Matthew Cox

Matthew Cox has been a defense reporter since 1998. During his time with Military.com he covered 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.

Latest Articles

U.S. Army Rangers fire the Counter Defilade Target Engagement System.

Army's Precision Grenadier Program Is About to Face Its First Real Test

Army Futures Command will soon decide whether weapons officials will get another shot at equipping infantry squads with a...

Army 1st Cavalry Division Brigade Commander Fired for Allegedly Bullying His Subordinates

Acting 1st Cavalry Division commander Brig. Gen. Brett Sylvia relieved Col. Michael Schoenfeldt of his command Thursday.

Deadlier, More Destructive Sniper Bullets Are High on Army's Wish List

The Army just picked a new, multi-caliber sniper rifle. Now, it wants a new class of ammunition to make snipers deadlier and...

Army Wants to Replace the Cold War-Era TOW Missile with a New Longer-Range Tank Killer

Army maneuver officials want to replace the TOW missile with an advanced projectile that can kill enemy tanks at more than...

Members of the Frederick Police Department Special Response Team Fort Detrick

Officials ID Navy Corpsman Who Shot 2 Sailors Before Being Killed by Police

Petty Officer 3rd Class Fantahun Girma Woldesenbet shot two Navy sailors with a rifle at Riverside Technology Park in...

Air Force Global Strike Command commander speaks

Service Chiefs Confer After Air Force General Calls Army Hypersonic Missile Plan 'Stupid'

An Air Force general's swipe at the Army's plans for long-range precision strike missiles in the Pacific led to top leaders...

Female Cadet Sets New Record for West Point's Punishing Obstacle Course

A female cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point set a record on the grueling obstacle course standing between every...

Optional awards and decorations on Army Green Service Uniform.

Soldiers Can Now Wear Awards on Class B Version of New Army Green Uniform

The service sent an All Army Activities message to the force detailing new guidelines for the Class B variation of the World...

Marine fires M27 infantry automatic rifle Setermoen, Norway

Trigger Finger Mittens on Marine Corps Cold Weather 'Snivel Gear' Wish List

This search for better cold weather clothing comes at a time when the U.S. military is intensifying its focus on the Arctic.

Paratroopers engage targets with bolt-action M2010 enhanced sniper rifles.

Army Awards $50 Million Contract for New Special Operations Sniper Rifle

The five-year contract with Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc. will buy 2,800 MK22 Multi-role Adaptive Design, or MRAD...

Sikorsky’s S-70 Black Hawk equipped with Matrix autonomous flight software.

Army's Pilotless Black Hawk Highlights Emerging Technology in Demo Flight

Sikorsky pilots working with Army scientists have demonstrated optionally piloted flight technology on an S-70 Black Hawk.

Marines wpatrol during Exercise Talisman Saber 17.

Army Not Trying to Muscle In on Marine Corps' Mission in the Pacific, General Says

"We are the largest ground force, so if there is a fight on land, we will be the one to participate in that," Gen. Paul...

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. addresses students

These 4-Stars Want to Help Commanders Avoid Information Overload in the Next War

The real challenge facing commanders in the next war will be sorting through the overflow of information coming at them.

Matthew Cox took the Army’s new combat fitness test (ACFT) at Ft. Myer

At 53, I Took the Tough New Army Combat Fitness Test. Here's How It Turned Out

For 23 days, I slogged through a journey that pulled my body from a lifestyle of daily walks and gin martinis into a regimen...

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.

Army Taps Fort Bliss Unit for Deployment to Korea

The Army announced that 1st Armored Division soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas will deploy to Korea this summer.

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Recruits take the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America during a naturalization ceremony inside the Recruit Memorial Chapel at Recruit Training Command (RTC) on Aug. 6, 2025. (John Suits/U.S. Navy)

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military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing

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Rep. Ronny Jackson during the 2024 Republican National Convention

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