Author: Braxton Taylor
Back-to-school season is full of excitement. It’s a fresh start for kids and families, a time to reconnect with friends or make new ones and the unofficial kickoff to fall routines. But it can also be a major budget-buster, especially for military families juggling moves, new duty stations or multiple kids heading back to class. Between supplies, clothing, sports fees and all the little extras, costs can creep up quickly.The good news is that with a bit of planning and creativity, you can keep back-to-school spending under control while still getting your kids everything they need and starting their school…
An independent panel will study the rates of cancer and deaths from cancer among military fixed-wing pilots and aircrews under a law signed last week by President Donald Trump.The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine will conduct a thorough review on the prevalence of various cancers among personnel who have served on active duty on fighter jets, trainers, surveillance aircraft and other airplanes to determine whether cancer rates are elevated in the aviation community.A study released by the Department of Defense in 2023 found that, among 900,000 personnel who served on fixed-wing aircraft between 1992 and 2017, aircrews had…
The top enlisted leader of U.S. Fleet Forces Command will become the Navy’s next top enlisted sailor, the service announced Friday.Fleet Master Chief John Perryman, who has been the senior enlisted adviser for Fleet Forces Command since 2021, has been chosen to succeed James Honea as master chief petty officer of the Navy when Honea retires in September, the Navy said in a news release.”With decades of operational experience across the fleet, Perryman will play a vital role in advising Navy leadership, shaping enlisted policy, and maintaining warfighting readiness in an era of strategic competition,” the news release said.Read Next:…
An airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base has been criminally charged after allegedly firing an AK-47 assault rifle through an apartment wall and killing a man, police said, marking the second firearm death involving troops at the Wyoming installation in recent weeks.Jadan Orr, 20, was arrested and accused of voluntary manslaughter early Saturday morning, according to the Cheyenne Police Department, but Air Force officials reached out after publication to say the police department’s online statement was incorrect and Orr was charged with involuntary manslaughter. He is an airman with the 90th Missile Wing, a base spokesperson confirmed to Military.com.…
Gen. David Allvin will retire after serving just two years as Air Force chief of staff, the service said Monday. Allvin has served as the service’s highest-ranking officer, typically a four-year posting, since 2023. He will retire “on or about” Nov. 1, depending on when a replacement is confirmed, the press release said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as the 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff and I’m thankful for Secretary Meink, Secretary Hegseth and President Trump’s faith in me to lead our service,” Allvin said in a statement. “More than anything, I’m proud to have been part of the…
As I walked around the National Mall last weekend, the troops of the D.C. National Guard stood out, boredom and physical discomfort in 90-degree temperatures visible on their faces. Called out for a “crime emergency” yet deployed to one of the safest places in Washington, D.C., the soldiers could not help but think their orders a waste of time.No argument to the contrary has been offered by senior military leaders, who have maintained a deafening silence about the extraordinary mission in the nation’s capital. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, other members of the joint chiefs, and the…
The Navy’s chief of information office is on the clock to deliver a plan that will reduce the service’s civilian public-affairs staff by at least 35 percent, according to a memo signed by Navy Secretary John Phelan earlier this month. The move would also centralize hiring for all civilian PAOs and all communications-related contracting to Department of the Navy headquarters. While the Marine Corps is not being directed to cut its civilian billets, it will be subject to the same new hiring and contracting practices.“This initiative is essential to eliminate duplicative roles, concentrate talent on the highest priority functions, focus contracting…
Despite two centuries of evolution, the structure of a modern military staff would be recognizable to Napoleon. At the same time, military organizations have struggled to incorporate new technologies as they adapt to new domains – air, space and information – in modern war. The sizes of military headquarters have grown to accommodate the expanded information flows and decision points of these new facets of warfare. The result is diminishing marginal returns and a coordination nightmare – too many cooks in the kitchen – that risks jeopardizing mission command. AI agents – autonomous, goal-oriented software powered by large language models – can automate routine staff tasks, compress decision…
Bond Arms turns 30 this year and wants to share its American-made pride with a line of special-edition firearms. The first firearms in this series are the 30th and the 30th XL, both of which honor the United States of America. The 30th features Bond’s rough series hand-cannon frame, which cradles a special edition 3-inch barrel that is engraved on both sides and chambers .45 Colt and .410-bore shot shells. Constructed from stainless steel, the 30th comes with a standard grip made from thin nylon, featuring a 7-pound trigger pull weight, fixed sights, a rough finish and an affordable price.…
Reptilia, an industry leader in precision mounting solutions, announced the release of the 35mm ROF-Diving Board, an accessory mounting platform designed for use with Reptilia AUS and Geissele Super Precision 35mm scope mounts. Originally developed to meet the demands of professional end users, the ROF-Diving Board adds a MIL-STD-1913 rail forward of the primary optic, providing an ideal mounting position for laser range finders, red dot sights or other accessories without adding unnecessary bulk or compromising ergonomics. In addition to accessory placement, the Diving Board also increases the structural support of the optic tube by reusing the original ring cap…