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

Troops Split on Obama Re-election

Many troops who spoke to Military.com expect the same gridlock they've seen over the past two years in Washington.

U.S. Army Reserve combat engineer Soldiers from the 374th Engineer Company, of Concord, California, ride through a berm in an M113 Armored Personnel Carrier on a combined arms breach during a Combat Support Training Exercise (CSTX) at Fort Hunter Liggett, California, July 22, 2018. (U.S. Army Reserve photo/Michel Sauret)

Army Wants Extended Training for Armor, Engineers, Other Combat Jobs

Basic training programs for combat arms specialties such as armor and engineers will soon start a pilot program.

The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) patch on a U.S. Army soldier’s sleeve. (NATO photo/Aubrey Page)

Deadly Insider Attacks on US Troops Won’t End, Experts Say

The latest suspected green-on-blue attack occurred Monday. In July, an insider attack killed U.S. Army Cpl. Joseph Maciel.

Staff Sgt. Amanda F. Kelley's family member pins on her Ranger tab during a graduation ceremony for Ranger Class 08-18 at Fort Benning, Ga., Aug. 31, 2018. (U.S. Army/Patrick A. Albright)

First Female Enlisted Soldier Earns Army Ranger Tab

A U.S. Army staff sergeant is the first female enlisted soldier to graduate from Ranger School.

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command conducted the first flight of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept in November 2011. (U.S. Army Photo)

Army Secretary Wants to Field Hypersonic Weapons in Next 10 Years

The secretary of the Army wants to accelerate research into hypersonic and other advanced weapons.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ralph Stroup, a student with the small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) course, launches a fixed-wing drone during joint training with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment. The 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, 316th Cavalry Brigade, opened its new small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) course facility June 11, 2018. (U.S. Army photo/Joshua Good)

Army Eyes Device That Can Launch, Recover Drones from a Moving Vehicle

U.S. Army robotics officials got their first look at new tech for launching and recovering UAS from a moving combat vehicle.

Two F-35Cs and a F/A-18 sit on the flight deck of the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on August 27, 2018. (Military.com/Matthew Cox)

In a First, Navy F-35Cs Join Older Fighters on Carrier Operations

Navy officials painted a positive picture of the F-35C's performance in the first week of three-week, at-sea testing period.

Army Secretary Pledges to Clean Up Thousands of Lead-Tainted Base Homes

The U.S. Army's top official pledged Wednesday to eradicate chipping and peeling lead paint in roughly 40,000 base homes.

U.S. Army Sgt. Eric Chaffins and Spc. Richard Cazarez explain the set up and use of an M224 60 mm mortar system with bipod to Afghan National Army 1st Lt. Isaqh in Paktika province, Afghanistan, June 12, 2013. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)

Afghan Forces Need More Mortar Training, Army Advisers Say

U.S. Army advisers in Afghanistan have learned they may want to focus more on training Afghan forces.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Escher, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA-101) operations officer, dons his helmet prior to flying an Air Force F-35A Dec. 6, 2016, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. (U.S. Air Force/ Staff Sgt. Peter Thompson)

F-35 Helmet Bug Means Only Expert Pilots Can Do Night Carrier Landings

The Navy is close to fixing a bug in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter helmet that amounts to a dangerous hindrance for aviators.

Lightning Packs electricity-generating backpack field testing. (Screenshot from YouTube video)

New 'Floating Backpack' Tech Promises to Reduce Fatigue on Humps

Lightning Packs, LLC has created a ground-breaking new pack-frame design that appears to float while being carried.

Soldiers fire a 120mm Sabot round from an M1A2 tank during a live-fire training exercise at the Idaho Army National Guard's Orchard Combat Training Center on July 26, 2018, as part of their M1A2 Tank Commanders Certification Course training. 2nd Lt. Crystal Farris/Army National Guard

Army's Chief Buyer: We Have a Need for Speed

The military must make a major technological breakthrough in speed to maintain its edge on future battlefields.

Gen. John Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, speaks to reporters Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Bagram air base north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Nicholson spoke about prospects for peace talks with the Taliban. (AP Photos/Robert Burns)

Outgoing US Commander Continues Tradition of Hailing Progress in Afghanistan

Nicholson said today that he has seen significant progress in the peace process between the Afghan forces and the Taliban.

U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division walk on a dismounted patrol outside Camp Fenty, Afghanistan, on Feb. 20, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Corey Hook)

Account of Gunfight with Taliban Sheds Light on American Advisory Mission

Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division had just finished clearing a remote compound when the Taliban opened up.

Lt. Gen. John M. Murray speaks with Soldiers and Airmen before kickoff of Ohio State-Army game Sept. 16, 2017, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Ohio National Guard/Staff Sgt. Michael Carden)

Amid Funding Concerns, Four-Star Approved to Lead Army Futures Command

The move to confirm Lt. Gen. John M. Murray comes as some call into question the Army's entire plan for Futures Command.

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