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

U.S. Army soldiers load a round into an M777 Howitzer.

Army Resumes Large-Scale Combat Training Despite Nationwide Surge in Virus Cases

The Army halted rotations to NTC and JRTC in mid-March to limit the spread of the virus.

'An Incredible Paratrooper:' Army IDs Soldier Killed in Vehicle Rollover Accident in Syria

Sgt. Bryan Cooper Mount died from injuries he suffered when his M-ATV rolled over.

Supporters holding posters Vanessa Guillen at Capitol Hill.

Soldier Vanessa Guillen's Murder Now a Rallying Cry for Lawmakers

Supporters holding posters of the Fort Hood soldier, who was allegedly slain by a male service member, surrounded lawmakers.

Fort Hood IDs Another Soldier Found Dead Off Post

Pvt. Mejhor Morta's body was found in the vicinity of Stillhouse lake, southeast of Fort Hood.

U.S. Army Soldiers provide security around a local town at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin,

The Army Is Once Again Starting Design for Future Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle

Program officials released a draft request for proposal for the OMFV's Preliminary Digital Design phase.

Camp Zama Dining Facility, Camp Zama, Japan

SMA Once Again Proposes Pulling Deep-Fryers Out of Army Chow Halls

The sergeant major of the Army said that eating right may be more important for fitness than the new ACFT.

Army Releases New Details About Command Climate Review at Fort Hood

The Army will soon hire four civilian consultants to lead a review of the command climate at Fort Hood, Texas.

Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy speaks at a COVID-19 briefing.

Army Secretary Orders Command Climate Review Amid Vanessa Guillen Investigation

Several lawmakers have also called for investigations into the handling of the Guillen case.

Vanessa Guillen's Mother Calls Fort Hood Officials 'Clowns in a Circus'

The family of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen said they are determined to make sure that other soldiers never face a similar fate.

Soldier Makes History as First Woman to Join the Green Berets

U.S. Army Special Operations Command would not identify the soldier, but confirmed that she graduated.

James J. Grazioplene, a retired two-star Army general.

Retired General Accepts Plea Deal, Avoids More Jail Time in Rape Case

Grazioplene, who has been incarcerated for 18 months, will serve no additional jail time as part of the plea agreement.

House Bill Earmarks $1M to Rename Army Bases Honoring Confederate Leaders

Secretary Ryan McCarthy said in early June that he was open to consider renaming the installations.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point held its graduation aceremony for the Class of 2020 on The Plain in West Point, New York.

Review Launched into Allegations of Racial Persecution, Bias at West Point

Former West Point cadets submitted a 40-page proposal to create an "Anti-Racist West Point."

Army Private Pleads Not Guilty to Planning Deadly Ambush on His Unit

Army Pvt. Ethan Phelan Melzer submitted his plea in a U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

Female Vets Call for Closure of Fort Hood Amid Reports of Vanessa Guillen's Murder

In addition to the base closure, the petition calls for an end to the culture of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

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Most Popular Military News

Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill are facing off to become governor of New Jersey.

Did Sherrill Violate Naval Academy’s Honor Code? Classmates Speak out About Notorious Cheating Scandal

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Trump Calls for Using US Cities as 'Training Ground' for Armed Forces in Unusual Speech to Generals

President Donald Trump proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces, with U.S. military might...

Marines Say They Hit Recruiting Goals and Point to 'Unapologetic' Standards

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Military veterans are sworn in during a naturalization ceremony at a Veteran's Day event at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Bill Would Allow Noncitizen US Military Members to Become Naturalized

Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House have reintroduced a bill that would protect noncitizen military members from being...

Let’s look beyond the usual Jeep variants to see which U.S. military vehicles made it into 'Band of Brothers.'

5 Unsung Vehicles from ‘Band of Brothers’

HBO’s legendary World War II series featured inspiring characters, unforgettable story lines and several vehicles worth...

The BOD POD utilizes air displacement plethysmography to measure body composition, specifically the proportion of fat mass and lean mass. The device measures how much air one’s body displaces, allowing it to calculate body density and provide a detailed breakdown of body fat percentage and lean muscle mass (Janecze Wright, DVIDS).

The New Army Body-Fat Standard: A Step In The Right Direction?

As obesity rates climb across America, the Army’s new body-composition policy arrives at a critical moment. This is not just...

Latest Military Videos

EU Leaders on New Scheme to Provide Longer-Term Support to Ukraine Using Frozen Russian Assets

European Union leaders on Wednesday weighed a new scheme to provide longer-term financial and military support to Ukraine by...

Veteran Criticizes Hegseth's Call for 'Male Standard' in Combat Roles

In an address Tuesday to the military’s top leaders, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth waded back into a topic that...

Vote to End Shutdown Fails in Senate; Dems Hold Firm on Health-Care Demands

A vote to end the government shutdown hours after it began failed Wednesday as Democrats in the Senate held...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Declares an End to 'Woke' Culture in Military

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness...

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

The New Army Body-Fat Standard: A Step In The Right Direction?

As obesity rates climb across America, the Army’s new body-composition policy arrives at a critical moment. This is not just...

President of Colombia Gustavo Petro Urrego

US Revokes Visa for Colombia's President After He Urges American Soldiers to Disobey Trump

The State Department said on social media that “we will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”

Navy News

Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), delivers remarks during NETC’s change of command ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, June 18, 2025. The museum recently opened an exhibit honoring Vietnam prisoners of war. (United States Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Zachary Melvin)

National Naval Aviation Museum Honors Vietnam POWs with Emotional Exhibit

A new exhibit at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, is giving attendees a rare glimpse into life for...

President Trump has ordered the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to the waters off the coast of Venezuela.

Maduro Declares State of Emergency in Response to US Naval Presence in Caribbean

Nicolás Maduro has signed a decree declaring a state of external emergency in response to what his government calls growing...

Air Force News

‘After Action’ host and producer Stacy Pearsall is shown with her service dog, Charlie.

‘After Action’ Gives Veterans a Platform to Discuss Their Unique Experiences

Former Air Force combat photographer Stacy Pearsall is the host of the PBS show "After Action," which spotlights the...

NASA astronaut Victor Glover Jr., center, is flanked by former Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. James Harvey, left, and Lt. Col. George Hardy

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Space Force News

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Two Space Force Units Bring the 'Invisible Front Line' to Ohio

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned for Friday for the Space Intelligence Production Cell at the Springfield-Beckley Air...

A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Clearing The Orbits: Space Force Partnerships In Orbital Cleanup

The growing congestion of Earth orbit has raised risks to satellites, space stations, and long-term space sustainability. The...

Marine Corps News

Friends of Former Marine Church Shooting Suspect Say He Long Carried Hatred Toward Mormon Faith

Friends of the man accused of killing four people after opening fire in a Michigan church say he long harbored animosity...

Giant Jesus Painting at Marine Academy May Provoke Legal Response

The moving of religious artwork by the Trump administration is drawing strong feelings from opposition groups.

Coast Guard News

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Motor Lifeboat CG-36538 was restored by dozens of volunteers after more than 8 years of hard work.

Cape May Maritime Museum Brings 73-Year-Old Coast Guard Lifeboat Back to Life

The CG-36538 was built in a Baltimore shipyard in Curtis Bay in 1952 and was primarily used for winter rescues and winter...

Bill Huizenga (R-MI) at House Committee on Financial Services hearing regarding navigating the digital payments ecosystem examining a Federal framework for payment stablecoins and consequences of a U.S. Central Bank Digital Currency at the United States Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Huizenga bill would pay immigration agents, Coast Guard during government shutdown

Michigan U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga introduced legislation Wednesday aiming to ensure that Department of Homeland Security law...