’ Medal of Honor recipient leaped on a grenade to save 2 others

On April 15, 1945, Pfc. Harold Gonsalves readily gave his life, so that his fellow marines would survive.

The Army’s next generation headset is still on schedule to get to soldiers by 2021 — for now
News

The Army’s next generation headset is still on schedule to get to soldiers by 2021 — for now

But that doesn't mean there aren't other adjustments being made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch a Russian SU-35 buzz a Navy aircraft for the second time in just 4 days
News

Watch a Russian SU-35 buzz a Navy aircraft for the second time in just 4 days

Russian pilots once again acted out their Top Gun fantasies — and no, not by playing shirtless volleyball.