Travis Allen

About the author

is a former US Army Infantry Officer. While a Platoon Leader in Afghanistan, he was part of a joint Special Forces/Infantry team conducting Village Stability Operations in Kandahar Province. Travis graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 2010.

Jihadist Private Military Contractors are now a thing

A jihadist private military contractor (PMC) has been growing in popularity and expanding its business model through the war in Syria, according to a report from Foreign Policy. The group, called Malhama Tactical, is owned and operated by a young Uzbek veteran of the Russian airborne infantry. He speaks fluent Russian and goes by his […]

Aging U.S. nuclear arsenal projected to cost $400 billion to modernize

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report Tuesday detailing the costs and objectives associated with upgrading America’s nuclear weapons arsenal. The report, titled ‘Projected Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2017 to 2026’ outlines the programs slotted for upgrades. CBO estimates that the effort will cost $400 billion, an increase over the $348 billion estimate […]

Trump demands Russia return Crimea, while seeking their support elsewhere

President Trump expects Russia to abandon its claim over the Crimean Peninsula, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said today. Sanctions imposed by the United States during the Obama Administration will remain in place, until Russia ‘returns’ Crimea to the Ukrainian government. The announcement is in line with others from the Trump Administration. On February 2nd, […]

Jihadist clashes in Syria signal deteriorating situation for opposition

Fighting occurred between jihadist opposition groups in northwest Syria on Monday, highlighting the fractious differences that remain among rebel forces in Syria. Following the seizure of Aleppo in December 2016 by Assad government forces, armed opposition groups in northwest Syria have begun to battle over remaining territory and resources. As Assad regime troops re-consolidate following […]

MSRT: The U.S. Coast Guard’s full time counterterror team

Deep in the backwoods of southeastern Virginia, the U.S. Coast Guard’s premier tactical law enforcement team quietly goes about training for their unique mission set. The primary mission of the Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) is counter-terrorism in maritime environments, both domestic and overseas. The team is trained as a first responder to terrorist situations, […]

Afghan government forces launch operation to clear ISIS from eastern Afghanistan

Government forces in Afghanistan have launched a military offensive with the help of American air support against fighters loyal to the Islamic State in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. The effort comes at the same time U.S. General John Nicholson, commander of all international troops assigned to Operation Resolute Support, has requested additional U.S. soldiers to serve […]

Poor Marine Corps aviation readiness rate indicative of trend across U.S. military

In a brief to reporters this week, Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lieutenant General Jon Davis revealed that more than half of Marine aircraft were down and could not fly in the month of December. Lt. Gen. Davis cited a number of factors, specifically: maintenance costs, a shrinking budget to maintain the aircraft, and […]

First female infantry recruits begin basic training at Fort Benning

The first class to include women in U.S. Army Infantry One Station Unit Training, or OSUT, began today at Fort Benning, Georgia. Infantry OSUT is a combination of basic training and advanced individual training, designed to take a civilian, teach the basics of infantry weapon systems and battle drills, and graduate them as infantrymen for […]

Terror plot in France includes female suspect

Initial reports say a police raid in southern France has stopped an imminent terrorist attack by four suspects, including one young woman. The four suspects were found with the same explosive material used in previous terror attacks tied to ISIS in Paris and Brussels. A teenager girl, aged 16, had reportedly made jihadist posts on […]

Federal law enforcement agencies looking for veterans

Many transitioning veterans may not realize it, but the skills acquired in the military, especially within special operations and combat arms, are highly valued by American federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Secret Service already give 10-point veterans preference to applicants with military service, bumping […]

Administration considers ‘terrorist group’ label for Iranian Revolutionary Guards

The Trump administration is reportedly considering using an executive order to officially recognize the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a complex military and political machine within Iran, as a ‘terrorist organization’, according to Reuters. This potential classification would almost certainly further complicate the already strained relations between the U.S. and Iran. Readers recognize the Iranian Revolutionary […]

Yemen Civil War: Small progress for Saudi-backed government forces

Forces loyal to Saudi-backed President Abrabbuh Mansur Hadi have seized the coastal town of Al-Mokha in Yemen, according to a report by Reuters. The action represents progress for the embattled president and his Gulf Arab allies as the civil war with regional and global implications approaches its second anniversary. Following the Iranian-backed Houthi offensive to […]