why troops keep naming things after reptiles
Tuesday marks National Reptile Awareness Day, a time to appreciate the cold-blooded creatures that have slithered, crawled and snapped their way through human history. For the U.S. military, that appreciation runs deeper than curiosity. From cobras to gators, reptilian mascots and call signs appear on...
Bombers, Marines, warships mass in Caribbean as US expands presence
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The United States has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean under U.S. Southern Command, deploying bombers, warships, and Marines as part of an expanded campaign targeting drug-trafficking and so-called “narco-terrorist” networks operating near Venezuela. In...
Vortex Defender ST Review: A Duty-Ready Red Dot
Vortex has long been one of my go-to makers for quality optics. When I moved to carrying pistols with red dots, I naturally gravitated to Vortex. The new Defender ST is a different animal from the Defender CCW: it’s larger, has a taller/wider window, and...
A new, unvarnished account of the deadly German U-boat war
The post-war narrative of the German U-boat efforts follows several stages: the first “Happy Time,” followed by the second “Happy Time,” and then utter destruction by the Allies. In reality, the history is unsurprisingly more complicated than that — as are the humans who waged...
Why SBR Laws Still Exist — And Why They’re Absurd
Imagine going to federal prison because your rifle barrel measures 15.9 inches instead of 16 inches. Sound absurd? Welcome to the world of short-barreled rifle (SBR) and short-barreled shotgun (SBS) regulations, where a fraction of an inch determines whether you’re a law-abiding citizen or a...
Glock Discontinues Dozens of Pistols Amid “Glock Switch” Ban
The Big Announcement GLOCK has officially listed an extensive range of commercial pistol models as discontinued, marking one of the largest portfolio shifts in the company’s history. The move affects models across Generations 3 & 4 (and some Gen 5 SKUs), including the G17, G19,...
Marine Corps IDs pilot killed in Southern California helicopter crash
The U.S. Marine Corps has identified a Marine who was killed last week in a helicopter crash in Southern California. Maj. Tyler R. Braconi, 35, an AH-1Z Viper helicopter pilot assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft...
New Victorinox Series Features Blade Lock, Pocket Clip
Victorinox is making a bold, modern push with the new Alox Refined Collection. This series, consisting of three models, features not only a brand new look, but some modern features that are not common in the Victorinox catalog. As with most Victorinox models, the differences...
Why the Army may need a specialized counter-drone MOS
But this runs into the perennial question of generalists versus specialists. Should counter-drone, or C-UAS, be a skill taught across the U.S. Army, with every soldier a potential asset for air defense? Or should C-UAS be assigned to highly trained specialists? The service needs to...
Iraq keeping some US military advisers due to IS threat in Syria
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s prime minister said Monday that a small contingent of U.S. military advisers will remain in the country for now to coordinate with U.S. forces in neighboring Syria combating the Islamic State group. Washington and Baghdad agreed last year to wind down a...
