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.

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Most Popular Military News

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., left, confronts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Federal Government Shutdown Grinds into a Second Week as Tempers Flare at the Capitol

As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Trump Targets Blumenthal, Calling for Investigation into Senator's Vietnam Service Claims

President Donald Trump is targeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal again after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S...

Pvt. Paul Douglas, age 50, performs a rifle inspection with his drill instructor aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot S.C., 1942. Douglas, at age 50 was the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island, and went on to become a purple heart recipient and Chicago senator (DVIDS).

At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

When 50-year-old Paul Douglas showed up at Marine Corps boot camp in 1942, the white-haired economics professor looked more...

Pack and transport platoon of the Russian army. Southern Military District. Ministry of Defense of Russia (Wikimedia Commons).

Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Cavalry Troops in Rare 21st-Century Encounter

A short video circulating online this month appears to show a Russian mounted patrol being struck by a Ukrainian drone near...

When The Government Can Afford Everything Except The Essentials

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as “essential.” Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into...

Troops Will Miss Paychecks Next Week Without Action on the Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families, because those in uniform...

Latest Military Videos

Trump Says He's Dropping Push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon

Trump says he's dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon, for now.

2026 Marks the 250th Anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

Maduro Says Venezuela Open to Negotiation with US to Combat Drug Trafficking

Maduro says Venezuela open to negotiation with US to combat drug trafficking.

US Fighter Jets Concentrate on a Puerto Rico Airstrip

US fighter jets concentrate on a Puerto Rico airstrip amid rising tensions with Venezuela.

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

The Second Seminole War (1835–42) took place in Florida between the U.S. military and the Seminole people. (Dade Battle by Ken Hughes 1974/Miami History Center)

Seminole Warriors Fought the US Military to a Stalemate in the Florida Swamps

Fewer than 2,000 Seminole warriors held off an American force that eventually numbered more than 30,000 troops. It became the...

Army veteran Robert Hendricks talks about his Vietnam War experience. (Photo from Central Oregon Daily News)

‘I Never Want to See it Again.’ Vietnam Soldier Recalls Deadly Napalm, Tet Offensive

Robert Hendricks, a U.S. Army veteran, shares his harrowing story of surviving the Tet Offensive and the effects of napalm...

Navy News

U.S. military aircraft are parked on the tarmac at the airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico.

How the US Captured Venezuelan Leader Nicolás Maduro

Trump said a few U.S. members of the operation were injured but he believed no one was killed.

President Donald Trump talks to the media.

With Capture of Maduro, Trump Treads Into Uncharted Territory

Trump has now twice used U.S. forces to carry out risky operations against American adversaries.

Air Force News

With Capture of Maduro, Trump Treads Into Uncharted Territory

Trump has now twice used U.S. forces to carry out risky operations against American adversaries.

Air Force officer Robert Stirm greets his family after being released from a POW camp in Vietnam on March 17, 1973 at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. (AP photo/Sal Veder)

Vietnam POW, Subject of Memorable ‘Burst of Joy’ Photo Dies at 92

After Lt. Col. Robert Stirm was released from a POW camp in Vietnam, the iconic photo of him reuniting with his family was...

Space Force News

President Donald Trump holds top a signed executive order as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watches in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

How Trump’s 2025 'War' Agenda Rewired the Pentagon

Trump’s 2025 executive actions reshape how the current administration defines national security.

A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Clearing The Orbits: Space Force Partnerships In Orbital Cleanup

The growing congestion of Earth orbit has raised risks to satellites, space stations, and long-term space sustainability. The...

Marine Corps News

Marine Corps officer Bill Arnold as a platoon leader during deployment to Iraq in 2005. (Photo courtesy of Bill Arnold)

Former Marine Helps Combat Veterans Heal Through Rec Program

Bill Arnold knew about tough times as a Marine Corps veteran serving in combat. From his own trauma, he started Blue Diamond...

NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw reports the story of Cpl. Charles McMahon Jr's death in Vietnam in 1975. (Photo from NBC News)

Ring Returns to Family of One of the Last US Soldiers Killed in Vietnam

The niece of Marine Corps soldier Charlie McMahon Jr. was recently reunited with a few prized mementos more than 50 years...

Coast Guard News

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference.

Coast Guard Searches for Survivors of Boat Strikes as Odds Diminish Days Later

The Coast Guard coordinated more than 65 hours of search efforts in the area.

President Donald Trump listens during a news conference.

US Military Strikes 5 More Alleged Drug Boats, Killing 8 and Possibly Leaving Survivors

Southern Command said it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate search and rescue efforts.