Author: Braxton Taylor

In warfare, outthinking the enemy is a critical component to outmaneuvering them. In order to best tip the scales of victory, the U.S. Marine Corps is turning to an age-old tool with cutting-edge twists: wargaming. Building on traditional physical board games, today’s Marine wargames are sophisticated simulations that build the mental muscle needed to outthink adversaries. By immersing leathernecks in realistic scenarios, the Corps is cultivating cognitive skills like strategic foresight, adaptive decision-making, and ethical judgment; all essentials for dominating contested environments.This isn’t just theory. As adversaries evolve with AI-driven tactics and hybrid threats, Marines understand they must evolve even…

Researchers in the United Kingdom and Australia have released a new commentary that looks at how esports competitors and other video gamers might have an advantage in high-stress jobs and training. They found that it might be worth it to order service members to play some games.The article, aptly named “Commentary on the Transferability of Esports to Military and Emergency Responder Roles,” published in July, draws on recent research and features opinions from experts in the field like lead author Benjamin Sharpe from the Human Attention Laboratory at the University of Chichester. The researchers’ opinions – that video games help develop important…

On Dec. 19, 1941, in the pre-dawn darkness, six Italian commandos slipped into Alexandria harbor in Egypt. British troops and sailors had spotted an Italian reconnaissance plane days earlier, and intercepted intelligence suggested Italy was planning a strike. They were anxious, but alert, keeping an eye out for the enemy.The commandos, known as frogmen, piloted three human torpedoes called Maiale, or “pigs.” Each torpedo had two seats and steering controls, allowing the men to guide them toward British warships. Their primary targets: the battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant.The men were members of the elite Italian Decima Flottiglia MAS, under Lt. Luigi…

On August 18, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a memorandum marking a new direction in its drug testing policy. Beginning on October 1, 2025, psilocin will be added to the military’s drug testing program. Officials framed the move as necessary to address “emerging drug threats,” endangering readiness, discipline, and security.  For decades, the military has operated a large-scale drug testing program, collecting millions of urine samples each year. Tests normally focus on substances like marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, and opioids. Commanders have always had the authority to order additional testing when they had probable cause, and specialized laboratories could look for…

Veterans Christopher Lawrence and Quincy Lopez weren’t searching for accolades when they put their lives on the line and suffered devastating injuries in the post-9/11 wars. But they admit it’s nice to receive a helping hand for all the sacrifices they’ve made. Lawrence, a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, and Lopez, who serves as a sergeant in the Army, were given forever homes on Sept. 6 from the Homes for Our Troops organization. Both veterans, from Wesley Chapel, Florida, were excited to see their new houses, as reported by Newsbreak. “This house is meant for me to be in forever,” Lawrence said. Lawrence and…

A lawsuit brought by Washington, D.C. to keep National Guard soldiers off city streets is more than a blue-versus-red skirmish; it is a stress test of the Guard’s dual mission and the constitutional plumbing that enables one force to answer to two masters. The District’s Attorney General calls the deployment a “forced military occupation,” though the White House says the soldiers are protecting federal assets and helping law enforcement. Or the way you read through the politics: the conflict is at the point between state power and federal power, and on the issue most crucial to democratic legitimacy: What legal status,…

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. George Hardy, who died this week at 100, was one of the last Tuskegee Airmen to see combat overseas. From flying a P-51 Mustang escorting bombers over Europe to piloting AC-119 gunships in Vietnam, his career spanned three wars and mirrored both the Air Force’s evolution and America’s slow progress from segregation to integration.From Philadelphia to EuropeHardy was born in Philadelphia in 1925, the second of seven children in a working-class family. He joined the Army Air Corps at 17, entering the Tuskegee program in Alabama, where Black aviation cadets trained apart from their white counterparts.…

Aerobic exercise and strength training offer unique and complementary benefits for brain health, according to a growing body of research.While each activity alone can support cognitive function, engaging in both forms of exercise together provides enhanced protection, promotes the growth of brain tissue and improves executive function in the brain, especially as we age. For those of you who enjoy either cardio or strength training, do not worry because you receive benefits from both. However, the combination of the two is overwhelmingly positive, and learning how to integrate them into your training day can be life-changing.Read Next: How Special Operations Candidates Should…

Some maritime special operators are getting a robotic turret that can turn machine guns into an autonomous drone-killer for boats and other vehicles.U.S. Special Operations Command awarded defense tech startup Allen Control Systems a contract—value and quantity undisclosed—for its Bullfrog autonomous turret, the company announced Friday. The contract will be executed by ManTech, an established defense contractor. Bullfrog is equipped with sensors and AI to spot and engage incoming drones in groups 1, 2, and 3, and can be armed with an M240, M2, M230, and M134 guns or non-kinetic weapons such as a laser dazzler. Allen Control Systems president Steve Simoni, a former…

Cold Steel recently showcased a new folding knife, the Cold Steel Recon XL. This larger-sized folding knife measures 12.25 inches overall and has a clip-point blade manufactured from XHP/CPM steel. The blade measures 5.25 inches and is finished with a matte black PVC coating and is 3.8mm thick. Backing up this massive blade is Cold Steel’s Tri-Ad locking mechanism that helps secure the blade in place during strenuous use. The Recon XL’s clip point profile is reminiscent of the classic Bowie knife profile which makes it practical for a wide variety of cutting and utility applications. The handle is made…