Gina Harkins

Gina Harkins previously covered the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard for Military.com. She has covered troops and their families for nearly a decade, reporting from the U.S., Central and South America, and at sea. Before joining Military.com, Gina was a longtime reporter and managing editor for the independent Marine Corps Times. Her story on two recruits trapped at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina was runner up for the 2013 Military Reporters and Editors award for domestic military coverage. She holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and studied political science and international relations in her undergrad at Northeastern Illinois University.

Latest Articles

Sgt. 1st Class Reymund Transfiguracion, with 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), died Sunday following wounds sustained during an Aug. 7 patrol in Afghanistan's Helmand province. (Army photo)

Army Special Forces Soldier Dies After IED Blast in Afghanistan

A Washington-based Special Forces soldier has died from wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.

A CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, flies back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration at the 2018 MCAS Miramar Air Show on MCAS Miramar, Calif., Sept. 29, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Julian Elliott-Drouin)

Four Marines Safe After Super Stallion Helicopter Catches Fire Mid-Flight

Four Marines were able to get out of a heavy lift helicopter safely after it made an emergency landing just miles from their...

Navy Esports Team to Resume Streaming on Twitch After Trolling Caused Weeklong Hiatus

The Navy is standing by its decision to block some users on its livestreaming channel.

U.S. Marines play a game of Memoir 44’ on Camp Schwab, Okinawa.

The Marines Are Pumping Millions into a High-Tech Wargaming Center. Here's Why

A new Marine Corps Wargaming and Analysis Center is expected to be up and running in Quantico, Virginia, by 2024.

A Navy esports team player holds a game controller.

Navy Kicks Sailor Off Esports Team After Racist Usernames Appear in Game Stream

A sailor has been kicked off Goats and Glory, the Navy's official esports team that streams on the video platform Twitch.

The fast-attack submarine Hampton surfaces through the ice in the Arctic. U.S. 2nd Fleet, which declared initial operational capability on Wednesday, now oversees all military missions and training on the East Coast and in the North Atlantic, where the Russians and Chinese have been active. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Thompson/Navy)

Navy's 2nd Fleet, Brought Back to Counter Russia, Is Now Officially Operational

The Navy's 2nd Fleet has reached initial operational capacity, its commander announced Wednesday.

Thomas Webster at a barricade line at on the west front of the U.S. Capitol

Marines, Infantry Most Highly Represented Among Veterans Arrested After Capitol Riot

More than 40% of the 32 veterans arrested after the Capitol riot are affiliated with the Marines.

Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and team members on deployment.

Trump to Restore SEAL Gallagher's Rank, Dismiss Soldiers' War Crimes Charges: Report

President Donald Trump will intervene in the cases against three troops who were accused of war crimes, Fox News reported.

Why the USS Cole's Commander Pushed to Keep His Crew Together After Deadly Bombing

The officers of the USS Cole reflect on the 20th anniversary of the deadly suicide bomber attack on the ship.

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. David Berger aboard USS Makin Island

Range of Punishments 'On the Table' for Marine Leaders After Fatal AAV Accident

Berger said when he read the findings of the first probe, "it was pretty clear to me we needed to do a follow-on...

Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan.

Fully Vaccinated Sailors Can Make Some Port Calls, Ditch Masks and Cut Quarantines

Anyone who has declined the vaccine or hasn't built up antibodies through an infection will still be required to sequester...

Royal navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

'Nicest Ship I Have Been On': Marine Colonel Sounds Off on British Aircraft Carrier

A Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighter detachment is officially underway on a British aircraft carrier for the first time ever.

Marines pose for a photograph in front of the last tank assigned to 1st Tank Battalion.

'You Always Demonstrate True Grit:' Marines' Famous 1st Tank Battalion Folds as Mission Ends

The deactivation ceremony symbolized a bittersweet end to the mission for 1st Marine Division.

artist rendering of the guided-missile frigate FFG(X)

The Navy Will Pay $554M for Another Next-Gen Frigate, Called USS Congress

The Wisconsin-based Fincantieri Marinette Marine was awarded a contract to build the future guided-missile frigate Congress.

Forty-two ships and submarines in formation during RIMPAC Exercise 2014.

Biggest Navy Exercise in a Generation Will Include 25,000 Personnel Across 17 Time Zones

Aircraft carriers, submarines, planes, unmanned vessels, and about 25,000 personnel will participate in Large Scale Exercise...

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Most Popular Military News

The Marine Corps medallion located on Marine Corps Base Quantico was moved from the old Gate One to the newly constructed Gate One.

Sergeant Major of Marines Training Command Arrested in DUI Incident That Injured 2 Teens

A top enlisted leader at the Marine Corps' school for new officers has been arrested after a suspected drunk driving incident...

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, talks to reporters in an interview about his blockade of military nominees, at the Capitol in Washington.

650 Military Promotions Threatened as Senator Shows No Signs of Relenting

About 650 general and flag officer promotions could be delayed this year by a legislative hold on Capitol Hill imposed by Sen...

Maj Gen. William Cooley addresses Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Pitch Day at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio.

Major General Convicted of Forcible Kissing to Retire as Colonel

An Air Force two-star general who was convicted of abusive sexual contact in a court-martial last year will retire as a...

U.S. soldiers assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9 Calvary Regiment, drive an M2 Bradley fighting vehicle during a fire support coordination exercise as part of Griffin Shock 23 at Bemowo Piskie, Poland.

Griffin Shock Sends 'Clear Message' on NATO Strength Amid War in Ukraine

Involving more than 3,000 soldiers from eight U.S. units and their enablers, and four other NATO countries -- Poland, Romania...

Poisoned Water: How a Navy Ship Dumped Fuel and Sickened Its Own Crew

A years-long investigation reveals that the Boxer unintentionally compromised its own water supply in 2016.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, 19th Air Force commander, speaks to Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets during the University of Texas at San Antonio, Detachment 842, commissioning ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Gen. Amrhein Takes Over Air Force Recruiting as Service Scrambles to Add Airmen

Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, who previously served as vice commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio...

Latest Military Videos

US Video Shows Close-Call With Chinese Destroyer

The United States military released video Monday of a Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend, in...

Biden Attends Parade at Marine Barracks Washington

US President Joe Biden attended the Friday Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks in Washington. (June 5) AP

Austin in India, Comments on Ukraine, China

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin answered questions from reporters in New Delhi, India on Monday. He responded to...

Fighter Jet's Sonic Boom Heard Around Washington, DC

A wayward and unresponsive business plane that flew over the nation's capital Sunday afternoon caused the military to scramble...

Investigations and Features

The Threat from Extremist Groups Is Growing. Service Members and Vets Are Getting Sucked into the Violence.

The U.S. intelligence community deemed racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism -- with adherents such as white...

They Said the Rise in Military Suicide Is a Mystery. Traumatic Brain Injury May Be an Answer.

Veterans who have had a head injury are at higher risk for suicide, but these deaths can be prevented, experts say.

Army News

U.S. Army Future Soldier Preparatory Course.

Army Pre-Boot Camp Course Expanded as Recruiting Challenge Looms

The pre-basic course is designed to help recruits who are physically out of shape or have trouble taking tests.

Guam National Guard soldier helps remove debris after Typhoon Mawar.

2023 Ain't 2022: More Americans Signing Up with Army Guard, Internal Docs Show

The Army National Guard is behind on its recruiting goals for this year but is bringing more people into the ranks compared...

Navy News

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stout prepares to drydock.

Navy Relieves USS Stout Skipper, Making at Least 4 CO Firings So Far This Year

Cmdr. Jeffrey Applebaugh, the skipper of the Stout, was removed from his position due to a loss of confidence in his ability...

USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship conduct what it called an "unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait

US Releases Video Showing Close-Call in Taiwan Strait with Chinese Destroyer

The incident occurred Saturday as the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were conducting a...

Air Force News

A pilot prepares for flight at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

Air Force to Its Experienced Pilots: Here's $50,000 to Extend Your Service

Certain pilots -- including remote piloted aircraft pilots, air battle managers and combat systems officers -- can apply for...

The sign for Joint Base Andrews at at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

No Survivors Found After Plane that Flew over DC and Led to Fighter Jet Scramble Crashes in Virginia

Flight tracking sites showed the jet suffered a rapid spiraling descent, dropping at one point at a rate of more than 30,000...

Space Force News

Gen. Amrhein Takes Over Air Force Recruiting as Service Scrambles to Add Airmen

Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, who previously served as vice commander of the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio...

President Joe Biden falls on stage during the 2023 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

White House Says Biden Is 'Fine' After He Tripped and Fell on Stage at Air Force Graduation

President Joe Biden fell on stage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation Thursday, and the White House said he was "fine"...

Marine Corps News

Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz at a post and relief ceremony.

Black's Replacement: Marine Corps Picks Next Sergeant Major

Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz was selected as the next enlisted leader of the Marine Corps, as the services and Joint Chiefs prepare...

Marine Corps JROTC cadets stand in formation at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia.

This Low-Key Military School Is Embarking on a $50 Million Expansion

The New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy's student body makes up the largest Marine Corps JROTC unit in the United...

Coast Guard News

the National Coast Guard Museum keel-laying ceremony

National Coast Guard Museum Second Phase Set to Go to Bid

The footprint of the future National Coast Guard Museum has taken shape on the city's waterfront and the stage is now set for...

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas delivered the keynote address at the Coast Guard Academy

Sending Out Ensigns on Humanitarian Missions, Coast Guard Academy Graduates 243

The United States Coast Guard Academy graduated 243 students at its 142nd commencement, preparing to send many to far-off...