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

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mujuni Menani, a senior drill instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, recites the drill instructor creed on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Jan. 31, 2026. These drill instructors will be responsible for training and mentoring their recruits during the 13 weeks of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jordy Morales)

The Recruiting Surge Was Engineered. Can It Last in a War with Iran?

The military’s recruiting surge didn’t happen by accident. New programs drove gains, but as the war with Iran grows...

New recruits take the oath of enlistment at the Advocate Center for the Eleventh Annual Chicago Bulls Special Recruit Division Enlistment Ceremony in Chicago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Camilo Fernan)

Could the US Bring Back the Draft? Who Would Be Called First — and Who Qualifies

Could the U.S. bring back the draft? Here’s how Selective Service works today, who would be called first and why only about...

A U.S. Army armored vehicle equipped with advanced targeting and air defense systems maneuvers through a training range, reflecting the service’s push to integrate AI-driven capabilities and rapidly field combat-ready technology. (U.S. Army Materiel Command)

Army Speeds AI Warfighting Push as US Troops are in Active Combat

An Army test used AI tools to hit 15 targets in one hour, signaling a rapid shift in how battlefield decisions are made and...

VA Study: Ozempic, Other GLP-1 Drugs May Fight Addiction Across Every Major Substance

For the more than 48 million Americans with substance use disorders, including a disproportionate share of veterans, GLP-1...

Bonnie Carroll, founder of TAPS, hugging a survivor (Photo courtesy of TAPS).

After the Knock on the Door: How TAPS Supports Military Families for Life

After a service member dies, families face a lifetime of grief. TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll explains how the organization...

Latest Military Videos

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Astronauts Training for the Artemis Moon Mission

A behind-the-scenes look at astronauts training for the Artemis moon mission.

USS Massachusetts Joins the Navy Fleet Amid Ongoing War with Iran

USS Massachusetts joins the Navy fleet amid ongoing war with Iran.

UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Protection of Children After Strike on Iran School

UN human rights chief calls for protection of children after strike on Iran school.

Judge Weighs Whether Venezuela Can Pay Maduro's Legal Costs

Judge weighs whether Venezuela can pay Maduro's legal costs in US drug trafficking case.

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

Pictured is the Bell V-280 Valor developed for the Army's Joint Multi-Role Technical Demonstrator program as a pre-cursor to the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft. On 5 December 2022, Bell was chosen to develop the MV-75 FLRAA. Photo by Matthew Ryan. Source: DVIDS.

The MV-75: The Army’s New Aircraft and Future of Air Assault Warfare

The Army’s MV-75 tiltrotor aircraft will replace the Black Hawk, offering greater speed, range, and flexibility for modern...

The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R. Weimer awarded eight meritorious service medals and two Purple Hearts to cadets from Old Dominion University Army ROTC during a private ceremony on March 22, 2026. The cadets from ODU were recognized for their bravery and sacrifice during the March 12 shooting incident in their ROTC classroom. U.S. Army photo by Ian Ives. Source: DVIDS.

Honor Under Fire: ODU Cadets Receive Army Recognition for Bravery and Sacrifice

Army ROTC cadets at Old Dominion stopped a campus shooter and later received Meritorious Service Medals and Purple Hearts for...

Navy News

First Submarine Named After Massachusetts Joins the Navy Fleet

The USS Massachusetts officially joined the Navy fleet after a commissioning ceremony, making it the first submarine named...

USS Ross Departs Naval Station Norfolk

The destroyer is part of the George H. W. Bush carrier strike group, which is likely relieving the overdue Gerald R. Ford’s...

Air Force News

Brother and Sister Are Charged After an Explosive Device Was Found Outside a Florida Air Force Base

A brother and sister have been charged after an explosive device was found outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

Sydney Sweeney poses on the red carpet at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. (Photo by Josh Popov)

‘Euphoria’ Star Sydney Sweeney Reveals Brother’s Deployment Amid Iran Conflict

“Thinking of all our boys and girls overseas and sending my love! Thank you for your service." Sydney Sweeney reveals her...

Space Force News

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

'Exceptional Courage': USO Announces its 2026 Service Members of the Year

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

How Nuclear Waste Can Save Military Satellites and Lunar Exploration

Russia and China can black out military satellites in seconds. A Latvian startup says nuclear-waste generators using 5x less...

Marine Corps News

D. R. Howe (Glencoe, MN) treats the wounds of Private First Class D. A. Crum (New Brighton, PA), Company H, 2nd Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, during Operation Hue City. (USMC Photo)

'Like Dante's Inferno': One Marine’s Experiences in Vietnam and the Battle of Hue

Cpl. Charles McMahon was on a convoy entering Hue when the NVA seized the city. He spent the next month fighting through it...

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina meets with U.S. service members during a visit at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, April 15, 2023. Graham visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to meet with Team PSAB service members and show support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephani Barge)

Senator References Bloodiest Battle in USMC History While Urging Attack on Kharg Island

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., drew sharp criticism from fellow GOP lawmakers after invoking the Battle of Iwo Jima while...

Coast Guard News