Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 68)

An airman with the 802nd Security Forces Squadron stands outside a gate to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas in June, 2024. (photo by Brian Boisvert/U.S. Air Force)
Air Force

Shots fired at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland gate

An airman's boonie hat rests on an M4 at a guard post in Southwest Asia in May 2017. (photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/U.S. Air Force)
Air Force

No boonie hats at Nellis Air Force Base, general says

The Las Vegas-area base routinely sees temps over 100 degrees. The commander requested authorization for the sun-blocking hats. A four-star general said no.

Staff Sgt. Tristen Wright at Cannon Air Force Base in 2020. (photo courtesy U.S. Air Force)
Air Force

Airman dies in ‘non-combat’ incident while deployed to an ‘undisclosed location’

EOD teams upend training for threats from IEDs on the ground to drones in the air
Air Force

EOD teams upend training for threats from IEDs on the ground to drones in the air

After becoming expert in improvised explosive devices during 20 years of war, today's EODs are embracing a world with drones.

trump medal of honor
Air Force

Trump describes Medal of Honor recipients as ‘hit so many times by bullets’ or ‘dead’

Trump compared a rich donor to Medal of Honor recipients who are "either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead."

Ramzan Daraev
Army

No charges for Special Forces officer who shot utility worker near Fort Liberty

The Moore County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina has determined a Special Forces Officer was justified in shooting and killing a utility worker at his home.

U.S. Marines salute during a formation on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept 4, 2012. Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron held the formation to recognize Marines being awarded and promoted.
United States

Military sexual assault rates may be 2-4 times higher than Pentagon says, report finds

The report’s analysis of non-DOD data found that 24% of active-duty women and 1.9% of active-duty men experienced sexual assault over the course of the war in Afghanistan.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Harold 'Ed' Jarrell
Army

Army fires Command Sergeant Major of Fort Belvoir cyber unit

Command Sgt. Maj. Harold “Ed” Jarrell was relieved from the brigade-level unit Tuesday ‘due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead effectively.’

Navy tells aircrews to question ‘inappropriate’ call signs after lewd flight name
Navy

Navy tells aircrews to question ‘inappropriate’ call signs after lewd flight name

One of the Navy's 'Doomsday' planes was assigned an unintentionally lewd call sign for a recent flight by an automated process, officials said. The crew changed it over Texas.

Veteran women roll out the latest edition of the Pin-Ups For Vets calendar
Culture

Veteran women roll out the latest edition of the Pin-Ups For Vets calendar

The calendar features 13 women veterans with 117 years of combined military service across military branches.

Ranger Joe Thach assessing the driver he pulled from a burning car.
Culture

An Army Ranger saved a veteran from burning car, and it’s not his first time

The moment of heroism was the third time Army Ranger Joe Thach has come across a traffic wreck and leaped into action to help.

Roderick Vinson
Army

Army lieutenant colonel with 37 years’ service dies while exercising

Army Lt. Col. Roderick Vinson, 55, died on Aug. 11 while exercising near his home in Sumter, South Carolina.

Sunisa Lee
Culture

Olympic champ Sunisa Lee’s success rings deep in U.S. Hmong community

Gymnast Sunisa Lee, who earned Olympic medals, including two golds, in the last two games, was born and raised in the Minnesota Hmong community, which traces its roots to the Vietnam War.

U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training trainees carry weapons at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on August 2, 2024. Beginning on July 29, 2024, Col. Billy Wilson Jr., 737th Training Group commander, launched a weapons handling initiative. From now on, BMT trainees will carry weapons throughout their 7.5 weeks of training to instill a profession of arms and a warrior mindset into the future Airmen. JBSA-Lackland is home to USAF BMT where enlisted civilians are transformed into capable Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ava Leone)
Air Force

Seeking ‘warfighter mindset,’ Air Force basic trainees now carrying rifles through boot camp

Potential airmen and guardians will be issued the non-functioning rifles after a weapon familiarization course and carry them through the end of basic training.

Burger King Trailer Arrives In Afghanistan For Troops
News

Ditch fast food on base to reduce obesity, says Pentagon’s top senior enlisted leader

Removing fast-food restaurants from bases would cut obesity within the military, said Marine Sergeant Maj. Troy E. Black, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

10th Mountain soldier charged with murder of fellow soldier at Fort Drum
Army

10th Mountain soldier charged with murder of fellow soldier at Fort Drum

Both soldiers were assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Between Two T-Walls
Humor

Commanding general in Iraq and Syria goes ‘Between Two T-Walls’ with Task & Purpose

Army Maj. Gen. Joel “JB” Vowell spent a year as the commanding general of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Command Sgt. Maj. Veronica E. Knapp relieved of duty
Army

Army fires Command Sergeant Major for Military District of Washington

Command Sgt. Major Veronica E. Knapp was relieved on Aug. 8 as a result of an Army 15-6 investigation.

Riley Tejcek
Marine Corps

Marine training for winter Olympics bobsled team while in Iraq

Marine Capt. Riley Tejcek is training to be on the US 2026 winter Olympics Bobsled team while deployed to Iraq.

Combat engineers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division blast through a concrete wall during demolition training at Curry Demo July 17.
Air Force

Military to start cognitive tests for troops exposed to artillery, gunfire and explosions

The Pentagon also released new rules for safe distances troops should be from mortars, howitzers, rifles and breaching explosives.