For those of us who work 9-5 jobs, doing a big thru-hike like the Pacific Crest Trail is pretty much off the table. Weekends and holiday breaks are our best chance to get out there, hit the trail, and explore the backcountry. Not all weekend itineraries are created equal, though, and on a recent 96-mile backpacking trip in Oregon, I discovered one that’s hard to beat. Though the full Oregon Coast Trail (OCT) runs 400 miles down the eastern side of the state, a weekend-friendly 28 miles between Fort Stevens State Park and Cannon Beach are quite possibly its most…
We have all heard the politicians and gun control advocates say the Founding Fathers only meant muskets. We have heard it said by politicians from New York, Illinois, Minnesota, California, New Mexico, and from gun control advocates everywhere. NewYork Governor Hochul said it when pushing legislation in response to the Bruen decision. The majority opinion in the Wolford decision further counters the claim of “only muskets” made by gun control activists.The Associated Press recently ran an article highlighting how powerful black powder firearms are and calling for them to be regulated. Similar news articles ran…
Three Democratic lawmakers have introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require military service members be vaccinated for influenza following a recent outbreak. The amendment was introduced Tuesday afternoon on Capitol Hill by Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) following the recent flu outbreak that occurred at Joint Base San Antonio, commonly known as Lackland Air Force Base, located within Castro’s legislative district. Castro said Tuesday that there are now 284 confirmed flu cases and four hospitalizations at the base, up from the 275 confirmed flu cases he reported on…
For years, we’ve wanted the Supreme Court to agree to hear a case on bans of so-called assault weapons. They’ve continually kicked the can down the road, and that’s been a significant problem for the gun rights community. However, everything is about to change.In the Court’s list of cases, two in particular came up that deal with assault weapon bans.Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, the latter of which is tied with National Association for Gun Rights v. Lamont, both (all?) revolve around the concept of an assault weapon ban. And, as of…
Your Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan benefit is one of the most valuable of all benefits issued to you as an active-duty service member, veteran, or eligible spouse. What makes it so valuable? It is a lifelong benefit that never expires. This means you can either sell your current home purchased with a VA-backed loan, or keep it, and use your full entitlement or use your remaining “bonus” entitlement to buy another primary residence using your VA loan benefits. This article will explore how you can use your VA loan entitlement for the second time. What is My…
As a kid, I have horrifying memories of backpacking food. On a trip in California, my dad insisted we eat old bags of chili mac. My mom once tried to rehydrate freeze-dried chicken breast, resulting in the driest dinner known to man. Thankfully, in the last decade or so, backpacking brands have made huge improvements. These days, small, boutique brands serve up dishes with premium ingredients like wild boar, Thai basil, duck confit, and more. If you’re a foodie who isn’t willing to make sacrifices in the backcountry, you’ve got plenty of choices. On a recent week-long backpacking trip in…
The United States and Iran have exchanged several strikes since Friday. These renewed attacks are threatening to upend an already precarious peace deal between the two warring nations. Both sides have accused the other of violating the terms of the agreement signed on June 17th. This is the first time the two warring countries have exchanged strikes since the signing of the interim peace deal. Iran Declares Memorandum of Understanding A “Record of US Failure” Iran has already blasted the US as liars. The “very nature” of the US is to break its promises and treaties, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps…
I do not celebrate mass shootings anywhere in the world. I still remember the feeling of finding out a dear friend had been murdered in one, so even at my worst, that’s something I could never do. When I point out a massacre elsewhere in the world, it’s not to celebrate that it happened there, but to point out that the claim of these being “uniquely American” is bogus. And the latest example was in Stade, Germany, on Monday.A 45-year-old man killed six adults and wounded several others in a shooting attack at a child…
A San Diego-based Marine lost at sea during training exercises last week was identified by Marine officials Monday as a 21-year-old from Minnesota. Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco went missing early Thursday from the USS Anchorage and was declared dead Friday following an extensive search spanning 2,400 miles off the Southern California coast, Navy officials said. On Monday, Col. Richard Alvarez, commanding officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, issued a statement offering condolences to Ortiz Canseco’s family and friends. “He earned the title of United States Marine and served his country with honor and commitment,” Alvarez said. “We mourn…
Fred Minnick was at his wits’ end. The Army veteran had tried just about every form of therapy. Nothing worked. Nothing could stem the crushing tide of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that consumed his life. With nowhere else to turn, the Iraq War veteran believed he was left with three outcomes: prison, homelessness or ending his life by suicide. He tried that too. Still, nothing could strip away the pain. Until one day, a breakthrough. Determined to feel better, Minnick sat in the office of a Veterans Affairs therapist, like he had done many times before. But today was different.…
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Derek Kolstad refers to his Hollywood rise as an “overnight success” that took 15 years to achieve. The acclaimed screenwriter known for writing and creating the popular film series John Wick starring Keanu Reeves, and more recently the Nobody movies starring Bob Odenkirk, spoke with Military.com on how he navigated a turbulent entertainment industry to ultimately reach his goals. A recent press tour as part of the latest film he wrote, NORMAL, also starring Odenkirk, led to an April 24 USO visit with Marines at Camp Pendleton. Kolstad mentioned how the military affected his upbringing and why giving time to…
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Liberty University’s 14th annual Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony celebrated a record-breaking number of military graduates. Held at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., on Thursday, the gathering was nearly standing room only. “When faced with the demands of full and often overwhelming military life, alongside the pursuit of your education, you chose both. That is worthy of recognition,” said Ret. Maj. and Chaplain Brian Harvey, the assistant director of Liberty’s Center for Chaplaincy, in his welcome remarks to the graduates, which were streamed online and viewed by Military.com. Liberty University holds 14th annual Military Graduate Recognition Ceremony (Liberty University).…
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The U.S. Marine Corps is accelerating its transition away from legacy tactical aircraft and toward an all-F-35 fighter force, marking one of the most significant aviation restructurings in modern Marine Corps history. A recent Marine administrative message (MARADMIN) confirmed the service will fully phase out the F/A-18 Hornet by 2030 while pushing Marines in Hornet-related maintenance fields to transition into F-35 specialties and other critical aviation jobs. The transition has been underway for years, but recent Marine Corps planning documents and force restructuring announcements show the service is now entering the final stages of consolidating tactical aviation almost entirely around…
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A seven-year car loan might help you to get those monthly payments nice and low, but think about it, you’re going to spend 84 months paying this thing off. Even if we assume a nice, low interest rate of just 5%, that comes out to total loan interest of more than $9,000 on a $50,000 vehicle, meaning that we’re paying close to one dollar to our lender for every five we’re spending on a new Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado. And it’s not just the borrower’s pockets that are hurting as a result of these long-term loans. When loans take…
Barring an injunction, Virginia’s new ban on “assault firearms” and “large capacity” magazines will take effect on July 1, but there are already signs that enforcing the ban may be a challenge outside of Democrat-controlled enclaves in the commonwealth. We’ve already seen at least two Commonwealth Attorneys declare they will not be enforcing the provisions of the ban, at least in most circumstances. On Friday, Spotsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney G. Ryan Mehaffey sent a letter to Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger L. Harris, declaring that the new legislation cannot be “lawfully enforced” based on recent U.S. Supreme…
A Department of Veterans Affairs study found that taking over-the-counter magnesium supplements was associated with a 19 percent lower risk of hospitalization or death among veterans newly diagnosed with heart failure. Published in November 2025 in the journal Nutrients, the finding raises the possibility that a widely available and inexpensive supplement could meaningfully improve outcomes for one of the most at-risk groups in the veteran population. The research, conducted by VA researchers from Washington, D.C., and Providence, Rhode Island, examined the electronic health records of almost 20,000 veterans newly diagnosed with heart failure, half of whom showed documented use of…
