Author: Braxton Taylor
American defense firms that have holdings or relationships with Israeli companies are at an “increased risk” of being targeted by Iran-linked government hackers and other cybercriminals backing Tehran, according to a Monday advisory from four U.S. security agencies.The readout comes amid a fragile ceasefire deal struck between Iran and Israel, which culminated after President Donald Trump last week ordered massive bombings on key nuclear facilities in Iran.“Despite a declared ceasefire and ongoing negotiations towards a permanent solution, Iranian-affiliated cyber actors and hacktivist groups may still conduct malicious cyber activity,” says the advisory published by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency,…
The Department of the Air Force hit its 2025 goal of recruiting new airmen and Space Force Guardians three months ahead of schedule, the latest service branch to turn the tide from a post-pandemic slump.Military.com reported earlier this month that the Department of the Air Force was set to hit its goal by the end of the month. On Monday, the Air Force and Space Force announced their recruiting success in a news release.”I am excited that both the Air Force and the Space Force have met their fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals three months early,” Air Force Secretary Troy…
The Air Force wants to get rid of its remaining A-10 Warthogs in fiscal 2026 rather than gradually phase them out, a move the service hopes will open up funding for new weapons that are better suited for a future fight. The service released its list of proposed retirements after the Pentagon’s unconventional budget rollout last week, which proposes cuts to the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet and funnels more money into the sixth-generation F-47 fighter jet program.Service officials have long sought to shed their A-10s, but lawmakers have repeatedly saved the plane, which was used for close air support in the…
Matthew Keeler remembers the first time he was hooked on playing games.”When my buddies I grew up with got a box of figurines, these fantasy figurines, sort of generic ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ stuff, playing as high elves and humans, that’s what initially got me into it,” said Keeler, an Army Reserve public affairs noncommissioned officer. “Seeing my buddies playing got me interested and then I found out about the 40K version, and as a bit of a sci-fi nerd myself, I was like, ‘This is pretty cool.'”As Keeler grew up, he got into playing tabletop strategy games, which are essentially…
The Army is undertaking a major shake-up of its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps footprint, shutting down or reorganizing programs at 84 college campuses. The move, which Army planners describe as surgical, is part of a broader push to trim down bloat in the service.In total, 291 students are expected to be affected, most of them having to potentially shift to programs at other nearby campuses. Of those, 16 contracted cadets will have their programs totally deactivated and be left with few alternatives, though in some cases the service is aiming not to disrupt their tenures. Those cadets will be given…
Moving is a part of military life. At some point, whether you’re a new recruit or have been in for years, you will have a permanent change of station (PCS). A PCS comes with many unknowns. Those uncertainties can cause stress, especially when it comes to your money.A PCS shouldn’t break your budget or drain your savings. Planning and awareness can make the process smoother for your finances. Here are some tips for navigating your finances through a PCS.Know What the Military CoversBefore you move and start spending, you must understand what the military does and does not cover so…
Gun Tote’n Mamas (GTM) is known for making women’s protection solutions and is now coming out with two new products, the Crossbody Organizer and Sling Waist in a vintage paisley pattern. “This pattern was fun to create, taking me back to the 60s and early 70s. The first garment I made was a blue paisley print,” said Claudia Chisholm, president of GTM. “Being able to translate the vintage pattern onto leather and into our Crossbody Organizer and Sling Waistpack was pure joy.” The Crossbody Organizer is designed for carrying only the essentials and is is efficiently compact. Measuring 8¼ inches…
Have you been on a public trail or bike path recently? There’s a lot of impressively fast, yet suspiciously casual cyclists out and about these days. They’re taking advantage of electric motors that drastically increase the amount of power that comes from the pedals, and people in the military have noticed.These e-bikes are incredibly convenient. They have minimal maintenance requirements, efficient batteries and the option to ride one like a conventional bicycle. If you had to get across a combat zone in a hurry without a JLTV or Osprey, wouldn’t you prefer one of these bikes over your combat boots?You’re…
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is launching two new spotting scopes: The SX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2 and the SX-2 Alpine HD Gen 2. These new scopes are built for extreme conditions and use Leupold’s Elite Optical System of enhanced lens coatings to reduce glare, making them ideal for the bright light of early mornings. It also features a rugged magnesium body that is both waterproof and fog-proof, an oversized eyepiece for all-day comfort and an interchangeable eyecup. The SX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2 is available in an angled or straight design, each with two configurations: 15-45×65 and 20-60×85.…
Charles Barger’s life began under difficult circumstances and never really got any easier.Born into a notorious Kansas crime family, Barger was put up for adoption when his father was imprisoned for murder, then was orphaned as a boy when his adoptive parents died. He quit school after the fourth grade and tried to support himself with farm jobs for a while before registering for the draft in 1917 — the year the United States entered World War I.”The only constants in his life, it seemed, were hard work, poverty and loneliness,” retired Air Force Master Sgt. Joseph Bowman wrote in…