Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 41)

A man in camouflage, goggles and smoking a cigarette holds a drone controller.
Ukraine

Exploding drone operator goggles show the future of sabotage

Russian drones continue to be a threat to Ukrainian troops, so Ukraine tried an unusual attack to take out the operators piloting the drones.

A base entrance sign with the U.S. Air Force logo and the words Kirtland Air Force Base written on it.
Air Force

Airman dead in shootout at Kirtland Air Force Base

Another airman was shot in the hand in the overnight incident.

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News

Trump fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Gen. Charles Q. "CQ" Brown Jr. was removed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Friday evening, along with Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations, and Gen. James Slife, the Air Force’s number two officer.

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Sgt. Robert B. Brown from Fayetteville, N.C. with Regimental Combat Team 6, Combat Camera Unit watches over the civilian Fire Fighters at the burn pit as smoke and flames rise into the night sky behind him on May 25th, 2007. Camp Fallujah has its own civilian run Fire Department to assist the Marines and Soldiers during a fire or emergency. Regimental Combat Team 6 is deployed with Multi National Forces-West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq to develop Iraqi Security Forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic reforms, and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction. (Official USMC photograph by Cpl. Samuel D. Corum)(RELEASED)(RELEASED)
Afghanistan

Senate rejects PACT Act protections, sending ‘signal’ that benefits could be cut, vet group says

Burn Pits 360, a veteran advocacy group said while the measure isn’t directly changing PACT Act care or funding, it could “signal” larger changes to veteran benefits.

Sgt. Maj. Jim Lanham, sergeant major of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks to Marines during an all-hands formation aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, July 26, 2017. Lanham and Col. Tye R. Wallace, commanding officer of the 31st MEU, encouraged the Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU to continue to act as ambassadors of the Marine Corps. The 31st MEU partners with the Navy’s Amphibious Squadron 11 to form the amphibious component of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group. The 31st MEU and PHIBRON 11 combine to provide a cohesive blue-green team capable of accomplishing a variety of missions across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Stormy Mendez/Released)
The Pentagon Rundown

There’s a lot going on in the world of military news, and we need your help

Please let us know how recent decisions by senior military and civilian leaders are impacting troops, military families, and veterans.

An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in a highly elliptical orbit in 2024. As part of the X-37B's seventh mission, the vehicle executed a series of first-of-its-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel. (U.S. Space Force Courtesy Photo)
Air Force

US military releases first photo from orbit from its mysterious space plane

The X-37B has been in space seven times, but this is the first glimpse of Earth from its cameras.

Navy Capt. Dave Snowden has been relieved as the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Harry. S Truman.
Navy

Commander of USS Harry Truman relieved a week after collision with merchant ship

"The U.S. Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standard and takes action to hold them accountable when those standards are not met," the Navy said in a statement.

A Tuskegee Airman describes an air-to-air dogfight in 'Wings For This Man,' a 1945 Army-produced film on the unit narrated by Ronald Reagan.
World War II

Ronald Reagan narrated a short film in 1945 about the Tuskegee Airmen

In a 10-minute film from 1945, future-President Ronald Reagan tried to convince America why it needed flyers like the Tuskegee Airmen.

New York Air National Guard Senior Airman Caleb Lapinel left) checks the map with another Soldier will participating in the international course conducted annually by the Brazil Jungle Warfare Center, known as CIGS for its Portugese initials, as an instructor looks on. Lapinel was the only American in the class of ten.( Courtesy Photo)
Air Force

Welcome to the jungle: Meet the New York Guardsmen who took on Brazil’s infamous jungle warfare school

Each year, the New York National Guard sends soldiers and airmen to Brazil's demanding jungle warfare school. Fewer than 60 Americans have ever graduated.

Navy recruiting
Navy

Navy says it is on track to hit its highest recruiting numbers in more than 20 years

The Navy has contracted more than 14,000 future sailors since Oct. 1.

Asian man having a video call via smart phone while holding his baby on his lap. Father working from home. Sharing family responsibilities.

Deciding which savings product is best for you

Investments vs Savings.

Soldiers watch a sunrise during Eager Lion, a multilateral exercise in Jordan, Sept, 13, 2022.
Mental Health

If common mental health issues are labeled ‘incompatible’ with service, advocates fear troops will ‘go underground’

Advocates think the language of a recent executive order will have a chilling effect and drive some troops away from seeking the mental health care they need.

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group receive flood victims arriving at the Big Sandy Regional Airport in Debord, Kentucky, Feb. 17, 2025. The evacuees were airlifted aboard Kentucky and Indiana Army National Guard helicopters from housing complexes in Martin County, Kentucky, that were surrounded by floodwaters. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Kyle Goins)
News

In a single day, National Guard troops in Kentucky airlifted 296 people trapped by floods

Counting this rescue, National Guard personnel and first responders across the state have rescued more than 1,000 people from flooding.

Kevyn Major Howard from the Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket
Entertainment

Remembering Full Metal Jacket’s Rafterman, and the actor who brought him to life

Kevyn Major Howard died on Feb. 14 at the age of 69. In addition to appearing in “Full Metal Jacket,” he also founded the non-profit group Fueled by the Fallen for veterans and first responders.

Navy SEAL veteran Robert O'Neill has launched a cannabis company.
Culture

Navy SEAL who shot Bin Laden launches cannabis company

SEAL Team Six meets SEAL Team Spliff.

Syria
Middle East

US strike kills a senior official of an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria

The airstrike in Syria's Idlib province killed a "senior finance and logistics official" from the militant group Hurras al-Din.

Two men in superhero suits, including Sam Wilson's Captain America, run on the deck of a battleship.
Entertainment

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ has the most confusing dogfight in Marvel history

Even after more than a decade, bad guys in the Marvel Cinematic Universe haven't figured out anti-air combat.

Aircraft fly ahead of several aircraft carriers and other ships in a deep blue sea.
Navy

This is what it looks like when you have 3 aircraft carriers from 3 countries at sea

The USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is currently drilling with French and Japanese ships and planes in a show of force projection in the Pacific.

Coast Guard Cutter 2024
Benefits & Pay

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.
News

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.”