The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday announced that it awarded a $230 million design-build contract for new operational support facilities at Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C. It’s the latest phase of a multi-year infrastructure expansion plan at the base, established in October 2015 and comprised of two campuses that, according to the service, is home to 175 personnel—including 111 enlisted guardsmen, 35 reservists, 22 civilians and seven officers. The base manages 21.5 acres of property with 214,841 square feet of facilities, along with two major piers and two floating piers. The Coast Guard’s Facilities Design and Construction Center on June…

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It was one of those Minnesota days that tricks you into forgetting that the icy gales of winter and muggy oppression of summer exist. I lay on a pebble-strewn beach at the edge of Lake Superior, and the sun, cool air, and warm rocks felt divine. In a moment of goofy reverie, I hopped up and dove into the crystal water to cool off. Boom! The frigid water exploded every nerve in my skin. I gasped for air. Shocked from my stupor, I remembered that I was wearing a Timex Expedition Capstone watch. (Photo/Sean McCoy) I didn’t really care about…

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and sudden U.S. involvement in conflicts in the region, more Americans have started to wonder — both quietly and publicly — “Is there going to be a draft in 2025?” and, “What are the odds of the draft coming back?” Google searches within the United States for the phrase “military draft” began spiking in mid-June, reflecting a growing unease about global instability and questions surrounding U.S. military readiness. Although there is currently no active draft, the Selective Service System remains in place as a contingency measure. All male U.S. citizens and residents ages…

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It’s hot out there! We can’t seem to do much about our overheating planet, so if you want to keep enjoying the outdoors in these infernal summer months, you’ll have to come prepared with ways to stay cool and hydrate. That’s the general theme of this week’s batch of gear, which mostly focuses on various ways to combat the sun for runners, cyclists, hikers, or just the people at risk of heat exhaustion while walking their dog for 10 minutes (looking at you, Arizona). Find apparel and gear to stay cool — and look cool — in the latest and…

There’s a surprising amount of policework that is really just not being dumb. My late father, for example, got an “attaboy” from the chief because of his diligent work solving a theft. What happened was that he simply followed the stolen lawnmower’s tracks in the dirt alley that led right to the thief. A lot of it is much, much more complicated than that, admittedly, but sometimes, it’s just not. That’s especially true when the criminals make it easy on the police. See, most crooks don’t think they’ll get caught. They’re convinced they’re too smart or…

Did you know that, once you join the military, Uncle Sam may keep you there longer than you planned — or that you can be recalled to active duty once you get out or retire? That can happen several ways. Voluntary Extension at Certain Duty Stations As the name suggests, this extension is up to the service member. If you are serving in a designated assignment, location or unit, you can voluntarily extend your enlistment past your normal ending date. If you do so, you are entitled to a special assignment incentive pay (AIP) of up to $1,500 monthly. The…

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The National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Illinois State Rifle Association, and several gun sellers and gun owners in the state of Illinois have filed a new federal lawsuit taking on the state’s 72-hour waiting period for gun sales.  The lawsuit, known as Pearlstine v. Raoul, argues that the three-day waiting period is an “unadorned effort to delay the exercise of Second Amendment rights, on the theory that people who seek to acquire firearms are likely animated by violent intentions that may subside if they are forced to ‘cool off’ for three days.”Similar challenges…

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is one of the longer entries among the classic Assassin’s Creed games. While it doesn’t reach the massive scale of the newer open-world titles like Valhalla, Odyssey, or Shadows, its story remains consistently engaging from start to finish. If you’re mainly interested in Edward Kenway’s story, you can expect to finish AC Black Flag Resynced in around 20 to 22 hours. On top of the original campaign, the game adds a brand new chapter, along with plenty of optional content that can keep completionists busy for dozens of extra hours. Here’s how long you can…

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