Kelsey Baker

Kelsey Baker is a Military and Defense reporting fellow at Business Insider. Previously, she spent six months at The Washington Post as a 2024 Military Veterans in Journalism Fellow on the general assignment and international desks. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism and a Marine Corps veteran.

Latest Articles

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

A U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor marches a platoon of recruits

Always Faithful, Always On: The Taxing Job of a Marine Corps Drill Instructor

Marine Corps drill instructors represent one of the most legendary roles in the military. From the 1987 war movie "Full Metal...

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Most Popular Military News

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis serving in Afghanistan. (I Have Your Back/Facebook)

New York Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Will Finally Receive Medal of Honor

Advocates pushed for years for Michael Ollis to receive the nation's highest honor. On Tuesday, their dream became a reality.

The West Pittston United Methodist Church, where hundreds of residents and veterans gathered to honor U.S. Navy veteran Jeffrey Kalnas, who died without immediate family, ensuring he was not buried alone. (Facebook)

Hundreds Turn Out to Honor Navy Veteran Who Would Have Been Buried Alone

Hundreds of strangers filled a Pennsylvania church to ensure a U.S. Navy veteran who died without family received the send...

An enlisted soldier's rank insignia on a uniform jacket.

Why Some Disabled Veterans Can't Get Both VA Disability and Military Retirement Pay

Military service members planning medical retirement face a critical decision point at the 20-year mark.

Cher Ami, the heroic messenger pigeon who saved the Lost Battalion in WWI. (Army Photo)

How a Wounded Pigeon Named Cher Ami Saved the Lost Battalion in WWI

A wounded pigeon named Cher Ami helped save a battalion of American soldiers, becoming one of the most recognized animals in...

First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipientv

This 20-Year-Old Sacrificed His Life and Became the First Black Marine Medal of Honor Recipient

Every February, Black History Month shines a light on Americans whose contributions shaped the nation. One belongs to Pfc...

Latest Military Videos

Iran Commemorates 1979 Revolution as Nation Is Squeezed by Anger

Iran commemorates 1979 revolution as nation is squeezed by anger over crackdown and tensions with US.

Letters from a WWII Soldier to His Sweetheart Offer Intimate Picture of Love

Letters from a WWII soldier to his sweetheart offer an intimate picture of love during wartime.

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An emotional countdown to the maiden launch of the Ariane 64, Europe's most powerful rocket.

AI-Integrated Technology Dominates Floor at World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia

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Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Letters from a WWII Soldier to His Sweetheart Offer an Intimate Picture of Love During Wartime

A trove of more than 200 letters from World War II that were found in a Tennessee home offers an intimate picture of love...

A KC-135 refueling aircraft flies over the Dale Mabry Highway entrance to Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa. A base employee who shared classified information with a woman to impress her learned his fate on Tuesday morning in federal court.

Ex-Army Colonel at Macdill Shared Classified Battle Plans to Woo Woman

A retired Army combat veteran who worked as a high-level civilian contractor at Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base...

Navy News

Navy Leader Wants to Move Faster and Leaner Instead of Turning to Aircraft Carriers in Crisis

The U.S. Navy’s top uniformed officer wants to convince commanders to use smaller, newer ships and other assets for missions...

Navy veteran Gary Schacher served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2004. (Schacher family)

New York Giants QB Helps Navy Veteran Realize Super Bowl Dream

With help from Jaxson Dart, USAA and The American Legion, a 26-year Navy veteran and football fan got to realize his dream...

Air Force News

U.S. Air Force veteran Choice Jackson spent eight years at Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County, Calif. (Choice Jackson)

Transitioning From Military to Civilian Life: An Air Force Veteran’s Story

"From what I learned in the military, I know how to pivot," Air Force veteran Choice Jackson told Military.com.

Military spouse Erica Thompson and her children are photographed inside a Washington lawmaker's office. (Erica Thompson)

Mold-Induced Housing Health Issues Lead Alabama Military Spouse to Capitol Hill

A military spouse from Alabama told Military.com that her children are seeing what old-fashioned advocacy can do to fix...

Space Force News

POLARIS at NATO Exercise REPMUS 25 in October 2025. POLARIS is a small, gimballed free space optical communication solution for naval vessels and unmanned surface vessels. (Photo source: NATO DIANA, courtesy of Astrolight)

Russian Satellite Activity Exposes Gaps in Satellite Communications Security

Military.com spoke with Astrolight CEO Laurynas Mačiulis on why laser-based optical communications offer a resilient...

U.S. Space Force Capt. Erin Davis, 1st Range Operations Squadron range operations commander, maintains situational awareness inside the Morrell Operations Center during support for the Falcon 9 Starlink 6-78 mission, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, Nov. 20, 2025. The Starlink 6-78 mission marks the 100th launch from the Eastern Range this year. The MOC supports every space launch from CCSFS and Kennedy Space Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen)

US Space Force Turns 6: Has It Met Expectations?

The U.S. Space Force marked its sixth anniversary in December, reflecting a shift from stand-up to sustained operations as...

Marine Corps News

Then-Marine Recon team leader Brad Colbert rides in a Humvee during the early days of the Iraq invasion in 2003. Photo credit: Evan Wright.

Brad Colbert, ‘Generation Kill's’ Iceman, Launches New Veteran Podcast

Brad Colbert, the real Marine behind Generation Kill’s “Iceman,” launches the Carry On podcast focused on combat experience...

Lieutenant General Karsten "Hazel" Heckl leads the Combat Development and Integration and Marine Corps Warfighting Lab Marines and sailors on a farewell run, Aug. 8, 2024, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. (Matthew Krogull)

Marine Warfighting Lab at Quantico Gets $10 Million Boost: 'Top Priority'

"We know the exquisite level of work that it does," Rep. Eugene Vindman told Military.com about a $10 million infusion to the...

Coast Guard News

More than 12,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana are stacked on pallets aboard USCGC Seneca (WMEC 906) to be offloaded at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 30, 2025. Seneca is a Famous Class medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Diana Sherbs)

Coast Guard Seizes 200,000 Pounds of Cocaine in Six Months in Pacific Ocean

Operation Pacific Viper, which began in August, is getting rave reviews from federal officials.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106) transits the Philippine Sea. Stockdale is underway and conducting operations in international waters as part of a dual carrier strike force exercise. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting regional security, stability and prosperity. (U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Connor D. Loessin)

Amid Political Turmoil in Haiti, US Warship Arrives off Coast of Port-Au-Prince

The USS Stockdale is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and is now among several warships the Trump...