Author: Braxton Taylor
A Florida bowfishing guide has developed an unusual partnership with the aquatic life of the Gulf of Mexico. For more than a decade, Crystal Bay charter captain Justin Dymond has been attracting pods of dolphins with the underwater flood lights he uses to locate fish for his bowfishing clients. As soon as the fish are visible and stunned by the lights, the dolphins start snatching them.Lots of anglers know this dynamic all too well, especially in Florida, where one recent study showed that 43% of anglers had experienced depredation of their catch by sharks.But Dymond says that losing those few…
A Season of Pause and ColorEvery fall, when the mornings turn crisp and the light shifts golden, my family piles into the car and heads into the Cascades. It’s our tradition. We drive east from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, chasing maples, aspens, and firs lit up like fire. At Tipsoo Lake on the Chinook Scenic Byway, my youngest once asked, “Do the trees dress up just for us?” That question comes back to me every year as the seasons change.For military families and veterans, trips like this are more than a way to pass the weekend. They’re a pause button, a…
For such a relatively simple device, gun suppressors generate a tremendous amount of confusion. What does it mean for a suppressor to be “full-auto rated”? Do suppressors slow down a bullet or reduce accuracy? Why do some suppressors have barrel length restrictions? What metals are used to build them? Which are the most effective?To help answer these questions and more, I reached out to Lukas VanLaecken, the director of engineering and manufacturing for Silencer Central. Silencer Central sells suppressors from many manufacturers, but they also make their own, and Lukas oversees the engineering and R&D work for their new and…
Stronger legs are not just for muscle heads in the gym.As we age, they help boost mobility and stability and independence by protecting joints, reducing falls and improving one’s quality of life. A sturdy lower body can provide myriad health benefits as well, among them regulating blood sugar and fighting diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Stronger legs allow us to move more, improve our social interactions, and enhance cerebral blood flow and neural development.In short, you should never skip leg day. Here’s how to make sure that happens as infrequently as possible:The Basics: Walk and SquatIf you sit for long…
MAUI SPACE SURVEILLANCE COMPLEX, Hawaii—China is “intentionally trying to do things” in space “so we don’t see it,” from changing the brightness of their satellites to maneuvering in what it believes are the United States’ blind spots, and the U.S. Space Force has to “keep pace, and we’ve got to keep advancing our capabilities so that that’s harder and harder for them to do,” the chief of space operations said this week. “If you’re going to do something irresponsible, we’re going to see it. We’re going to tell the world, and then we’re going to react and respond,” Gen. Chance Saltzman…
Why The Pentagon Wanted Rules When the Pentagon started pouring money into AI a few years ago, leaders knew the technology could be a game-changer on the battlefield. Logistics, intelligence analysis, and decision support in combat could all be positively affected by AI. There was also a problem: without clear boundaries, AI could just as easily undermine U.S. values and international law. That is why in 2018, DoD leadership asked the Defense Innovation Board (DIB) – a panel of outside experts from tech, academia, and industry – to come up with ethical guidelines for military AI. The board spent more than a…
TriStar Arms recently introduced the new rimfire KR22 carbine, a lightweight semi-automatic blowback rimfire .22LR rifle built with for practical use in the field. The action and footprint of the K22 is identical to the tried-and-true Ruger 10/22 rifle, and the TriStar KR22 carbine also accepts Ruger 10/22-pattern magazines. TriStar includes two magazines in the box with every KR22. The rifle includes both open sights and a receiver-mounted Picatinny rail that makes a breeze to add a red-dot or magnified optics to the KR22. The barreled action is bedded on a black field grade synthetic stock that makes it lightweight…
On a recent business trip, I found myself in the dreaded middle seat — a spot that rarely offers much beyond cramped elbows and a steady supply of recycled air. But this time, it came with a show.The gentleman next to me had his tray table down, not for snacks or a laptop, but for what looked like the creation of a battle plan. He was scribbling furiously on a yellow legal pad, page after page of bullet points. Naturally, I glanced over (let’s call it passive research). After a few minutes of respectful eavesdropping, it was clear: This wasn’t…
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to [email protected] for consideration.Last April, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) secured a $19.75 million fraud settlement with Seabrook, a major addiction treatment center in New Jersey. Between 2022 and 2024, Seabrook allegedly misrepresented its offerings, falsified its records and provided services by staff who were unqualified to treat patients with these disorders.The facility’s laundry list of misdeeds reveals a troubling, deeper reality: Unscrupulous, predatory facilities are…
Air Force brings great-power conflict concept to the Caribbean. When Kentucky Air National Guard troops recently “seized” an airport on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, they were practicing Agile Combat Employment, a maneuvering scheme intended to enable the Air Force to generate combat power despite the anti-access/area denial efforts of China, Russia, and others. But experts said the wargame—part of the larger, long-planned Emerald Warrior exercise organized by Air Force Special Operations Command—might also serve as a message to drug cartels and unfriendly governments in the region. Defense One’s Thomas Novelly reports, here.Commentary: Mexico’s new president is trying…