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

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

US Sending Second Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Iran Tensions

US sending second aircraft carrier to MidEast amid Iran tensions; AP explains.

Trump's Push for Greenland Reveals a Political Weak Spot, New Poll Finds

Trump's push for Greenland reveals a political weak spot, new poll finds.

Zelenskyy Says Russia Is 'Hesitating' about Another Round of US-Brokered Talks

Zelenskyy says Russia is 'hesitating' about another round of US-brokered talks.

Trump Administration Briefly Closes El Paso Airspace, Blames Mexican Cartel Drones

Trump administration briefly closes El Paso airspace, blames Mexican cartel drones.

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

Godfrey Wade poses in his U.S. Army uniform during his military service. (Kozycki Law, LLC)

Army Veteran Deported Despite Pending Appeal: 'He Served This Country'

“He served. He did what he was supposed to do. And now he’s not even here.”

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...

Navy News

Second US Aircraft Carrier Is Being Sent to the Middle East, Source Says, as Iran Tensions High

The United States will send the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Middle East to back up another already there, a...

The Boston-based technology and shipbuilding company Blue Water Autonomy unveiled its newest vessel, the Liberty Class, on Feb. 11. (Blue Water Autonomy)

New 190-Foot Navy Autonomous Warship 'Liberty' to Hit Water in 2026

The new vessel, starting building in March 2026, will focus on autonomous use and a 10,000 nautical range.

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

Judge Dismisses California Deportation Case for Mexican Father of 3 US Marines

An immigration judge has dismissed the deportation case against a landscaper who was arrested in Southern California last...

Virginia Supreme Court Rules US Marine’s Adoption of an Afghan War Orphan Will Stand

The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that a U.S. Marine and his wife will keep an Afghan orphan they brought home in defiance...

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...