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 "Eisenhower jacket" has been proposed for the Army Service Uniform as a more appropriate indoor alternative to the black windbreaker jacket.

Soldier Survey: Allow Black PT Socks, Adopt Ike Jacket

Nearly 70 percent of soldiers in an Army uniform survey said males and females should wear black socks in lieu of white socks...

U.S. Army Soldiers use teamwork to scale an obstacle during the Ranger Course on Fort Benning, Ga., April 21, 2015. Soldiers attend the Ranger Course to learn additional skills in a challenging environment. (U.S. Army/Pfc. Antonio Lewis/Released)

Ranger School Leaders: Last Three Females Have Earned Another Chance

Three female soldiers will try again starting June 22 to become the first women to earn Ranger tabs.

Gun Makers Push the Limits on Tactical Shotgun Design

Firms continue to reinvent the tactical shotgun, pushing design limits well beyond traditional pump-action and semi-auto...

Captain Greg McWherter, Blue Angels #1 and squadron commander is interviewed by local media shortly after arriving at Dobbins Air Reserve Base Oct. 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Brad Fallin)

Navy Captain Ignored Lewd Conduct in Blue Angels

The U.S. Navy has found the former commander of the Blue Angels guilty on charges such as conduct unbecoming an officer by...

Army Must Shed 6 BCTs to Meet Proposed Budget Cuts

DoD's fiscal 2015 budget proposal will cost the Army another six combat units, shrinking the active force to 28 BCTs by 2019.

Marines Consider Change to Unisex Daly Covers

The Marine Corps is considering a uniform change that would mean one dress hat for both male and female Marines.

Greenert: Navy's Budget Woes Could Worsen in 2014

The Navy's chief of operations said he's hoping to eliminate the unknowns of sequestration cuts on his service by 2015.

Panetta Justifies Decision to Deny Marine MoH

The accounts of Peralta's sacrifice aren't enough to earn him the highest award for valor, a second DoD probe concluded.

Marines Pick Colt for New Pistol

Command Sgt. Maj. Noel S. Foster (Army Photo)

Fort Campbell Officials Investigating Sergeant Major's Death

U.S. Army officials at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, said Tuesday they are investigating the death of Command Sgt. Maj. Noel S...

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey speaks with the students and instructors of Fort Bragg Noncommissioned Officer Academy, March 10, 2015. (U.S. Army photo/Staff Sgt. Charles Crail)

Army Mulls Creating New Pay Grades for Senior NCOs

The U.S. Army’s top enlisted leader is trying to build momentum for an effort to create two new pay grades – E-10 and E-11.

U.S. Army soldiers fire M9 pistols. Army weapons officials want to replace the M9 with the Modular Handgun System. (US Army)

Army Maps Out Future Small-Arms Programs

U.S. Army small-arms experts recently laid out a blueprint of future goals that would equip infantry units with new weapons.

M151 warhead rounds integrated with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II are loaded on an A-10 ahead of a test mission on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (Air Force Photo)

US Forces Bank on New Weapon to Protect Civilians in Next Mosul Battle

U.S. forces supporting Iraqi troops are counting on a newly fielded rocket to destroy targets without causing civilian...

The Army is converting one of its infantry brigades into a heavier, armored brigade combat team. U.S. Army photo

Army Loses One Infantry Brigade to Create New Armored Brigade

The Army will convert an infantry brigade to an armored brigade combat team amid demand for heavier formations to counter...

A National Guardsman scans a mountain range while searching a village in Patwan Province, Afghanistan, in 2013. Thousands of Guardsmen who deployed there and in Iraq have been ordered to pay back their re-enlistment bonuses. (US Army photo/Ashlee Lolkus)

Army Quick to Make Troops Pay for Bad Bookkeeping, Soldiers Say

Thousands of National Guard troops have been ordered to repay their reenlistment bonuses or face interest charges and tax...

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

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins testifies

VA to Give Veterans One-Year Authorizations to Seek Care from Private Providers in 30 Specialties

The move allows veterans to get 12 months of private treatment without having to request a reauthorization.

Air Force Investigating After Security Forces Kill Civilian Who Crashed into Arizona Base Gate

An airman from the base's Security Forces Squadron "shot and fatally injured" the civilian after several of the troops used...

Broken Altimeter, Ignored Warnings: Hearings Reveal What Went Wrong in DC Crash that Killed 67

Over three days of sometimes contentious hearings this week, the National Transportation Safety Board interrogated Federal...

Sen. Richard Blumenthal talks to reporters

Senators Seek Answers on Hawaii Veteran Ordered to Self-Deport

U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut have sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem...

Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart perform at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos' Hard Rock Live

Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson Rock On: ‘Our Military Upbringing Helped Us in Many Ways’

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart have never served in any branch of the military. But the...

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen speaks to the media

Former US Soldier Suspected of Killing 4 in Montana Remains at Large

The former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people at a Montana bar was still at large early Sunday and may be armed...

Latest Military Videos

Russian Strike on Kharkiv Region Damages Civilian Infrastructure, Official Says

Two people were killed and 10 injured after Russia attacked Ukraine's Kharkiv region with strike drones, regional governor Oleh...

OCHA Spokesman Says Gaza Will Need Trucks of Aid 'for Months, Possibly Years to Come'

Hundreds of trucks of humanitarian aid will be needed in Gaza every day for months and possibly years to...

Explosion Lights Up Early Morning Sky over Gaza Strip as Israel Continues Military Operation

Explosions and smoke were seen over the Gaza Strip early Tuesday as Israel continued its military operation in the...

Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch Attend New York Premiere of 'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf'

Taylor Kitsch, Chris Pratt and Luke Hemsworth walked the red carpet Monday for the New York premiere of the...

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

Senators Seek Answers on Hawaii Veteran Ordered to Self-Deport

U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut have sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem...

Broken Altimeter, Ignored Warnings: Hearings Reveal What Went Wrong in DC Crash that Killed 67

Over three days of sometimes contentious hearings this week, the National Transportation Safety Board interrogated Federal...

Navy News

Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, delivers remarks

Navy Leader Confirmed by Senate After Half-Year Vacancy

After nearly half a year without a Senate-confirmed uniformed leader, the Navy has a new top admiral.

The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams prepares to depart at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., for its May 2, 2006, maiden voyage with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group.

Virginia Senators Seek Answers from Navy in Death of Norfolk-Based Sailor

Seaman Angelina Resendiz went missing around May 30; her body was found 10 days later.

Air Force News

Air Force Investigating After Security Forces Kill Civilian Who Crashed into Arizona Base Gate

An airman from the base's Security Forces Squadron "shot and fatally injured" the civilian after several of the troops used...

Combat Arms Training and Maintenance students learn how to properly handle M18 pistols at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Air Force Conducting Service-Wide Inspections of Sig Sauer M18 Pistol After Airman's Death

The entire Air Force is doing a service-wide inspection of the M18 handgun after a Security Forces airman suddenly died last...

Space Force News

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Alabama) speaks to the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber.

Alabama Congressman ‘100% Sure’ US Space Command Coming to Huntsville

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Alabama) said he has been assured by President Donald Trump that U.S. Space Command is coming to...

U.S. Space Force Brig. Gen. Brian Denaro, newly appointed U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific commander, gives a speech

First Leader of Space Force Pacific Command Ends Tenure

The first leader of the U.S. Space Force’s Pacific command officially ended his tenure in Hawaii in a change of command...

Marine Corps News

Gavel and American flag with scales of justice.

Man Sentenced in Marine’s Death Started Drug Dealing at Age 15

Lance Cpl. Alexander Grafton, a Hawaii-based Marine with the 3rd Marine Division, was discovered "deceased and badly...