From frozen Teton trailheads to windblown Colorado fourteeners, the best down jackets prove themselves as year-round essentials. Because mountain weather is notoriously fickle, your puffy needs to be light enough for a daypack, warm enough for sub-freezing mornings, and tough enough to handle shifting forecasts. Over the past 10 months, two experts tested 10 products: GearJunkie Senior Editor Chris Kassar and lead tester Ryan Kempfer. The duo logged 100 days and 600 miles skiing the Tetons, hiking Alaska, bagging fourteeners, and braving frigid Yellowstone conditions to confirm how these jackets deliver. In the last five years, eight experts have tested…
There’s still no signal from the Justice Department about whether it will appeal a district court ruling that held most of the NFA’s registration requirements are an unconstitutional exercise of Congress’s taxing power, but in the days since last week’s ruling there’s been a lot of debate about whether it would ultimately benefit Second Amendment advocates if the DOJ does appeal the decision to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As I wrote last week when the decision came down:The plaintiffs in these cases would like the Trump administration to take the loss, but so…
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s been 12 months since President Donald Trump announced a crime emergency in Washington, pledging to make the city “safe and beautiful” and deploying the National Guard. But a mission that seemed temporary has been extended through January 2029. Residents and a new cadre of local officials see in it an unacceptable attempt by the federal government to restrict the heavily Democratic city’s autonomy and, a year in, still question why having troops on the streets of the nation’s capital is necessary. “There’s a deep irony that here we are in the capital of the free world,…
Women’s hiking boots protect against some of the biggest trip-ruiners: rolled ankles, soaked socks, bruised toes, and agonizing blisters. To finalize this year’s rankings, GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar and two additional testers put 12 women’s hiking boots through a year-long test cycle. From Grand Teton National Park to Patagonia, we logged more than 500 miles and 30,000 feet of elevation gain to find the best pairs. We crowned the Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GTX as our best overall pick for its standout mix of agility, traction, and waterproof protection. Meanwhile, the Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof earned our budget…
A terrifying dog attack in a quiet Florida neighborhood ended with a homeowner using a firearm to stop one of two aggressive dogs after they mauled a family pet and injured a woman. According to WPLG Local 10, the incident happened in Lighthouse Point, where two loose dogs escaped from a nearby rental property and began attacking without warning. Family Dog Targeted First Witnesses said the chaos began when two large American Staffordshire mix dogs rushed toward a man who was outside with his grandchild and his elderly spaniel, Brody. “The dog was not letting up,” one neighbor told Local…
Groups are coming out in support of President Donald Trump’s new White House Spouse Commission addressing matters affecting the military spouses and families of America. Such issues of note as part of the executive order will include persistent problems that arise involving employment, housing, and access to health care. The commission, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, will include membership of spouses of several service secretaries, the Joint Chiefs chair, and other high-ranking military service members. It will identify and advise the administration on recommended actions they should take to improve the well-being and quality of life…
Commissioned officers in the United States Space Force are entrusted to lead guardians and ensure that the service branch achieves its operational and strategic objectives.The officer rank structure follows the same grade progression as other U.S. armed services, divided into three categories: Company grade officers (O-1 to O-3) Field grade officers (O-4 to O-6) General officers (O-7 to O-10) Space Force Officer Ranks: Company Grade These junior officers serve in direct leadership and developmental roles, focusing on mission execution, technical expertise and the supervision of small teams. Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) (O-1) The entry-level commissioned officer rank, denoted by a…
Once mocked as a ’90s fashion faux pas, the best fanny packs keep your essentials secure and your hands free. These packs help you seamlessly transition between hikes, bike rides, travel days, and everyday errands. To finalize this year’s rankings, two testers — GearJunkie Editor Chris Kassar and contributor Joybeth Sullivan — put six new fanny packs through a 10-month testing cycle. From Colorado’s high-alpine trails to the rugged Tetons and the windswept Washington coast, we logged countless 5-mile (minimum) load-testing laps on foot, mountain bike, and standup paddleboard to find the best fanny packs. We crowned the Arc’teryx Mantis…
Navy officer ranks cover both commissioned officers and warrant officers, who are specialists and experts in specific military domains. When it comes to moving up the ladder, officers undergo Senate confirmation to make it official. Commissioned officers do not enlist. They’re on board for the long haul, serving at the U.S. president’s discretion. They receive a commission, which is an official job description that outlines their duties and responsibilities based on their rank. It’s like getting the keys to the ship, but with a hefty dose of responsibility. Navy Officer Ranks These positions involve an application of technical and leadership…
Enlisted Navy rates are a little different from the ranks of the other U.S. military branches. The other branches organize service members according to ranks, while the Navy organizes its force according to rates, although it also follows the same E-1 to E-9 pay-grade structure as the other services. Enlisted Navy rates include the categories of apprentices (E-1 to E-3), petty officers (E-4 to E-6), and chief petty officers (E-7 to E-9). Apprenticeships are entry-level positions, including seaman recruit, seaman apprentice and seaman, often referred to as non-rated personnel. Petty officer ranks are intermediate ranks specializing in specific job roles.…
“We’re out of ice” became an all-too-familiar phrase at my local grocery stores last summer. Living in a small mountain town has plenty of perks. But during peak tourist season, finding a bag of ice isn’t always one of them. Fortunately, I was gear testing the 45L EcoFlow GLACIER Classic Portable Fridge Freezer, a battery-powered refrigerator that doesn’t need ice. With dual-zone cooling, wired and wireless power options, and smartphone app controls, the GLACIER quickly made ice runs a thing of the past. Unlike traditional coolers that require constant refills and turn into icy pools, the GLACIER Classic keeps food…
A veteran who served in the Vietnam War has received a Purple Heart award, 58 years after serving in the conflict. Daniel Knote, a 79-year-old who served six years in the Army, was shot in the leg while he ran to help a wounded fellow soldier, Mike Beck, in February 1968. The then 21-year-old Army specialist was supposed to receive the military decoration, which is awarded to service members wounded or killed in action against an enemy. But because of a paperwork mistake, it was not listed in his files for nearly six decades. This mistake has now been corrected…
The NRA has been through tough times:The 1994 assault weapons ban.The “academic” consensus that gun control would control gun crime. “Conservative” presidents like Ronald Reagan signaling support for gun restrictions. The latest setback involved Wayne LaPierre, the previous EVP and CEO. He wisely and courageously rebuffed the post-Sandy Hook mass shooting hysteria with “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun.” Recently, LaPierre was found liable for misappropriating NRA funds. Internal dramas exploded to the forefront, distracting from the core mission: protect the gun rights…
Coast Guard ranks for officers are split into two tiers: officer and admiral. Commissioned Coast Guard officers do not enlist. They serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the president of the United States. They hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of their specific rank. Coast Guard Officer Ranks Ensign (ENS) (O-1) Ensigns are generally inducted after naval officer training and obtaining a four-year degree. Their rank is equivalent to second lieutenant in other branches. Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) (O-2) Lieutenants junior grade are generally promoted 18 months after becoming an ensign. They serve as billeted division…
Democrats in Congress have launched a probe into the Trump administration following reports it tried to deport more than 50 military members and members of military families. The Associated Press reported last week that President Donald Trump’s administration has detained 52 parents and spouses of active-duty service members since he took office in January 2025, with at least six interventions resulting in deportation and at least eight people remaining in immigration custody. In response to this report, 60 Democrats sent a letter Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of…
A gun range in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has taken down Flock cameras that were installed more than six months ago, after a video showing the cameras and questioning why they were there went viral. The video, posted on X last week, has been viewed more than 600,000 times, and irate responses from gun owners and customers led to Eagle Sports Range’s decision to remove the cameras from its property. American is going to the gun range and she gets into the parking lot and notices something concerningThere are 4 Flock cameras “pointing into the…
Iran is insisting that the U.S. meet its demands in negotiations before the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Yemen’s Defense Ministry announced a new death toll in the latest attack by Houthi rebels on the Red Sea town of Mokha. And Israel’s military declared the Christian-majority town of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank a closed military zone after repeated settler attacks. Here’s a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Monday. Full coverage can be found here. Iran presses demands on US as shipping standoff grinds on An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson…
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean and U.S. troops will begin their annual exercises next week to beef up readiness against North Korean threats, the allies announced Monday, days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile testing activities that are banned by the U.N. The Ulchi Freedom Shield is to begin next Monday for a 11-day run and its scale will be similar to previous years with about 18,000 South Korean soldiers participating in it, South Korean military spokesperson Jang Do-young told reporters. Speaking at the same news conference, U.S. military spokesperson Ryan Donald said by incorporating realistic threats including…
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More than 142,000 post-9/11 veterans who screened positive for a possible deployment-related traumatic brain injury and agreed to a comprehensive VA evaluation did not ultimately receive one, according to a new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) watchdog report. The VA Office of Inspector General found that 301,177 veterans agreed to receive a comprehensive traumatic brain injury evaluation after screening positive between Sept. 11, 2001, and March 31, 2025. Only 158,907 received the evaluation, leaving 142,270 without the follow-up assessment. The finding comes from a national review released Aug. 5, examining how the Veterans Health Administration screens and evaluates post-9/11 veterans…
