The Army has announced that three brigades will deploy this fall to three different theaters, underscoring that many soldiers continue to serve far away from home even though the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have ended. The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division is headed to the U.S. Central Command theater of operations, the […] The post Army deploying brigades to Middle East, Europe, South Korea appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

A crash that destroyed a B-1B bomber at Ellsworth Air Force Base in January was the result of pilot error and poor leadership on the base that led to “unsatisfactory levels of basic airmanship, an inadequate focus on foundational governing directive knowledge, and an overall lack of discipline throughout the 34th Bomb Squadron,” according to […] The post B-1B crash result of pilot error and ‘culture of noncompliance’ appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

Scientific studies aimed at unlocking the genetic code of all humans have had problems with their data: it was mostly collected from people with “European” heritage, leaving wide gaps in the study of DNA from populations around the world.  To close the gap, the authors of one recent study turned to military veterans, a group […] The post The Million Veteran Program is closing hard-to-fill gaps in DNA research appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

When Abraham Lopez showed up for boot camp on July 15, the sprawling crop of lettuce atop his head was so big that his hair obscured most of his face, according to a picture posted online by Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. But, as the series of pictures of Lopez chronicle, his volcanic eruption […] The post Marine recruit arrives at boot camp with glorious mop top appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

Smokeless Vets is a new messaging campaign urging service members and veterans to quit smoking through new and innovative ways. The post Would vaping help more veterans quit smoking? One group thinks so appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

A 14-year-old was killed and three other minors injured at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia earlier this week, officials said, when a wall collapsed in the locker room of the base pool. The fatal incident took place at the Georgia base’s Heritage Club Pool men’s locker room on July 22, Air Force officials said in […] The post 14-year-old killed in wall collapse at Robins Air Force Base pool appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

Three different types of U.S. and Canadian fighter aircraft were dispatched to intercept a rare joint formation of Russian and Chinese bombers as they buzzed near Alaskan airspace Wednesday, according to the Defense Department. Russian bombers are no stranger to Alaskan air defenders, but Wednesday marked the first appearance of Chinese aircraft in the Alaska […] The post NORAD sent 3 different fighters to intercept Russian and Chinese bombers appeared first on Task & Purpose ..read more

U.S. Air Force Sgt. David Price was one of 18 Americans at Lima Site 85, a top secret CIA radar site in Laos that served as a vital navigational beacon for U.S. bombers from atop a craggy mountain peak. In March 1968, North Vietnamese commandoes overran the post, killing 12 Americans. Price’s body was never recovered. This week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that Price remains had been identified and will be returned to his family after 56 years. Brenda Fuller, one of Price’s daughters, was only 7 years old when her father was killed in action on March 11, 1968. Her mother wa ..read more

A 103-year-old WWII veteran finally got his benefits, 78 years after he was honorably discharged. Army Technician Third Grade Louis M. Gigliotti, also known as “Jiggs,” had never applied for his benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs. But in a July 19 ceremony at the Alaska Veterans Museum in Anchorage, Gigliotti was recognized and given the Alaska Veterans Honor Medal, according to an Alaska National Guard release.  “This event is a reminder that regardless of how much time has passed since their service, it is never too late for veterans to apply for their benefits,” said Verd ..read more

Before Green Berets eat snakes and carry out guerrilla warfare around the world, they must all pass the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Assessment and Selection, or SFAS. It’s the first part of the Special Forces pipeline. Unlike late training, the goal of SFAS is not to teach students new skills or equipment but to stress their ability to perform at a high level, both physically and mentally.  The Soldiers selected at the end of SFAS move on to the formal portions of the Special Forces Qualification Course (Q course), where soldiers learn the fundamentals of being a Green Beret..  Task ..read more