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

Military News

Get the Military Insider Newsletter

Get the latest on pay updates, benefit changes and award-winning military content. Right in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for subscribing!

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

One last step.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

Most Popular Military News

Ex-Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill sued a pair of podcasters for $25 million, claiming that they have tarnished his reputation going back to the raid, murder of Osama bin Laden. (Robert O'Neill website)

The Latest in Ex-Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill's $25 Million Defamation Lawsuit

The $25 million defamation lawsuit by ex-Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill could be decided by a jury in state or federal court.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks about the impending winter weather during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Government Shutdown Risk Grows as Jan. 30 Funding Deadline Nears: What We Know

With a Jan. 30 funding deadline approaching, Congress faces a familiar standoff. Here’s when a shutdown could begin, what a...

A veteran in a wheelchair exits a van to a crowd waving American flags.

Veterans Can Now Get VA Auto Grants Every 10 Years. Here's What Changed

A disabled veteran who received a Department of Veterans Affairs automobile grant decades ago can now apply for another one.

U-486 at sea, the submarine sank the SS Léopoldville, causing the largest loss of life for an American division in a ship incident during WWII. (Armed Conflicts)

A U-Boat Killed 763 American Soldiers on Christmas Eve in 1944. The Army Kept It Secret for 50 Years

Howard woke up around midnight in a hospital in Cherbourg, France. He was among the lucky ones. On that Christmas Eve in 1944...

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.

HL7442, the aircraft involved, pictured in 1980 with a previous livery. (Wikimedia Commons)

In 1983, the Soviets Shot Down a Passenger Plane and Killed a US Congressman

The 48-year-old Democrat was arguably the most anti-communist voice in Congress. He had introduced legislation to ban all...

Latest Military Videos

Taiwan Navy Simulates Repelling Sea Invasion in Combat Readiness Drill

Taiwan Navy simulates repelling sea invasion in combat readiness drill.

Still Photos Show Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Operating in the Indian Ocean

Still photos show aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln operating in the Indian Ocean.

North Korea Tests New Multiple Rocket System

North Korea tests new multiple rocket system and Kim talks about nuclear deterrent.

Venezuela President Rodriguez Confirms Cordial Relations with US

Venezuela President Rodriguez confirms cordial relations with US.

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

Families of 67 Killed in US Aircraft Crash Remember Loved Ones and Call for Reforms

Families of the 67 people who died in an aircraft collision last January gathered to mark the first anniversary, just one day...

Army veteran Keith McCarter works out at the Madison, Wisconsin VA hospital. (Submitted photo)

Heart Transplant Saves Ailing Iraq War Veteran

After finding out his heart was failing at age 25, Army veteran Keith McCarter finally found the path to get healthy again.

Navy News

US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in the Middle East as Tensions With Iran Remain High

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying warships have arrived in the Middle East.

Yemen Rebels Threaten New Red Sea Attack as US Aircraft Carrier Heads Toward Iran

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels threatened new attacks on ships traveling through the Red Sea corridor, likely trying to...

Air Force News

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.”

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Paul A. Millis, crew chief assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, raises a lift in preparation for a Flight In Support of a Deployed Unit (FISDU) at the Shannon Airport, Ireland, March 12, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders/Released)

Irish Lawmaker Wants Legislation Requiring US Military Aircraft Inspections

Conor Sheehan, an Irish Labour Party politician, called Ireland's lack of aircraft inspections "troubling."

Space Force News

Space Force basic training candidates undergo inspection.

Space Force Education Programs: What Guardians Need to Know

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

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.

Marine Corps News

U. S. Marine Corps officer Captain William H. Dabney (VMI Class of 1961) during the Vietnam War. While in Vietnam, he commanded India Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, on Hill 881S during the Battle of Khe Sanh, for which he was awarded the Navy Cross in 2005. (Virginia Military Institute)

This Marine Married Chesty Puller’s Daughter and Was Recommended for the Medal of Honor at Khe Sanh

In 1967, Vietnam, Capt. Bill Dabney chose the Marine unit closest to the enemy—an instinct that soon put him and his men at...

Michael D'Angelo is a Marine Corps veteran turned comedian. (Submitted)

‘Combat Comedian’ Boosts Marine Corps Morale Through Laughter

After being forced to leave the Marine Corps with an injury, comedian Michael D'Angelo ignited a new passion by bringing much...

Coast Guard News

Coast Guard Cutter Neah Bay breaks ice on Lake Erie in February 2015.

Coast Guard Battles Winter Ice on Great Lakes

Two Coast Guard cutters — the Mackinaw and the Neah Bay — broke ice so other ships could continue moving or reach safe harbor...

A U.S. Coast Guardsman, a member of Port Security Unit (PSU) 308, mans a Browning M2HB heavy machine gun while on patrol near South Padre Island, Texas, Nov. 2, 2025. PSU 308 was deployed to South Padre Island in support of Operation River Wall, the Coast Guard’s response to increased drug and human trafficking along the Rio Grande River. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cheyenne Basurto)

Station South Padre Island Receives Record $200M Facelift From Coast Guard

Multi-million-dollar renovations near the U.S.-Mexico border will deter illegal migrants in southern Texas, officials said.