The Civilian Marksmanship Program has just announced that it will be selling true military surplus M14 rifles to the public.In a surprising but exciting twist, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has just announced that the organization has received special authorization to begin selling surplus military M14 rifles. Why is it surprising? Because the ATF has long held the position that any receiver that was once a machine gun is always a machine gun. Because original military M14s were built as select-fire rifles, most people never expected that they’d be able to be legally sold on the civilian market. Seemingly, at least…
Author: Tommy Grant
Most of the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to modernize its B-52s are experiencing significant challenges, a government watchdog said in a Friday report.As the service projects to spend $21 billion in modernizations for 76 active long-range strategic bombers, the Government Accountability Office argues that advancing such efforts, such as new engines, with “little to no” developmental flight testing will increase the risk that the system will not function as desired.The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been in service since 1955 and was originally given a life expectancy of 20 years. The Air Force now expects to utilize the aircraft, which can…
Just one in three Americans support the war on Iran, the lowest reading in a Reuters/Ipsos poll since the five-month-old conflict’s early days, with most respondents saying that President Donald Trump has failed to explain his goals.The poll, conducted Friday through Sunday, also showed the Republican president’s approval rating ticking higher to 37%, up 3 points from last month when his rating tied the lowest of his presidency.Trump has offered shifting objectives for the conflict such as aiding Iranians to topple their leaders, taking out Iran’s ballistic-missile capabilities and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The poll found that…
The nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Minnesota returned to Naval Base Guam on July 29, completing its first deployment as the Navy’s first forward-deployed Virginia-class boat.The successful deployment amplified the Navy’s ability to operate and employ advanced capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, a service release noted. The boat is one of four forward-deployed fast-attack submarines. The service’s Virginia-class submarines combine stealth, nuclear endurance and flexibility for both shallow and deep ocean missions. “Operating from Guam, this crew demonstrated the readiness, endurance and advanced capabilities the Virginia-class platform brings to … the Western Pacific,” Capt. Christopher Carter, commander of Submarine Squadron 15,…
The U.S. Navy is rolling out retention bonuses for select active-duty aviation billets in an effort to retain skilled personnel in certain mission-critical roles, the service announced. “The AC Aviation Command Retention Bonus (ACRB) program incentivizes highly talented, hardworking Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers (NFO) screened for aviation command to choose to remain on Active Duty,” a NavAdmin released Friday states. “Our return on investment is the retention for continued Naval Service of our aviation warfighters, with their invaluable, irreplaceable skillsets and leadership.”Bonuses start at $37,000 and cap at $150,000, according to the memo. Applicants “must have screened during…
Senate Democrats are pressing the Pentagon for answers about medical care provided to service members wounded in the March 1 drone strike at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, saying the Defense Department has yet to fully answer an earlier congressional inquiry or provide the results of the Army’s investigation into the attack.In a July 29 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., joined by four other Senate Democrats and eight House Democrats, requested answers by Aug. 12 to 23 questions concerning medical care, casualty reporting, force protection and ongoing investigations to the attack.Lawmakers say the Pentagon has not fully…
The father of a sailor is out to warn others in the military community about a “Good Samaritan” scam that cost his son thousands of dollars.On July 2, two men approached the young sailor, claiming they had lost their wallets and needed help paying for a hotel room. “The men gained possession of his phone under the pretense of entering reimbursement information electronically,” the father wrote in an email to Military Times. “Shortly afterward, he discovered an unauthorized transfer from his Navy Federal Credit Union account.”Young service members are increasingly targeted by financial scammers who, in recent years, have employed…
The Brief: The Webster County Attorney’s Office cleared Josiah Byram of criminal charges following a July 24, 2026, fatal shooting in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Investigators determined Thomas Ahrens initiated an unprovoked attack, pursuing Byram to his home. Byram shot Ahrens in self-defense before immediately contacting emergency services and cooperating with police. Iowa’s self-defense laws concerning reasonable force and property defense guided the legal outcome. Prosecutors concluded that Byram’s attempts to retreat and his adherence to post-engagement protocols established a record of justification, leading to the closure of the investigation without any criminal charges being filed. FORT DODGE, IA — A…
The Brief: A village employee and a concealed carry permit holder intervened during a dog attack on a juvenile in Morton, Illinois. When one animal charged the citizen, he used a firearm to stop the threat. Emergency responders treated the injured child while animal control officials secured the remaining dog. Local authorities are investigating the incident to determine the owner’s liability. The case highlights the legal justifications for using force against aggressive animals, emphasizing the tactical and safety considerations required when discharging a firearm in public to protect others from severe bodily harm. MORTON, IL — A routine call regarding…
Marine Forces Special Operations Command is partnering with SOFWERX, the public-private technology hub for companies wanting to work with military special operations, to modernize armory recordkeeping. SOFWERX, in collaboration the Marine Forces Special Operations Command, or MARSOC, is hosting an event in mid-September to develop ways to replace manual steps for documenting serialized inventory with digital and automated tools. The July 27 announcement said the event’s purpose is “to design a secure, zero-signature automated armory that relies exclusively on optical recognition and computer vision.” But here’s the catch: the tools cannot use RFID — the most common technology for tracking…