Not every first-aid kit needs to be expedition-ready. Sometimes, you just need an organized, affordable pack to toss in a daypack, car door, or family gear bin before heading out. I tested the HART Outdoor Weekend First Aid Kit ($30) over several months of quick hikes, car camping weekends, and road trips to see if it could handle minor emergencies without taking up much room. I wanted to know if this budget-friendly option could compete with more expensive, outdoor-specific kits. The issue with many entry-level kits is that they cut corners on either the supplies or the internal layout. This…
Minneapolis, Minnesota is one of a handful of cities in the U.S. where violent crime is trending in the wrong direction. Through May 30, violent offenses are up almost 7 percent compared to 2025. The number of reported rapes has increased by 18 percent, while aggravated assaults have seen a 15 percent spike according to the Crime Index (homicides and robberies, on the other hand, have each declined by more than 10 percent compared to last year). The city could use all the help fighting crime that it can get, yet some liberals on the…
Joining the military gives young service members steady pay and access to financial tools built specifically for the military community. That combination makes it one of the best times in your life to build a strong credit score, but it won’t happen automatically. You still need to open the right accounts, use them wisely, and avoid common mistakes that new troops make. This guide walks you through the fastest ways to build credit in the military, the best first credit cards for enlisted troops, and the credit habits that’ll protect your score during your time in service and beyond. Fastest…
Constitutional carry is the law in more than half of the states. That’s fantastic news, but it’s not the law of the land. I wish it were, but alas, we’re a long way from that ever being the case. Still, we’ve made a lot of ground over the years, and I’m proud of where the gun rights movement has gotten us on the national level. There are state laws that need to be addressed, but they’re coming down one by one, so that’s good news, too.Because constitutional carry is so common now, it seems the…
Cory Geisler is the new commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), overseeing approximately 1.3 million members. The Hartland, Wis., native was elected July 29 during the organization’s 127th National Convention at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Nevada, making him the veterans’ service organization’s 118th commander-in-chief. His election, approved by thousands of delegates who represent the millions of VFW and auxiliary members nationwide, is part of national efforts to put in place leaders and to establish the organization’s legislative priorities for the coming year. Geisler, the Iraq War veteran and life member of VFW Post 721 in Waukesha, Wis.,…
Car manufacturer BMW plans to cut around 8,000 jobs by late 2027. The German auto giant will begin the “voluntary reduction program” by offering buyouts to personnel in research, development, and planning. Factory workers will not be offered a buyout, accoridng to sources. BMW CEO Milan Nedeljkovic is expected to announce the voluntary reduction program at a staff meeting this week, some of the sources said. They added that the plan would be launched in October and run through 2027. The company intends to reportedly cut around 5% of its total workforce. The automaker employed 87,436 people in Germany as…
The list of places where governments can automatically declare the 2A off-limits may have gotten a little shorter. According to reporting from NRA-ILA, the U.S. Department of Justice has voluntarily withdrawn its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked enforcement of the federal ban on carrying firearms at U.S. Post Office facilities. While the decision doesn’t strike down the law nationwide, it leaves a lower court ruling in place that found the government failed to justify the restriction under today’s Second Amendment standards. For gun owners, that’s another notable development in the post-Bruen legal landscape. For decades, federal law…
The Navy is offering free screenings of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to sailors in pay grades E-1 through E-6 at 14 Morale, Welfare and Recreation theaters in the United States and overseas. The screenings are part of the launch of an expanded Virtual Single Sailor Program, an online resource connecting junior and unaccompanied sailors with recreation, support programs and events wherever they are stationed. Registration was required and closed July 29. Tickets were offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and the Navy said more than 1,000 sailors registered during the first four days. Selected participants were expected to receive confirmation…
A gateway to Yellowstone National Park is once again making headlines — and not because it’s the hometown of that tourist sent airborne by a bison. A group of 11 people fell ill on Monday and required hospitalization after eating mushrooms they’d collected in Park County, Mont., authorities said. Park County is just outside of Bozeman, a primary entrance to Yellowstone National Park and an increasingly popular location for mushroom foragers. The group that fell sick was apparently visiting “from outside the local area,” the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said. Emergency responders arrived at a private…
The Ebola virus is continuing its spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cases have now topped 3.200 while deaths are at 1,405. The outbreak has now spread across 48 health zones in five provinces. The official statistics put the overall case fatality rate at 43.9%. Currently, only 571 patients have recovered, while 773 people remain in isolation or are hospitalized with an ongoing infection. Uganda has recorded 20 confirmed Ebola infections, including two deaths and 18 recoveries, according to official figures. France has reported one imported case linked to the outbreak, with the patient having since recovered. According to…
You’ve found a great condo, your VA loan entitlement is available, and your finances are in order. Then, your lender delivers the news: the condo isn’t on the VA-approved list. For a lot of military families, this is where the homebuying journey stalls, but it doesn’t have to. The VA condo project approval process gives buyers a path to homeownership, including a single-unit option that lets you purchase a specific unit even if the condo project isn’t approved. In this guide, we’ll help you understand how this process works, what documents it requires, and how long it typically takes. How…
For decades, the Civilian Marksmanship Program has offered military surplus rifles for sale to members of CMP-affiliated clubs. In 2018, the CMP expanded its offerings to include 1911 pistols, and now the non-profit is adding another rifle to its roster: the M14. In an announcement, the CMP revealed that the rifles will be modified to be “permanently and irreversibly semi-automatic rifles,” and will be “fully compliant with CMP enabling legislation authorizing the transfer and sale of military surplus .30 caliber rifles.”Big win for gun owners and the Second Amendment!We’ve been pushing the Civilian Marksmanship Program…
If your dream is to join the U.S. Army in 2026, but your physical fitness or academic performance do not meet Army standards, then the Future Soldier Preparatory Course may be the answer. This article outlines recent changes in the scope of the course, and explains the course’s two tracks, whether you are eligible, what to expect, how successful it is, and some pros and cons to help you decide if the Future Soldier Prep Course is right for you. Why the Army’s Future Soldier Prep Course Exists (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Nell King) The Army Future…
I’ve written before about losing a friend in a mass shooting in Seattle. Every report of a mass shooting sends me right back to the moment I learned Kim was gone, and while I am still pro-gun and always will be, it’s still something I haven’t really gotten past, even 14 years later. And the report of another mass killing in the city isn’t likely to help. It seems that three people were killed in a shooting during a food festival.Three people were killed and at least four others, including a child, were injured in…
From health care to home loans, education to employment, nearly every veteran benefit starts with one document: Your DD214. What Is a DD214 Form? Your military discharge papers are officially known as DD Form 214, or just DD214. All veterans receive this Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty once they are out of the military. In a nutshell, the DD214 is proof of your military service. All branches use this same form. There may be no more important document, as it serves as the key to unlocking benefits of all kinds. In recent years, the military’s reserve components…
This article was originally published by Lance D Johnson at Natural News. Heavy explosions lit up the skies over Ahvaz on Friday as American bombers pounded Iranian cities for the 13th consecutive night, but as the US resumes its bombing campaign over Iranian skies, the real detonation may be happening inside the Pentagon’s war rooms. The United States, having signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran just weeks ago, has now shredded that ceasefire agreement and embarked on a bombing campaign that military analysts say cannot succeed without a full-scale ground occupation of the Strait of Hormuz region. What…
When people think about prepping, their minds usually jump to expensive gear like generators, tactical bags, and water filter systems with price tags in the hundreds. But some of the most useful items for riding out a disaster are already in your house. These everyday household items are cheap, easy to find, and usually overlooked, which is exactly what makes them so valuable. This list of inexpensive prepper items comes from the YouTube channel The Provident Prepper, and it’s packed with practical uses you may not have considered before. You can watch the video and see the list below. 1.…
CAIRO (AP) — Mediators have achieved progress in efforts to get the United States and Iran back to negotiations and avert an all-out war in the Middle East, two regional officials said Monday, with a pause in attacks coming after a period of rapidly escalating tensions. The comments came after neither the U.S. nor Iran reported carrying out any attacks for three straight days — a respite after about two weeks of sustained bombardments that had led to increasing fears of a return to all-out war. The two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive…
Every year, people wait on summer for a chance to relax and unwind. Days are longer, the weather is warm, and the outdoors beckon. Kids are out of school, and the vacation countdown begins. There’s a general feeling that things are easier. And in many ways, it is easier. But summer brings its own set of problems, and most people don’t prepare for them. Summer preparedness mistakes don’t involve big disasters. They cause inconvenience, discomfort, and escalation of problems stemming from heat, crowds, traffic, and overscheduling. Here are the ones people overlook most. TL;DR: Summer preparedness mistakes rarely look like…
Watch full video on YouTube
Watch full video on YouTube
