Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 482)

News

Trump’s transgender ban in doubt after court rules Pentagon announcement came too soon

"The ruling means that the Trump administration cannot enforce a ban on military service by transgender people."

Navy

The Navy says its F-35C is ready for a fight. The Navy’s own data says otherwise

In February, the commander of the U.S. Naval Air Forces proclaimed that the Navy's F-35C Joint Strike Fighter was "ready for operations, ready for combat and ready to win" — even though the Navy's own testing data says otherwise

United States

That proposed Missouri law requiring residents own an AR-15 seems too good to be true. That’s because it is

A new bill introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives would require a significant number of state residents own "at least one" AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with the help of a hefty tax break — except it won't ever get off the ground

Marine Corps

Mattis joining Hoover Institution to increase Stanford University’s overall lethality

"I believe we have an obligation to pass on the lessons we've learned so that future generations can study, learn and become better. Hoover has made this part of its mission, and I look forward to returning."

Mexico

Pentagon to Congress: Here’s every project that could be used to fund Trump’s wall. Or not. We don’t even know

Thanks, DoD. This helps. Really.

Afghanistan

Afghan security forces robbed and terrorized US-funded support staff to the tune of $780K

Members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces frequently robbed and abused the native Afghan personnel hired under three maintenance and operations contracts at ANDSF military bases, confiscating a total of $780,000 in property and equipment and often detaining workers at gunpoint.

Veterans

Once political foes, these veterans are joining forces against a shared enemy: America’s ‘forever wars’

Two veterans groups on opposite sides of the aisle are joining forces to achieve a shared goal: To see the Forever Wars end.

Air Force

‘It was a lost cause’ — dramatic photos show Offutt Air Force Base engulfed by floodwaters

It may be one of the most important Air Force installations in the continental United States, but Offutt Air Force Base has proven no match for the full fury of the Missouri River

News

Mission creep, thy name is Syria: Up to 1,000 US troops may remain after ISIS is defeated

The U.S. military is considering leaving as many as 1,000 troops in Syria to prevent Turkey from attacking the United States' Kurdish allies, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Air Force

7 US service members identified as part of white nationalist group tied to 2017 Charlottesville rally

Seven U.S. service members have been identified as members of Identity Evropa, a white nationalist group founded by a Marine veteran and tied to the 2017 Charlottesville rally, according to leaked online chat logs examined by HuffPost

Afghanistan

The Taliban captured 150 Afghan soldiers as they tried to flee the country

The Taliban captured 150 Afghan soldiers after they tried to flee into neighboring Turkmenistan but were forced back.

Marine Corps

Search scaled back for Marine lieutenant missing in California mountains for nearly 2 weeks

The search for the Marine lieutenant missing in the California mountains for nearly two weeks is being scaled back to a "limited continuous search status" since rescuers have been unable to locate him along his planned route.

Navy

Navy minesweeper damaged after fire breaks out while docked in Bahrain

The Navy is still determining the extent of the damage to the ship caused by the fire.

Air Force

Airman at Minot AFB arrested over hundreds of child porn images, sexual messages with minors

He's awaiting trial, which is scheduled for June.

United States

Former Starbucks CEO apologizes for claiming he spent ‘more time’ with the military than other 2020 presidential candidates

The former CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, opened his mouth, and quickly inserted his foot when he claimed that he spent more time with the military than other 2020 presidential candidates

United States

White House releases painfully obvious statement about Trump visiting the Pentagon

The White House released the most painfully obvious statement about President Donald Trump visiting the Pentagon on Friday.

Guns

US special operations snipers are getting a new rifle that fires 3 different calibers

After years in the making, U.S. Special Operations Command has its sights set on its next big sniper rifle

China

Dunford: Google’s work in China is providing a ‘direct benefit’ to the Chinese military

"The work that Google is doing in China is indirectly benefitting the Chinese military. Frankly, 'indirect' may be not be a full characterization of the way it really is. It's more of a direct benefit to the Chinese military."

Opinion

An outside-the-box approach to Mission Command

Mission Command philosophy blends the art of command with the science of control. At least in theory.

Mandatory Fun

The most realistic toy about Army life ever made is this set with a soldier bored as hell in the barracks

If you're looking for a realistic toy that captures the mundanity of military life in the barracks, then you're in luck!