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…
Iowa’s always been pretty decent when it comes to gun laws, but the state has made a couple of major improvements over the past few years. In 2021, the state’s permitless carry law kicked in, and the following year voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that declares firearm ownership a fundamental individual right and mandating that courts apply “strict scrutiny” to any future gun control legislation. Those advances could be in danger, though, unless Iowa gun owners turn out in force this November. While Democrat candidates like Christina Bohannan and Josh Turek don’t…
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…
Widows of service members who died while serving our country are often faced with a difficult choice, years after their loss. By federal law, a financial benefit known as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or DIC, equating to about $1,700 per month, ends as soon as a surviving military spouse remarries, or stays in place as long as the spouse remains single through age 55. The organization known as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has been urging lawmakers to protect the DIC benefit, rather than strip it away, no matter a surviving spouse’s marital status. “The compensation is intended…
Toyota is finally bringing electric vehicles to market, but that doesn’t mean the company has given up on alternatives. CarBuzz has just found a patent that shows Toyota is tripling down on hydrogen. Triple down? That’s right – the Japanese automaker has tried hydrogen fuel cells, and it has tried hydrogen-burning piston engines. Now, say hello to the hydrogen gas turbine. Turbine? Like, a jet turbine? Not a jet, but similar. Gas turbine engines are common in helicopters, airplanes, and in ships like naval vessels where power is more important than fuel economy. It spins like a jet, but you…
Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, hiker, or backyard griller, the right gear can often make — or break — your outdoor experience. As we head into the hottest, sunniest months of the year, Amazon’s Prime Days sale is coming up fast later this month. It’s a great time to snag discounts on whatever boosts your stoke for getting outside, be it tech items like smartwatches and power banks or standbys like hiking boots and backpacking tents. Of course, many of us would prefer not to search through Amazon’s seemingly endless deals. So it’s a good thing your friendly neighborhood GearJunkies…
As a veteran, military service member, or eligible military spouse, your VA loan benefits are important for achieving your dream of homeownership. In today’s competitive housing market, you want to close as quickly as possible. If you have heard that VA loans have a reputation for being slow, don’t worry, that’s outdated thinking. In 2026, most VA loans are closing just as fast as conventional mortgages, and sometimes faster. This is key for service members on tight PCS or deployment timelines, where a quick closing can make the difference between winning a bid and losing that dream home. How Long…
For once, I wasn’t digging through three different pockets at the airport. My passport, phone, credit card, glasses, lip balm, earbuds, and a snack were all exactly where I needed them, and I had the Arc’teryx Mantis 1 Waist Pack ($40) to thank. This tiny 1.5L pack is too small for layers, water bottles, or anything bulky, but that’s precisely the point. It’s built for the small items that usually disappear into pants pockets or the bottomless abyss of a larger backpack. I tested the Mantis 1 over 6 months on roughly 30 outings spanning airport travel, daily errands, and…
About a year ago, I wrote about Japan and how they’re having a problem with bears in some of its cities. The answer was, naturally, to allow people to shoot the bears before they could hurt anyone. An insurance company even started offering insurance to cover damage caused by stray bullets. Considering how densely packed Japanese cities can be, it was a good idea. However, it seems that the problem hasn’t gone away.Why? Because some people are more than a little nervous about pulling the trigger in a crowded city street.Japan is known for having some…
Area 51 is back in the public consciousness following a swarm of earthquakes near the classified Nevada military site, stirring more speculation about secret testing, UFOs, and whatever else civilians imagine happens behind the facility’s gates. Reports citing U.S. Geological Survey data identified more than a dozen quakes were recorded near the base in late April, with the strongest measured at magnitude 4.4. There is no public evidence tying the earthquakes to weapons testing, alien technology or any other covert program. But Area 51 does not need much help getting people to look toward the desert. The renewed attention comes…
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThe path to 2026 isn’t a distant road—we’re already on it. The flashpoints discussed in this article aren’t future hypotheticals; they’re present-day realities gaining momentum. As we head into a critical election year, the rhetoric will intensify, and efforts to control the narrative will accelerate, feeding directly into these emerging risks. Understanding how these seven risks are developing from current events allows you to get ahead of them. This is about us preppers taking the initiative. It’s about practical awareness of the challenges we face right now and some steps to consider for your…
When I was growing up in rural Texas, it wasn’t a question of whether you would eventually collide with a deer while driving. It was more like an inevitability. That’s evidently true for many Americans, who experience between 1 and 2 million crashes with large animals every year. But unlike my colleagues in Colorado and Montana, I’ve only had deer to worry about. They have to worry about an animal 10 times heavier: the moose. These 6-foot-tall giants can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and will absolutely destroy a vehicle in a head-on collision. They pose an even greater threat…
The Second Amendment remains the only right that basically ends at the border of the state where you live. Once you cross the state line, it’s up to politicians in the other 49 states (as well as U.S. territories and the District of Columbia) to decide if they’ll recognize your right to carry. President Donald Trump, however, wants to change that, as he made clear on Tuesday at a speech in Pennsylvania. JUST IN: President Trump reveals his administration is working on NATIONAL RIGHT TO CARRYThis would be an absolutely HUGE step towards bringing back the…
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that six people have been arrested for damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as the iconic Washington, D.C. site increasingly becomes a flashpoint over the president’s $14-million-plus rehabilitation project gone awry. In a social media post, Trump claimed without supporting evidence that there had been a “350 foot gash” in the paint as the administration faces a self-imposed deadline to fix the botched renovation before the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration next week. Trump said another seven people were cited for damaging the pool. “It was purposefully and criminally done, and somebody had…
Many preppers keep ready-to-eat foods, such as canned goods, protein bars, and dried fruits, for emergencies. But at some point, you will want a hot meal, especially if the emergency lasts more than a day or two. Without an electric stove or microwave, your options may feel limited to eating the same instant foods day after day. But there are ways to safely cook food without electricity, even in a small space. The key is knowing what you can cook, either indoors or outdoors. During several hurricanes in Houston, many families opted to use their barbecue grills outside, particularly to…
Being a fishing-crazed maniac with an absolute plethora of both fresh and saltwater equipment, keeping my gear locker organized has always been an uphill battle. Add in the challenge of packing for a weekend trip or even a quick afternoon outing, and my carefully curated storage endeavors often unravel, devolving into everything simply being thrown into the back of my Subaru. Plano’s GoNow Boxes have changed the way I keep all my fishing gear stored and ready to rock. For the first time in my life, I actually know where all my fishy odds and ends are safely stashed. Now…
