Gina Harkins

Gina Harkins previously covered the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard for Military.com. She has covered troops and their families for nearly a decade, reporting from the U.S., Central and South America, and at sea. Before joining Military.com, Gina was a longtime reporter and managing editor for the independent Marine Corps Times. Her story on two recruits trapped at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina was runner up for the 2013 Military Reporters and Editors award for domestic military coverage. She holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and studied political science and international relations in her undergrad at Northeastern Illinois University.

Latest Articles

Sea Hunter, an entirely new class of unmanned ocean-going vessel gets underway on the Williammette River following a christening ceremony in Portland, Ore., Apr. 7, 2016. (U.S. Navy photo/John F. Williams)

The Navy's $2.7 Billion Plan to Build Drone Ships Faces Hurdles in Congress

The Navy wants $400 million for two large unmanned-surface vessels in 2020.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transits the Atlantic Ocean to her homeport of Norfolk, Va. Harry S. Truman was conducting training aircraft carrier qualifications off the coast of Florida. (U.S. Navy/Seaman Apprentice Leonard Adams)

Navy's Plan to Retire a Carrier Early Could Be Axed by New Bill

Members of the HASC have drafted legislation that would bar the defense secretary from reducing the number of carriers.

Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) steams in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ace Rheaume)

Senate Committee's Defense Spending Plan Includes More Money for Amphibs

The Senate Armed Services Committee's budget plan would restore some funding for Navy warships that Marines say they need .

Navy's Sea Hunter Drone Ship Could Deliver Supplies to Marines

The Navy's mysterious 132-foot-long autonomous Sea Hunter vessel could move fuel, ammunition and other heavy supplies.

The CH-53K King Stallion lifts a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, January 18, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Shannon Doherty)

Top Marine Aviator Defends 'King Stallion' Heavy-Lift Helo Despite Setbacks

The Corps will not pursue buying Boeing's CH-47 in place of the King Stallion, Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder said at Sea-Air-Space.

A crew member from Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon and his crew offload 1,735 kilograms of cocaine, Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. (U.S. Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse)

Coast Guard Can Stop More Drugs Than Trump's Wall, Congressman Says

The Coast Guard stops more drugs headed to the U.S. than all other federal agencies combined, said Rep. Peter DeFazio.

Recruits of Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, conduct planks during the bases and circuit course event at Marine Corps Recruits Depot San Diego, June 28, 2016. (U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Angelica Annastas)

Marines Will Be Allowed to Choose Between Planks, Crunches on PFT

Marines will have the option of performing a plank in lieu of crunches when completing the physical fitness test.

U.S. Marines conduct a mock raid in Polaris MRZR 4 vehicles during exercise Northern Edge, May 22, 2019 at Fort Greely, Alaska. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Rhita Daniel)

Training Not to Blame for String of Fatal Vehicle Rollovers, Marines Say

The Marine Corps is investigating the spate of rollovers that left three dead and 10 more injured.

Donna Ouellette, mother of fallen Marine Cpl. Michael W. Ouellette, has a room in her home that honors the memory of her son with plaques, shadow boxes, photographs and a drawing that depicts the fallen squad leader who served with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps/ Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes)

Marines Demand Answers After Tribute to Fallen Navy Cross Recipient Goes Missing

When a hero’s Navy Cross citation plaque was removed from a lounge his family helped fund, Marines sprang into action.

FILE -- The five finalists in the Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year competition are pictured on the grounds of the Netherlands Carillon in Washington D.C. (U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael Moriatis)

Sailors Will No Longer Need 12 Years of Good Conduct to Sport Gold Stripes

The Navy is rescinding its tradition requiring sailors to have 12 years of blemish-free conduct to rate gold stripes.

A Reserve sailor performs curl-ups during the physical readiness test in the drill hall at Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Los Angeles. (Pyoung K. Yi/Navy)

Navy PRT Changes: Sailors Ditch Sit-Ups for Planks, Add Rowing to Fitness Test

Sailors who have long pushed for Navy leaders to come up with a better way to measure abdominal strength will get their way.

A sailor from the aircraft carrier Ford's air department loads an F/A-18F Super Hornet on to the electromagnetic aircraft launching system (EMALS). (Navy photo)

'Crazy Electric Catapult' Won't Be Used on New Aircraft Carriers, Trump Says

President Donald Trump is no fan of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, known as EMALS.

A service member wears a patch that says "Make Aircrew Great Again" as they listen to President Donald Trump speak to troops at a Memorial Day event aboard the USS Wasp, Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Yokosuka, Japan. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

'Make Aircrew Great Again' Patches Worn by Sailors Now Under Review

Photos of sailors wearing patches that say "Make Aircrew Great Again" on their flight suits were circulating.

Lance Cpl. Hans Sandoval-Pereyra, died May 28, 2019 due to injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover in Darwin, Australia. (Courtesy U.S. Marine Corps)

Marine Killed in Australia Humvee Accident; 3rd Rollover Death in 6 Weeks

Lance Cpl. Hans Sandoval-Pereyra was riding as a passenger when the Humvee "departed the road and rolled over."

The Marine Corps insignia is visible behind Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert B. Neller as he takes questions from reporters at the unveiling of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaign engravings on the USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima), Nov. 21, 2017, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Top Marine Makes Plea to End Suicide, Says 'Zero Shame' in Admitting Problem

Active-duty suicide rates in the Navy and Marine Corps reached a 10-year high last year.

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