Matthew Cox

Matthew Cox has been a defense reporter since 1998. He covers all the services, with a close eye on Army weapons development and procurement, body armor testing, camouflage, ammunition as well as readiness and training issues. He previously worked for 12 years for Army Times. He traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq numerous times from 2002 to 2008, covering Stryker and light infantry units in combat. He also spent four years in the U.S. Army during the second half of the 1980s, serving as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Email: matthew.cox@military.com

Latest Articles

Army to Oust Lieutenant for Making Holocaust Jokes on TikTok

Freihofer, an artillery officer who has 3.8 million followers on TikTok, had been under investigation for months.

Members of the National Guard rest in the Visitor Center of the U.S. Capitol.

Guard Troops Photographed Napping in Capitol Were on Break, Army Official Says

Photos of troops sprawled under busts of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln raced across Twitter and other social media.

Army Identifies NCO Killed in Vehicle Accident in Kuwait

The accident, which is under investigation, injured two other soldiers, who were not identified in the release.

DC National Guard walk around the Capitol grounds

Pentagon Authorizes National Guard Troops Around Capitol to Carry Lethal Weapons

The National Guard Bureau declined to specify what weapons troops would carry.

SMA Reveals Timeline for Army’s Independent Review of ACFT

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston said he is supportive of lawmakers' concerns that the ACFT needs further study.

Capt. Emily Rainey speaks during an interview

Army Investigates Fort Bragg Soldier for Attending Rally That Ended in US Capitol Breach

Capt. Emily Rainey is scheduled to leave the Army in April after resigning her commission over earlier incidents.

U.S. soldiers with the New Jersey National Guard patrol Capitol.

Army Will Not Screen All National Guardsmen Deploying to DC for Extremist Sympathies

The Army will not grant a lawmaker's request to have the service's CID screen National Guard troops deploying to D.C.

U.S. Army soldiers from the New Jersey Army National Guard.

Pentagon Authorizes as Many as 15,000 Guardsmen to Support Inauguration

Some active-duty units will participate in the inauguration activities, but those units will be ceremonial in nature.

The silhouette of a soldier as he runs to the turnaround point of a 12 mile ruck march.

US Soldier Killed, 2 Others Injured in Vehicle Accident in Kuwait

The identity of the deceased soldier is being withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.

The sign and the main entrance to Fort A.P. Hill.

Pentagon Begins Process to Purge Confederate Names from Military Bases, Property

The NDAA created a commission to put an end to the longstanding U.S. military tradition of honoring Confederate leaders.

Army Plans to Continue ACFT for Now Despite Congressional Order to Halt Testing

The U.S. Army will conduct a congressionally mandated independent study of the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT.

D.C. National Guard display black identification vests.

National Guard Will Wear Black ID Vests to Stand Out from Police During DC Protests

DoD officials voiced concern that the public misidentified law enforcement and federal agents wearing the Army's OCP.

SpecOps Colonel Arrested in Police Standoff Was Subject of Toxic Command Climate Investigation

The 1st Special Forces Command Inspector General dismissed the complaint as "not substantiated."

Troops load up into personnel carriers at the Joint Force Headquarters of the D.C. National Guard.

National Guard to Deploy on DC Streets as Congress Meets to Affirm Biden's Victory

Washington is bracing for protests when Congress meets to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Florida Guardsmen stand ready at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration ceremony at the National Mall.

Thousands of National Guard Troops Prepare to Support Biden's Inauguration

So far, commands from nearly 30 states have pledged to support what has become a huge tradition for the citizen soldiers.

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Most Popular Military News

breaching the Capitol building during a riot

Why Military Veterans and Law Enforcement Joined the Capitol Insurrection

The deadly riot in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 attracted a variety of far-right extremists who shared a devotion to Trump.

An American soldier and six South Korean civilians have been accused of stealing three Humvees from an unnamed U.S. base in South Korea and trying to sell them. (COURTESY OF SEOUL METROPOLITAN POLICE AGENCY)

FBI Searches for Armored Military Vehicle in California

The Humvee was stolen from a National Guard Armory in a Los Angeles suburb.

A customer shops at NEX Pensacola, Florida.

DoD Cancels Plans to Let Thousands of Civilian Employees Shop at Exchange

The proposal to expand military exchange shopping privileges had been expected to be finalized in late 2020.

Soldiers hold folded American flags that will be presented to family members. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)

After Years of Fighting, the Military Has Started Phasing Out 'Widow’s Tax'

Many survivors will see at least $400 more in their Feb. 1 annuity payments.

An airman stands in formation during a SERE Specialist Apprentice Course graduation ceremony.

After Training Changes, Air Force SERE School Sees Near-Historic Low Attrition

Typically, about half of each class washes out during the final apprentice course because of its demanding nature.

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Army News

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with the South Carolina National Guard provide security to the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

Thousands of National Guard Troops to Begin Leaving DC This Weekend

Arrangements are being made for 15,000 of the 25,600 Guard soldiers and airmen in D.C. to return home over the next 10 days.

Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III responds to a question.

House and Senate OK Lloyd Austin’s Waiver to Serve as Defense Secretary

The retired Army general could be confirmed as the first Black defense secretary on Thursday.

As the sun rises, a soldier hikes along a 12-mile road march course. (U.S. Army: Sgt. Scott Lamberson)

Soldier Found Dead at Base in Kuwait, Army Says

The soldier, who has not yet been publicly identified, was found unresponsive at Camp Arifjan.

Navy News

How the Army and Navy Won the First Battle of Desert Storm

The invasion began 30 years ago.

Commanding Officer of Navy Reserve Center Fired After Investigation

Capt. Scott Moss, who led the NOSC in Knoxville, was relieved of command by Capt. Dale Maxey.

Two F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF) successfully landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth on 1 November 2018 marking the beginning of the second phase of Development Testing (DT-2) of first-of-class flying trials (U.S. Navy/Liz Wolter)

US, UK Sign Agreement to Merge Forces for Historic Joint Carrier Deployment

Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the Navy destroyer The Sullivans will deploy as part of the strike group.

Air Force News

An E-11A sits on the runway at Kandahar Airfield.

Engine Failure, Aircrew Error Led to Fatal E-11A Crash in Afghanistan, Air Force Says

The report released by Air Combat Command concluded that the broken blade caused the left engine to shut down automatically.

Mark Fox poses in a Hornet aboard the USS Saratoga.

30 Years On, Veterans Recall the Desert Storm Air War

Months of preparation preceded a month-and-a-half-long air war that left 33 American pilots and their crew members dead.

Illustration of hair regulations for female Airmen.

Air Force to Allow Female Airmen to Wear Longer Braids, Ponytails

Women will also be able to wear bangs that touch their eyebrows, but not cover their eyes.

Marine Corps News

supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the U.S. Capitol

3 Militia Members, Including Marine Vet, Charged with Plotting Capitol Breach

The Oath Keepers group often recruits current and former military, police or other first responders.

An Army soldier plays taps in the Cypress Hills National Cemetery.

Dorothy Schmidt Cole, Oldest Living Marine, Dies at 107

Cole enlisted as one of the earliest female Marine reservists following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar (Army Photo)

SEAL Pleads Guilty to Role in Hazing Death of Green Beret

He is the third of four U.S. service members — two SEALs and two Marines — to face a court martial for the death of Melgar.

Coast Guard News

USS Shiloh moored pierside in Yokosuka, Japan

Family Separation Allowance Now Covers COVID-19 Restriction of Movement Orders on Ships

The new rule mainly affects Navy, Marine and Coast Guard members

The unicorn float enjoys swim call with its shipmates from the USCGC Kimball in August 2020. (U.S. Coast Guard/Coast Guard Kimball)

You Can Find These Surprising Artifacts at the Coast Guard's Museum

The Coast Guard Museum opened its archives to Instagram, showing off some of it most interesting artifacts.

Is the US Losing the Fight for Arctic Dominance?

Things are heating up in the Arctic -- literally and figuratively. As ice melts and new sea lanes open, the region is the...