Alex Hollings

Alex Hollings

USMC
Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects with an emphasis on defense technology, foreign policy, and information warfare. He holds a master's degree in communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

The truth about artificial intelligence (isn’t all that scary)

As is so often the case in our modern buzzword culture, the phrase artificial intelligence has grown well beyond the confines of what it is, and is instead often thought of in terms of what it could be. There’s nothing wrong with maintaining a healthy sense of a technology’s potentially dark extremes, but many experts […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: Cavalry Scout provides security

Army Cpl. Andrew Hernandez provides security for his team during a live-fire exercise at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 24, 2016. Hernandez is a cavalry scout assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner See U.S. Army Cavalry Scouts in action in the video below:

The Navy’s deadliest new submarine tech isn’t a weapon, it’s a propulsion system

The transition from diesel to nuclear powered propulsion systems in submarines was not only about efficiency as it had been in large surface vessels like carriers — it was also a significant leap ahead in stealth capability. Submarines traveling through enemy waters maintain careful sound discipline, aware that the noise produced by the vessel can […]

The crew of a burning bomber heroically land after ejection seats fail to fire over Texas

For weeks now, the Air Force has remained tight lipped about an incident involving America’s supersonic heavy payload B-1B Lancer over Texas early last month, acknowledging only that an incident had occurred, and eventually, grounding the nation’s entire fleet of Lancers, citing an issue with the aircraft’s ejection seats. Now, as the Air Force prepares […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: The joy of shaving in the field

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Whisenhunt shaves during a field training exercise on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Sept. 28, 2015. Whisenhunt, a construction electrician, is assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4. The exercise tests the battalion’s ability to enter hostile locations, build assigned construction projects and defend against enemy attacks, using realistic scenarios. […]

The 3-barrelled machete gun carried into orbit by Russian cosmonauts

Here in the United States, there’s a certain image of the Astronaut’s journey we’ve grown accustomed to: a dramatic launch, a majestic weightless experience, turbulent reentry, and finally, a splashdown somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. From there, America’s Navy swoops in, picking up the floating Astronauts and their capsules (barring an embarrassing incident like Gus […]

Why does space defense matter? China and Russia both already have space military branches

The debate about establishing a new branch of the United States military that specializes in space and orbital defense has been going on since long before President Trump threw his support behind a “Space Force.” In fact, a “Space Corps” was even included in Congress’ defense budget last year, before being lost in the effort […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: Providing security

Army 1st Lt. Bret Brunco provides security while a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off during an air assault mission as part of a combined arms live-fire exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, May 19, 2018. Brunco is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division’s 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Army photo by […]

Is ballistic missile defense a waste of the US Navy’s ships?

The United States employs a three-tier missile defense apparatus that allows it to cover as much territory as possible while providing an overlapping blanket of capability in the event the first or even second layer of defense were to fail to intercept an aggressor’s incoming ballistic missile. However, with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: U.S. Army training in Djibouti

Soldiers fire weapons at staged targets during a live fire exercise, as part of Alligator Dagger in Djibouti, Dec. 17, 2017. The soldiers are assigned to 3rd Battalion, 144th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Bayonet attached to the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allyson L. Manners Watch […]