Read the latest articles from Task & Purpose (Page 91)

History

Before the space race, the US military raced balloons to the stratosphere

Forget rockets, soldiers and sailors tried to conquer the skies in the 1930s with hot air.

Veterans

A judge ordered the VA to build thousands of new veterans housing units in Los Angeles. An appeals court halted it

The Ninth Circuit’s stay blocks the construction of new permanent and temporary housing on the 388-acre campus until at least April.

Marine Corps

Marines deploy NMESIS anti-ship system to the Pacific

3d Marine Littoral Regiment is the first Marine Corps unit to field the weapons system.

History

This Marine batted away a dozen grenades with an E-tool in Korean War battle

Surrounded by a force of 1,400, Pvt. Hector Albert Cafferata Jr. battled against all odds. As the enemy threw grenades, he swatted them back.

Culture

Happy Thanksgiving from Task & Purpose, and thank you to our readers

We couldn’t do this job without you.

Culture

Marine Corps commandant completes combat fitness test 11 months after open heart surgery

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith suffered a cardiac arrest last year during a run. He just completed the USMC's grueling combat fitness test.

News

FDA greenlights study of marijuana as PTSD-treatment for vets

The clinical trial study will give veterans commercially and medically available cannabis products to look at “real-world” use and assess the impact on post-traumatic stress disorder.

Culture

101st Airborne soldier ‘ain’t come to play’ in cage match video

“I saw an opening. I saw his eyes,” Sgt. Diamond Adams told Task & Purpose, in response to a cage match fight that was viewed millions of times on social media.

Army

Police arrest Army reservist accused of inappropriate relationships while substitute teaching

Joseph Antoine Prevatte, 39, was arrested twice in November for allegations involving inappropriate relationships with students while he was a substitute teacher in Florida.

Air Force

How generals and admirals get promoted now and how that may change under Trump

A 'plucking board' of retired generals thinned out senior officers prior to World War II. Trump officials have proposed a similar plan.

Entertainment

Comics’ quintessential soldier, Sgt. Rock, is heading to the big screen

The hero of years of World War II comics is now getting a movie from DC Studios.

Army

Army puts up $15,000 reward to help find 31 pistols and optics stolen from Fort Moore

31 pistols and a number of night vision goggles and optics have been missing since the spring.

Entertainment

‘Andor’ shows even the Empire has the Pentagon’s acquisition model

Budgetary issues are a problem even in a galaxy far far away…

News

Watchdog finds high rate of serious accidents, lack of oversight, in special operations training

A new report found that the vast majority of non-combat accidents for Special Operations Command occur during training.

Navy

Navy fires commander of E-2 Hawkeye squadron for “loss of confidence”

Cmdr. Charles Diehl was relieved as the commander of Airborne Command & Control Squadron 115, or VAW-115, which flies the E-2D Hawkeye.

Culture

The complacent soldier’s best friend: The many uses of 550 cord

Preventing the loss of sensitive items since World War II.

Army

Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who commanded 82nd Airborne in Kabul, caught by Senate hold for fourth star

A Senate aide said the hold could be related to Donahue’s role during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

News

Pentagon authorizes Global War on Terrorism Medals for fight against Houthis

The Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals are authorized for troops participating in operations against Houthi rebels.

The Pentagon Rundown

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and more military news

The missiles are flying in Russia and Ukraine. The defense secretary pushes back on criticism about women in combat roles. The U.S. military needs more munitions.

Army

Astronaut in Army Reserve awarded wings and space badge for trip to International Space Station

Maj. Kate Rubins, a microbiologist, NASA astronaut and Reserve officer received the Army's rarest badge for a mission to the International Space Station.