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Task & Purpose
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News, culture, and analysis by and for the military community. Got a tip or story? Send it here →
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Space Force guardians graduate basic training in their own uniforms for the first time trib.al/bunFMXU
Space Force guardians graduate basic training in their own uniforms for the first time
The Space Force is currently in the process of making its dress uniform available to guardians through 2026.
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December 26, 2025 at 1:01 PM
It’s basically “Home Alone,” but with live ammo.
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Why ‘Die Hard’ is the greatest Christmas movie of all time
The holiday season is a time for family, gift-giving, and of course, Christmas movies, chief among them is "Die Hard."
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December 25, 2025 at 11:08 PM
“Flying on Christmas day was good for us because every aircraft we offload fuel to is in some form supporting the guys on the ground — who are also missing their families,”
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‘We make it fun’ — Inside an Air Force Christmas at 30,000 feet over war-torn Iraq
“Every aircraft we offload fuel to is in some form supporting the guys on the ground — who are also missing their families.”
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December 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
How US troops in World War II celebrated Christmas dinner on the front trib.al/4IjC70J
How US troops in World War II celebrated Christmas dinner on the front
Amid the hardships of the war, Christmas dinner became an annual reprieve for far-flung troops across the globe.
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December 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“It was the best Christmas I have ever had, at home or away.”
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What it’s like to spend Christmas in combat, according to US military veterans
“It was the best Christmas I have ever had, at home or away.”
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December 25, 2025 at 11:42 AM
“Fraternization is an inevitable part of siege warfare.” What really happened during World War I’s Christmas Truce.
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The complicated truth about the famous 'Christmas Truce' of World War I
The Christmas Truce has become one of the most storied parts of World War I. It’s also far more complex than the narrative lets on.
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December 25, 2025 at 10:04 AM
It’s not the Christmas you used to know. It’s the one you remember forever.
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All alone, together: The emotional essence of Christmas at war
Dreaming of a Christmas, like the ones you used to know.
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December 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Here's the story behind the most GWOT Christmas tree ever.
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Silent night: Christmas in Ramadi amid violent insurgency
For generations, American service members have spent Christmas away from home in times of war. Here's how I spent it in Ramadi, Iraq in 2005.
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December 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Happy holidays from Task & Purpose trib.al/j0mOTci
Happy holidays from Task & Purpose
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the Task & Purpose team: It's been quite a year, and we're glad we got to share it with you.
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December 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Here's what it's like when two Christmases bookend a year-long deployment to Afghanistan
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Christmas in, Christmas out: A holiday deployment story
Here's what it's like when two Christmases bookend a year-long deployment to Afghanistan.
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December 24, 2025 at 11:14 AM
They were supposed to be going home. Instead, Americans spent Christmas and New Year’s fighting in Russia after the war was already over. trib.al/N3AwHcG
When Americans spent Christmas and New Year’s freezing in Russia
The soldiers of the "Polar Bear Expedition" fought against Bolshevik forces inside Russia at the end of 1918, even as World War I ended.
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December 24, 2025 at 10:07 AM
An Army doctor at Fort Hood, Texas, is accused of filming patients. In response, advocates are calling for stronger chaperone policies. trib.al/kyiBFYg
Fort Hood OB-GYN abuse case raises questions on chaperone policy
An Army doctor at Fort Hood, Texas, is accused of filming patients. In response, advocates are calling for stronger chaperone policies.
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December 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The Navy’s railgun may be back from the dead — for now trib.al/dV9f4k8
The Navy's railgun may be back from the dead — for now
There’s dead, mostly dead, and then there’s the Navy’s railgun, which appears to have been resurrected along with the battleship.
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December 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
A helicopter crew flew through rough winds and poor visibility to airlift a woman off of a cruise ship at sea. trib.al/4Bp4Y1L
California Air Guard team pulls off 'high risk' night rescue from fog-covered cruise ship
A helicopter crew flew through rough winds and poor visibility to airlift a woman off of a cruise ship at sea.
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December 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Marines may finally get landing ships for modern-day island hopping trib.al/WGW0CLJ
Marines may finally get landing ships for modern-day island hopping
The vessels would allow the Marines to move small teams onto remote islands. Medium Landing Ship, or LSMs, can carry 200 Marines to shore.
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December 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A federal watchdog revealed unsafe housing for troops assigned to the southern border. We want to keep reporting on it, but need your help. trib.al/yogqXVx
Have you served on the US-Mexico border in the last year? We want to hear from you.
A federal watchdog revealed unsafe housing for troops assigned to the southern border. We want to keep reporting on it, but need your help.
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December 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
A helicopter crew flew through rough winds and poor visibility to airlift a woman off of a cruise ship at sea. trib.al/regJuHs
California Air Guard team pulls off 'high risk' night rescue from fog-covered cruise ship
A helicopter crew flew through rough winds and poor visibility to airlift a woman off of a cruise ship at sea.
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December 23, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The Coast Guard and other troops boarded the M/T Centuries after it departed Venezuela. It’s the second tanker seized this month. trib.al/hvrqvWA
US forces seize oil tanker in the Caribbean
The Coast Guard and other troops boarded the M/T Centuries after it departed Venezuela. It’s the second tanker seized this month.
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December 22, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Air Force troops are returning to a base at Manta, a month after Ecuador rejected lifting a ban on foreign military bases. trib.al/V8kNqvw
US forces returning to Ecuador for ‘short-term’ counter-drug mission
Air Force troops are returning to a base at Manta, a month after Ecuador rejected lifting a ban on foreign military bases.
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December 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Have you served on the US-Mexico border in the last year? We want to hear from you. trib.al/a86JpLH
Have you served on the US-Mexico border in the last year? We want to hear from you.
A federal watchdog revealed unsafe housing for troops assigned to the southern border. We want to keep reporting on it, but need your help.
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December 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This summer the Army launched a new spiritual fitness guide to boost resilience in the “spiritual domain.” The Pentagon already ditched it. trib.al/1xrqUgq
Army tosses out its Spiritual Fitness Guide after four months
This summer the Army launched a new spiritual fitness guide to boost resilience in the “spiritual domain.” The Pentagon already ditched it.
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December 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Fort Hood OB-GYN abuse case raises questions on chaperone policy trib.al/smhsFDR
Fort Hood OB-GYN abuse case raises questions on chaperone policy
An Army doctor at Fort Hood, Texas, is accused of filming patients. In response, advocates are calling for stronger chaperone policies.
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December 22, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The annual review found multiple weaknesses in financial reporting across the Department of Defense's books. trib.al/WmssA1C
Pentagon fails its 8th audit in a row
The annual review found multiple weaknesses in financial reporting across the Department of Defense's books.
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December 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The large-scale ground and air campaign against multiple ISIS sites comes in response to the recent attack that killed two US soldiers. trib.al/Sl59CCH
US forces launch strikes on ISIS in Syria in retaliation for the death of 2 soldiers
The large-scale ground and air campaign against multiple ISIS sites comes in response to last weekend's attack that killed two US soldiers.
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December 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM
California National Guard pararescue team medevacs woman from a fog-covered cruise ship trib.al/SEFkFVo
California National Guard pararescue team medevacs woman from a fog-covered cruise ship
A helicopter crew flew through rough winds and poor visibility to airlift a woman off of a cruise ship at sea.
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December 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM