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

Command Sgt. Maj. John Brown, senior enlisted advisor of the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, provides a rousing speech to the Soldiers of Bravo Battery before departing on a deployment to the United States Central Command area of responsibility on August 19, 2024 at Kadena Air Force Base, Japan. (U.S. Army photos by Capt. Frank Spatt)

Which Americans Will Be Automatically Registered for Military Draft, and When?

Last year's defense bill passed by Congress paved the way for the new automatic registration process.

A VA Clinic Gave Veterans GLP-1s for Weight Loss. A Year Later, Everything Improved

Researchers tracked 201 veterans prescribed semaglutide, the drug sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. After one...

Marine Corps veteran Al Duran. (Facebook)

WWII Veteran Who Lied About His Age to Serve Takes Honor Flight

Joining the military at 16 to serve in World War II to service in Korea and Vietnam, humble Al Duran has lived quite a life.

A federal class-action lawsuit accuses a company, Trajector, of taking advantage of disabled veterans and their spouses. (Adobe)

Disabled Veterans Charged Up to $20K to File VA Benefits Claims: Lawsuit

The company being sued told Military.com it doesn't charge for VA claims. Plaintiffs disagree, citing purported deceptive...

3 Big Military PCS Changes Are Coming at Once. Here’s What to Know Before 2026 Peak Season

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Latest Military Videos

Photographer Reflects on the Legacy of Chernobyl

AP photographer reflects on the legacy of Chernobyl after 4 decades of coverage.

ICE Detains the Wife of an Army Sergeant in Texas

ICE detains the wife of an Army sergeant in Texas as military family leniency wanes.

Flu Vaccine No Longer Mandated for US Troops, Hegseth Says

Flu vaccine no longer mandated for US troops, Hegseth says.

Israel Comes to Standstill to Mark Memorial Day

Israel comes to standstill to mark memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of attacks.

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

A gate is seen at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan

US Troops May Sue Military Contractors for Their Injuries, Supreme Court Rules

In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that neither federal law nor the Constitution shields military contractors if their...

Army Veteran’s Memoir Explores Powerful Grip of Gambling Addiction

Army veteran Brian Lofton gets honest and real about addiction, especially gambling, in his gripping new memoir.

Navy News

Navy Veteran Charged in Series of Atlanta-Area Shootings Dies in Jail

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Navy Review Puts Future of Highest-Tech US Aircraft Carriers in Question

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Air Force News

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during Operation Epic Fury, March 9, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced that three A-10 squadrons will keep flying through 2030, following the Warthog's...

WWE stars stand on stage addressing students during a Purple Up Day event at Coral Academy of Science. Photo Credit: Michael Kirschbaum.

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WWE stars joined the USO at Nellis Air Force Base, surprising airmen with event tickets and celebrating military children...

Space Force News

Robbie Robertson, Sedaro CEO and co-founder, presents a live demo to USSF leadership Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at Spacepower Conference in Orlando, FL. (Photo courtesy of SFA)

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The Space Force Association launched the National Spacepower Center in Dec. 2025 to connect government, academia and industry...

This year's USO 2026 "Service Members of the Year." (USO)

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This year's crop of USO honorees saved motorcycle crash victims, rescued bodies underwater, saved civilians from a building...

Marine Corps News

U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Central Command, provide assistance at an Evacuation Control Checkpoint (ECC) during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 21, 2021 (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla)

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The Pentagon has upgraded valor awards for Marines who defended Abbey Gate during the 2021 Kabul suicide bombing.

Marine Corps veteran Tyler Vandenberg is running for Congress in California. But before his current campaign, he won multiple games on "Jeopardy!" (Jeopardy!/Sony Pictures Television)

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"I was drawn to serve because I felt like I wanted to do my part in the way things work in the world," Tyler Vandenberg told...

Coast Guard News

An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew offloads supplies in Saipan.

Coast Guard Searches for 6 People After Losing Contact with Boat Following Typhoon Sinlaku

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft was launched to search for the six people on board, but it had to return to Guam...

A USCGC Seneca (WMEC 906) crew member wraps bails of illicit narcotics during a drug offload at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Feb.13, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Moriah Cannion)

Coast Guard Seized Enough Cocaine in Eastern Pacific to Kill 1.4M Americans

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