Task & Purpose. News, culture, and analysis by and for the military community.
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Marines seize Iranian cargo ship, Trump says
The USS Spruance fired on the ship and Marines boarded it as it tried to get past the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
More from Task & Purpose
Navy moves to emphasize technical job skills in enlisted promotions
Navy officials will make changes to the skills emphasized in the promotions process, so sailors rated this year will not be affected.
The Air Force met its annual recruiting goal 5 months early
The service surpassed its annual goal of 32,750 recruits this week, five months early. The Space Force, which needed less than 1,000 recruits, also met its goal.
Should veterans get a ‘second look’ at long prison sentences after military service?
California allows veterans to petition courts to consider their military service under “second look” resentencing. Advocates say other states should, too.
Congress pushes Army leaders for answers on ouster of top general
Lawmakers are asking senior Army leaders what they know about the forced retirement of the service’s former chief of staff, Gen. Randy George.
Navy can fire warning shots to enforce blockade of Iran, top general says
The U.S. Navy is allowed to fire warning shots at any ship that tried to breach the blockade of Iranian ports, said Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Is the US military’s most important island in the Pacific ready for war?
Guam’s vast logistics infrastructure makes it the keystone for any military operation in the Pacific — and a prime target for China.
How an overhaul of federal layoffs could affect veterans
About one in every four federal workers is a military veteran. A new rule proposed by the Trump administration could change protections veterans have had from layoffs.
How a Navy photographer snapped an iconic Artemis II astronaut photo
“I was trying to be kind of respectful and not intrusive, because they did just get back from space.”
Marine Corps sets timelines for responding to missing personnel
Within three hours of a Marine not showing up for work, units are directed to make “reasonable” efforts to contact them and begin checking in with local police, hospitals and clinics.
Marines on way to Middle East seen using rifles with anti-drone smart scope
The company that makes the SMASH 2000L advanced fire control system confirmed that a recent series of photos show deployed Marines using the smart scope.
Army cadets recall how fallen officer defended them in Old Dominion shooting
Eight Army ROTC students credited their quick reactions to Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, their instructor. Shah was killed in the attack.
Soldiers with the XVIII Airborne Corps are training with anti-drone rounds
The round breaks apart mid-flight and effectively becomes buckshot, which can make it easier to take out small, fast-moving drones.
Specialist and sergeant win Best Ranger competition for first time in nearly 40 years
“We had each other’s back, and knew that when one of us was in trouble, the other was there to carry the load.”
The Iran war took a toll on the Air Force’s Reaper fleet
The service has lost at least 35 Reaper drones in combat and aircraft accidents over the last few years, according to news reports and Air Force investigations.
What we know about the US military’s blockade of Iran
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas,” according to U.S. Central Command.
World War II B-17 gunner awarded France’s highest military honor
Phillip Bruce Cook, 100, took part in some of the most dangerous bombing missions over Europe.
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.
