On July 9, the Army announced it was consolidating official social media accounts in the interest of improving information access while reducing operational risk. Nearly a month later, some military families say the changes have made it harder to find information about child care, community programs and installation services.Army Directive 2026-17, Optimizing Digital Media, required many subordinate units and installation organizations, including Army Community Service, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Child & Youth Services, military treatment facilities and other organizations to discontinue standalone Army social media accounts. Instead, those organizations are expected to communicate through higher-level command or installation accounts.When introducing…
Author: Tommy Grant
A defense technology company produced 3D-printed drones aboard a Navy ship at sea using a containerized microfactory, aiding the Navy in its pursuit of easily built autonomous technology that can quickly boost a warship’s weapons capacity.Firestorm Labs manufactured more than 1,000 parts and 12 of its proprietary 3D-printable first-person view Squall drones aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex as it transited toward RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii, according to a release.“Every part xCell printed on deck is one that doesn’t need to be flown or shipped across contested waters — cutting the fuel, aircraft hours, and personnel it takes…
The potential cost of the Navy’s new nuclear-powered battleship procurement program is estimated to be an eyewatering $275 billion, with the first Trump-class battleship (BBG(X)) costing $23.4 billion, according to a Congressional Budget Office report published Wednesday.The Trump administration in December announced its intention to build a new class of large surface combatants, designated as the Trump-class guided missile battleship. If built, the 35,000-ton nuclear battleship, according to the report, will be the most heavily armed surface vessel the U.S. Navy has ever built, possessing anti-air, land-attack and anti-ship missiles, hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, large lasers and a rail…
Decades in the making, the National Coast Guard Museum is set to open next summer on the banks of the Thames River in New London, Connecticut.The 80,000-square-foot museum will highlight the maritime service’s mission, history and accomplishment across three exhibit floors, interactive displays and experiences, featuring more than 5,000 photos and 600 artifacts, including an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter and the Medal of Honor awarded to Signalman First Class Douglas Munro, the service’s sole recipient of the honor who heroically led the extraction of Marines under fire during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942.Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said the…
Through consistency and mental toughness, Michael Guzman, a Clermont, Florida, native, recently graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island after losing nearly 100 pounds.Pvt. Guzman had hoped to become a Marine since he was 5 years old, inspired by his uncle’s service. However, after graduating from high school, his weight reached nearly 270 pounds, making that dream feel out of reach.After praying for guidance, Guzman received a text message the following day from Staff Sgt. Luis Cervantes, a recruiter with Recruiting Substation Clermont, asking if he was interested in becoming a Marine.“I took that as a sign,” Guzman said…
Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter Get the hottest outdoor news from Outdoor Life. The slip knot is not only useful in a wide variety of outdoor scenarios, but also incredibly simple to tie. Especially if you already know how to tie a basic fishing knot. It allows you to create a loop in the end of a length of rope in seconds. Furthermore, the size of that loop can be easily adjusted after the knot is complete, so you don’t have to be overly concerned about making it the perfect size while tying. It’s perfect for menial outdoor…
Army soldiers for generations have guided horse-drawn caissons through Arlington National Cemetery as they escort the country’s fallen to their final resting place. Now, as the service overhauls the animals’ care, soldiers who care for the horses have a career classification of their own. The Army recently established the 08H Army Equestrian military occupational specialty and Staff Sgt. Shawn Tabor and Sgt. Daimien Copeland, both assigned to the Caisson Detachment at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, are among the first soldiers to qualify for the new role after completing an 18-week horsemanship program.“When the 08H opportunity came around, there was no…
Following the recent announcement that a Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vehicle directly aided the U.S. Navy during a drug interdiction in the Caribbean that led to the seizure of more than $81 million worth of cocaine, the Navy has awarded the California-based company a $16.3 million task order to extend operations of the Voyager fleet in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, according to a recent release.The extension is in line with the Trump administration’s efforts to curb illicit narcotics flowing into the United States via alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.Since 2023, Saildrone’s USVs have…
Cowboy cookies pack oats, chocolate, coconut, and nuts into one dense, energy-loaded cookie. That combination was not designed by accident. It was built to keep hardworking people fueled through long days with no guarantee of a real meal in between. For a prepper, that same profile makes cowboy cookies worth learning properly. This guide covers where the cookie came from, how to bake a batch built for your pantry instead of a bake sale, and how to store both the ingredients and the finished cookies so they are still good when you need them. The Cowboy Cookie’s Trail-Food Roots The…
Whether you need a folding knife for the field or everyday carry, the Kershaw Bel Air Carbon Fiber Clip Point is up to the task.The Kershaw Bel Air clip-point carbon fiber brings premium everyday carry refinement into the hunting world with a profile built for precision, control and reliability. That’s right: A hunting knife doesn’t need a leather sheath or a stag-horn handle.Its MagnaCut blade—finished with satin grinds and stonewashed flats—offers exceptional edge retention and toughness, meaning it stays sharp through long days in the field and resists corrosion when weather turns wet or cold. The clip-point design provides a…