Marty Skovlund Jr.

Jun 26, 2024 | taskandpurpose.com | Jasper Craven |Marty Skovlund Jr.

In mid-April, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, and Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough demanding to know why the agency was wounding itself. Specifically, they worried about a series of seemingly contradictory eligibility and staffing policies. In March, the VA handed down a directive that expanded healthcare eligibility to millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military.

May 29, 2024 | taskandpurpose.com | Joshua Skovlund |Marty Skovlund Jr.

The Desert Warrior Week 2024 combatives championship came to a close on May 23 and one of the competitors is blowing up on social media. Staff Sgt. Diane Kancauski ate a hard slap to the face like it was breakfast and returned the favor via a double-leg takedown during the final round of the championship. “So the first smack was the one that kind of dazed me,” Kancauski said.

May 28, 2024 | taskandpurpose.com | Joshua Skovlund |Marty Skovlund Jr.

The U.S. Army’s Civil Affairs soldiers are the definition of diplomatic warriors. They are highly skilled in tactical operations but can quickly transition into a suit and tie to talk to a host nation’s diplomats at a level most U.S. politicians struggle to achieve. To join the ranks, a soldier must pass the Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection course.

Mar 6, 2024 | taskandpurpose.com | Benjamin Jensen |Marty Skovlund Jr.

What is the future of algorithmic warfare? The character of war is changing as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) applications transform everything from tactical engagements to operational art and military planning. Some thinkers go as far as to claim it is not just the character or war, but its nature and even the balance of power that are changing. This moment calls on military organizations to accelerate experimentation.

Jan 26, 2024 | taskandpurpose.com | Joshua Skovlund |Marty Skovlund Jr.

An ominous but motivational recruiting video titled “Ghosts in the Machine” rocked the internet in May 2022. Was it simply a recruiting effort for the 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)? Or a capabilities demonstration with an eye toward enemies of the United States? Either way, the video is well-crafted and thought-provoking — a masterclass in the art of psychological operations, courtesy of those who have made it through Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Assessment and Selection.