December 2025 - AlaDefense.com

TURNER: Black-eyed peas tradition seeded in Civil War lore

December 31, 2025

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Troy Turner

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Sherman’s march to the sea, November-December 1864. (Felix Octavius Carr Darley/J. P. Finch,1883, via Library of Congress) By Troy Turner [email protected] Southerners associate black-eyed peas with good luck in their New Year’s Day meals. Interestingly, it all started in a myth tied to a food staple important to slaves; and to one of the more…

12 military innovations that are now everyday parts of society

December 24, 2025

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Troy Turner

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Uncategorized

By Katie Lange Pentagon News Every morning, many of us scour the internet on our phones for a bit before popping some breakfast item into the microwave. Then we head to work using GPS and flip on our sunglasses if it’s too bright out. A lot of us likely didn’t realize that all those commonplace…

Senate confirms next commanding general for Army Space & Missile Defense Command

December 21, 2025

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Troy Turner

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ARMY

By Jason Cutshaw U.S. Army SMDC REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Maj. Gen. John L. Rafferty Jr. was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as the commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. The promotion and subsequent change of command are scheduled for…

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park reopens tour road, trails, after tornado

December 18, 2025

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Troy Turner

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Uncategorized

By Troy Turner [email protected] DAVISTON — Horseshoe Bend National Military Park has reopened its main tour road and portions of its eastern trail system after months-long closures caused last spring by a devastating EF-3 tornado. National Park Service officials at the park, which is located north of Dadeville off state Highway 49 in northern Tallapoosa…

Navy’s USNS Comfort hospital ship slated for return to Mobile

December 17, 2025

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Troy Turner

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Uncategorized

By Troy Turner [email protected] The U.S. Navy has awarded Alabama Shipyard LLC, Mobile, a $16.7 million contract for a 102-calendar day shipyard availability to provide mid-term servicing of Military Sealift Command’s hospital ship USNS Comfort. The Comfort is no stranger to Mobile, as it has become a common sight in recent years when time for…

Waterman Transport nets new contract for cargo transport across the Pacific

December 16, 2025

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Troy Turner

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CONTRACTS, NAVY

By Troy Turner [email protected] The U.S. Navy has awarded Waterman Transport Inc., based in Mobile, an almost $9.5 million contract for the chartered use of a roll-on/roll-off vessel to transport military cargo. Roll-on/roll-off ships allow wheeled and tracked vehicles such as trucks or tanks to drive on and off the ship at cargo docks. The…

U.S. Space Command arrives in Alabama, along with secretary of war, congressional delegation… and a bold mission

December 12, 2025

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Troy Turner

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Uncategorized

By Troy Turner [email protected] HUNTSVILLE – It was quite the week for this north Alabama city region. And then some. The biggest surprise came Tuesday with the announcement Eli Lilly and Company is going to invest $6 billion here in building a state-of-the-art complex to develop new medicines. The massive project will create 3,000 construction…

Austal USA hosts ceremony for future Coast Guard cutter Pickering

December 8, 2025

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Troy Turner

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COAST GUARD

Admiral Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during Monday’s ceremony. (Austal USA) MOBILE – Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony today for the first U.S. Coast Guard Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter to be built at the company’s Mobile ship manufacturing facility. Pickering, designated as ship WMSM 919, is being built under…

SPECIAL REPORT: Alabama climbs into Top 10 for U.S. defense state-by-state spending, attracting $17 billion

December 6, 2025

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Troy Turner

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Uncategorized

By Troy Turner [email protected] Alabama’s military and defense industry contributions to the nation’s security in Fiscal Year 2024 hit new heights in attracting defense spending, reaching an intake of nearly $17 billion and moving Alabama to ninth among the 50 states and District of Columbia in the most recent state-by-state review. The analysis was conducted…

Lockheed Martin continues its growth in Alabama with new hypersonics lab in Huntsville

December 3, 2025

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Troy Turner

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AIR FORCE, ARMY, SPACE FORCE

By Troy Turner [email protected] Lockheed Martin announced today that it has opened a Hypersonics System Integration Lab at its Huntsville campus, representing a $17.1 million investment in its growing Alabama defense industry portfolio. “As global threats evolve at unprecedented speed, the defense community is turning its focus to technologies that can outpace and outmaneuver potential adversaries. Hypersonic weapons,…

Army aviation soldiers begin training with Stalker UAS at Fort Rucker

December 1, 2025

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Troy Turner

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ARMY

Army Sgt. Joshua Capers attaches a payload to the VXE30 Stalker during training with an uncrewed aircraft system at Fort Rucker, Ala., Nov. 18, 2025. Photos and story by Leslie Herlick Army Aviation Center of Excellence Army aviation soldiers began training with the VXE30 Stalker uncrewed aircraft system at Fort Rucker, Alabama, Nov. 18, in…

TURNER: Black-eyed peas tradition seeded in Civil War lore

12 military innovations that are now everyday parts of society

Senate confirms next commanding general for Army Space & Missile Defense Command

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park reopens tour road, trails, after tornado

Navy’s USNS Comfort hospital ship slated for return to Mobile

Waterman Transport nets new contract for cargo transport across the Pacific

U.S. Space Command arrives in Alabama, along with secretary of war, congressional delegation… and a bold mission

Austal USA hosts ceremony for future Coast Guard cutter Pickering

SPECIAL REPORT: Alabama climbs into Top 10 for U.S. defense state-by-state spending, attracting $17 billion

Lockheed Martin continues its growth in Alabama with new hypersonics lab in Huntsville

Army aviation soldiers begin training with Stalker UAS at Fort Rucker

Soldiers and Marines train together at Fort Rucker in rescuing of downed aviators

TURNER: Boeing’s ‘coolest thing’ missile contribution in Huntsville plays a critical role that isn’t going away

For Old Guard soldiers, ‘Flags In’ is a personal mission

Month: December 2025

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