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

The 41st Medical Detachment prepares for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise,

Army Orders All Medical Units to Prepare for Possible Response to Virus Outbreak

The Army's chief of Staff has asked medical units to assess their capabilities in the event that they are needed to respond.

Staff Sgt. Justin Zorn, a recruiter with Tempe Recruiting Company, engages a potential lead prior to Arizona State University's Salute to Service college football game between ASU and the University of Southern California on Nov. 9, 2019, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (U.S. Army Photo by Alun Thomas, USAREC Public Affairs)

Army Shutters Recruiting Stations as 6 Recruits Show COVID-19 Symptoms at Basic Training

The Army's top general said that the service is closing all of its recruiting stations and switching to virtual recruiting.

A U.S. soldier supervises the unpacking of her household items on Wheeler Army Airfield.

Army to Offer Special Pay, Assignment Extensions to Ease Stop-Movement Pain

The temporary stop-movement order halted many PCS moves as service members were in the process of moving household goods.

Florida National Guard Sgt. Jeff Betancourt reviews the scripting process with medics at a COVID-19 testing site.

'Tens of Thousands' of Guard Personnel to Be Called Up in Coronavirus Response

2,050 citizen soldiers and airmen have been activated by state governors, and that number will likely double by the weekend.

Sig Sauer marketing new P320 XFive Legion at SHOT Show 2020

Sig Sauer to Settle Lawsuit Over Alleged Safety Glitch in P320 Pistol

Sig Sauer has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over its P320, on which the Army's Modular Handgun System is based.

Army National Training Center in Fort Irwin

Virus Outbreak Begins to Delay Units' Army Combat Training Center Rotations

The U.S. Army announced Wednesday it is adjusting the rotation schedule for the service's National Training Center.

Initial entry trainees arrive on Fort Benning

Army Clears 1,200 Recruits for Basic Training After Setting Up Virus Screening Measures

The temporary delay to shipping dates for recruits occurred over the weekend.

Sikorsky-Boeing’s SB-1 Defiant helicopter prototype (left) and Bell Textron V-280 Valor helicopter prototype (right).

These 2 Futuristic Aircraft Will Compete to Replace the Army’s Black Hawk

Army officials have selected the two firms that will move forward into the next phase of the effort to replace the UH-60.

Jonathan Rath Hoffman and Joint Staff Surgeon Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs brief the media about the DoD’s response to COVID-19.

Army, White House Issue Warnings About Coronavirus Hoaxes and Scams

The White House is warning the public to ignore rumors of a national quarantine for the novel coronavirus.

Two soldiers ruck march together on Fort Carson, Colorado.

2 Army Engineers Prepare to Compete as 1st All-Female Team in Best Sapper Competition

The competition is designed to push teams to their mental and physical breaking point.

Soldiers arrive in Korat, Thailand for Hanuman Guardian.

Army Offers to Repay Soldiers’ College Loans if They Go Infantry

The U.S. Army is offering to pay off student loans of up to $65,000 to recruits willing to sign up for the infantry.

Marine is welcomed by a loved one following a graduation ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

Marine Corps, Army Bar Families from Boot Camp Graduations as Virus Spreads

Families are now barred from attending all four Defense Department branches' boot camp graduation ceremonies.

U.S. Army Soldiers discuss security patrol operations during a security patrol stop in Somalia.

Some US Soldiers Now Authorized to Wear Combat Patch for Somalia Deployments

The shoulder insignia is authorized for soldiers who have been "deployed, temporarily stationed or permanently assigned."

F/A-18 Super Hornet taxis the runway at Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth

Navy Defends Cutting 36 Super Hornets from Budget Amid Strike Fighter Shortfall

A top Navy modernization official had to justify the service's decision to kill plans to build 36 new F/A-18 Super Hornets.

Green Berets conducting room clearing and close quarters battle training

Pentagon to Decide if it Still Needs Green Beret Crisis Response Forces

"Over the years, we have stacked up crisis response forces and ... we never actually use them," Esper said.

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