Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 46)

PUERTO ALDEA, Chile (September 10, 2024) A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5 departs the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during an amphibious landing exercise with multinational forces as part of UNITAS LXV, September 10, 2024. UNITAS is the longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, focused on enhanced interoperability in maritime and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and to create new relationships that will promote peace, stability, and prosperity. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet is the maritime component of U.S. Southern Command and the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity, security and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Operations Specialist 2nd Class Trevonte Jasper)
Navy

Complacency led to Navy landing craft collision that injured 36, investigation finds

A head-on collision between two landing craft left three dozen Marines and sailors with broken bones, lacerations, and traumatic brain injuries.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, attached to Task Force 51, guard a federal area in Los Angeles, July 4, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is supporting federal agencies by providing military forces to protect federal functions, personnel, and property in the greater Los Angeles area. On June 7, the Secretary of Defense directed USNORTHCOM to establish Task Force 51 to oversee Title 10 forces supporting this mission. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jaye Townsend)
Marine Corps

The Marines are ending their Los Angeles mission

The Pentagon said that the hundreds of Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment will start heading back to base.

Two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors fly in formation with two Norwegian F-35A Lightning II fighters during an air refueling over Norway, Aug. 15, 2018.
Aircraft

Why NATO is betting big on the F-35

The much-maligned fifth-generation fighter is the aircraft of choice for 14 of the 32 member nations, which might not be a good thing.

Stuart Scheller
Marine Corps

Marine who criticized leaders for Afghanistan withdrawal to head promotions review

The Pentagon’s review of how officers are trained, evaluated, and promoted will be led by former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller.

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress flies over Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, during Prairie Vigilance 25-1, April 11, 2025. Bomber generation exercises enhance the readiness and training necessary to deter or respond to any contingency or challenge across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kendra A. Ransum)
Air Force

Air Force B-52 forced passenger plane to make ‘aggressive maneuver’ to avoid collision

"[...]nobody said ‘hey, there’s also a B‑52 in the pattern.’”

Comic book art depicting a panel from the book on Clint Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient. In it he is in combat gear holding his rifle.
Entertainment

Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha gets new comic book highlighting his actions in Afghanistan

The comic, the latest in an ongoing series honoring Army soldiers, illustrates the hours-long Battle of Kamdesh at Combat Outpost Keating in 2009.

Kyle Christopher Benton, in camouflage, holds a rifle while wearing a skull mask.
Army

Army veteran who gave tactical training to Neo Nazis gets two years in prison

Kyle Christopher Benton, who attended “hate rallies,” was sentenced on federal gun charges

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 02: Afghan refugees walk outside a temporary housing facility in Liberty Village on December 2, 2021 in Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. (Photo by Barbara Davidson-Pool/Getty Images)
United States

Two military bases set to house detained migrants

The Pentagon authorized the Department of Homeland Security to hold people in temporary facilities at bases in New Jersey and Indiana.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte, the commanding general of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks to Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd MAW, after his final flight in command, at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, June 12, 2024. Marking the occasion as exceptionally meaningful, Borgschulte’s first flight assigned to an operational squadron in 1994 was also at HMLA-169. He now has more than 3,800 career flight hours, including 700 combat hours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and during his time in command of the Marine Corps’ largest aircraft wing, he flew every aircraft platform within the MAW. Borgschulte is slated to relinquish command to Maj. Gen. James B. Wellons on July 2, 2024. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emeline Swyers)
Marine Corps

A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time

A former football player for the school, Marine Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte will replace Navy Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids as its superintendent. Davids was the first woman to hold the post.

U.S. Army Special Forces, from 7th Special Forces Group, perform an amphibious assault demonstration during the Hyundai Air and Sea Show and U.S. Army SaluteFest, Miami Beach, Fla., May 25, 2024. The events, held throughout Memorial Day Weekend, provided engagement opportunities for visitors from around the world to learn about the people, technology and equipment of the U.S. military. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Justin P. Morelli) (Components of image have been blurred to protect identity of the Soldier)
Army

Army warns special ops veterans in Florida of potential terrorist threat

U.S. Army Special Operations Command has warned of an unspecified terrorist threat against retired senior Defense Department officials who served in Iraq and Syria and now live in Florida.

The Army is rapidly advancing capabilities in the Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) program by deploying cutting-edge Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (SUAS) to Trans-formation in Contact (TiC) Brigades. In April, the PEO Aviation, Project Office UAS, responded to an urgent request to deploy Tranche 2 SUAS to the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Fort Campbell, Kentucky) in support of their rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Both the Skydio X10D system and Teal Drones' Black Widow system will support Army TiC Brigades in developing and refining tactics, techniques, and procedures for employing networked reconnaissance and surveillance systems against emerging battlefield threats. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo)
News

Expect to see more drones during training under new Pentagon rules

The Pentagon will soon allow local commanders to buy drones and authorize troops to fly them in training exercises, skipping steps that previously required higher-level approval.

Army M240B Machine Gun
Army

The Army wants to replace the M240 medium machine gun

The Army is looking for a new machine gun to replace the M240, which has been in service since the late 70s. Details about the new weapon are scarce.

On May 16th 2025, Montana’s 1-163rd Combined Arms Battalion hosted over a dozen British Army Soldiers of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry (RWxY) at the Limestone Hills Training Facility in a joint training event to help their armored crewmembers transition to the Challenger 3 tank which is currently in production. Training involved British armored crewmembers serving in their assigned roles on the M1A2 Abrams alongside our Montana National Guard Soldiers. This kind of joint training serves to enhance British Army readiness, build stronger allied partnerships, and project lethality on the battlefield. Lance Corporal Megan Fuller of the RWxY said, “I found it quite good. I think from our end getting everything cleared and organized to actually get over here and be able to fire on the platform has been a massive effort through our chain of command, but personally just being here on the ground, I’ve really enjoyed it. The RWxY is Britain’s Armored Reserve which features the Challenger 2 tank, now being upgraded to the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank estimated to be fully operational by 2030. The Challenger 3 tank upgrade aligns with a continuing effort to standardize the interoperability, interchangeability, and lethality of NATO standard 120mm rounds for smoothbore main guns. According to Lieutenant Lyons of the RWxY, “There is really nothing like firing 120 millimeters of pure freedom.” Full video story to follow, so stay tuned. Photos courtesy of the 103rd Public Affairs Detachment
Army

The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks

A new field manual for tankers drew online chuckles. But it puts the threat of drones on the battlefield at the center of tactics used by Army armor units.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael tour multi-domain autonomous displays in the courtyard of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2025.
Tech & Tactics

Hypersonics, AI, drone swarms: Pentagon pours $179 billion into R&D

The largest research and development budget in Pentagon history gives us a look at where the U.S. military thinks the future of warfare is headed.

SMASH 2000L fire control system
Marine Corps

Marines to field new smart scope to help shoot down small drones

The Marines will begin fielding the SMASH 2000L fire control system starting next fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, with priority going to deploying units.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team under Title 10 authority and U.S. Marines assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines,1st Marine Division, provide protection to federal functions, property, and law enforcement personnel in Los Angeles, June 14, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is supporting federal agencies by providing military forces to protect federal functions, personnel, and property in the greater Los Angeles area. On June 7, the Secretary of Defense directed USNORTHCOM to establish Task Force 51 to oversee Title 10 forces supporting this mission. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Chase Murray)
National Guard

Pentagon releases 2,000 National Guard troops from federal mission in LA

Soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be released after five weeks in Los Angeles. Another 2,100 California National Guard troops remain under federal control.

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers stage at the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) compound, Camp ‘Bull’ Simons, Florida, ahead of their support for hurricane relief efforts on Oct. 10, 2024. The staging includes preparation of personnel and equipment to ensure a rapid and effective response to the anticipated storm impact. The collaboration between the Louisiana and Florida National Guard, and 7th SFG(A) strengthens disaster response capabilities and ensures readiness to support communities along the Gulf Coast. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Lee)
Army

Louisiana National Guard base to be renamed for Confederate general’s dad

The name of the Confederate general was removed from the base in 2023, but will be restored, this time with his father as the namesake.

Nicole Malachowski was planning on a life-time career in the military until she tick-borne illness changed everything. Now she's advocating for better military training on the issue and fighting the stigmas that chronic patients face.
News

She was the first woman to fly as an Air Force Thunderbird. Then she got mysteriously sick.

Nicole Malachowski thought she would retire as a general but a tick-borne illness left her unable to fly and made her an advocate for prevention, awareness and erasing stigma.

Exposed, damaged pipes at the Palau Hall barracks at Andersen Air force Base
Housing

Damaged, moldy barracks in Guam are getting a $297 million makeover

The military wants to replace housing at Andersen Air Force Base after the level of disrepair made headlines.

Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, walk the final mile of the 12-mile ruck march during E3B on Fort Liberty, North Carolina, Sept. 21, 2024. E3B is a week-long testing event that gives Soldiers the opportunity to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge, Expert Soldier Badge, or Expert Field Medical Badge. Soldiers must pass the expert physical fitness assessment, day and night land navigation, soldier tasks including weapons, medical and patrol lanes, and a 12-mile ruck march, in order to earn their badge. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Catessa Palone)
Mandatory Fun

The Pentagon is throwing $200 million at ‘Grok for Government’ and other AI companies

The Pentagon is set to spend nearly a billion dollars for AI with four major Silicon Valley tech firms, Google, xAI, OpenAI and Anthropic.