Task & Purpose. News, culture, and analysis by and for the military community.
Top Story
This is the moment the Navy’s USS Juneau was sunk in the name of training
The decommissioned amphibious transport dock was sunk on June 27, more than 200 nautical miles off the coast of Guam as part of a military exercise.
Three officers who overcame desperate odds receive Medals of Honor
Two Marines who served heroically in Vietnam and an Army officer who used his body to shield a soldier in Afghanistan received the award.
This Air Force officer has set 17 Guinness World Records — so far
Air Force Maj. Johnny Cruz Buckingham, a former tanker pilot, raises money for children’s programs by attempting to set new Guinness World Records.
Soldier who shielded Jewish POWs from guards will receive Medal of Honor
Ordered at gunpoint to separate Jewish soldiers from other POWs, Army Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds called a full formation of Americans and told a German commander: “We are all Jews.”
Task & Purpose Video
Each week on Tuesdays and Fridays our team will bring you analysis of military tech, tactics, and doctrine delivered from a rank-and-file perspective.
More from Task & Purpose
Marine lost at sea identified as 21-year-old infantryman from Minnesota
Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco, 21, of Minnesota, was declared dead on June 27 after being reported missing while serving aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage.
This is what an Air Force Contingency Response Element does
A team of roughly 100 airmen deployed to Venezuela after the earthquakes to restart airfield operations.
DC reaches settlement with man who played ‘Star Wars’ music at troops
Sam O’Hara said he was detained last year for following a National Guard patrol and playing the “Imperial March” at them.
Refueling ship to get Presidential Unit Citation
The USNS Kanawha supported military operations in the Caribbean and in Operation Epic Fury.
US strikes Iranian drone, missile sites after cargo ship attack
“The U.S. military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.”
An Air Force special operations prop plane crashed after pilot turned off fuel
The pilot was an experienced special operations flyer but was new to the tiny Skyraider II and flying with an instructor.
US sends warships, planes and Marine general to Venezuela after earthquakes
The first wave of relief forces, led by Maj. Gen. Kevin Jarrard, arrived overnight.
Red Hill families to split $17 million in latest water contamination settlement
Department of Justice officials said they have settled with 3,600 people over the Red Hill spill so far with hundreds more at various stages in the process.
The Army wants a ‘Heavy’ Infantry Squad Vehicle to use as a battery on wheels
National Guard units are now adopting the once-troubled truck, just as the Army is beginning to look for an electric “heavy” version.
US military helping plan Venezuela earthquake relief
U.S. Southern Command is working with the State Department as part of the American government’s efforts to help Venezuela following two major earthquakes.
Fire breaks out aboard USS Indianapolis, leaving 7 with minor injuries
Seven shipboard personnel were evaluated at local hospitals for minor injuries and cleared to return to the ship on Wednesday, a Navy spokesperson said.
Marines had multiple firefights while defending US embassy in Haiti, commander says
“There were multiple engagements at the embassy in Haiti, in which we received and returned fire,” said Col. Tom “Banshee” Trimble, who led the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
All military recruits are once again required to get flu shots
After a trainee died following a flu outbreak at Air Force basic training, the Pentagon issued exceptions to “safeguard at-risk populations.”
Naval Academy brings back short haircuts for new female midshipmen
The U.S. Naval Academy is once again requiring women to cut their hair short, a regulation that goes back to the first class of women in 1976.
AI is meant to speed up ‘kill chain,’ not control it, commanders say
“The critical distinction is between AI supporting the kill chain and AI controlling the kill chain.”
Last soldier out of Afghanistan now the latest general to step down
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to Task & Purpose that Gen. Christopher Donahue will soon relinquish command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
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.
