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Task & Purpose
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US, Jordanian air forces conduct dozens of airstrikes in Syria against ISIS trib.al/E4N8bat
US, Jordanian air forces conduct dozens of airstrikes in Syria against ISIS
They’re the first American airstrikes reported in Syria this year and the second wave of Operation Hawkeye Strike.
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January 10, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Air Force plans for new electronic warfare squadron to aid combat training trib.al/uc6pjBh
Air Force plans for new electronic warfare squadron to aid combat training
The 562nd Electronic Warfare Squadron will help airmen at Nellis Air Force Base deal with "contested electronic environments."
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January 10, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Air Force brings back job patches, which were banned last year for some reason trib.al/kVhmWIB
Air Force brings back job patches, which were banned last year for some reason
Banned a year ago to emphasize a “warfighting team,” the patches that identify an airman’s job are once again allowed on uniforms.
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January 9, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Veteran says he was seized by immigration agents on cruise in case of mistaken identity trib.al/vZFil0s
Veteran says he was seized by immigration agents on cruise in case of mistaken identity
Jose Martinez was detained by immigration agents who burst into his room on a cruise after mistaking him for someone with the same name.
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January 9, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Women in ground combat jobs say they prove their ‘effectiveness’ every day trib.al/SCgE1yM
Women in ground combat jobs say they prove their 'effectiveness' every day
Women in combat arms roles told Task & Purpose that the Pentagon’s latest review is frustrating after proving themselves for over a decade.
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January 9, 2026 at 12:32 PM
‘Exercise Sourdough’ — how the Air Force turned San Francisco into an urban evasion course trib.al/ja44ppM
‘Exercise Sourdough’ — how the Air Force turned San Francisco into an urban evasion course
Exercise Sourdough, which was recently held in San Francisco, is the Defense Department’s largest urban evasion training event.
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January 8, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Here’s why the Navy is planning to turn a Coast Guard cutter into a frigate trib.al/ulRjLR3
Here’s why the Navy is planning to turn a Coast Guard cutter into a frigate
Since entering service in 2008, Legend-class cutters have shown they are formidable ships, and they have a proven design.
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January 8, 2026 at 2:59 PM
National Guard pilot admits to landing Black Hawk helicopter to pick up elk antlers trib.al/VHVmQfX
National Guard pilot admits to landing Black Hawk helicopter to pick up elk antlers
The Montana soldier entered a no-contest plea to trespassing charges for landing his helicopter on a remote ranch to collect elk antlers.
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January 7, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Air Force secretary vows support for Space Force officers who lost home in fire trib.al/qDOBGZv
Air Force secretary vows support for Space Force officers who lost home in fire
A car belonging to one of the officers was defaced with graffiti that included the messages “F**k Trump” and “F***k You Space Man.”
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January 7, 2026 at 6:57 PM
These are the first photos of the Army’s M1E3 Abrams prototype trib.al/0DsHNdO
These are the first photos of the Army's M1E3 Abrams prototype
The Army recently released photos of its prototype for the M1E3 Abrams, a replacement to the service's long-running main battle tank.
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January 7, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Here’s what we know in the wake of Operation Absolute Resolve (and what we don’t) trib.al/bEOVcTw
Here’s what we know in the wake of Operation Absolute Resolve (and what we don’t)
Though the operation to capture and make off with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has been widely covered, many questions remain.
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January 7, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Airmen can now swap out the 2-mile run on both yearly fitness tests trib.al/dyf3jO4
Airmen can now swap out the 2-mile run on both yearly fitness tests
Airmen had been required to complete the 2-mile run at least once a year. Some guardians were told they had to take one PT test per year.
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January 6, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Federal watchdog reports mental health safety hazards at VA hospitals trib.al/s2WXJ1U
Federal watchdog reports mental health safety hazards at VA hospitals
The VA Inspector General found safety risks for mental health patients at a Massachusetts hospital and reported “similar concerns” at others.
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January 6, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Pentagon orders review on ‘effectiveness’ of women in infantry, other combat arms jobs trib.al/kqJlwKK
Pentagon orders review on ‘effectiveness’ of women in infantry, other combat arms jobs
Pentagon officials ordered a review of the “effectiveness” of women serving in combat roles, nearly a decade after those jobs were opened.
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January 6, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Here is the Navy’s new fitness test for SEALs and other combat jobs trib.al/VJzKGyh
Here is the Navy’s new fitness test for SEALs and other combat jobs
The Navy rolled out its first fitness test for sailors in combat arms roles, mandating swimming, running and calisthenics with weighted vests.
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January 6, 2026 at 2:16 PM
The new 49B area of concentration will get its first cadre of officers who are tasked with integrating AI into logistics, robotics and combat. trib.al/6F5vSnh
Army creates new AI-focused career field for officers
The new 49B area of concentration will get its first cadre of officers who are tasked with integrating AI into logistics, robotics and combat.
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January 6, 2026 at 2:03 PM
For some veterans, the specter of Iraq and Afghanistan looms over the Maduro raid trib.al/UqcQfUF
For some veterans, the specter of Iraq and Afghanistan looms over the Maduro raid
The raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was a tactical success, but it also raises the possibility of strategic missteps.
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January 5, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Hegseth moves to reduce Sen. Kelly’s military retirement pay over unlawful orders video trib.al/ksC9v4e
Hegseth moves to reduce Sen. Kelly's military retirement pay over unlawful orders video
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sen. Mark Kelly's retirement pay will be cut after urging troops to refuse unlawful orders in a video.
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January 5, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The military once considered using balloons as nuclear weapons systems trib.al/xHNv766
The military once considered using balloons as nuclear weapons systems
During the Cold War the U.S. considered putting nuclear weapons on balloons and letting them float into enemy territory for a strike.
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January 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
More than 150 fighters, bombers and other aircraft took part in Venezuela attack trib.al/w1aFLrq
More than 150 fighters, bombers and other aircraft took part in Venezuela attack
The force of Navy, Air Force and Marine F-22s, F/A-18s, F-35s and drones struck several sites in Caracas as the Army captured Nicolás Maduro.
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January 4, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Delta Force, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment soldiers carried out raid to capture Maduro trib.al/TJqDWUd
Delta Force, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment soldiers carried out raid to capture Maduro
President Donald Trump said no personnel were killed in the attack on Venezuela, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
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January 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM
US bombs Caracas in large offensive against Venezuela trib.al/jJ9QoAK
US bombs Caracas in large offensive against Venezuela
Multiple airstrikes hit various sites in Venezuela as helicopters were spotted flying through the capital city of Caracas.
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January 3, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Coast Guard searching for survivors of US strikes on boats in the Pacific trib.al/YUhdXXN
Coast Guard searching for survivors of US strikes on boats in the Pacific
The effort, now in its fourth day, is the most extensive one conducted by the U.S. since it began attacks on alleged drug ships in September.
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January 2, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Army creates new AI-focused career field for officers trib.al/ghurm3j
Army creates new AI-focused career field for officers
The new 49B area of concentration will get its first cadre of officers who are tasked with integrating AI into logistics, robotics and combat.
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January 2, 2026 at 6:29 PM