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.

Air Force announces plans to bring back 1,000 retired pilots

On Wednesday, Heather Wilson, the Secretary of the Air Force, announced an expansion of 2017’s Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty Program that aims to lure as many as 1,000 retired aviators back into the ranks in order to address ongoing pilot shortages within the branch. At the end of the last year, an internal […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: Super Hornet breaks the sound barrier

A Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet breaks the sound barrier while participating in an air power demonstration over the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Pacific Ocean, May 3, 2018. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Spencer Roberts Watch a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet break the sound barrier in the video below: https://youtu.be/Lw0985QJS8Q

The myth of “military grade” and why I subscribe to the Crate Club

I read a lot of comments.  Whenever one of my articles goes up, I do my best to hop in and read each comment beneath it, and although it’s probably bad for my health, I even sometimes read the comments on Facebook.  The content we write here begs for strong opinions, and you can often […]

Read: President Trump’s letter to Kim Jong Un canceling their planned summit

On Thursday, the White House announced that President Trump has decided to withdraw from impending high level talks with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The decision appears to be the culmination of weeks of increasingly aggressive rhetoric levied by North Korean officials. The president’s announcement follows the release of this letter, addressed to […]

Congressman Mike Rogers says Air Force is still failing to address space defense

Republican Congressman Mike Rogers was among the first to champion the cause for a dedicated space branch of the military, aiming to offset the rapidly development capability gap between American orbital defenses and foreign offensive capabilities. Both China and Russia have had dedicated space-based military branches in operation since 2015, while the United States continues […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: Manning the gun

A soldier fires a machine gun from the turret of a tactical vehicle during Saber Junction 17, an exercise with about 4,500 participants from 13 NATO and partner nations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, May 15, 2017. The soldier is assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment. Army photo by Staff Sgt. […]

Putin’s ‘invincible’ nuclear powered cruise missile doesn’t work

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a national address with international ramifications; touting new advanced missile platforms that were meant to usher in a new era of Russian military strength. These new platforms, of course, weren’t new to defense experts who had been following the development of these weapons systems, but raised concerns throughout […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: Close Air Support on call

An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies in an undisclosed location after receiving fuel from a KC-10 Extender while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, May 31, 2017. The A-10’s combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Battles Watch […]

Israeli F-35s in combat could mean a new era for the troubled fighter

Although details remain sparse, Israel has announced that the long-touted F-35 has officially seen combat for the first time anywhere in the world. Israel was not one of the original nine partner nations that helped to fund the F-35s development but is among the three foreign military sales (FMS) customers for the platform — and […]

Norwegian missiles could make the F-35 America’s best ship hunter

In recent months, much ado has been made about America’s diplomatic opponents developing anti-ship capabilities that we currently have no defense against. Chinese and Russian anti-ship missiles, capable of achieving hypersonic speeds, represent a kind of threat the United States hasn’t faced in decades: a technology that America is not only behind on, but apparently, […]

The White House is using North Korea as a model for Iran relations

Sanctions, while slow and decidedly lacking in dramatic flair, are the primary weapon in America’s diplomatic arsenal. The nation’s massive economy stretches out over the globe, where American naval power provides stability in shipping lanes and American consumerism provides a seemingly insatiable market for wares, resources and services. Cutting off a nation from both that […]