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

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Team “Thunderbirds” flyover the Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Super Bowl was against the Kansas City Chief and the San Francisco 49ers. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Breanna Klemm)

‘High Stress, High Stakes’: Behind-The-Scenes Look at Super Bowl Flyover

“Celebrating America 250 and Super Bowl 60, we wanted to go big and really have that majestical display of air power for...

Team RWB members running during a community event (Photo courtesy of Team RWB).

Tens of Thousands Are Taking on Team RWB’s GWOT 100, And It’s Bigger Than Fitness

Tens of thousands are taking on Team RWB’s GWOT 100 this February—a free 100-mile challenge blending fitness, community, and...

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.

James Anderson, Jr., USMC, Posthumous Medal of Honor Recipient. (Wikimedia Commons)

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...

An Airman fills out tax forms, Feb. 9, 2017, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. (U.S. Air Force photo/Daniel Brosam)

Free and Discounted Tax Preparation for Military

Military personnel and their families have access to a variety of tax preparation and filing services for free.

Latest Military Videos

Venezuelan Government Supporters March in Caracas

Venezuelan government supporters march in Caracas a month on from Maduro's capture by US.

Colombia's Petro 'Very Positive' After Trump Meeting in Washington

Colombia's Petro 'very positive' after Trump meeting in Washington.

The Last US-Russian Nuclear Pact Is About to Expire

The last US-Russian nuclear pact is about to expire, ending a half-century of arms control.

White House Seeks to Put Distance Between Trump and ‘Assassin’ Rhetoric on Pretti

White House seeks to put distance between Trump and ‘assassin’ rhetoric on Pretti.

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

Pvt. Brian Jones Jr., 24, pleaded guilty on Jan. 29 to one count of unpremeditated murder and will serve his 20-year sentence at the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (Fort Rucker Public Affairs Office)

Army Soldier Begins 20-Year Sentence After Killing Comrade in Barracks

"We can only hope that today’s outcome is the first step in allowing Pvt. Latifu’s family to begin to heal,” an official told...

James Sneed poses with a YMCA staff member during his 102nd birthday celebration on Sept. 16, 2024 at the D.A. Turner YMCA in Columbus, Georgia. (Submitted photo)

At 103, World War II Veteran Inspires Others with YMCA Workouts

James Sneed, 103, hits the gym three times a week, showing you're never too old to improve your body and mind.

Navy News

Judge Seems Skeptical of Legal Justification for Pentagon's Punishment of Sen. Mark Kelly

A federal judge said that he knows of no U.S. Supreme Court precedent to justify the Pentagon's censuring of a sitting U.S...

US Shoots Down Iranian Drone That ‘Aggressively’ Approached an Aircraft Carrier, Military Says

U.S. Central Command says a U.S. Navy fighter jet has shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier...

Air Force News

‘High Stress, High Stakes’: Behind-The-Scenes Look at Super Bowl Flyover

“Celebrating America 250 and Super Bowl 60, we wanted to go big and really have that majestical display of air power for...

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Commander Warns the US, Says His Force Has its 'Finger on the Trigger'

Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the United States and Israel “to avoid any miscalculation.”

Space Force News

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)

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Space Force basic training candidates undergo inspection.

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The Space Force offers guardians multiple education pathways, from automatic enrollment in the Community College of the Air...

Marine Corps News

M50 Ontos during Operation Franklin accompanying 1st and 2d Battalion, 7th Marines in Quang Ngai Province. (Wikimedia Commons)

The M50 Ontos: The Ugly Marine Corps Tank-Hunter That Helped Win the Battle of Hue

By late 1967, the M50 Ontos was just about phased out of military service. The Army had rejected it back in 1953, calling it...