Author: Braxton Taylor
The 4,000 California National Guard soldiers who President Donald Trump surged into Los Angeles remain unpaid due to delays in issuing official activation orders, leaving compensation and benefits in limbo.According to more than a dozen Guardsmen across four units who spoke to Military.com, none has received formal activation orders, the critical paperwork that not only authorizes their duty status, but also unlocks pay, Tricare health benefits and eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs services. Without those orders, troops remain in a legal and administrative limbo.Multiple defense officials with direct knowledge of the situation told Military.com the chaotic and sudden activation…
Scholars of civil-military relations endlessly debate the durability of professional norms and the degree to which they reinforce the principle of civilian control of the armed forces. The most important norm that ensures the military upholds its oath to the Constitution and is subordinate to civilian authority is its norm of nonpartisanship—the commitment to keeping the military out of partisan politics. On June 10, that norm was dealt a setback at Fort Bragg.Mounting a stage at the North Carolina base, the president and secretary of defense delivered partisan speeches before a large audience of uniformed soldiers. Others can judge the propriety…
The Pentagon is proposing to halve its planned F-35 buy and boost funding for the sixth-gen F-47 fighter jet—but many of its 2026 budget-proposal details hinge on the reconciliation legislation still being debated on Capitol Hill.The budget proposal was quietly delivered to Congress yesterday—an unorthodox rollout without the typical public release and background briefings for press. Even more unconventional: documents sent to Capitol Hill include not just the usual defense appropriations, but also money they are seeking in the reconciliation package. Defense One obtained copies of several of the documents.And another oddity: the proposal arrived one day after the House…
Beretta USA is rolling out the full 20X Bobcat lineup, comprising a new take on a legendary pocket pistol. Combining pocket concealment with enhanced comfort, durability and easy loading, all four distinctive models are now shipping: The Bug Out Bag, Do It Yourself, In Case of Emergency, and You’re on Your Own. “We focused on ergonomics, accessibility and real-world usability—especially for those who need something ultra-reliable and easy to operate under stress, said Logan Killan, Beretta USA pistol product manager. “This lineup isn’t just about how small it carries—it’s about how confidently it shoots.” A small, concealable pistol built for…
Two big oddities infused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill this week to justify the Pentagon’s budget request to appropriators: first, the Defense Department has not publicly released its full fiscal year 2026 budget; and second, the numbers he cited require passage of the deeply controversial reconciliation bill.Without it, the Pentagon’s budget would stay flat—despite the Trump administration’s touting of a $1 trillion national-security budget, itself a hedge from Hegseth’s comments in April previewing a trillion-dollar DOD budget.“Reconciliation, Mr. Secretary, was meant to provide one-time supplemental funds to augment the defense budget, not…
Federal hiring freezes, layoffs, consolidations and restructuring in companies and agencies all over the country have led to more applications than ever on job boards. In this kind of job market, transitioning military members, veterans and job-seeking spouses need to be more strategic, more adaptable and much more knowledgeable about how the employment game is played, especially when it comes to jobs in the defense industry.You have to learn to tilt the odds in your favor, but how do you find out which tactics you should play? And how do you find out the unwritten rules of employment in the…
During his three-plus decades in the military, Aaron Nance says some service members are still surprised he flies jets. Nance, a chief warrant officer 5 in the Washington Army National Guard, considers that the biggest misconception he encounters fairly regularly.”‘Yeah, I sure do. It’s what we do,'” Nance told “The Fighter Pilot Podcast,” recalling his usual response. “‘Wow, I had no idea. I thought you guys just flew helicopters.'”As the Army prepares to commemorate its 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14, 2025, “The Fighter Pilot Podcast” — hosted by former Navy fighter pilot Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello — is rebroadcasting five…
Reptilia is releasing its newest additions to the ROF line of scope mounts, the ROF-45 35mm and ROF-90 35mm. Both of these scope mounts are engineered to improve the performance of your 35mm optic mount system, no matter if you’re running a Reptilia AUS, Geissele Super Precision or any another optic which uses 35mm mounting rings. The ROF line is designed to let you easily add a red-dot sight or similar sighting system to a rifle which already has an LPVO (Low Power Variable Optic) or other magnifying optic installed. By adding a red dot to your existing optic, you…
Standing before troops, Trump called protesters in Los Angeles “a foreign enemy” and “animals” during a speech at a North Carolina Army base Tuesday. “We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy, and that’s what they are,” the president said to an audience of soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., Tuesday. “These are animals, but they proudly carry the flags of other countries but they don’t carry the American flag,” the president said. “We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again.” Worth noting: “President Donald Trump made a series of…
Falco Holsters has relaunched the G122 Sling Bag, its customer-favorite pack with a hidden upgrade that enhances functionality, improves draw performance and adds storage space. The G122 Sling Bag is known for its comfortable, discreet design and cross-body access, and has become a trusted choice for anyone who prefers off-body carry or simply finds themselves in situations where belt holsters aren’t practical. The low-profile silhouette blends into civilian environments, aided by a variety of color options, while still allowing quick firearm access in situations such as hiking, biking, commuting or traveling. Thanks to its versatile design and anti-slip lining, the…