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SOCOM wants to move fast on new tech: ‘We’re not building aircraft carriers here’
U.S. Special Operations Command’s strategy for fielding new technology to special operators emphasizes speed, a top acquisitions official with the command said.
Army orders rifle-mounted smart scopes to down small drones
The Army confirmed a large order of SMASH 2000LE drone-tracking smart scopes. Mounted on a soldier’s rifle, the device can track and target drones as they fly.
Air Force rescue units awarded rare Presidential Unit Citation
“This will go down in Air Force history as one of the greatest accomplishments of the Air Force rescue community.”
Coast Guard wants more fast boats and boarding parties as demand soars
Their use has risen dramatically under President Donald Trump’s policy of pursuing drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
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More from Task & Purpose
Ford Carrier Strike Group awarded rare Presidential Unit Citation for Iran War
The honor was given as the USS Gerald R. Ford returned home after 326 days away, including taking part in two major combat operations.
US, Nigerian troops kill ISIS second in command
The attack near the Lake Chad Basin is the largest U.S. operation in Nigeria since American troops deployed in February.
Pentagon cancels planned deployment of long-range missile unit to Germany
The 3rd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment is the latest unit to see its orders to Europe reversed.
Sailor wins $60k after false eviction left him ‘functionally homeless’
A sailor assigned to the USS Nimitz was wrongfully named in an eviction, forcing him to live with friends while his wife moved out of state.
Soldiers at Ranger School will now fix bayonets in test of grit
Officials at the Army’s top infantry training course say a new bayonet training course builds aggression for “the last 100 yards” of battle.
A VA system paid out millions in ‘improper’ claims
A VA computer system used to review death certificates and medical information incorrectly approved $2.7 million in payments to families.
Army identifies second soldier who went missing in Morocco
Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, was one of two soldiers who fell into the Atlantic Ocean on May 2.
Pentagon cancels Army unit’s deployment to Europe with soldiers already in Poland
Approximately 4,000 troops from 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were supposed to spend months in central and eastern Europe.
Mental crisis didn’t cause airman to self-immolate in protest of Israel, Air Force found
The investigation reveals new details about Senior Airman Aaron Bushnell, dating back to his years working for the National Security Agency.
Marines must complete new course on the ‘practical application’ of AI
One of the course’s goals is to ensure that Marines are “committed to the ethical and effective employment of AI in complex operational environments.”
The Army is testing medevac drones that lift injured soldiers from battlefields
The drone can carry a 300 pound load for hours, opening the possibility of battlefield evacuations. The test will be during a NATO exercise in Poland.
101st Airborne, 1st Armored division units latest heading to southern border
Soldiers from 101st Airborne and 1st Armored division units will deploy to the U.S-Mexico border this summer.
Paratroopers competed for first-ever ‘Best Jumpmaster’ title
Jumpmasters from across the Army rucked, rigged parachutes and jumped into a dropzone as part of the inaugural competition.
Air Force charity ends gas money grants on first day after huge demand
‘Demand quickly exceeded expectations,’ said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, CEO of the Air & Space Forces Aid Society.
One of two US soldiers missing in Morocco recovered
Army 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a native of Virginia, went missing May 2 during the African Lion 26 exercise.
Six F-16 pilots awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses for Operation Midnight Hammer
The fighter jets from the 55th Fighter Squadron engaged in “high-risk flights into heavily defended airspace” during last year’s attack on Iranian nuclear sites.
Task & Purpose was founded in 2014 to cover the military and veteran community from a rank-and-file perspective, and continues to do so with accurate reporting and great storytelling to this day. Our journalists have reported on the front lines of the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota and the war in Afghanistan. We’ve uncovered American veterans being abused in Kuwaiti prisons, deported veterans being forced to work for Mexican cartels, and drawn national attention to a longstanding legal rule barring service members from suing the government — even in the face of gross negligence.
