CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks this week, escalating the conflict between them and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and raising fears of a wider regional conflagration. The attacks have killed dozens of civilians and troops and also targeted Saudi tankers in transit from Red Sea ports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait out to the Gulf of Aden and the rest of the world. Though less significant than the Strait of Hormuz, around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, once passed through Bab el-Mandeb, moving between Europe…
The Air National Guard is offering members a $7,500 bonus if they reenlist for three years. The “Summer Surge Incentive” comes as part of the Air Guard’s recruitment drive to hire 8,842 Airmen by the end of Fiscal Year 2026, which puts the heat on the service considering that the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30—providing potential candidates with roughly 50 days to make decisions. Payments will be made immediately, and there is no cap on the total number of available bonuses. Those interested must sign the three-year enlistment contract by that Sept. 30 deadline. “It is all part of…
Just hours after a 14-year-old boy shot and killed his grandparents before attacking teachers and classmates at his high school, Thailand’s prime minister is vowing to crack down on legal gun owners by prohibiting their ability to lawfully carry a firearm for self-defense. Politicians the world over often rush to “do something” in the wake of a tragedy, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is no different. Three years ago Anutin, who was then the country’s Interior Minister, cracked down on legal gun owners by imposing a freeze on new licenses and prohibiting individuals younger than…
Enlisted Air Force ranks are categorized into three levels: airmen (pay grades E-1 through E-4), noncommissioned officers (E-5 and E-6), and senior noncommissioned officers (E-7 through E-9). Some personnel can enlist at an advanced rank if they have college credits or have participated in Junior ROTC. The highest advanced rank one can enlist with under these programs is airman first class (E-3). The Air Force offers accelerated promotion for service members who agree to enlist for six years. Under this program, enlistees who enter service as an airman basic (E-1) are promoted to airman (E-2) after basic training is finished,…
Within the Air Force, officer ranks follow a clear-cut structure, divided into three categories: company grade, field grade, and general officers. Company grade officers range from O-1 to O-3. Climbing the ranks, next are field grade officers, in the O-4 to O-6 range, taking the helm of mid-level command. Finally, at the top of the hierarchy are general officers, O-7 and above, who oversee strategy. Air Force Company Grade Officer Ranks Second Lieutenant (O-1) The rank of second lieutenant is shown through a single gold bar. Proper forms of address include “second lieutenant” or “lieutenant.” Commissioned airmen sometimes may skip…
I got my first Swiss Army knife at a flea market when I was about 11 years old. I have no clue which model it was, but it had the basic tools we typically see nestled between those familiar red handle scales, such as a knife blade, can opener, bottle opener, and corkscrew. I beat the hell out of that knife for a few years. It whittled hundreds of sticks into sharp points. I used it to open cans of Dinty Moore or Chef Boyardee I’d brought to the campfire. It trimmed rope we used in countless forts in the…
The newly created Military Spouse Commission has opened an online form to allow those with vested interests in the commission to submit comments. President Donald Trump created the commission on Monday via an executive order to support the lives and experiences of spouses of those enlisted in service. The commission will provide recommendations to address themes including housing, employment, health care and childcare. There are more than 1 million military spouses in the U.S. They are affected by numerous issues including disproportionate levels of unemployment, according to Stars & Stripes. The publication reported that 20% of military spouses are unemployed,…
I really get sick of the claim that mass killings with a firearm only happen in the United States. That’s what the phrase “uniquely American” means when describing the phenomenon. To be fair, we do have more than most people, even if you account for population, but we are also a very different country than most. Thailand, however, seems to also be having a bit of a problem. Despite acting to tighten gun restrictions after previous massacres, it doesn’t look like it did a whole lot of good.Not today, at least, as six people are…
Some military photographs make their importance obvious, while others look ordinary until you learn the story behind the image. Five brothers pose aboard a Navy cruiser. Women sort packages in a crowded warehouse. A pilot stands among children near an airfield. At first glance, photographs could be routine snapshots of military life, but once you learn the story that led up to or followed the camera click, you’ll realize they’re anything but. Each image carries a story of survival, loss, courage or deception that the photograph alone cannot explain. Once you know these stories, it becomes impossible to see the…
First-person shooters are one of the most crowded genres in gaming, but only a few reach a level where players call them perfect. These are the games that feel complete from start to finish. The shooting is smooth, the pacing feels right, and every system works the way it should. Nothing feels rushed, unfinished, or added just to fill space. A 10/10 first-person shooter game should leave a strong impression right from the moment the action begins. Years after their release, these first-person shooters still hold up, still feel great to play, and still show what the genre can achieve…
Weatherby’s new 25 Wby RPM is a fast, efficient quarter-bore that pushes heavy high-BC bullets hard without punching your shoulder like a full-house magnum. We tested it in the Weatherby Model 307 Range XP 2.0 to see if this newcomer is a real threat to the old favorites. Why Weatherby’s 25 Wby RPM Has Quarter-Bore Fans Talking When Weatherby recently announced its new 25 Wby RPM cartridge, a few people scratched their heads in puzzlement. Quarter-bore fans can be fanatical about their favorites like the 257 Wby Mag, 25-06 Rem, or 257 Roberts. What could this newcomer do that their…
Here are the latest PCS and TDY/TAD privately owned vehicle mileage reimbursement rates. The mileage reimbursement rate for official travel via privately owned vehicle (POV) remains the same in 2025 for permanent change of station moves. For PCS travel, the Mileage Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) rate is $0.205 per mile in 2026. For temporary duty/temporary additional duty (TDY/TAD) travel, the rates are: Auto: $0.725/mile Motorcycle: $0.705/mile Airplane: $1.78/mile The official mileage distance for calculating travel is determined by the Defense Department. The official mileage distance for calculating travel is determined by the Defense Department. See more details at…
Artificial intelligence–or, more accurately, what we call artificial intelligence today versus actual intelligence–is practically a buzzword these days. Numerous businesses claim to use it for whatever the hell they’re doing, and it’s been applied in a number of unique and beneficial ways. I like to use it to help parse data or collect resources from multiple searches at once and present it as a semi-coherent whole. I just double-check everything it says, because when I asked it to rank influential writers in a certain subject, it completely made up someone who never existed and ranked…
The ATN ThOR 6 Mini 256 comes in small, tough, and priced like it wants to start a fight in the budget thermal scope aisle. It found pigs, handled real hunting use, and packed smart features into a compact optic, but its 256×192 sensor still fails to meet buyers earn their expectations honestly. The ATN ThOR 6 Mini 256 combines a compact thermal design and a replaceable 18650 battery system at an affordable price point. Thermal optics have become more affordable over the last few years, giving hunters more options than ever before. The new ATN ThOR 6 Mini 256…
When will you get paid in 2026? These are the official military pay dates. This table reflects the schedule of 2026 military pay dates for the active and reserve components. The information may help avoid any confusion as to when you should expect to see the payment deposited to your account. Service members have the option to receive paychecks once or twice a month. If they select to receive their pay twice a month, they will receive semi-monthly pay on the 15th of each month. If the 1st or 15th falls on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, pay day is…
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On June 23rd, the number of New World screwworm cases stood at sixteen. Now, there are 32 known cases of the flesh-eating parasite in the United States. Researchers are fast-tracking options in an attempt to slow the population growth of the devastating screwworm before it does widespread economic damage. US Screwworm Cases At 16 The latest effort comes through a $300,000 research investment announced this week by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), which is partnering with biotechnology company Agragene and researchers at North Carolina State University to develop genetically sterile male screwworm flies that could outperform the…
Divorce can be a financially complex event, especially if a VA loan is involved. A divorce decree can divide property and assign who pays the mortgage, but it can’t change your contract with the lender or automatically free up your VA loan entitlement. That means your entitlement could get tied up for years, limiting your ability to buy a new home with VA financing. This guide covers everything you need to know about VA loans and divorce, including who can keep the house, whether a non-military ex-spouse can assume the loan, and how and when entitlement gets restored. What Happens…
National reciprocity legislation is now something we know the Trump administration is working on. While it’s not the ideal situation–national constitutional carry would be so much better–it’s far better than the status quo. As it stands, a permit in one state might be recognized in another, or it might not. You have to navigate the insane patchwork of laws, all to exercise a constitutionally protected right. But if you have a driver’s license in Minnesota, you can drive anywhere in the United States. Your license is accepted everywhere, even though driving is considered a privilege…
Take a look at data fromiSeeCars, and you’ll see a handful of SUVs that are anywhere from 2.9 to 9.1 times as likely to cross a quarter million miles as the average vehicle, led by Toyota models like the Toyota Sequoia. These SUVs are all made by automakers with a reputation for dependability, like Honda and Lexus, but that’s not all they have in common. It’s not just that these SUVs are remarkably well-built, but that they buck certain trends. Namely, small, overstressed turbocharged engines and one-speed CVTs. All of these SUVs are available with multi-speed automatic transmissions, and engines…
Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have grown to 1,561 while deaths have surged to 506. The virus is still spreading as new treatment trials begin. DR Congo Begins Ebola Treatment Trial This is the largest ever Ebola outbreak, and it has yet to reach its peak. Researchers began the study of two possible treatments on Thursday at the Ebola treatment center inside Bunia’s Evangelical Medical Center, in eastern Congo’s Ituri province. Vaccine candidates are also in the works, as health care officials struggle to contain the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. This particular strain of the virus is…
