Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 412)

The VA is refunding $400 million in mistaken home loan fees to thousands of vets
United States

The VA is refunding $400 million in mistaken home loan fees to thousands of vets

The refunds were the result of a "multi-year internal review of millions of VA-backed home loans spanning almost two decades," the department said in a statement

We salute the soldier who sacrificed his leg to save his battle buddies during a tank accident
Army

We salute the soldier who sacrificed his leg to save his battle buddies during a tank accident

"When something like this happens ... Life will take a 180, but it doesn't have to be a bad thing."

‘No further punishment is necessary’ — Eddie Gallagher’s lawyers make their case for clemency to the Navy’s top admiral
Navy

‘No further punishment is necessary’ — Eddie Gallagher’s lawyers make their case for clemency to the Navy’s top admiral

"Given this history, we submit that the suffering inflicted on Chief Gallagher and his family as a result of this case far exceeds what is appropriate for a charge of posing for a photo with a dead terrorist."

Service members and vets can now download dozens of video games for free — and no, you don’t need to reenlist to get them
Entertainment

Service members and vets can now download dozens of video games for free — and no, you don’t need to reenlist to get them

Love video games but hate paying for them? If you're a U.S. service member, a veteran, or a family member of one, then a new program has just the thing for you

Iraq to the future: How Trump’s Syria reversal reflects the unlearned lessons of America’s forever wars
News

Iraq to the future: How Trump’s Syria reversal reflects the unlearned lessons of America’s forever wars

America's Kurdish allies will now find themselves at the mercy of Erdoğan, a man who labeled "the world's largest stateless nation" as a terrorist insurgency that threatens his iron fist.

The US military dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in the last month than it has since 2010
Afghanistan

The US military dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in the last month than it has since 2010

Bombs away.

‘I hate it’ — Trump says signing letters to the families of fallen soldiers is the hardest thing he does
Army

‘I hate it’ — Trump says signing letters to the families of fallen soldiers is the hardest thing he does

"But no matter what you do, it's devastating. The parents will never be the same. The families will never be the same. People are killed. Many people are still being killed. It's going to go on that way for perhaps a long time."

Court withdraws controversial legal opinion that determined court-martialing military retirees was unconstitutional
Retirement

Court withdraws controversial legal opinion that determined court-martialing military retirees was unconstitutional

The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals will reconsider the case of Stephen Begani, a retired Navy chief petty officer who faced a court-martial after leaving the military. The court also withdrew its July 31 opinion on court-martialing retirees, according to an Oct. 1 order

The White House pinky swears it told the Pentagon about pulling troops from northeast Syria
News

The White House pinky swears it told the Pentagon about pulling troops from northeast Syria

"I don't know who would be blindsided at the Pentagon. That surprises me that anyone would say that because this is something that was discussed among senior leadership here at the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon. So, I don't know how anyone could be blindsided."

The war in Afghanistan is now old enough to buy cigarettes, get awful military tattoos, enlist, and fight itself
News

The war in Afghanistan is now old enough to buy cigarettes, get awful military tattoos, enlist, and fight itself

HBD, Operation Enduring Freedom.

US troops won’t try to stop a Turkish invasion of northeast Syria
News

US troops won’t try to stop a Turkish invasion of northeast Syria

Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman stressed the Defense Department does "not endorse" any Turkish military incursion into Syria.

The US is plotting one of its largest European military exercises since the Cold War
Europe

The US is plotting one of its largest European military exercises since the Cold War

The exercise includes a total of 37,000 troops — including 20,000 US and service members from 18 other countries

Trump announces the US is leaving its Kurdish allies in Syria at the mercy of Turkey
Middle East

Trump announces the US is leaving its Kurdish allies in Syria at the mercy of Turkey

For the second time in 10 months, President Donald Trump has acquiesced to Turkish demands to move U.S. forces out of the way of a planned offensive against the Kurdish fighters who have fought and died alongside U.S. troops to destroy ISIS's former caliphate in Syria

We’re still fighting in Afghanistan and no one cares
Opinion

We’re still fighting in Afghanistan and no one cares

Today, Oct. 7, marks the anniversary of combat operations in Afghanistan, which is now our longest war to date, and other than a select few who bear the brunt of this burden, most people won't think twice about this somber and embarrassing anniversary. Nothing could be more insulting to the troops currently serving

Senior US diplomat privately warns that Iraqi prime minister’s resignation ‘appears inevitable’ amid deadly protests
News

Senior US diplomat privately warns that Iraqi prime minister’s resignation ‘appears inevitable’ amid deadly protests

In the wake of escalating violence in Iraq, the resignation of the country's prime minister may be imminent, Task & Purpose has learned.

A second whistleblower has come forward with ‘first-hand knowledge’ of allegations made in the original complaint
Ukraine

A second whistleblower has come forward with ‘first-hand knowledge’ of allegations made in the original complaint

One of the primary ways Trump has called into question the original whistleblower's credibility was by saying they had second-hand information.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper doesn’t listen to music during PT because he finds it ‘distracting’
Mandatory Fun

Defense Secretary Mark Esper doesn’t listen to music during PT because he finds it ‘distracting’

"I like to be inside my head thinking about work."

Mark Esper
News

The US military has been hitting the Taliban harder since peace talks fell through, Esper says

At the direction of President Donald Trump, the U.S. military has ramped up the number of air and ground attacks against the Taliban, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Friday

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how ‘1917’ shows World War I combat like never before
Entertainment

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how ‘1917’ shows World War I combat like never before

The upcoming drama intends to drop viewers right directly the trenches of World War I

You can now buy the ammo specially made for the Army’s new handgun
Army

You can now buy the ammo specially made for the Army’s new handgun

Legendary gunmaker Winchester is offering up the specialized ammo designed for the Army's new handgun for consumer purchase, the company announced on Monday