Author: Braxton Taylor
“You are not civilians. You are set apart for a distinct purpose.” That line didn’t drift across the packed room at Quantico; it hit like a challenge coin thrown on the table. War Secretary Pete Hegseth didn’t come to soothe egos or manage optics. He came to draw a line. Military leaders would be responsible for identity, increasing standards, and real accountability. Agree or disagree with his politics, the speech demanded something every military professional should recognize and welcome: clarity.What Hegseth Got Right (and Why It Matters)One standard for combat.Hegseth’s call to consolidate to a single, job-relevant bar isn’t culture-war…
As the government shut down, many veterans using the GI Bill are asking the same question: Will my tuition and housing payments still arrive? For thousands of student veterans, a missed payment could mean not covering rent, falling behind on bills, or facing late fees from schools.The good news, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, is that GI Bill payments are still going out. The VA’s official contingency plan makes clear that education benefits are protected, and current tuition and housing stipends will continue. Secretary Doug Collins stated, “VA benefits, hospitals, and clinics will remain available, and he holds Democratic lawmakers responsible…
On Oct. 7, 1777, British Brig. Gen. Simon Fraser rode a gray horse along the ridge at Bemis Heights, urging his men forward. The Americans had pressed hard against British lines at Saratoga, and Fraser’s presence inspired the redcoats. One officer later wrote that he was “the very life and soul of the action.”That same visibility made him a target. American riflemen under the fabled Col. Daniel Morgan had been firing all morning, picking off officers and artillerymen. According to tradition, Morgan pointed Fraser out and told one of his men, “That gallant officer is General Fraser. I admire him,…
Anyone who has ever been issued a government credit card knows the lecture. Don’t buy alcohol. Don’t split a purchase to get around the limit. No escort services on the government purchase card. The list of forbidden transactions has grown so long that it sometimes feels like the card is useful only for printer paper and staplers. Now, in a twist that sounds like satire but is not, drones have been added to the ledger of things you can swipe for – not as a prohibited indulgence, but as an officially sanctioned battlefield experiment. The U.S. military has quietly found…
A U.S. Army veteran will serve a year behind bars for wire fraud and stolen valor charges.Sharon Toney-Finch, 43, of Newburgh, New York, previously made false public claims about assisting homeless veterans. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti sentenced her to 12 months and one day in prison for claims of being a Purple Heart recipient as well as for a years-long scheme to defraud military veterans’ charities.She was indicted by the federal government in April 2024 on four charges: wire fraud, stolen valor, theft of government funds, and forging a military discharge certificate.In March 2025 she pleaded guilty to…
Whether you’re updating your wardrobe, buying back-to-school clothes for the kids or treating yourself to a new outfit, clothes are essential purchases all year long. Fortunately, you can find plenty of military discounts both online and in stores for all of your clothing needs.When using military discounts online, verification of your service might be required by completing a quick form through a third party like SheerID or ID.me. And for all in-store discounts, make sure you have your valid military ID at checkout.Kohl’sKohl’s offers active-duty military, veterans and their immediate families a 15% discount on purchases made on Mondays. This…
You’ve probably seen online fundraisers when there’s an active-duty death. They’re a lovely gesture, but the fact is that the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs offer a significant package of lump-sum and ongoing benefits that provide a pretty good level of financial support for surviving families. Friends and family certainly don’t understand that, so their generosity and concern are logical and normal.But even military families often don’t know what benefits are available to the surviving family of an active-duty service member. I was teaching a survivor benefits class a few weeks ago, and an attendee said to…
TALLIN, Estonia—As Russian drone incursions across Europe spike, the European Union committed Wednesday to one of the most ambitious multi-nation defense projects in history: a Europe-wide “drone wall,” envisioned as a network of new sensors, artificial intelligence software, jammers, cheap missiles, and more to thwart small-drone attacks. The concept is still in its infancy. But dozens of Estonian defense tech startups working in autonomy, drone detection and defeat, and other areas related to drone defense gave Defense One a glimpse of how autonomous vehicles, inexpensive short-range missiles, hunter drones and AI concepts are laying the groundwork for the future of defeating…
Survivors of service members who die while serving on active duty are eligible for a wide range of pay and benefits. These come in three distinct categories: one-time payments or allowances, monthly payments and ongoing benefits. We’ll discuss each category in a separate article because there’s a lot to understand.Monthly payments come through two programs. While separate in their rules, payment structures and eligibility criteria, these programs work together to help provide ongoing financial stability for surviving families.Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), administered by the Department of Defense, is typically the largest continuing monthly payment available to…
Whenever we sustain an injury during training, it is normal to stop working out so we have time to rest and recover.But is that necessary? Working out with a painful joint, such as the shoulder or elbow, sometimes means modifying the exercises you do, but not avoiding the gym altogether. For instance, some pushing exercises may be uncomfortable because of a particular injury, while a pulling exercise that engages different muscles and tendons may still be suitable for training. Here is this week’s question:Stew, I have a shoulder injury and still need to train. It is not bad, but it only hurts…