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Service members preparing to leave the military are inundated with advice about how to land their first civilian job. Build a personal brand. Translate your military skills. Make sure your résumé gets past artificial intelligence. And, after years of military service, don’t settle for a job that doesn’t pay what you’re worth. Tim Best has spent decades watching veterans make the jump into civilian careers, and he says some of the conventional wisdom can actually make the transition harder. Best, CEO of RecruitMilitary and a former Army special operations helicopter pilot, recently sat down with Military.com to discuss what he…
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Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadWhen disaster strikes, there is no room for guesswork when it comes to your food. You need to know what you have, how much, and how long it will last you. A well-prepared food supply addresses one of your most critical needs. When it comes to food prep, the bottom line is that if you run out, you and your family will find yourselves on a survival countdown. Food prepping is not about throwing random cans of food into a dark cabinet and hoping for the best. It is about building a layered, intentional…
When it comes to tornado safety, what you think you know can be just as dangerous as what you don’t. Over the years, a mix of folklore, outdated advice, and pure fiction has created a set of myths about tornadoes that stubbornly persist. Acting on these myths during a real emergency can waste precious seconds and put you and your family in greater danger. Your ability to protect your family depends on having a clear, fact-based plan—not fantasy. This article is here to cut through the noise and debunk the most common tornado myths. Understanding the truth empowers you to…
Surviving a tough event—whether it was a physical and mental struggle, even a sudden job loss, a health scare, or something bigger—is only the first part. The real victory comes afterward, when you put yourself back together in a way that leaves you stronger and more capable than before. I’ve been through my share of tough spots, physically and mentally banged up from deployments where things got hectic, to personal losses that flattened me like a steamroller. I’ve been fired, lost friends and family, failed to save the lives of others, been injured and medevaced, and dealt with the long-term…
Plaintiffs residing outside of New York are challenging a Manhattan regulation that limits carriers to a single firearm. The challenge was raised in the District Court of Southern New York. The case Hendrick et al. v. New York City was filed on September 11 in federal court. This case raises the question on whether or not the City of New York may limit non-resident concealed carry handgun license holders to being able to carry only one firearm. New York City requires non-resident license holders to register one, and only one, handgun that they may carry…
You get a lot of conveniences when living in a city apartment – proximity to schools, shopping, and services. However, when the power grid fails, look out, you’re in for some challenges. Unlike some homeowners in suburbia, you can’t just break out the generator or avail yourself of a large propane tank. The elevator may not work, the tap water may go dry, and managing sanitation may be an issue. The good news is you can prepare before anything happens. TL;DR: To prepare for a loss of utilities in an apartment, focus on space-saving water storage like a WaterBOB, use…
After hearing the news about the Hong Kong high-rise fire back in November 2025, I thought about the safety of apartment and condo dwellers living in high-rise buildings. In the aftermath of the tragedy, 161 people lost their lives, and thousands of residents were displaced. Many factors contributed to the fire, including the use of substandard building materials, shoddy workmanship, and shady business dealings. These facts highlight the case that there are risks for anyone living in a densely populated building high above ground. When you live in a high-rise apartment, you must always pay attention to fire safety. The…
Recently, I heard a troubling everyday situational awareness story about a lady walking back to her car at a neighborhood market when a young woman approached her. The young woman was friendly and complimented her. They got into a conversation, and the young woman inched closer to the lady. All of a sudden, the young woman snatched the lady’s necklace and ran off. The poor victim was very shaken and sustained some bruises, and of course, she was sad that she lost her valuable necklace. This story made me think that most people don’t get into trouble for doing obviously…
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadI’m an adopted, Southern California surfer kid who grew up with an explosive and emotionally unavailable mother who has worked as a lifeguard, paramedic, firefighter, Army Ranger, Blackwater security contractor, and spent over a decade deployed (over 2000 days/five years on the ground in Iraq), eventually resulting in overseeing the guard force at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and some other high-profile jobs. And, as one might expect, after over a decade working in places like South Central L.A., Atlanta, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and Pakistan—where, in one form or fashion, I’ve been attacked dozens…
Two veterans are among five finalists in a national beard contest, with the chance to win $20,000 for their chosen charity. BJ Ganem, a Marine Corps veteran from Wisconsin who served in Iraq, and Damon Friedman, a retired special warfare officer who served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, are two of the five finalists competing to win $5,000 for themselves and $20,000 for their charities. Wahl, a company that manufactures hair clippers, trimmers and other grooming tools, is running the contest. They asked bearded men from across the country to submit a video of…
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadMost people think of awareness as a switch. On when something is wrong, off the rest of the time. It works more like a range with several settings, and you move through all of them every day without deciding to. The drive to work gets one setting. The walk through the parking lot gets another. The table at the restaurant, the checkout line, the couch at home, each one gets a different amount of your attention, and the amount you give it is rarely a choice you make on purpose. That is the problem.…
A 37-year-old Indian national who is living in the U.S. on a student visa has been sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding a Vietnam veteran. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Venkateswara Chagamreddy, of San Antonio, Texas, to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He’s ordered to pay $99,496 in restitution to the unnamed veteran after he defrauded him in a series of scam text messages. Chagamreddy communicated with the veteran, of Delaware County, Okla., via text message in April and told him to liquidate his bank account and purchase…
It’s no wonder that so many people are asking what is prepping and how it can help them to navigate life’s uncertainties with confidence and resilience. After all, in our ever-changing world filled with unexpected challenges, being prepared is an obvious and essential priority. The bottom line up front is that beyond the misconceptions and stereotypes, prepping is a lifestyle that embraces self-reliance, essential skills, and maximizing our chances of survival and success. Join us in this comprehensive guide, “What is Prepping,” as we delve into its goals, fundamentals, and purpose, equipping you with valuable insights and practical advice to…
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Watch full video on YouTube
Watch full video on YouTube
If you think the Air Force Reserve just chills on the sidelines, you just might want to read on. As reservists, along with their active-duty cohorts, prepare to ring in the Air Force’s birthday, it seems fitting to point out some of the major moments the Reserve has been involved with over the decades. Reserve airmen have stared death in the face for more than 100 years — going all the way back to the formation of Reserve Air Power in 1916, before the official formation of the Reserve in 1948. Here are five major Air Force Reserve moments and…
Lt. Col. James Harvey had one wish for much of his Air Force career. He wanted the 332nd Fighter Group — the Tuskegee Airmen — to be recognized for winning the Air Force’s first-ever aerial gunnery competition. “We were the original ‘Top Gun,'” he told AARP Studios. “Our competitors didn’t think we were real. We were Black and flying this obsolete aircraft. We weren’t supposed to win it.” Harvey was drafted into the Army in 1943 as an Army Air Corps engineer. Just a few years earlier, he’d seen a group of Curtiss P-40 Warhawks flying over his home in…
Stand Your Ground laws are good things. However, thanks to the media hype around them, many seem to have the wrong impression of what the laws protect and what they don’t. For example, it means a DA can’t come behind you and decide you could have run away, so you’re prosecuted for murder.That’s not supposed to happen.You can, however, be prosecuted because you say you were in fear for your life, but a reasonable person wouldn’t think so. That includes being, say, knocked on your butt because you started an altercation, or it can involve…
